I Switched from Google DNS to Cloudflare: Here’s the Real Speed Difference

For years, I left my router's DNS settings on "Automatic". I assumed my ISP (Internet Service Provider) was giving me the best connection possible. I was wrong.

After reading a few forums about gaming lag and slow page loads, I decided to run a simple experiment. I switched my DNS from the default ISP settings to Google Public DNS (8.8.8.8), and then later to Cloudflare (1.1.1.1).

I tracked the results for two weeks. Here is the honest truth about whether changing your DNS actually makes your internet faster.

Quick Refresher: What DNS Actually Does

If you already know this, skip to the next section.

When you type a website like youtube.com into your browser, your device doesn’t understand names – it understands IP addresses (a bunch of numbers).

DNS (Domain Name System) is like the phonebook of the internet:

• You type: youtube.com
• DNS finds: the IP address for YouTube’s servers
• Your browser connects to that address (for example, something like 104.237.160.0)

A faster DNS doesn’t increase your download speed from 50 Mbps to 300 Mbps, but it can:

• Make websites start loading faster
• Reduce the delay when opening new pages
• Make your internet feel snappier, especially when browsing a lot of different sites

If your ISP's "phonebook" is slow to answer, websites will feel sluggish to open, even if you have a 1Gbps connection.

The Setup: How I Tested

To get accurate results, I didn't just guess. I set up a controlled test on my home network using a TP-Link Archer AX55 router.

The Test Conditions:

• Location: Same spot in my living room.
• Device: My Windows laptop (wired via Ethernet to rule out Wi-Fi interference).
• Tools: ping command in Command Prompt and DNSBench for lookup times.
• Duration: 3 days per setting.

The Three Settings I Tested:

1. Default: My ISP's automatic DNS (Comcast/Xfinity in my case).
2. Google: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
3. Cloudflare: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1

Note: If you are on a different ISP, your default DNS might be different, but the process is the same.

The Results: What Actually Changed?

Here is where it gets interesting. The results were not what I expected.

1. Raw Download Speed

Did my Netflix stream faster? Did my game downloads finish quicker? No.

• ISP Default: 450 Mbps
• Google DNS: 452 Mbps
• Cloudflare: 448 Mbps

Verdict: Changing DNS does not increase your bandwidth. If you have a 100 Mbps plan, you won't get 200 Mbps by switching.

2. Time-to-First-Byte (TTFB) & Page Loads

This is where the magic happened. TTFB (Time‑to‑First‑Byte) measures how long it takes for a browser to start downloading a website after you hit Enter.

Here’s a simplified view of my results:

Test Scenario	ISP Default	Google DNS (8.8.8.8)	Cloudflare (1.1.1.1)
Ping to Google	24ms	18ms	12ms
Ping to Facebook	32ms	21ms	14ms
Avg. Lookup Time	45ms	28ms	11ms

My Observation:

• Google was a solid upgrade over my ISP. Pages felt slightly "lighter" to open.
• Cloudflare was a massive jump. Websites that used to take 1–2 seconds to "pop" into view now open almost instantly.

3. Gaming Latency (Ping)

I tested this while playing Valorant and League of Legends.

• ISP Default: Ping jitter was around 15–20ms.
• Cloudflare: Ping jitter dropped to a stable 8–10ms.

Result: The little lag spikes when switching maps or loading new areas basically disappeared.

Key Takeaway: If you are a gamer or someone who hates waiting for a webpage to load, Cloudflare was the clear winner in my location.

Why Did Cloudflare Win?

It comes down to geography and infrastructure.

• My ISP's DNS is often routed through a central hub that might be far from my house.
• Cloudflare has a massive network of servers in almost every city. My request went to a server just 15 miles away, not 500 miles away.
• Google is great, but in my region, their nearest node was slightly further than Cloudflare's.

Note: Your results may vary! If you live in a different country, Google might actually be faster for you.

How to Switch (In 2 Minutes)

You can change this on your Router (affects all devices) or just on your Computer (affects one device). I recommend changing it on the Router.

Option A: On Your Router (Recommended)

1. Type 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 into your browser.
2. Log in (check your router sticker for the password).
3. Look for Internet, WAN, or DNS Settings.
4. Change "Obtain DNS automatically" to Manual.
5. Enter:
   • Primary: 1.1.1.1
   • Secondary: 1.0.0.1
6. Save and restart your router.

Option B: On Windows

1. Press Win + R, type ncpa.cpl, and hit Enter.
2. Right-click your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) > Properties.
3. Double-click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).
4. Select “Use the following DNS server addresses” and enter the Cloudflare numbers:
   • Preferred DNS server: 1.1.1.1
   • Alternate DNS server: 1.0.0.1
5. Click OK, then close all windows.

Conclusion: Is Changing DNS Worth It?

If you are looking for faster download speeds (like downloading a 50 GB game faster), this won’t help.

However, if you feel like your internet is “sluggish” –

• Websites take a moment to “pop” into existence
• You get random lag spikes in games
• Pages hesitate before they start loading

…then switching to Cloudflare DNS is free, safe, and often gives a noticeable boost.

I have stuck with Cloudflare for my home network ever since. The difference in “snappiness” is real.

Have you tried changing your DNS? Did you notice a difference, or was it the same as your ISP? Let me know in the comments!