DNS-Trick Reviews

DNS-Trick is actually not tricky at all; you are in for a user-friendly experience once you log in. Setting up the company’s smart DNS has a few easy steps. First, you have to temporarily change the DNS address of your device to the ones DNS-Trick supplies you. These are indicated multiple times, even before registration. Then, in order to actually initiate a connection, you have to make sure that the addresses you entered check in inside your dashboard as well. After you made the modifications, the official website instructs you to restart your browser, but we suggest you restart your device altogether, to be completely sure. Nevertheless, once you logged back in and everything checks out, you are good to go. If you do encounter a problem, we recommend submitting a query to DNS-Trick’s support staff.

The dashboard will probably be your best friend as a DNS-Trick user. You can reach all important aspects of service from that page alone. For example, there is a large, highlighted button indicating automated setup for Linksys routers. And, at the bottom of the dashboard page you will find the only more rare feature of the smart DNS service: a Dynamic DNS tool. If you enable this feature, your IP address will automatically be updated. This can be very useful if you want at least some form of protection, in this case, an indirect method. Overall, the features of DNS-Trick are average, but you do not need much more if your main aim is to stream restricted websites online.

In terms of the selection of channels, there is some good and bad news. The bad news is that there are only two countries supported: the USA and the UK. Also, there are only sixty different entertainment websites you can unblock, though these cover the most popular ones like Hulu, Netflix, Amazon, Spotify, BBC and so on. The good news is that since DNS-Trick is so fine-tuned to these countries, you get quality service. But keep in mind that any smart DNS service is “only” good for getting access to websites you otherwise cannot even view. For example, if you cannot load Spotify in, now you can; but if you want to subscribe to Spotify’s service itself, you still have to pay for it. A smart DNS is not a hack program – you should think of it as an online access tool.

We would also like to call attention to the channel list itself: there is a brief introduction added for each, which is quite pleasant. Some of them are noted as being present in other countries, but you, the customer, will get to view the U.S. or UK version of any given domain.

DNS-Trick does not have a VPN counterpart to it. This is not that surprising, given the fact that their service is so focused on just a few high quality smart DNS channels.

DNS-Trick has a decent privacy policy. The amount of information they collect is not a lot; it is only restricted to the website, not the actual smart DNS service itself. When you register to the website, your name, e-mail address, and location is stored. Since going for the free trial is generally recommended by the company, billing info is only needed if you decide to become a subscriber. The actual smart DNS connections’ details are not logged. In our opinion, this might actually be true in the case of DNS-Trick, as their DNS addresses are publicly displayed on their main page, further indicating a rare openness towards the audience.

In terms of security, you are not better nor worse than with most other smart DNS services: you do not any inherent protection, like encryptions, for example. In return though, the regular speed of your internet connection is preserved.

As mentioned before, DNS-Trick has pretty good device support, especially when it comes to routers. Apart from manufactured models, the so-called flash routers (high performance devices) are also welcome, both on DD-WRT and Tomato. There are four brands supported: Netgear, TP-LINK, D-LINK and Linksys. In the case of the latter, you can even have the router itself do the setup instead of you. Of course, there are handheld machines and operating systems supported as well. You can use DNS-Trick on Android, Apple TV, iOS, Mac OS X, PS 4, Xbox One, Windows 10, 7 and XP. Oddly enough, Windows 8 and Vista seem to be left out, along with a lot of set-top boxes. However, we would like to emphasize that routers are the most effective gateway to bypass restrictions online, and DNS-Trick does a great job at making this scenario happen.

The approach DNS-Trick employs towards pricing is fantastic – they do not want to goad you into a potential purchase you perhaps do not need. The company strongly encourages you to try out their 14-day free trial first, to see for yourself if their smart DNS is good for your liking. After the two weeks are over, you can choose to upgrade your account to be a subscriber, or cancel it. It is worth noting that there is no difference between the free trial and the paid version of their product.

As for the prices themselves, they are also very appealing. One month of DNS-Trick only costs $3.99 – this is usually the discount price of the next cheapest companies. Then, the three-month package is 13% off at $3.49 per month ($10.49). Half a year fares even better with $3.16 per month ($18.99), but their best offer is the annual one, which bears a 30% discount at $2.79 per month ($33.49). This basically means that you get four months of free smart DNS if you opt for the longest duration. Regardless of the slim selection of channels, this is one of the most price-efficient trades on the market, but only for those who are interested in U.S. and UK content primarily.

In terms of payment options, you have PayPal only, but with the help of it, you can complete transactions with Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover, again highlighting the specialized nature of the company.

First and foremost, DNS-Trick relies on its ticket submission system to help out those in need. With every message, you are required to validate it with a safety code – this is rare and a good addition. Apart from this method, you can also send the company an e-mail, or you can deliver an enquiry via Twitter or Facebook. There is a Google+ account as well assigned to them, but that is mostly reserved for news. DNS-Trick actively seeks out their audience’s wishes. If you have a channel you would like to see unblocked by the organization, feel free to contact them!

All in all, DNS-Trick is not as deceptive as its name suggests. You are presented with a “classic” scheme for smart DNS, with an extra topping of user-friendliness. The only disadvantage of the service is that it has only sixty channels. The list is expanding, but for now, it is slim. However, if you are interested in UK and U.S. content only, you should not be disappointed. DNS-Trick is not a money-hungry company; they give you the opportunity to get a taste of their service first, and two weeks of it is fine. If you want to enjoy smart DNS for longer periods of time, you can also subscribe, at almost record-low prices.