News | Internet and Networks. The public DNS service dns0.eu has announced its immediate closure, leaving a short notice on its homepage and recommending users migrate to alternatives like DNS4EU or NextDNS. The news caught thousands of users by surprise who had configured their mobile devices and routers with dns0 resolvers—especially the zero.dns0.eu variant, popular for its security filter against
“The dns0.eu service has been discontinued. We would have liked to keep it running, but it was not sustainable for us in terms of time and resources. We recommend switching to DNS4EU or NextDNS.”
(Message displayed on dns0.eu website)
The company hasn’t shared usage figures or costs but clarifies the reason: it was not sustainable in terms of time and resources. The closure arrives after months in which part of the community reported intermittencies and high latencies at certain operators and, in some cases, IPv6 issues. For many users, the immediate recommendation is clear: DNS4EU (a European public initiative) and NextDNS (offering a limited free plan and affordable premium options). From Spain, several readers also mention ControlD and AdGuard DNS for granular filtering, and Quad9 or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) if you prefer filter-free resolution with good performance.
What dns0.eu offered and why its shutdown matters
dns0.eu presented itself as a public resolver focused on privacy and security, driven by part of the team involved in NextDNS. Its proposal stood out for somewhat uncommon features among free DNS, such as the automatic blocking of very recent domains (typically, <30 days since registration), an effective tactic against phishing and malware campaigns that leverage “hot” domains. For families and small businesses, that extra layer became a “set and forget” solution with a good balance between protection and simplicity.
The core issue is well known: maintaining an anycast resolver with DoH/DoT, telemetry, 24/7 security, and geographic presence costs money and hours. Without recurring income or institutional support, many non-commercial projects tend to recede. In its farewell message, dns0 highlights two clear paths forward: DNS4EU — which does have public funding and already hosts servers in Spain with malware, ad, and adult content blocking — and NextDNS, offering advanced filtering by profile and device statistics, with DoH/DoT.
User reactions: quick migrations… and some technical clues
Early in the day, many comments flooded in from users who found themselves with “no data” on their mobiles, pages that didn’t resolve, or apps that couldn’t log in. Several threads show two recurring patterns:
- Prior intermittencies with zero.dns0.eu on certain operators (e.g., some cases with IPv6 on DIGI and erratic behavior in other networks), while IPv4 responses remained normal.
- Users who did not use AWS but depended on dns0 resolver across their entire network (router) or on each device, and who after the shutdown migrated to DNS4EU, NextDNS, or ControlD. On mobiles, those who already had DoH enabled on their system switched providers in seconds.
For those seeking live lists of public DNS — with filtering, by country, with DoH/DoT, etc. — several communities recommend DNS gratis, a directory that maintains comparisons and recommendations focused on privacy, security, jurisdiction, and performance.
Realistic alternatives based on use case
1) DNS4EU (European public DNS, with server in Spain)
- Joindns4.eu/for-public | Focused on public protection with malware blocking, ads, and adult content. Low latency from Spain, with DoH/DoT and EU jurisdiction.
2) NextDNS (fine-grained filtering by profile)
- nextdns.io | Limited free plan and affordable premium. Rules for young domains, anti-tracking/ad blocking lists, device statistics, DoH/DoT on mobiles and desktops. Very useful for families and users wanting control without setting up servers.
3) ControlD / AdGuard DNS (category-specific filtering granularity)
- ControlD offers filtering levels (malware, adult, social media, gaming…) and DoH/DoT.
- AdGuard DNS specializes in ad and tracker blocking at the DNS level.
- Both have free plans and paid options for custom lists and device management.
4) “Clean” resolution (without default filters)
- Cloudflare (1.1.1.1), Google (8.8.8.8/8.8.4.4), and Quad9 (focused on anti-malware). Reliable, with DoH/DoT; useful as a “lifeboat”.
Practical tip: set up two resolvers (primary and secondary) from different providers. That way, if one degrades, you’re not left in the dark.
Quick guide to changing DNS (2–3 minutes per device)
Android (Private DNS / DoH)
Settings → Network & Internet → Private DNS → “Provider hostname” → paste the DoH host of your choice (DNS4EU/NextDNS). If your Android lacks this option, edit each Wi-Fi network: Network → Edit → Advanced options → IP Static → DNS 1 / DNS 2.
iOS / iPadOS
Settings → Wi-Fi → tap “i” on your network → Configure DNS → Manual → add DNS 1 and 2. For DoH/DoT, install the profile from the provider (NextDNS/AdGuard) or use apps like 1.1.1.1.
Windows 11/10
Settings → Network & Internet → Change adapter options → right-click your interface → Properties → TCP/IPv4 → Use the following DNS server addresses (and repeat with IPv6 if applicable).
macOS
System Preferences → Network → interface (Wi-Fi/Ethernet) → Details → DNS → + to add (IPv4/IPv6). Save.
Router
Access 192.168.1.1 (or your management IP) → Internet/WAN or LAN/DHCP → DNS → add primary and secondary (and DNSv6 if using IPv6). Save and restart if prompted.
Verification
Test with nslookup/dig (e.g., nslookup example.com) and check which server responds. In NextDNS, you’ll see if your ID is active.
Current questions (and quick answers)
Why did data and apps “drop” when dns0.eu closed if I don’t use AWS?
Because your DNS resolution depended on dns0, and when it stopped responding, your domains could no longer resolve. Even if an app isn’t hosted on AWS, if your DNS doesn’t work, the app won’t either: DNS is the Internet’s phonebook.
Which alternative is most similar to dns0 in terms of security?
NextDNS allows activating the “young domains” block, as well as malware and tracking lists. DNS4EU offers malware, ad, and adult content blocking, with servers in Spain and EU jurisdiction.
Is DoH/DoT better than traditional DNS?
If possible, enable DoH/DoT (HTTPS/TLS): they encrypt requests and persist when switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data. On routers, use reliable traditional DNS with good anycast, and if compatible clients are available, enable DoH/DoT.
Where can I compare free, filtered DNS options without getting lost?
Visit dnsgratis.com: it maintains an updated list of free, filtered DNS options, with pros and cons for users, families, and small businesses.
Market perspective: sustainability and “Plan B”
The dns0 case reminds us that even highly valued services can shut down overnight if there’s no funding or team to keep the anycast network and security up-to-date. For users and admins, two lessons:
- Don’t rely on a single resolver: set up two from different providers.
- Have a “lifeline”: knowing how to change DNS on your devices saves you hours of outage time. On mobile, DoH makes switching seamless in seconds.
DNS often remains invisible when everything works perfectly. The dns0.eu shutdown has served as a reminder—through a simple line of text—that DNS remains critical infrastructure on the edge of our networks. With DNS4EU, NextDNS, and other solid options available, migrating today is as quick as copying and pasting two addresses; the rest is redundancy planning so that the next news update finds you still connected.