| Updated: January 18, 2025
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There is a significant difference between a VPN, Smart DNS, and a proxy. A VPN not only changes your IP address but also encrypts your internet traffic and offers advanced tools like a kill switch, dedicated IP, and Multi-Hop for enhanced online security.
In contrast, Smart DNS and proxy services only change your IP address, making it appear as though you are in a different country. While this is sufficient for accessing restricted websites or channels, it is inadequate if you are involved in activism or speaking out against the government.
With Smart DNS or proxy, your internet traffic remains unencrypted, allowing your ISP or government to intercept it and potentially trace your online identity. This could lead to severe consequences, such as fines or imprisonment, for speaking against the government.
Therefore, investing in a premium VPN is strongly recommended to protect your online activities and identity. This guide will help clarify the differences between VPNs, Smart DNS, and proxies and explain their distinct functionalities.
There are hundreds of tools availabe online, providing the best online security and privacy. We use VPNs when we need to hide our IP address and Smart DNS when we wish to access restricted content. But the question is which tool is the best and right choice for you.
You can hide your IP address with a proxy server and access geo-restricted content with a Smart DNS. But the best choice is a VPN, which can hide your IP address, encrypts your data and lets you access geo-restricted content online.
This article will discuss the benefits of proxies, Smart DNS, and VPNs. It will also explain when it is best to use any of these services and their pros and cons.
Each tool has advantages and disadvantages. Here are a few features of the three summarized for you so you can have an overview.
| Features | Proxy | Smart DNS | VPN |
| Unblocking restricted content | |||
| Anonymous Browsing | |||
| Data encryption | |||
| Change of IP address | |||
| Easy to use with customer support | |||
| Protects you from Hackers, ISP, etc |
So, which tool should you use? It depends on what you want to get out of that tool and your requirements. If you want to unblock a website then I would recommend a Smart DNS. If you are looking to hide your identity, then a proxy service is best for you.
However, if you want to get the best of both, then I would recommend a VPN over Smart DNS and proxy services. A VPN will change your IP address, encrypt your data, and unlock geo-restricted websites with a single click.
Additionally, a VPN provides extra security features like a kill switch and obfuscated servers, which add a second layer of security, strengthening your online privacy and security.
To put it simply, a VPN masks your IP address and encrypts your data. Your traffic is first sent to the VPN server before hitting the internet. The tool is widely used to protect online identity and privacy.
Overall, a VPN is the best tool for online security and privacy. It is preferred in countries with heavy surveillance and censorship laws. While VPNs have a few drawbacks, such as slower internet speeds and costs, their benefits far outweigh these disadvantages.
There are many benefits of using a VPN. Some of them are listed below:
There are a few disadvantages to using a VPN:
A VPN is considered the best online security tool. Here are a few occasions when using a VPN is necessary.
It is strongly advised to avoid using cracked VPNs offered at unbelievably low prices. They fail to secure your online activities and leave you vulnerable to online attacks
A proxy acts like a VPN but lacks security. It redirects your traffic through its server and changes your IP address but fails to encrypt your traffic. You can easily access restricted websites and applications with the help of a proxy server, but your ISP will know what you are doing since your traffic is not encrypted.
If you don’t care about anyone watching what you do on the Internet, use a proxy. However, a VPN is necessary if you are involved in activism or want to send sensitive files over the Internet.
A Smart DNS acts like a proxy, redirecting traffic through a DNS server located in another country. This changes your domain name server and allows you to access restricted websites and content from anywhere.
However, unlike VPNs, Smart DNS does not encrypt data, which means your ISP or government can see what you do online.
For those of you who don’t know the functionality of a DNS. Here is a simple explanation:
A DNS (Domain name server) converts your normal website name or URL address into a machine-readable address. Every device and website has a unique DNS through which they communicate, send, and receive messages.
As mentioned earlier, Smart DNS does not encrypt your internet traffic when used for streaming or gaming. I recommend using a VPN instead, as it provides access to the best VPN servers and encrypts your internet traffic using secure protocols. This ensures your safety and privacy while allowing you to stream anything from anywhere.
VPNs, proxies, and Smart DNS services are all essential in today’s world of censorship and restrictions. However, a VPN gives you an ample amount of options like unblocking, data encryption, fast and secure servers, etc, which are not available with proxies or DNS.
Proxies mask your IP address but can not encrypt your traffic. On the other hand, Smart DNS cannot hide your IP address or encrypt your traffic, but it is useful when accessing live sports events or watching movies on OTT like Netflix or Amazon Prime. You should also read our blog on these topics.
A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and creates a secure tunnel for data transportation. It uses secure VPN protocols like OpenVPN, WireGuard, or IKEv2 to encrypt your data, which will be decrypted at the receiving end.
Another advantage of a VPN is its ability to change your IP address, allowing access to regionally restricted content. Some VPN providers also offer a combined package of VPN and antivirus, ensuring the security of your online traffic and devices.
Smart DNS changes your IP address and routes your traffic through different servers. Security-wise, it is inferior to a VPN.
A VPN and proxy will change your IP address, but I recommend using a VPN because it encrypts your internet traffic and creates a secure tunnel for data transportation.
On the other hand, proxies do not encrypt your traffic but can virtually change your location.
VPNs are ideal for bypassing strict internet restrictions and firewalls. In countries with heavily regulated internet policies and laws against VPN usage, obfuscated VPN servers can be used to overcome VPN blocks. Proxies can not bypass the strict firewalls that governments have established.
Most premium VPNs include a Smart or custom DNS server as part of their service, available at no additional cost. I recommend testing your VPN when using a customer or smart DNS.
You can reach out to your VPN provider’s customer support to access the custom or Smart DNS offered by the service. Additionally, I have created a detailed guide with solutions to troubleshoot if your VPN is not working.
Mustafa is a cybersecurity analyst and a co-founder of VPN for What. Since 2017, Mustafa has gained international experience, working with governments, NGOs, and the private sector as a cybersecurity and VPN expert and advisor.
