Quad9 vs iCloud Private Relay
A detailed comparison to help you choose between Quad9 and iCloud Private Relay.
Quad9 Non-profit DNS resolver with threat blocking (9.9.9.9). | iCloud Private Relay Apple's privacy-focused internet relay for Safari. | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5 (432 reviews) | 4.2 (124 reviews) |
| Pricing Model | free | paid |
| Starting Price | Free | From $0.99/mo |
| Best For | Best for users wanting private and fast DNS resolution | Best for users seeking privacy and security tools |
| Free Tier | ||
| API Access | ||
| Team Features | ||
| Open Source | ||
| Tags | — | — |
Quad9
Pros
- + Free resolver; no account or sign-up required
- + Threat-blocking option for malicious domains
- + Supports DoT, DoH, DNSCrypt, DoH3, DoQ
- + States it does not store client IP addresses
- + Opt-in ECS endpoint for better CDN geolocation
- + Transparent block behavior and tester guidance
Cons
- - Not a VPN; websites still see your IP
- - ECS mode leaks partial client network info
- - NXDOMAIN blocking can confuse troubleshooting
- - No independent no-logs audit confirmed in sources
iCloud Private Relay
Pros
- + Two-hop design splits IP and destination visibility
- + ODoH protects DNS lookups from local networks
- + Integrated into iOS/iPadOS/macOS as a system feature
- + Keeps regional IP mapping to reduce site breakage
- + Included with iCloud+ plans (not a separate app)
Cons
- - Not a full-device VPN for all app traffic
- - Doesn’t let you choose another country/region
- - Can be blocked on work or school networks
- - Hard to validate logging without a public audit
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