Smart DNS Proxy vs StrongDNS: which Smart DNS wins in 2026?
Head-to-head on the facts that decide the subscription: real prices, trial terms, which services unblock, which devices are covered - every number sourced in the linked reviews.
Short answer: too close to call - they score 4.4/10 and 4.2/10 in our weighted review. The deciding factor is your priority: Smart DNS Proxy for privacy, StrongDNS for reliability. Facts checked 2026-10-03.
 Smart DNS Proxy |  StrongDNS | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score (0-10) | 4.4 | 4.2 |
| Type | Smart DNS specialist | Smart DNS specialist |
| Effective monthly price | $2.85/mo | $4.17/mo |
| Pricing terms | $6.79/mo · $55.36/yr · $68.39/2yr · $200 lifetime | $5/mo · $50.04/yr |
| Free trial | 14 days - no card required | 7 days (card required) |
| Claimed services | 400+ | 140+ |
| Netflix | claimed | – |
| BBC iPlayer | claimed | – |
| ITVX | claimed | – |
| Hulu | claimed | – |
| Disney+ | claimed | – |
| Amazon Prime Video | claimed | – |
| Max (HBO) | claimed | – |
| Sports | claimed | – |
| Devices documented | Smart TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku, consoles, routers, mobile, desktop | Smart TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku, consoles, routers, mobile, desktop |
| Multiple locations | one registered IP | one registered IP |
| DoH/DoT | not documented | not documented |
| Logging | not documented | not documented |
| Facts checked | 2026-09-23 | 2026-09-23 |
// Score breakdown
Smart DNS Proxy leads on devices (+1.5), value (+1), privacy (+3) · StrongDNS leads on reliability (+2).
why 4.4/10?
why 4.2/10?
// Smart DNS Proxy at a glance
The most complete standalone Smart DNS: 400+ channels, VPN bundled, 14-day trial without a card.
++ What works
- 14-day free trial, no credit card
- 400+ unblocked services claimed
- VPN included in paid plans
- Lifetime plan at $200
- Apps for major platforms
-- What to watch
- Pricing page could not be fetched live from our server (archived capture used)
- No public logging-policy detail
// StrongDNS at a glance
A Ziff Davis legacy product that still works and takes PayPal/crypto, bundled with StrongVPN accounts - but the site is unmaintained (KB frozen since 2020, empty policies page, no channel list), so treat it as a bundle extra, not a primary choice.
++ What works
- Simple honest pricing ($5/mo, $50/yr)
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- 24/7 support infrastructure
- Broad device list incl. routers and ChromeOS
-- What to watch
- No free trial
- Netflix support not documented on the public site
// FAQ
Which is cheaper, Smart DNS Proxy or StrongDNS?
Smart DNS Proxy is cheaper at about $2.85/mo versus $4.17/mo (best documented term each).
Which unblocks more, Smart DNS Proxy or StrongDNS?
Smart DNS Proxy documents more working services (8 of 8 versus 0). StrongDNS still claims 140+ channels overall - the review links the list.
Which is better for a Smart TV, Smart DNS Proxy or StrongDNS?
Tie - both document 6 of the 6 tracked TV/router device classes. Setup steps per device: see the setup finder.
Which has the better trial, Smart DNS Proxy or StrongDNS?
Smart DNS Proxy - 14 days - no card required beats 7 days (card required). A card-free trial means forgetting to cancel costs nothing.
Which is more private, Smart DNS Proxy or StrongDNS?
Smart DNS Proxy edges it on paper: logging not documented, VPN bundled for encryption. Smart DNS alone never encrypts - check each review for the details.
Scores and facts: meta-reviews with dated sources - Smart DNS Proxy · StrongDNS. Method: how we verify. More: all Smart DNS providers compared.