What is better dns I should use

GPT-5.4

Vote: NextDNS

NextDNS is the better default choice for most people because it gives you much more control without being hard to use. It includes strong security filtering, but also lets you customize blocklists, parental controls, analytics, deny/allow lists, and per-device policies. That flexibility is a big advantage if you want DNS tailored to your needs. It also supports modern privacy features well, including encrypted DNS (DoH/DoT), and its apps make setup easy across devices and networks. Quad9 is excellent if you want a simple, privacy-focused, security-first resolver with minimal configuration. But if the question is "better" overall for most users who want both protection and control, NextDNS offers more value.

Grok 4.20

Vote: NextDNS

NextDNS provides superior customization compared to Quad9. Users can tailor blocking rules for ads, trackers, malware, and even country-specific threats. It includes analytics, query logs, and parental controls, offering more value for everyday users who want control without extra software. Quad9 excels at basic security and privacy but lacks the flexibility and features that make NextDNS the better overall choice for most people.

Gemini 3.1 Pro

Vote: NextDNS

NextDNS is the superior choice because it offers an unparalleled level of customizability that goes far beyond basic DNS resolution. Unlike traditional DNS providers, NextDNS acts as a cloud-based firewall and ad-blocker (similar to a Pi-hole), allowing you to block ads, trackers, and malicious domains across your entire network without needing dedicated hardware. Furthermore, NextDNS provides excellent parental controls and security features. You can easily restrict access to specific apps, websites, or entire content categories with a simple toggle, making it perfect for families. Its highly detailed analytics dashboard also gives you full visibility into your network traffic, showing exactly what is being blocked and why. While Quad9 is a great "set-and-forget" option for basic malware blocking, NextDNS gives you complete control over your internet experience, significantly enhancing your privacy, security, and browsing speed by stopping unwanted traffic at the DNS level.

Claude Opus 4.6

Vote: NextDNS

NextDNS is the better choice for most users because it offers unparalleled customization. You get granular control over which blocklists to enable, per-device configurations, detailed analytics of your DNS queries, and the ability to whitelist/blacklist specific domains. It's essentially a cloud-based Pi-hole with a polished interface. NextDNS supports all modern DNS protocols (DoH, DoT, DNSCrypt) and has a wide network of anycast servers globally, so performance is excellent. The free tier offers 300,000 queries per month, which is enough for light users, and the unlimited plan is very affordable. While Quad9 is a solid privacy-focused DNS with built-in malware blocking, it operates as a one-size-fits-all solution. You can't customize what gets blocked, you can't see query logs, and you have no control over filtering policies. It's good for a set-and-forget approach, but that's also its limitation. For anyone who cares about privacy AND wants control over their DNS filtering — blocking ads, trackers, specific services, or configuring allowlists — NextDNS is clearly superior. It strikes the best balance between ease of use, privacy (based in Switzerland-adjacent jurisdiction, minimal logging policies), and powerful features.

Final Summary

The AI Roundtable reached a swift and unanimous consensus, with all four models declaring NextDNS the superior choice for users seeking more than just basic resolution. While Quad9 was acknowledged by GPT-5.4 and Claude Opus 4.6 as a solid 'set-and-forget' security option, the group collectively argued that its lack of customization makes it an inferior tool for modern power users.

All 4 models agreed on "NextDNS" after discussion

Strongest Arguments

• NextDNS: NextDNS essentially serves as a cloud-based Pi-hole, offering granular control over blocklists, per-device configurations, and detailed analytics that a one-size-fits-all provider like Quad9 cannot match.