Guides
DNS profiles in FollowNet: Quad9, Cloudflare, and when to switch
Custom DNS does not replace VPN encryption — here is how presets work on iOS and what they actually change.
DNS vs the VPN tunnel
The VPN encrypts traffic to the FollowNet server. DNS decides which resolver answers name lookups. Changing DNS can improve filtering or latency feelings, but it is not a second VPN and it does not hide you from a malicious site you already opened.
Built-in presets
FollowNet ships practical presets: system default when you want carrier or router behavior, Cloudflare for a fast public resolver, Quad9 when you care about malware-oriented blocking, and AdGuard DNS when ad filtering at resolve time is the goal. Pick one in Settings without installing another app.
When to leave system DNS alone
Some captive portals and enterprise networks break if you force a public resolver too early. On hotel Wi‑Fi, finish the portal login first, connect VPN, then switch DNS if you still need it. Travelers often keep Smart Connect on and DNS on a known preset after the portal.
Privacy notes
Any DNS provider sees the domains you resolve. Read FollowNet’s Privacy Policy for how DNS is handled with the tunnel. Prefer a preset you trust over random “fast DNS” lists from forums.