VPN Reviews

SmartyDNS Review – Unlock Premium Streaming Services From Abroad

By Paul Liu
Wednesday, August 20th, 2014

SmartyDNS is one of the newest Smart DNS service providers in the market. The service is primarily meant for expats, tourists and business travelers who wish to unlock their favorite TV shows and streaming services from an overseas location. In this SmartyDNS Review, let us check out the features offered by the SmartyDNS service and decide whether it is worth subscribing.

Server Locations and Site Access

SmartyDNS has DNS servers in just 2 countries – United States and United Kingdom. By changing your DNS server settings, you can easily unblock premium services like Netflix, HBO Go, BBC iPlayer, 4OD, Lovefilm, Spotify, Hulu, iTV Player, ESPN, Pandora, Rhapsody, Crunchyroll, TNT Drama, Songza, VH1, Demand 5, Vevo, Blinkbox, FX Network, ABC Family, Blockbuster, NFL, Cinema Now, STV Player, Amazon Prime, Redbox Instant, Comedy Central, Crackle, ABC, CBS, Sky Go, Dishworld, Dramafever, Now TV, the WB, USA Network, CWTV, Lifetime, Cartoon Network, NBC, ABC News, Disney, MTV, PBS, Fox, TV Land, Slacker, Vudu, NHL, WWE, Rdio and Syfy from any geographical area in the world. Moreover, the company adds support for new streaming sites at regular intervals and it is also possible for the customers to recommend their favorite sites.

Speed and Bandwidth

Using SmartyDNS doesn’t compromise your speed in any way. Unlike VPNs, the service is able to deliver near-ISP speeds since there is no complicated encryption involved. So if you want to enjoy your favorite streaming services at high speeds without experiencing any kind of IP or location related restriction, SmartyDNS would be a good choice for you.

Privacy Settings

SmartyDNS takes the privacy of its subscribers very seriously. The company logs connection details for 3 days but it doesn’t monitor your streaming or non-streaming traffic. The personal data of the customers is handled with care and is never shared with third parties under any circumstances.

Supported Operating Systems

SmartyDNS works well with Windows (7, 8, Vista, XP), Mac, Android devices, iPads, iPhones, iPod, PlayStation, Xbox, Roku, Wii, Apple TV, WD TV as well as several types of routers (D-Link, DD-WRT, TP-Link etc.). The company offers an extremely easy to use VPN client for Windows that makes it easy to connect with a single click, change servers and even save connection logs for troubleshooting. Customers who want to use the service from non-Windows devices and systems would need to configure it manually. It is possible to use the service from multiple devices at the same time but all the devices must be within the same network.

Customer Support

The company offers customer support through live chat and ticketing system. If you wish to learn more about the SmartyDNS service or Smart DNS in general then you can also refer to the information available in the FAQ section of the company’s website.

Pricing Options

SmartyDNS offers a no-obligation 14 day free trial (no payment details required). If you wish to continue to use the service beyond the first 14 days then you can upgrade your subscription for $4.99/month ($13.49 for 3 months, $23.99 for 6 months or $39.99 for a year). Apart from term discounts, the company offers free subscriptions through giveaways on a regular basis. The company even has a 30 day money back policy but refunds are available only to those customers who are not able to connect to its DNS servers.

Final Verdict

Overall, we were pleased with what SmartyDNS had to offer. While the company has severs at just 2 locations, it provides an affordable way to unblock tons of streaming websites from anywhere. So if you are an expat or tourist who is looking for a reliable and affordable way to unlock his favorite streaming services from abroad, test drive the SmartyDNS service today. For more information, please visit: www.smartydns.com.