- You want to access the world's wealth
of geoblocked entertainment.
But it looks like there are a few different tools
that can get the job done.
So what's the difference and which one should you pick?
In this SmartDNS Review,
I'm going to look at what this tool is,
when to use it and how it differs
from other geo-unblocking tech.
But first, for more relevant tech reviews every week,
please hit that sub button.
And how do you access your favorite streaming platforms?
Please share your thoughts down below.
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SmartDNS, VPNs, and proxies can all
help you access geoblocked content.
But what is SmartDNS?
How is it different from VPNs and proxies?
And what are the pros and cons of using
this tool for streaming?
Okay, so SmartDNS is a tool
that lets you access geoblocked websites
without a drop in Internet speeds.
How does SmartDNS work?
I'll explain briefly without getting too technical.
Each site has its own numbers-based IP address,
kind of like a very long street address.
To make it easier for us humans to use and remember,
these IP addresses have corresponding names,
like netflix.com.
The database that contains these names
and corresponding IP addresses
is called the Domain Name System, or DNS.
Your ISP servers usually translate the site names
you type in to one IP address.
SmartDNS moves to this event
to a SmartDNS proxy server that you choose.
This makes it look like you're trying to access the site
from that server's location.
Because it involves the DNS process,
SmartDNS is mostly useful for websites.
It is less useful for the rest of your Internet traffic.
So in general, you'll use it to access geoblocked sites.
Especially if security isn't your main concern
and you wanna continue using the Internet like normal
with the rest of the processes on your device.
If you wanna access geoblocked content
and you're looking for inexpensive options
or you aren't too worried about online privacy,
if you wanna access bandwidth-heavy sites
or content where the Internet speeds really matter,
if you haven't found a VPN that supports your device,
or you wanna use lots of different devices for streaming,
these are all reasons why you might use SmartDNS.
It may sound like SmartDNS is similar to VPNs and proxies,
but the way they work
and what they do is actually quite different.
SmartDNS doesn't change your IP address
for the server you're contacting
and it generally works best for geo-unblocking on the web.
Meanwhile, a proxy can be set up on various apps,
including your browser, torrent client, you name it.
More importantly,
since your traffic goes through an intermediary server,
the website you're visiting will see the proxy's IP address
instead of yours,
which could be good or bad depending on the situation.
For example, it adds a degree of online privacy,
but you may not be allowed to access your company's network
and you may trigger IP-based security authentication.
Proxies also slow your Internet speeds more
than SmartDNS does.
VPNs take things a step further by encrypting your traffic
using complex algorithms as well as sending all of it,
regardless of which app you're using,
through one or more extra servers.
This is a really solid tool for protecting you online.
However, it's slower again than proxies
and it affects all your traffic.
So SmartDNS has a very focused approach
compared to VPNs and proxies.
And it's faster because it doesn't modify your traffic.
There are some great VPNs out there
that include SmartDNS tools in their offerings
as a separate feature
to allow you to watch streaming content from your devices
that don't have access to VPN apps.
You can use a SmartDNS, proxy, VPN for both online privacy
and security and for times
when you wanna access geoblocked content
without changing your IP address.
Check out the libraries
that some of my favorites can access.
The SmartDNS NordVPN service unblocks Netflix Originals,
HBO Now, Amazon Prime, Disney+,
several Fox channels and ABC Go.
The EpressVPN smart DNS tool is called MediaStreamer
and it unlocks Amazon, Disney+,
Netflix US, Hulu, BBC and ITV.
The smart DNS Surfshark service unblocks Netflix US,
Hulu, and Disney+.
Guys, SmartDNS works on many devices
that connect to the internet
because to set up you just need to tweak the DNS settings.
It's a good solution for devices
that don't usually have VPN app support.
Keep in mind though
that a smart DNS service can't unblock everything.
For example, smart DNS Netflix access is often limited
to the US library or Netflix Originals.
You can't unblock the rest of the world's Netflix libraries.
Very few services offer smart DNS HBO Max access.
So check out a Smart DNS provider server library
and accessible sites before committing.
With VPNs, that is often easier to do
because they have money-back guarantees
or free trials for you to test.
Finally, a lot of big streaming platforms, like Netflix,
have banned smart DNS, VPNs, proxies,
or any technology that overwrites their geoblocks.
You probably won't be suspended for using these tools,
but it's good to be aware of those risks.
What are your thoughts on accessing geoblocked content?
Please share them with me down in the comments.
If you wanna browse the latest, hottest deals on top VPNs,
visit the link in the description,
and for more in-depth tech reviews and tutorials,
check out my channel.
Thanks for watching.
(light rhythm music)