SmartyDNS

smartydns
3.7 / 5.0
3.7/5
  • Jurisdiction: Romania
  • Advanced Privacy Features: Kill Switch
  • Number of Servers and Countries: Servers in 15 Countries
  • Streaming and P2P: Yes

Using a VPN and smart DNS service can provide better security, privacy, unblock geo-restricted content from around the globe, and even improve your internet speeds.

In this SmartyDNS review, we’ll break down what this VPN and smart DNS provider has to offer. We’ll give you an in-depth look at its features, security, privacy policies, speeds, and more to help you decide if this is the best service provider for you.

What is SmartyDNS?

smartydns review

SmartyDNS is a smart DNS service provider that also offers VPN services to give you online privacy and access to geo-restricted websites. The company was founded in 2013 and started with just smart DNS services. SmartyDNS has grown over time and has expanded its services to now include VPN.

SmartyDNS’s focus is providing access to worldwide entertainment by unblocking geo-restricted content and bypassing firewalls. The service encrypts your traffic for privacy and doesn’t slow down your internet speeds. The added VPN services protect your data.

This service keeps your geo-location and ISP identity private, and using SmartyDNS also prevents websites from tracking your preferences, creating a profile on you, and giving you annoying and invasive ads.

Jurisdiction and Privacy Laws

The privacy jurisdiction of SmartyDNS is in Romania. Romania has a strong commitment to data privacy, and there are several laws in place there, including the E-Privacy Law, Data Protection Law, the E-Commerce Law, and Law 190. Before processing sensitive data, they require the express prior consent from the data’s owner.

The National Supervisory Authority for Personal Data Processing guarantees the right to data privacy and enforces the adherence of companies to data privacy laws. Romania takes data protection very seriously and is, therefore, a competent jurisdiction to be in for a VPN.

How Transparent is SmartyDNS?

On the SmartyDNS website, it clearly states that it has a no-logging policy and requires no personally identifiable information. You simply need an email address to sign up. While SmartyDNS does not log your online activity, it gives you the option to store your logs on your own for the purpose of getting support if any problems occur with their service.

According to the privacy policy, SmartyDNS may store personal information about you that you give to them, including billing information.

The privacy policy states that they may send personally identifiable information to third parties with permission when processing payments or for court orders or subpoenas. However, they maintain that they do not log any of your online activities while using their services.

This policy is pretty standard for a typical VPN service and doesn’t raise any alarms.

In 2017, the Open Source Technology Improvement Fund audited OpenVPN, which is also used by SmartyDNS, and found two minor security vulnerabilities in the software. These weaknesses weren’t a threat to users. Instead, they gave a potential window of opportunity for malicious third-parties to disable the service. SmartyDNS quickly updated its software and fixed these vulnerabilities.

What Devices Does SmartyDNS Support?

smartydns apps

SmartyDNS provides apps for the majority of major platforms, including Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Fire TV, Chrome, and Firefox. However, SmartyDNS does not provide an app for Linux. You can download the apps directly from the website or iTunes and Google Play.

Installation only takes a few minutes in most cases. If you’d like to use SmartyDNS on other devices like Playstation, Xbox, Roku, and Smart TVs, it’s definitely possible, but it will require a manual configuration.

Smart DNS Service vs. VPN Service

smart dns

SmartyDNS provides two different services, smart DNS and VPN, and they include both when you sign up for a service plan subscription. You can toggle both the smart DNS and the VPN on or off from within the client.

A smart DNS service’s primary function is to allow you to unblock geo-restricted content. A smart DNS server intercepts your connection request to a website and identifies any data that reveals your geographical location. The DNS server then replaces that data to make it look like you’re in the location of the content you’re trying to access.

A VPN, on the other hand, is a virtual private network that masks your IP address. The VPN encrypts your connection requests and assigns you the IP address of the server you connect with. All outgoing and incoming data is encrypted to protect it.

The main difference is that VPNs use encryption, and smart DNSs don’t. You may sometimes choose only to use a smart DNS because VPNs can sometimes slow down your internet speeds, and some VPN servers may be restricted to access streaming services.

Choosing a service provider that provides both services, like SmartyDNS, can give you the best of both worlds and allow you to use both services in different situations.

SmartyDNS Chrome and Firefox Browser Extensions

vpn chrome extension

SmartyDNS also provides browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox, so you don’t have to boot up the client every time you want extra security or to unblock a website.

You can download the extensions from the website’s download page, and then install them to your browsers.

SmartyDNS Features

  • ? High-speed servers — SmartyDNS’s servers are very fast and work well for streaming online videos and movies and gaming online.
  • ? High-security protocols — SmartyDNS takes strong security measures to keep your online activity private using protocols like OpenVPN, SoftEther, L2TP/IPSec, PPTP, SSTP, and IKEv2.
  • ? Strict no-log policy — SmartyDNS deletes your online activities from its servers immediately upon ending your session.
  • 5️⃣ Up to 5 simultaneous connections — You can install the SmartyDNS apps on as many devices as you like and are able to use five devices at the same time.
  • ? User-friendly Client — SmartyDNS includes a beautiful client that allows you to access everything you need in one place and is easy to use, even for those new to VPNs.
  • ✅ Unlimited bandwidth — SmartyDNS does not slow down your internet speeds or put a cap on the amount of data you can send or receive while using their service.
  • ? Access to geo-restricted websites — SmartyDNS provides access to geo-blocked content around the world, including the US, UK, and more.
  • ? Kill switch — If your VPN connection goes down, the kill switch will shut down your internet access so you’re never exposed and vulnerable.

SmartyDNS Servers Network

SmartyDNS has high-speed servers, but their server network is a bit limited compared to many other VPN service providers. Smarty DNS currently provides servers in 15 countries:

  • United States
  • United Kingdom
  • Canada
  • France
  • Italy
  • Poland
  • Russia
  • Netherlands
  • Germany
  • Spain
  • Switzerland
  • Romania
  • Australia
  • Singapore
  • India

While SmartyDNS doesn’t provide as many servers as some of the other available VPN service providers, it does have servers in many popular locations, and the speeds of the servers are very fast. Some of SmartyDNS’s servers are also P2P and torrenting-friendly.

SmartyDNS for Unblocking Websites and Streaming Services

SmartyDNS’s strongest selling point and what it’s best known for is its ability to unblock geo-restricted websites and streaming services. It’s one of the best Smart DNS server providers for unlocking content.

SmartyDNS provides access to over 100 channels, including Netflix US, Amazon Video UK, Hulu, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer. You can find the impressive complete list on their website.

Their compatibility with FireTV and many other devices makes it very simple and enjoyable to stream all your favorite shows and movies from around the world to whatever device you like.

For P2P File Sharing and Torrenting

If you share P2P files often and need a VPN with torrenting capability, SmartyDNS provides several servers for those users. Not all VPN providers allow P2P traffic, so the fact that this company offers dedicated P2P servers is a plus.

SmartyDNS servers are fast and high-end encrypted and allow unlimited bandwidth, so torrenting shouldn’t be a problem.

P2P-dedicated servers are available in these locations:

  • Netherlands
  • Germany
  • Spain
  • Switzerland
  • Romania

SmartyDNS Free Options

free smart dns

There’s no completely free VPN option, but you can sign up for a three-day SmartyDNS free trial. When you register for the SmartyDNS free trial, you get full access to all the features of the VPN and smart DNS services. The company doesn’t require any signup fees or for you to provide any credit card information.

For those who’ve tried SmartyDNS, the company does provide an opportunity to gain access to a lifetime of free VPN and smart DNS services.

If you’re a blogger, you can post a 500 word or more review about SmartyDNS to your blog with at least one do-follow link to the SmartyDNS website. The company says they will have the final say of whether or not it is eligible to earn a free account, and the review must stay permanently posted to your blog.

SmartyDNS Pricing

smartydns pricing

SmartyDNS offers four different pricing options, based on the duration of your subscription:

  • One Month — $5.56
  • Three Months — $13.26
  • One Year — $34.96
  • Two Years — $55.96

The two-year signup offers the best value and works out to $2.33 per month. Compared with other premium VPN providers, this is a very reasonable and affordable price.

SmartyDNS accepts a wide range of payments, including all major credit cards, PayPal, Alipay, Webmoney, Yandex Money, Boleto Bancario, and Qiwi.

There is the option for a free three-day free trial and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Refer a Friend Program

SmartyDNS offers a referral program with incentives for encouraging your friends to sign up. For every friend you enlist, you and your friend both receive a free month of service from SmartyDNS. You must be signed up for an active premium package to receive the free service month.

SmartyDNS Alternatives

If SmartyDNS doesn’t sound like what you’re looking for, here are some comparable alternatives to check out:

Summary

Overall, SmartyDNS is a versatile service provider that gives you the best of both worlds when it comes to smart DNS and VPN service. The prices are affordable, and they support many types of devices with unlimited bandwidth and speed.

SmartyDNS doesn’t slow down your internet speeds and allows you to unblock geo-restricted content to watch over 100 streaming channels worldwide. This service provider is an excellent choice for those you want unrestricted access to websites and the ability to hide their IP address in certain situations for more security.

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