The internet is global, but thanks to a complex set of pre-internet rules and legal agreements, there are virtual borders in place that restrict what you can see and do. Sometimes, it is also useful to appear as if you're accessing the net from a different location than you really are. In both cases, the preferred tool is a VPN or Virtual Private Network .
The thing is, VPNs aren't the only way to achieve this goal. If all you want to do is change your location on the internet and nothing else, a VPN is overkill, and you should consider a smart DNS instead.
VPNs are the default, but they can fall short
There are downsides to high walls
VPNs solve a bunch of different problems in one go, and the VPN industry has made them so easy to use it's literally just the touch of a button. They encrypt your traffic and route it through a server in another country (or the same country, if you like), making it appear as though you’re browsing from that location.
But there are a few reasons you don't necessarily want to do that. For one thing, you don't want your bank to think you're trying to access your account from the other side of the world, Some VPN's offer s "split tunneling" feature where you can choose to only route certain data through the VPN, but this can be complicated to manage and unreliable.
If you're looking to consume media like streaming video, then a VPN can constrain your streaming quality or reduce your download speeds. Also, unless you have a fairly fancy router that can run a VPN on the router itself, getting a VPN set up on all the devices where you need it is a pain. It's easy enough on a phone or desktop computer, but smart TVs and streaming boxes can be tricky. Apple only recently allowed some VPN services to work on its Apple TV streaming box.
What Smart DNS does differently
When it comes to geo-unblocking, a smart DNS is like a scalpel versus the chainsaw of a VPN. Instead of routing all your data, it simply gives specific DNS (Domain Name System) responses to websites using a proxy server in the desired region. So there's no VPN overhead, and services (like your bank) are completely unaffected.
Effectively, smart DNS gives you region switching, and region switching only . Of course, individual smart DNS services can also offer perks that go with switching away from your ISP's DNS service, such as faster website loading. However, that depends on the service and these other benefits are not inherent to a smart DNS solution.
However, a smart DNS is easier to set up, especially at the router level. It's no harder than changing your default DNS on your router or any other device. Since any router can use a smart DNS, it's a good way to blanket your network with geo-unblocking for any device.
Smart DNS services are also cheaper, because you're not paying for encryption and massive amounts of data center bandwidth. VPN prices keep creeping up, especially for the tiers you'd actually want for good performance.
Smart DNS isn’t unstoppable
You've probably noticed that some online stores and streaming services know when you're using a VPN , because they keep a banned list of VPN server IP addresses . The only reliable way to get around this is to use a VPN with a dedicated IP address, which is indistinguishable from a regular computer on the internet.
Sadly, some services have also figured out how to bypass a smart DNS. Basically, all they have to do is perform a cross-check of some sort. If you're listed as being in the US, for example, then why is the closest CDN in a different country? Why is your IP address somewhere else, why does the location service on your phone report a different country? That sort of thing can defeat smart DNS if a service wants to go to the trouble.
That said, with a little research (or by using a free trial) you can determine if it will work for your needs.
When you should still use a VPN
A smart DNS is just an alternative to a VPN when it comes to geoblocking, but since it offers no privacy protection, you should not use a smart DNS if you want to hide your traffic from your ISP or if you want to mask your real IP address.
