The Difference Between DNS Managers and Resolvers

DNS manager services and DNS resolvers are related to how your computer accesses websites on the internet, but they serve different purposes and some confusion often arises when you start dealing with these terms. First, we need to understand what exactly DNS is.

The Domain Name System (DNS) is like a phonebook – or telephone directory – for the internet. It helps your computer find websites by translating their domain names into IP addresses. When you enter a website’s address, your computer sends a request to a DNS server. The DNS server then looks up the IP address associated with that domain name and sends it back to your computer. This process happens quickly and behind the scenes, allowing you to access websites with ease.

Manager services, such as Cloudflare, Amazon Route 53, Akamai’s Edge DNS, Google Cloud DNS and IBM’s NS1, manage the DNS records for a domain name. They provide instructions for handling requests, like creating subdomains, setting up email servers, and managing traffic to your website.

The resolving part is usually taken care by your ISP (Internet Service Provider) or VPS (Virtual Private Network), fetching DNS servers hosted by the services like the ones listed earlier. If you want more privacy or custom configurations, you can choose any resolver that fits your need, such as Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1, NextDNS, Quad9 and AdGuard DNS. They block malicious websites, offer encrypted DNS resolution, and prevent your ISP or VPS from tracking your web browsing activity.

In summary, DNS managers write to the phonebook of the internet, while DNS resolvers read it. Choose a reputable and secure provider for both services to ensure your privacy and security on the internet.

We offer full DNS management through our Support services, using Cloudflare, which we judge the fastest and most secure option available. Check our prices.