JustDeleteMe
Focus: delete account, digital declutter and directory. Shares privacy with Quad9. Adds Web, Chrome and Firefox. Same 4.6 rating.
WebsiteFreeWeb, Chrome
4.6Visit
Other
Quad9
A free public DNS service that blocks known malicious sites.
Rating
4.6 / 5
Pricing
Free
Difficulty
Intermediate
Works on
Cross-Platform
Built with love by Shushant Lakhyani. Building bestproductivityresources.com
What is Quad9?
Quad9 is a free public DNS resolver run by the Swiss-based, not-for-profit Quad9 Foundation. You switch your device or router to its DNS addresses, 9.9.9.9 and 149.112.112.112, instead of your internet provider's, and Quad9 then blocks lookups of hostnames on a constantly updated threat list to help guard against malware, phishing, spyware and botnets. There is no sign-up, account or contract, normal use does not log data containing your IP address, and connections can be encrypted where your system supports it.
Pros: what Quad9 does well
- Free with no account or contract
- Blocks known malicious domains for every app
- Set it once on your router to cover the whole home network
Cons: where it falls short
- Changing DNS settings feels technical at first
- Does not block ads or trackers
Who Quad9 is for
Households and small offices that want simple protection from malicious sites.
Who can skip it
People whose network already uses a filtering DNS service.
Quad9 alternatives
Not sold on Quad9? These do a similar job, and each card says what it has in common.
Privacy Badger
Focus: tracker blocking, eff and browser extension. Shares privacy with Quad9. Adds Chrome and Firefox. Same 4.6 rating.
Browser ExtensionFreeChrome, Firefox
4.6Visit
optimizerDuck
Focus: windows, optimization and performance. Shares privacy with Quad9. Adds Windows. Rated 4.4 (Quad9: 4.6).
Windows AppFreeWindows
4.4Visit
Tiny Little Office
Focus: office suite, documents and spreadsheets. Shares privacy with Quad9. Adds Web. Rated 4.3 (Quad9: 4.6).
Web AppFreeWeb
4.3Visit
Navidrome
Focus: music, streaming and self-hosted. Also in Personal Productivity and Digital Minimalism, like Quad9. Adds Web, macOS and Windows. Rated 4.7 (Quad9: 4.6).
Web AppFreeWeb, macOS
4.7Visit
Cal Newport's Study Hacks Blog
Focus: essays, focus and attention. Also in Digital Minimalism and Personal Productivity, like Quad9. Adds Web. Same 4.6 rating.
BlogFreeWeb
4.6Visit
Free alternatives to Quad9
Want to spend nothing? These free picks cover similar ground.
How to Rewire Your Brain to Enjoy Discipline
Focus: discipline, habits and dopamine. Also in Digital Minimalism and Personal Productivity, like Quad9. Adds Web. Same 4.6 rating.
YouTube VideoFreeWeb, Cross-Platform
4.6Visit
Deep Questions Podcast
Focus: podcast, focus and career. Also in Personal Productivity and Digital Minimalism, like Quad9. Adds Web, iOS and Android. Rated 4.5 (Quad9: 4.6).
PodcastFreeWeb, iOS
4.5Visit
LeechBlock NG
Focus: website blocker, browser extension and focus. Also in Digital Minimalism and Personal Productivity, like Quad9. Adds Chrome and Firefox. Rated 4.5 (Quad9: 4.6).
Browser ExtensionFreeChrome, Firefox
4.5Visit
MyPaint
Focus: digital painting, sketching and open source. Also in Personal Productivity and Digital Minimalism, like Quad9. Adds Windows, macOS and Linux. Rated 4.1 (Quad9: 4.6).
Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.1Visit
Have I Been Pwned
Focus: security, data breaches and passwords. Shares privacy with Quad9. Adds Web. Rated 4.8 (Quad9: 4.6).
WebsiteFreeWeb
4.8Visit
uBlock Origin
Focus: ad blocker, content blocker and open source. Shares privacy with Quad9. Adds Firefox and Chrome. Rated 4.8 (Quad9: 4.6).
Browser ExtensionFreeFirefox, Chrome
4.8Visit
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