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Duck DNS VS OpenDNS

Compare Duck DNS VS OpenDNS and see what are their differences

Duck DNS logo Duck DNS

Free dynamic DNS hosted on Amazon VPC

OpenDNS logo OpenDNS

OpenDNS provides faster and safer Internet access for your home or Business.
  • Duck DNS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-26
  • OpenDNS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-22

Duck DNS features and specs

  • Free Service
    Duck DNS offers its dynamic DNS service free of charge, making it accessible for individuals and small businesses without any additional cost.
  • Simple Setup
    The service provides an easy and straightforward setup process, allowing users to quickly configure and start utilizing the dynamic DNS.
  • Supports Multiple Domains
    Users can manage multiple subdomains under a single account, which is useful for handling various services or devices.
  • Integration with Popular Services
    Duck DNS is compatible with various routers, NAS devices, and other services, making it versatile for different network environments.
  • Minimalistic Interface
    The website and user interface are clean and minimalistic, which helps users navigate and manage their domains without confusion.

Possible disadvantages of Duck DNS

  • Limited Support
    Being a free service, Duck DNS has limited customer support, which can be an issue if users encounter complex problems or require immediate assistance.
  • No Custom Domains
    Duck DNS only supports subdomains under their own domain. Users cannot use their own custom domain names with the service.
  • Lack of Advanced Features
    The service may lack some advanced features found in paid dynamic DNS solutions, such as detailed analytics or enhanced security options.
  • Potential Downtime
    As a free service maintained by a small team, there is a potential risk for downtime or service outages, which can be problematic for critical applications.
  • Renewal Requirement
    Users are required to periodically renew their subdomains to keep them active, which can be inconvenient if someone forgets to renew on time.

OpenDNS features and specs

  • Improved Security
    OpenDNS offers robust protection against phishing attacks, malware, and botnets by blocking access to known malicious domains.
  • Enhanced Control
    Users get granular control over website access, enabling custom filtering to block inappropriate or unsafe sites, which is especially useful for parents and schools.
  • Faster DNS Resolution
    OpenDNS aims to provide faster domain name resolution, potentially reducing the time it takes to load websites compared to using ISPs' DNS services.
  • DNS Uptime
    With globally distributed servers, OpenDNS ensures high availability and reliability, minimizing the risk of DNS outages.
  • Detailed Analytics
    OpenDNS provides insightful web usage statistics and reports that can help identify trends and potential security threats.
  • Device Compatibility
    It is compatible with multiple platforms and devices, making it easy to configure on routers, computers, and mobile devices.
  • Ease of Use
    The service is straightforward to set up, often requiring only a simple change in DNS settings on your device or router.

Possible disadvantages of OpenDNS

  • Privacy Concerns
    By using OpenDNS, users are subject to its terms of service and privacy policy, which may involve data logging and sharing with third parties.
  • Limited Free Features
    The free version of OpenDNS has limited features compared to the premium offerings, which may not be sufficient for all users.
  • Potential Circumvention
    Tech-savvy users or devices can potentially circumvent OpenDNS filtering by manually changing DNS settings to another provider.
  • Dependency on Third-Party Service
    Relying on an external DNS service introduces an additional point of dependency, which could be problematic if the service experiences outages or disruptions.
  • Geographic Performance Variations
    Performance improvements in DNS resolution speed may vary based on geographic location due to the proximity of OpenDNS servers.
  • Complex Configuration for Advanced Features
    Utilizing some of the advanced features, like custom filtering and detailed analytics, may require a more complex configuration that could be challenging for non-technical users.
  • Limited control on Pure DNS Services
    Since OpenDNS modifies DNS requests for security and filtering purposes, users needing pure DNS services without any changes may find it restrictive.

Analysis of Duck DNS

Overall verdict

  • Duck DNS is a solid choice for those needing a basic, straightforward dynamic DNS solution, especially when cost is a concern. However, it may not offer the advanced features and robust support that larger, paid DNS services provide.

Why this product is good

  • Duck DNS is a free dynamic DNS service that is relatively easy to set up and use. It is particularly useful for individuals and small businesses who need a simple, cost-effective solution for managing dynamic IP addresses. Its integration capabilities with popular home automation platforms like Home Assistant make it a popular choice among tech enthusiasts.

Recommended for

    Individuals, small businesses, and tech enthusiasts looking for a free, simple dynamic DNS solution. It is particularly well-suited for users who require integration with home automation setups or personal projects.

Analysis of OpenDNS

Overall verdict

  • OpenDNS is generally regarded as a good choice for users looking for enhanced internet security and customizable filtering, making it a strong option for both personal and enterprise use.

Why this product is good

  • OpenDNS is renowned for its robust security features, including phishing protection, parental controls, and DNS-level blocking of malicious websites. It provides fast and reliable DNS resolution, which can enhance internet speed and browsing experience. The platform also offers customizable filtering policies and is easy to set up for both individuals and businesses.

Recommended for

    Families seeking to implement parental controls, businesses needing to safeguard against cyber threats with minimal infrastructure changes, and individuals looking for improved online safety and reliability.

Duck DNS videos

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OpenDNS videos

OpenDNS - #2 - OpenDNS Review

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to secure home network using OpenDNS
  • Review - IN DEPTH: openDNS

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Duck DNS and OpenDNS)
Domain Names
100 100%
0% 0
Security & Privacy
0 0%
100% 100
DNS Tools
47 47%
53% 53
DNS
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Duck DNS and OpenDNS

Duck DNS Reviews

The Best Dynamic DNS Providers
Duck DNS is a solution for home users or club websites because it only offers subdomains and won’t host your own domain name. That rules out its use by businesses. The setup for this service is a little technical and so people with rudimentary Web server understanding would be able to use it.
Best Free Dynamic DNS Providers
Duck DNS is a free dynamic DNS service that’s easy to use and configure. It’s an open-source project that supports multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. You can set up your Duck DNS domain name in just a few minutes and start using it right away. Duck DNS integrates with most routers and supports IPv6, making it a great choice for small networks.

OpenDNS Reviews

Best Free Firewalls for Windows, Mac & Android in 2024
Note that OpenDNS Home works best alongside Windows’ built-in firewall. Since it’s not a complete firewall software, you’ll need another firewall to properly monitor incoming and outgoing traffic to help block network intrusions. All things considered, though, OpenDNS Home is a great free solution to improve online safety.
Source: www.wizcase.com
Best DNS servers of 2022: Boost your internet speed with these free, public services
Google's support site offers only very basic guidance targeted at experienced users, warning that "only users who are proficient with configuring operating system settings [should] make these changes." If you're unsure what you're doing, check the tutorials from a provider such as OpenDNS, remembering to replace its nameservers with Google's: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4.
Best DNS Servers to Use for Free in 2022
Again, for users concerned about their children’s Internet safety, OpenDNS offers a service called OpenDNS FamilyShield that blocks adult content (available at the servers 208.67.222.123 and 208.67.220.123).
Best free DNS servers: 14 options to check out
Owned by Cisco, OpenDNS has two free options: Family Shield and Home. Family Shield is good for parents who want to make sure their kids can’t access inappropriate content. Home focuses on internet safety and performance.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, OpenDNS should be more popular than Duck DNS. It has been mentiond 11 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Duck DNS mentions (2)

  • How do I get the connection open?
    If a changing public IP is the problem, take a look at duckdns. Source: over 2 years ago
  • How to use reresolve-dns.sh?
    Why don't you use Dynamic-DNS like https://duckdns.org and have the pi send your IP to the DDNS with script automated to run every 30 mins in crontab. That way you don't need anything like what you talked about and your DDNS would update from the very same pi that you are running the pi on! Source: almost 4 years ago

OpenDNS mentions (11)

  • Multiple DDNS configs?
    I've been using the DDNS option in the UI to sync with no-ip.com, so that I can remotely access my NAS via Wireguard, and this works great. However, my new router no longer supports DDNS without subscription. I need another DDNS client to sync with opendns.com, to get content filtering and parental controls, as my new router has no options for this. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Evaluating DNSfilter
    We have used opendns.com for this for years. Might take a look at them. Source: about 2 years ago
  • What does this error message mean? How/where do I change the URL?
    Can you visit opendns.com on your home network? The problem likely that site is getting blocked, and can't use the API to get the public IP of your box. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Firefox detected a potential security threat and did not continue to calyxos.org
    This might be an issue with my DNS provider. I use opendns.com to filter my DNS queries. They're giving the following reasons for blocking the site... Source: over 2 years ago
  • Wi-Fi web filtering
    If all users need the same level of filtering, opendns.com is free and works great. You need a way to forward DNS requests to the Open DNS server, such as a typical Windows DNS. Source: about 3 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Duck DNS and OpenDNS, you can also consider the following products

FreeDNS by Afraid.org - Free DNS hosting, lets you fully manage your own domain. Dynamic DNS and Static DNS services available. You may also create hosts off other domains that we host upon the domain owners consent, we have several domains to choose from!

1.1.1.1 - The free app that makes your Internet safer.

No-IP - Dynamic DNS and Managed DNS Provider

Quad9 - Quad9 is a free, recursive, anycast DNS platform that provides end users robust security protections, high-performance, and privacy.

ClouDNS - ClouDNS is a platform that allows users to keep their websites, data, and network security all the time.

NextDNS - Block ads, trackers and malicious websites on all your devices.