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OpenDNS vs Quad9: Which Secures Your Data Better?

Explore how US-based OpenDNS and Swiss Quad9 prioritize your online privacy and security. Discover which DNS service offers superior protection for your sensitive data today.

Last updated: February 6, 2026Reviewed by Built in EU Team

Should You Switch to Quad9?

What You Gain

Enhanced privacy protections and full GDPR compliance.

Privacy advantage
Trade-offs

Potential loss of advanced features offered by OpenDNS.

OpenDNS has more features
Bottom Line

Switch if privacy is your priority; stay if you need advanced features.

At a Glance

Data Location
🇺🇸US

US data laws

🇨🇭CH

GDPR protected

Pricing

OpenDNS

Contact

Quad9

Contact

Migration
Medium difficulty~1-2 hours

Privacy & Compliance Comparison

Critical data sovereignty factors at a glance

CriteriaOpenDNSQuad9
Server Location
USEU
GDPR Compliance
Partial (SCCs)Full
Open Source
E2E Encryption
OptionalOptional
Data Portability
LimitedLimited

CLOUD Act Notice

OpenDNS is a US company and must comply with CLOUD Act data requests, even for data stored in EU data centers. Quad9 is not subject to US jurisdiction.

Switching from
OpenDNS logo

OpenDNS

🇺🇸

Cisco

VS
Switching to
Quad9 logo

Quad9

🇨🇭

Quad9

US Data Storage

Data subject to US CLOUD Act and may be accessed by US authorities

EU Data Protection

Data protected under GDPR with EU-only data residency

Certifications & Compliance

No certifications listed

EU-Based
Swiss hosted
Open Source
GDPR Compliant

Reasons to Switch

  • Quad9 blocks access to known malicious domains, enhancing security.
  • Quad9 servers are EU-based, ensuring GDPR compliance for EU users.
  • Quad9 offers optional end-to-end encryption for DNS queries.
  • Quad9 has a strong focus on user privacy, not logging IP addresses.

Things to Consider

  • !Migration may require reconfiguring network settings on devices.
  • !Quad9 lacks some advanced features available in OpenDNS, like filtering.
  • !Learning curve for users unfamiliar with Quad9's interface and options.
Migration difficulty:
Medium
~1-2 hours

Migration Overview

Full guide
Difficulty
Medium
Time Estimate
~1-2 hours

Depends on data size and complexity

Quick Steps

1

Create Quad9 account and configure settings

2

Export and prepare data from OpenDNS

3

Import data, test integrations, and migrate users

Other alternatives to OpenDNS

Ready to make the switch?

Start using Quad9 today and take control of your data privacy.