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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, 2026โ€ขReviewed 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
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธUS

US data laws

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ญCH

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

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ

Cisco

VS
Switching to
Quad9 logo

Quad9

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ญ

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

  • โœ“Quad9 blocks access to known malicious domains, enhancing security.
  • โœ“Quad9 servers are EU-based, ensuring GDPR compliance for EU users.
  • โœ“Quad9 offers optional end-to-end encryption for DNS queries.
  • โœ“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.