There are several solutions for accessing blocked streaming sites or apps: VPN, Smart DNS, proxies. The one that brings you the smoothest streaming experience is Smart DNS, as it does not involve any encryption. For those using their MacBooks to relax after a long day, I am going to explain how to set Smart DNS on Mac.

Set up Smart DNS on Mac [Summary]

Setting up Smart DNS can be done in a matter of seconds. On Mac, you need to get to the macOS DNS settings and alter the DNS with server addresses provided by the Smart DNS service.

• Prerequisites:
  • A Smart DNS account.
• Setup:
  • Step 1: Get to the Network > DNS settings.
  • Step 2: Add the Smart DNS server addresses.
  • Step 3: (Recommended) Restart your Mac.

The Smart DNS alternative to unblocking channels is the well-known VPN (Virtual Private Network) technology. Even though VPN is slower than Smart DNS, it may be the only solution for certain media sites. In case you are interested in setting up a VPN on Apple Mac OS X, I recommend reading our tutorial.

Why use Smart DNS on Mac?

Smart DNS is a technology that can be used to unblock popular geo-restricted websites like Netflix, Hulu, or BBC iPlayer easily.

The main advantage of Smart DNS over VPN is that it does not involve any data encryption. Thus, the streaming speed is as good as your regular Internet connection can achieve.

Smart DNS uses proxy servers to bypass geo-restrictions, but it does not hide your public IP address. You should remember this and do not assume that Smart DNS offers any protection against data leaks and hackers.

If you want to use your Mac for watching your favorite show on a restricted streaming channel, you have two great options: VPN and SmartDNS. As mentioned above, Smart DNS is (most of the time) faster, but it involves some initial manual setup. However, it can be done in several minutes. Read on to see how to get started.

How to set up Smart DNS on Mac

Firstly, you need access to the IP address or the name of a Smart DNS server. There are several good Smart DNS providers you may subscribe to for a reasonable price. You will find our recommendations later in the article.

You will get access to one or two IP addresses (to have a backup solution if the primary server is down or blocked).

For example, if you choose the Smart DNS solution offered by Surfshark, you should log in to the Surfshark account and, from the left menu, click on Smart DNS. You will see the two DNS addresses available. Additionally, you need to Activate your current IP address such that you are granted access to the Smart DNS service.

Once you have the address(es) of the Smart DNS server(s), you have to follow this step-by-step tutorial:

1. Open System Preferences from the top left of your screen.
2. Click on Network.
   
3. Select the network you are connected to (Wireless or Ethernet) and click the Advanced button.
4. Access the DNS tab.
   
5. If there is any DNS listed, select it and press the “-” button (delete it).
6. Press the “+” button and enter the IP address of the SmartDNS server. In case, you have more DNS server IPs, repeat the process.
7. You are done with the DNS settings. It is advisable to restart your Mac.
8. Some SmartDNS services are able to verify the connection. Thus, you may log in into admin panel offered by the provider and check your connection status. If no such option is available, simply try to unblock the desired streaming channel. If everything is properly set up it should work smoothly.

An alternative to the above-explained setup is to change the DNS settings on your router. This may be a little bit more complicated, but you may achieve access to the desired channels on all devices connected to the router (on Wi-Fi or Ethernet cable).

Troubleshooting your Smart DNS connection

In case you are not able to access a specific streaming site, you may try one of the following:

• use another browser (if you access the channel with a web browser);
• clear the browser cookies;
• try the Incognito mode.

If you are still unsuccessful, you should contact the support team of your Smart DNS provider.

Smart DNS services for Mac

You may use any Smart DNS service on your Mac as the only required setup is to add the DNS addresses to the macOS DNS settings (as presented above).

However, we recommend subscribing to the SmartDNS services that also offer access to VPN. Thus, if the Smart DNS service is not able (temporarily or permanently) to unblock your favorite channel, you have the backup option to use the VPN.

Additionally, you may switch from Smart DNS to VPN when you get slow speed. SmartDNS is usually faster than VPN, but you may experience low-quality streaming due to DNS server issues.

We have tested several such SmartDNS+VPN services, and we gladly recommend you try one of the following: StrongVPN, CactusVPN, Surfshark, NordVPN. All these services have great compatibility, and you may use them on iOS (iPhone, iPad), Android, Windows, Mac, Linux.

Summary

Smart DNS is a great technology for unblocking streaming channels or various media channels. To set it up on Mac, you need to configure the macOS DNS settings such that the provider’s servers are used. We recommend subscribing to a Smart DNS provider that also offers access to VPN such that you have an alternative to unblock what you desire.

Have you found our article on how to set up Smart DNS on Mac useful? If so, subscribe to our newsletter! We will let you know when we publish new articles, and you will make a Transylvanian baby-bat happy.

Need to access your favorite content on Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, or other geo-restricted channels? Smart DNS is a solution that is not only easy to set up but also faster than VPN. This does not mean that you have to choose between Smart DNS and VPN. You may have access to both. This article lists the best Smart DNS services offered by top VPN providers.

Smart DNS is a technology that can easily unblock streaming channels from all over the World. There are two main benefits of Smart DNS: it offers great speed while accessing streaming content, and it can be installed on devices that are not VPN-enabled.

This article briefly explains what SmartDNS is, emphasizes its advantages, explains why VPN providers have embraced the technology, and lists the best Smart DNS services that we have tested.

What is Smart DNS, and what are its main advantages?

Smart DNS is a technology that can unblock geo-restricted streaming channels like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, HBO, Hulu, BBC iPlayer.

Unlike VPN, which can also be used to access streaming sites, Smart DNS does not hide your IP address nor encrypt your data (more details regarding VPN vs. Smart DNS can be found here). It solely redirected requests to streaming sites through proxy servers from different locations (e.g., in the United States for accessing Hulu or Amazon Prime). Thus, the proxy server plays the middleman role and facilitates a connection between your device and the streaming servers.

When Smart DNS is enabled, the ISP-assigned DNS (Domain Name Server) address of the device is replaced with the Smart DNS server’s address. When you access a streaming channel that the service can unblock, the streaming servers’ requests are redirected to a proxy service that does the trick of changing the request’s location.

The main advantage of unblocking streaming websites or apps with SmartDNS is that the approach does not slow down your connection (as no encryption is performed). Of course, the downside is that Smart DNS does not provide the same level of privacy and anonymity as a VPN.

Another significant advantage is that SmartDNS can be set up on devices not VPN-enabled, for example, on Smart TVs. Thus, such a service can unblock streaming services directly on your TV without extra tweaks.

Why are VPN providers offering SmartDNS services?

Some VPN providers have decided to include a Smart DNS service along with the VPN offer. This is a “smart” decision as it brings benefits to both the users and the providers:

• The Smart DNS technology offers better speed and greater stability for online streaming compared to the VPN (Virtual Private Network).
• It is a complementary service, and clients may use both Smart DNS and VPN.
• Smart DNS can be used on devices that do not support VPN connections.
• Unblocking streaming channels consumes a lot of server bandwidth. The Smart DNS technology reduces the load on VPN servers and lets the users in need of encryption benefit from smoother and faster connections.

What you need to run SmartDNS

Smart DNS can be set up on a large variety of operating systems (Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android) and devices: desktops, mobile devices (Android, iPhone, iPad), gaming consoles (PlayStation, Xbox), Smart TVs (Sony, Samsung, LG), Apple TV, Roku, routers.

You don’t need to install anything. The manuals setup consists of modifying the DNS settings of your device or an app. Also, some SmartDNS providers offer the functionality of setting up the DNS from within the VPN apps (which are easy-to-use VPN software).

Before you start installing SmartDNS, you need to get the IP(s) of the Smart DNS server(s). You may usually find the DNS IP in the tutorials provided by the SmartDNS service.

Next, you need to modify the DNS settings for your device. For example, on Windows 10, you have to:

1. Search for the Control Panel.
2. Click on Network and Internet and, further, on Network and Sharing Center.
3. Next, on the left side, click on Change adapter settings.
4. Right-click on the interface through which you are connected to the Internet and click “Properties.”
5. Uncheck the Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) option.
6. Double-click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).
7. In the General tab, select Use the following DNS server addresses and enter the DNS server address provided by the SmartDNS service.
8. You may check the Validate settings upon exit. If you do, the Windows Network Diagnostics will start after you click the OK button, and it will check the DNS settings.
9. It is advisable to restart your computer.

After you have finished the Smart DNS setup you may load the streaming website or the streaming app.

Important! A Smart DNS service will unblock only specific streaming services listed on the provider’s website. It is not an unblocking technology that works on any website.

VPN providers that offer the best Smart DNS services

For some time now, VPN services have successfully integrated the Smart DNS technology in their services. The most well-known services that popularised SmartDNS were Overplay.net (now part of StrongVPN) and StrongVPN with its StrongDNS. Other VPNs followed, and now there are plenty of VPN providers that offer SmartDNS.

Of course, several services only offer SmartDNS, like SmartyDNS, SmartDNSProxy, or Unlocator. However, we consider that VPN services with SmartDNS bring more value for the money as they offer alternatives to unblocking streaming content.

Now, let’s get started with the list.

[1] StrongVPN

StrongDNS is the name of the Smart DNS service offered by StrongVPN. And, it is exceptional. The number of unblocked channels is fantastic and the exposed features are very useful.

To get started with SmartDNS, you need to create a StrongVPN account first. Next, from the Customer Area, click the StrongDNS link. You will be redirected to the StrongDNS website to continue with the setup.

From the Setup Instruction page click on the Configure your channels button. You may turn StrongDNS on or off for your IP address.

The best part is that you have a large selection of channels; for each channel, you may choose a country/location (if available), and you may see on which devices StrongDNS works. For example, you may unblock Netflix from one of the many locations listed but only from your browser.

Other advantages of Strong DNS:

• You may update your IP using the URL provided on the Setup Instruction page.
• You may set it up easily on DD-WRT, Tomato, Sabai routers (tutorials are available).

Overall, I consider StrongDNS the most advanced Smart DNS service offered by a VPN provider.

[2] CactusVPN

The Smart DNS service offered by CactusVPN is also impressive. It unblocks more than 300 streaming channels from many countries and locations, and it exposes several advanced features that may be useful in various scenarios.

You may use the service from devices located in one local network at a time. First, you need to validate the public IP address of your network (Admin area > Settings > Validate Your IP address), then change the DNS settings on your device(s) as shown in the provided tutorials. Next, you need to select the country/region you want to unblock (Settings > Smart DNS Manual Setup > Websites Region).

In case your IP address is dynamic and it gets changed a lot, you have several convenient options instead of logging in to the admin panel and validate the IP manually (as shown above):

• Validate your new IP address with an URL and access the URL every time your IP is changed.
• Use a Dynamic DNS service and set the domain to the CactusVPN admin panel (Settings > Smart DNS Advanced > Dynamic DNS Settings). Your IP will be updated automatically.

Several channels that may be unblocked by the CactusVPN Smart DNS service are listed below:

• US – Netflix US, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Hulu, Pandora, Crunchyroll, HBO Go, HBO Max, NBC, Fox, ESPN Player, etc.
• Canada – History, MTV.ca, ShowCase, CBC, SportsNet, CTV, CraveTV, TVA, TSN, etc.
• UK – BBC iPlayer, ITV Player, Channel 4, Channel 5, NowTV, Eurosport Player, Demand 5, Sky Go, etc.
• Germany – Zattoo Germany, RTL, Vox Now, Super RTL, Alles Kino, Arte Germany, 2DF, ZDF, ARD.de, DMAX, TV.de, Maxdome, SAT.1, etc.
• France – France.TV, France 1, France 2, France.TV Sport, myCanal, Canal Play, My TFI, Arte France, Molotov.TV
• Italy – Netflix, Rai Play, Infinity, Mediaset Play, Dplay Italy, NowTV Italy
• Poland – Netflix Poland, HBO Go, TVP.Pl, TVP VOD, iPla, VOD, KinoPlex, Nowa, WP, Vectra, etc.
• Switzerland – Zattoo Switzerland, Swisscom, Play RTS, Play SFR, Teleboy, Wilmaa, etc.
• Sweden – HBO Nordic, Plejmo, SVT Play, Viafree, UR
• Rusia – Wink, Amediateka, DivanTV, THT, Okko
• India – Disney+ Hotstar, Voot, Zee5, Star, TVF Play, MX Player, ALT Balaji, etc.
• Australia – 7 Plus, 9 Now, SBS, Fox Sports, Anime Lab, iView, Stan, Kayo, Binge.

[3] Surfshark

Surfshark includes access to their Smart DNS services without extra charge. You may activate it for one IP address at a time and it helps you bypass geo-restrictions for the US content (US Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, US Hulu, etc.).

To activate SmartDNS, log in to the Surfshark account and click on Smart DNS from the left menu. Your current visible IP address will be shown, and you may Activate Smart DNS for it. You may change it later if your IP address is changed. If you intend to use SmartDNS on a device from another network, type in the IP address corresponding to that device.

Next, you will see the DNS address you need to use for the Smart DNS setup on your device.

[4] NordVPN

NordVPN is one the best VPN providers available on the market, with excellent features, fantastic performance, and great apps. It also has a strict zero-log policy audited by independent IP security companies.

With the Smart DNS service offered by NordVPN you may access the following streaming services:

• ABC Go (US region)
• Amazon Prime (US region)
• Fox Now, Sports Go, News, Showtime (US region)
• HBO Now (US region)
• Disney Plus (German region)
• Netflix Originals

One IP address is supported, so you may use it on multiple devices, but located in the same network. Thus, if you use a router at home you may set the Smart DNS on all devices that connect to the router and share the same public IP address.

To activate Smart DNS, log in to the NordVPN account, click on the View Details button from the NordVPN service. Next, click on the Activate button from the Smart DNS section. Your current public IP address is picked up, and you will be granted access only to devices using this IP. You will receive an email with the DNS addresses and set up instructions.

Important! If you want to activate Smart DNS for a Smart TV, you may need to activate the service from the same network used by the TV.

[5] ExpressVPN

MediaStreamer is the Smart DNS service designed by ExpressVPN to help you unblock geo-restricted streaming channels. Even though the websites and apps that can be accessed using MediaStreamer are not listed, it seems that it works only for US-based channels (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, etc.).

To get MediaStreamer activated, login to the ExpressVPN account and select DNS settings from the left menu. You will get your current IP address registered.

Every time your IP changes, you need to update it to the ExpressVPN systems. You may select to have your IP address updated automatically. Thus, every time you sign in to the ExpressVPN website or use an ExpressVPN app, your current IP will get re-registered.

The last step is to set ExpressVPN DNS IP addresses to your device. Click the Configure DNS on this device to proceed.

Best Smart DNS FAQ

Summary

We have listed 5 VPN providers that offer access to their own Smart DNS service. The main advantage for you is that you may unblock streaming channels on devices that can not connect to VPN, such as Smart TVs and game consoles. Additionally, Smart DNS is faster than a VPN.

Do you know another VPN provider with Smart DNS that is not on the list? Feel free to let us know in the comments below.

Would you like to be notified when we add new VPN services to the Smart DNS list? Subscribe to our newsletter! It will make a Transylvanian baby-bat happy.