In this article, the limelight would be focused on both VPN and DNS. Readers would also find how VPN service outclasses DNS in all forms of service. Both VPN and DNS have one thing in common and that is the purpose for which these two services are utilized by the subscribers. Restrictions such as geographic restriction, internet censorship, private firewalls etc. would prevent the user from viewing certain websites.
Restrictions
There are a lot of different types of restrictions imposed on internet users. Geographic restriction would prevent the user from viewing certain contents in certain countries. Websites streamed in US might not be available for internet users in Canada or Mexico and that is due to the licensing agreements that these websites would not have obtained in other countries. Every website specific to any particular country should have obtained licensing agreements in that country in order to stream their contents. Geographic restriction is imposed mainly to have a check on those who have obtained licensing agreements and those who have not.
Internet censorship is another form of restriction wherein governments, organizations and other bodies block certain websites within their particular country or region or zone. Internet censorship practices are very rigid in countries such as China, Pakistan etc. Internet users would not be able to access most of the popular sites such as Google, You Tube, Facebook, Twitter etc. Another type of restriction comes in the form of private firewalls which are mainly used by business organizations, schools and other bodies to protect certain websites from being accessed within their campus. Pornographic websites, video contents and other anti-social contents are the ones which would be blocked under this category.
How does a DNS Solution operate?
DNS is an address which would be linked to every single internet user’s activity. DNS solution means this particular address would be changed and as a result of that, the user would be able to stay away from any form of restriction imposed. ISP based restrictions and government agency restriction of websites can be avoided through this. If users are going to make use of this option, they should know the fact that, their original IP address would not be modified under any circumstance. The technique with which a DNS solution operates is that, when the internet user tries to log on to any blocked websites; their query would be redirected to a server located in a different country.
The country which the DNS Solution redirects would not have restrictions imposed on the website that the person is trying to access. By this way, without changing the original IP address, users would be able to access all the blocked websites i.e. let us say an internet user situated in Australia wants to access contents that are streamed in UK, then their original IP address would remain the same, but the changed DNS address would redirect the user to a server located in UK and with that, the user would be able to access UK based websites.
There is a drawback of using DNS Solution and that is, there is an equal chance that, the ISP might block the access to the internet user. Reliability is an issue here and this particular solution would not be permanent for the internet user. This is the one and major drawback of DNS Solution. Coming to the advantages of using DNS Solution, it provides high speed internet connection to the user at a very low cost. DNS Solution would suit individuals who use multiple devices since DNS Solution would provide access to multiple devices.
How does a VPN Solution operate?
The reason why we have studied DNS first and then moved on to VPN is because; VPN has a clear edge over DNS. The main difference in operation of a VPN Solution from that of a DNS is that, in this method, the original IP address of the subscriber would be hidden and it would be replaced by another country’s IP address. The country’s IP address replaced here would be based on the user’s choice i.e. if they want to access US based contents, then the replacement IP address would be the US IP address which would be provided by the US server operated by the VPN service provider.
Since, the original IP address of the internet user is replaced in this method of VPN, the original identity of the user would be completely hidden. Thus, the data activity of the user would be kept anonymous. There is no possibility for hackers and snoopers to track down the internet activity of the user and this is one of the major advantages that VPN offers to its subscribers.
Every VPN service provider would have their own servers operating from different countries. There are VPN service providers that operate from more than 40 to 50 countries, which mean that these VPNs would have servers operating from these countries. VPN servers are responsible for providing a tunnel based internet network to its subscribers. The tunneling effect is made effective through encryption bit protocols. 256-bit encryption is provided by few of the VPN service providers and this is the best secured network available. VPNs offer their network on different protocols such as PPTP, L2TP, IPSec, OpenVPN, SSTP etc. Different protocols are operated by different VPN providers; similarly certain devices would support only few types of protocols. Subscribers would have to choose a VPN service based on the device they are going to use for the VPN connection and choose the provider who offers the one which can be used on it.
Most of the VPN companies have launched their own mobile applications which they could use on their Android, Apple, Blackberry and Windows based smartphones. Smartphone users and business organizations would be able to get an efficient service only from a VPN solution and not from DNS. Security and anonymity provided by VPN is another key advantage of VPN solution. Confidential business communications, data and file transfers across different countries and business centers can be protected only using VPNs. The drawback of DNS, which is the traceability, is completely overcome by VPN.
So called disadvantages of VPNs
The following features mentioned below as disadvantages are specific to certain users, whilst for others it would be a retreat.
- Virtual Private Network comes at a certain cost for the subscribers. Monthly subscription fee would have to be paid by the subscribers. Business organizations would not be considering the cost that they would have to incur, but individual users would consider twice before signing up for a VPN service considering the cost factor. VPNs might cost the subscriber but, the benefit that it offers to the users is quite amazing and would worth every penny spent by the subscriber. Long term VPN subscribers would be able to obtain discounts.
- VPNs can be used to connect only few devices whereas DNS can be used to connect numerous devices. But, with the help of router based VPN setup, subscribers would be able to connect multiple devices to the VPN connection.
VPNs edge over DNS Solution
Keeping these so-called disadvantages aside, VPNs have a considerable edge over DNS solution. Data encryption is the top most level of security provided by VPNs which is not provided by any other service. No other service would provide such a benefit like a VPN and that is the reason why VPN has won over DNS solution. As we know the clear winner of the discussion done in this article, now we can discuss about the best VPN service providers.
Highly rated VPN service providers
The benefits that we have discussed so far can be obtained by the user only if they sign up with one of the best VPN service providers. It is very difficult to find out the best VPN provider since most of the highly rated VPNs would not advertise much and those who come out are the ones who would lure the subscribers with attractive offers and even state that, they would offer certain features like no other VPN service provider. In the below section, you would find the best 5 VPN service providers and this list is generated after thorough research on all grounds.
| Rank | Provider | Starting Price | Money Back | Visit Provider |
| 1 | ExpressVPN | $6.67 /Month | 30 Days |  |
| 2 | Hidemyass | $6.55/ Month | 30 Days | |
| 3 | iPVanish | $10.00/Month | 7 Days | |
| 4 | StrongVPN | $21/ 3 Months | 7 Days | |
| 5 | VyprVPN | $14.95/Month | 7 Days | |
