Virtual private networks, or VPNs, are incredibly useful if you’re trying to watch your favorite shows or movies while traveling abroad, but they’re not the only solution for accessing streaming libraries from other countries. Smart DNS services offer a lightweight way to change where streaming services think you’re connecting from, and they work with a wide range of devices that don’t support VPN apps, like smart TVs, game consoles and Rokus. A bunch of top-tier VPN providers, including NordVPN, ExpressVPN and Surfshark, offer smart DNS services, or you can find other options that focus more on the smart DNS component.

Here’s everything you need to know about using a smart DNS platform instead of, or alongside, your VPN for an optimal streaming experience.

What is a smart DNS?

Smart DNS services are a type of proxy that provides similar location-changing functionality to a VPN, but without any privacy benefits, and usually without the ability to mask your public IP address. You can use a smart DNS to easily and quickly access region-restricted content, such as foreign Netflix, Amazon Prime Video or Disney Plus libraries. 

A Domain Name System, or DNS, works like an address book for the internet. The underlying protocols that run the internet use public IP addresses to send your traffic to and from web servers, but trying to remember each IP address for the sites you want to visit would quickly become impossible. Instead, websites use domain names, which are human-readable. Domain name servers keep a record of each site’s IP address, so when you request a domain name, a DNS server will return the IP address associated with it.

A smart DNS allows you to bypass geographic restrictions by rerouting DNS queries that reveal your location. For example, when you access a streaming service like Netflix or BBC iPlayer, the device you’re streaming on will ask a DNS server for the service’s IP address. A standard DNS server will make the request based on your closest location, but a smart DNS server will automatically reroute your request so you appear as though you’re in the location that'll unblock the content you’re trying to access. The streaming platform sees this request and allows you to access the regional content library you want.

To use a smart DNS, all you need to do is go into your device’s network settings. Then, change the IP of the DNS server you’re using from your device's default to one offered by your smart DNS provider. Many of the best VPN providers offer smart DNS services.

How a smart DNS differs from a VPN

While a VPN routes all of your traffic through a remote server using an encrypted connection, a smart DNS generally only changes the specific DNS requests used to connect you to a website. A smart DNS doesn’t encrypt any of your actual web traffic, and it doesn’t hide your public IP address, so you miss out on privacy benefits. A smart DNS is a type of proxy, where your device’s automatic DNS settings are replaced, so your web traffic is routed through a proxy server that your provider offers. 

There are actually some advantages to this approach. Because a smart DNS doesn’t create an encrypted tunnel to route your traffic, there’s no extra bandwidth overhead or latency penalty from using an intermediary server, meaning you may experience faster internet speeds than with a VPN. A smart DNS typically causes little to no speed loss compared with a VPN. That can be crucial on slower connections, where a VPN might mean the difference between smooth 4K streaming and constant buffering.

A smart DNS is also useful when you’re working with devices that don’t support a full VPN app. Although most VPN providers offer client apps for a range of devices, including desktops, mobile phones, streaming devices and routers, there are still a bunch of platforms where you can’t install a VPN client app. If you’re trying to stream on a smart TV that doesn’t natively support VPNs (like many LG and Samsung TVs), Roku or a gaming console, configuring your DNS settings to use a smart DNS service will allow you to stream foreign content libraries.

However, there are a few issues with using a smart DNS. Using a VPN is as simple as installing an app and opening it up, but setting up a smart DNS service requires going in to your device’s network settings and changing the IP of the DNS server you’re requesting. It’s a little more involved and requires some technical knowledge, but it’s not too difficult if you’re following a guide.

The real problem with relying solely on a smart DNS is that it doesn’t encrypt your traffic. Your ISP can see your internet traffic (like what websites you visit or apps you use) and your public IP address isn’t hidden. A smart DNS offers practically no privacy benefits, so you’re better off using a VPN if you’re concerned about the visibility of your internet traffic.

Why should you use a smart DNS with or instead of your VPN?

VPNs and smart DNS services both have particular use cases. Having access to both gives you the flexibility to unblock streaming services on devices that don’t natively support VPNs or in low-bandwidth environments while still being able to encrypt your traffic when the situation calls for it. Many premium VPN providers now include smart DNS functionality as part of the base subscription, so you won’t need to choose between the two.

Streaming services such as Netflix can be pretty good at detecting VPN traffic and blocking it, although we’ve found that our top VPN picks all unblock dozens of regional Netflix libraries. In these cases, a smart DNS can sometimes succeed where a VPN fails because it doesn't rely on a VPN’s IP address (which might be part of a streaming service’s blacklist). The actual traffic you send looks more like regular traffic to a streaming service because it’s coming directly from a residential IP address, since a smart DNS offers location-changing benefits but doesn’t mask your IP. 

How to set up a smart DNS for streaming

Setting up a smart DNS varies slightly depending on your device, but the general process follows the same pattern. First, you'll need to register your IP address with your smart DNS provider. This tells their servers to accept requests from your network. Bear in mind that most home internet connections use dynamic IP addresses that can change periodically, so if your smart DNS stops working, you should check in your provider’s dashboard to see if the right IP is registered.

Then, you'll change the DNS settings on your device to point to the smart DNS servers instead of your ISP's default DNS.

For example, to set up a smart DNS on your TV, you’ll need to navigate to your TV's network settings, find the DNS configuration option and enter the DNS server addresses provided by your smart DNS service. It’s the same process for most gaming consoles, too.

You can also cover all of the devices in your house under a smart DNS configuration by inputting your DNS settings on your router. That’s pretty handy if you’re regularly adding new devices to your network and don’t want to configure your smart DNS on each individual device, but you should be aware that this will only work for devices that aren’t already using static DNS settings. If they are, the DNS settings on that device will supersede your router-level settings.

Otherwise, it’s the same process as setting up a smart DNS on any other device. Log in to your router's admin panel, find the DNS settings and replace the default DNS servers with your smart DNS provider's addresses. Every device on your network will then route through the smart DNS servers automatically.

If you need extra help, top-tier VPN providers like NordVPN and ExpressVPN offer detailed setup guides for configuring smart DNS applications.

What's a good smart DNS service for streaming?

There are plenty of excellent VPN providers that also offer smart DNS services bundled with their core VPN package. That means you won’t need to choose between the flexibility a smart DNS delivers or full-on encryption from a VPN. However, there are a bunch of terms out there for what is essentially the same service.

ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer comes with every ExpressVPN plan and works across a range of devices, including Apple TV and gaming consoles, as well as routers. NordVPN also offers a smart DNS through a service called “SmartPlay,” which automatically detects when it’s necessary to route your traffic through an alternate DNS server. Both of these providers have fantastic reputations for unblocking access to streaming sites. In our testing, we found both NordVPN and ExpressVPN among the best VPNs for streaming.

Surfshark used to offer smart DNS services, but as of the beginning of February 2026, it’s been discontinued due to a lack of consumer interest, according to the company. Many dedicated smart DNS providers, such as SmartDNSProxy, usually bundle a smart DNS as part of a VPN package. Still, there are some services, like Getflix, that focus mostly on offering smart DNS functionality, with a VPN included as a bonus feature.

With that in mind, if you have privacy concerns, we recommend sticking to audited VPN providers with strong no-logs credentials when choosing a smart DNS service. Although a smart DNS service isn’t handling all of your traffic, the sites that you choose to look up can tell a third party a lot about your activity on the internet (and therefore, your personal life). 

Making the most of a smart DNS and VPN together

Smart DNS services and VPNs aren't competing technologies. Each one shines in different situations. A smart DNS excels at providing fast, buffer-free access to geo-restricted streaming content, especially on devices that can't run VPN apps. VPNs provide privacy that smart DNS providers lack, hiding your online activities from prying eyes.

By choosing a VPN provider that includes a smart DNS in its subscription, you gain the flexibility to use the right tool for each situation. Stream your favorite shows on your smart TV with a smart DNS for maximum quality, then switch to your VPN when you're working remotely or using public Wi-Fi.

Plus, you can use smart DNS and VPN services on their own or simultaneously for privacy and geo-blocking. For instance, you can use a VPN server close to you but smart DNS settings in a geographically distant country for fast speeds, a private connection and geo-unblocking capabilities. While the fastest VPNs work for streaming content from faraway regions, if your VPN struggles when set to a distant country, you might want to use a smart DNS for streaming and a VPN for privacy.

Together, VPNs and smart DNS services form a complete toolkit for accessing content and protecting your privacy.