Cloud Flare launched their New 1.1.1.1 (we're going to just call it "One Dot" from now on)
DNS Server last year which promised to make your Internet connection faster and more private for free
Now, we already did a video talking about its benefits and why you might want to switch to it, which you can check out here.
But, since we released that video, Cloud Flare has launched an app that allows you to enable One Dot on IOS and Android with a single button
Easy, right? Everyone should just switch to it, right?
Well, it might not be quite that simple...
So as a quick refresher, the Domain Name System, or DNS is kind of like a phonebook for the internet
So just like when you tell your phone to call JZ and it looks up and dials JZ's number...
Hello?
Hey Hey! Is this JZ?
I told you not to call me at this number!
*Inhales*
Um... So, so yea...
Its Basically like that..
When you enter a website name in your browser, the DNS Resolver looks up the IP Address and connects you to the server.
Now, it's a touch more complicated, but that's all we really need to know for now.
Now by default, most devices use your internet service provider's DNS resolver
But ISPs have been known to collect and sell data on their users to advertisers and in some cases, block certain IP addresses from being accessed
Thankfully, there are many DNS services available that can help you avoid those issues with
1. Better Privacy 2. Better Security And, 3. even Better Speed
*inhales*
Including Google's public DNS, Open DNS, and of course, Cloud Flare's offering, One Dot
Now, usually, in order to change your DNS resolver, you have to go into your phones network settings and change it manually
AND! While on Android 9.0 Pie, you can just change it on a system wide level and forget about it,
on all previous versions of Android, and on IOS, you have to change it for each and WiFi network that you connect to!
AWW THATS THE WORST!!
So thats the problem that Cloud Flare is trying to solve with the One Dot App, on both Android and IOS,
it uses a VPN Profile to automagically direct all DNS Queries from your phone to 1.1.1.1, regardless of which WiFi, or even Cellular Network that you're connected to
I n N o V a T i O n ! !11!@!!11121
Weaa ai Wa well, I mean, actually there have been apps to do the same thing for quite a while.
Like the Paid DNS Override app on IOS, and DNS Changer on Android
However, using a VPN profile to change your DNS resolver creates another problem
particularly for people who use an actual VPN like Private Internet Access
*inhales*
So, you can't have two VPNs Enabled at once, that is unless you want to create like a self destructive VPN loop that could potentially collapse
the very structure of the space time continuum
*inhales*
Which means that you'll have to switch between using the One Dot VPN and your Actual VPN,
Depending on whether you're prioritizing speed or privacy
*inhales*
Now, as I mentioned if your phone is running Android 9.0 Pi, this isn't an issue and you can follow the steps
on screen to enable One Dot as you default DNS resolver in you network settings
So, no app, or VPN profile is required, then you can simply toggle your VPN on and off as you normally would
But then, I mean, hold on a second, why would you even need a VPN then, if One Dot makes the internet faster and protects you privacy?
*inhales*
Well, about that, it does protect you privacy compared to other DNS resolvers
But One Dot is not as private, or secure as a real VPN, like Private Internet Access
Wasn't sure if I mentioned our sponsor PIA in this video already, making sure I get that in there.
*inhales*
Rather, One Dot is kind of like a DNS server delivered in a VPN wrapper
*inhales*
So when you use it, your DNS Queries go through a VPN tunnel between your PC or Phone, and Cloud Flare's
Servers so no one except Cloud Flare can see those queries
And then Cloud Flare has committed to only keeping data logs for 24 hours after which they're purged.
*inhales*
Unfortunately, though using One Dot, your ISP, your cellphone provider and the WiFi network you're connected to can still see the site you visit
With a true VPN, both your DNS queries and your actual internet activity are hidden from everyone
That is, except the VPN company.
OHKAY so, a VPN is more private and secure than One Dot, but using a VPN usually has a negative impact on your internet speed.
As it takes a bit longer for all that data to get routed through an extra loop.
And that's how One Dot makes its case, Cloud Flare says that their service is faster and more private than other DNS services across the board.
Because they had already built this worldwide network of servers to provide their other web services like DDOS protection
*inhales*
And while DNSperf shows that Cloud Flare IS the fastest DNS resolver on average worldwide, just remember,
Your milage may vary depending on your location
And, another reminder, speeding up DNS resolution does make loading webpages feel snappier but it won't speed up
Actually downloading the data of the page, so if your internet plan is just slow or there's a lot of network congestion,
Or like, if Cthulu broke an underwater fiber line again, then there's nothing One Dot can do to help
Now, let's look at our results:
So, here in Vancouver BC, One Dot, traded the top spot with OpenDNS, Quad9, and the AdGuards DNS Service with those four usually resolving in under 10 milliseconds
On a Google Pixel 3
That is an order of magnitude faster than some other DNS providers, and this would result in a noticeable improvement in page load times
One One Hundredth of a second (0.01 Seconds) is a lot faster than than a tenth (0.1 Seconds)
Then, in our head to head test, with two Pixel 3s running on the ??? network, one with One Dot, and one without,
Our One Dot phone in particular when we loaded up a site, that we hadn't accessed recently, or ever before,
Almost always came out ahead
As for our ishould'vegottenanotherPhone Xs Max, this one was consistently faster with Cloud Flares App enabled as well
Compared to just of a vanilla Xs Max
So, There you have it!
Again, your milage may vary, but in our testing, OneDot WAS able to improve a our website loading responsiveness
and for FREE, both on WiFi, and when we were on the go.
So, should you use Cloud Flare's app on your phone? Sure. Most of the time, you'll get a snappier browsing experience, whether you're on WiFi or mobile internet
And, you'll gain a little bit more privacy while you're at it.
The only thing that we'd really like to see improved here is on Apple's side with IOS adding System-wide Private DNS Capability,
So that we could use it in conjunction with a VPN, but until then, having to press this one button, really uhh, it doesn't seem that hard.