Smarty DNS is a SmartDNS service, just as the name implies. And while the the company does provide a decent VPN, this services really shines because of their well produced and very slick SmartDNS client. We think it might be an excellent choice for those who want something that can unblock geo-restricted content without slowing down their speed.
Pricing and Plans
Smarty DNS comes in packages priced based on the length of time you sign up for. The pricing is as follows:
- One month for $4.95
- Three months for $13.45
- Six months for $23.95
- Twelve months for $39.95
You can pay via PayPal, credit cards or a variety of other online processors, including Yandex, Webmoney and Alipay.
Free Trial / Money Back Guarantee
This service comes with a fourteen-day free trial. There is a thirty-day money back guarantee if you cannot access one of the sites that Smarty DNS is supposed to make available.
Privacy & Anonymity
This service does not log. Interestingly, though, they allow you to keep your own logs, which you can forward to support if you have some sort of an issue.
Torrent Policy
If you would like to use the upgraded account VPN offering. Be sure to set the country endpoint to the Netherlands.
Product Testing
Smarty DNS did it right with their client. It gives you all the options you need, including region, server selection and more. Turning on the SmartDNS is no more difficult than clicking the button on the top of the client. You can turn on logging on the options menu, giving you a good troubleshooting tool should you require it.
Windows, Mac OSX, Android, IPhone, etc.
There are clients for Windows and Mac. The Smarty DNS site has detailed instructions for other operating systems and devices.
Speed Test
This is a SmartDNS service and will not affect your speed.
IPCheck and DNSLeak
The DNS address, of course, was changed. The service does not hide your actual IP address.
Feature Summary
- Excellent client
- Unblocks many sites
- Easy setup
Countries Supported
We Liked
The client for this service is really outstanding. It’s one of the most hassle-free SmartDNS services we’ve tested.
Areas for Improvement
This company should add a VPN. Given the job they did with their SmartDNS service, they may do well in that area, as well.
Conclusion
If you’re not after encryption and just want to watch some streams from a part of the world that’s blocked out, Smarty DNS is a good option. Their client is very slick and, where it doesn’t work, they offer easy instructions for setting up their service on other devices. Their pricing is more than competitive with other options, as well.
Great article. The DNS option is better than using a VPN regarding content streaming because you can achieve direct connection with the media station ex. Netflix and avoid the “middle-man”.
smartydns is one of the worst service I have experienced. It did not geotrick anything let alone Netflix US. Their business practice is very shady as well. I highly discourage subscribing to the service.