---
title: "Pick a faster DNS · Kilobat Recipes"
url: "https://kilobat.app/guides/recipes/pick-faster-dns"
description: "Measure DNS lookup time on your Mac, compare the system resolver with Cloudflare, Google and Quad9, and switch or flush DNS with Kilobat."
---

Recipe

# Pick a faster DNS

Slow DNS makes every new site slow to start. Kilobat measures your resolver against Cloudflare, Google and Quad9 before you change anything.

CLI: free · In the app: switching DNS needs Kilobat Pro. Automatic stays free. · Checked: 29 October 2026

## In the app

1. Open the dashboard and click the Health tab. The DNS panel shows the lookup time and the resolvers in use.
2. Write down the resolvers, so that you can restore them.
3. To compare, open the Tools tab and run Resolver benchmark. This needs Pro.
4. Click Cloudflare, Google or Quad9 to switch. macOS asks for an administrator password.
5. If nothing gets better, click Automatic. It restores the DNS that the network gives.

## With the CLI

1. Show the current resolvers.

   ```
   kilobat dns
   ```
2. Compare resolvers. Run it twice before you decide.

   ```
   kilobat dns-benchmark
   ```

   Output JSON with each `resolver`, its `milliseconds` and its `replies` out of 3.
3. Switch to Quad9.

   ```
   kilobat dns quad9
   ```

   Needs an administrator password.
4. Return to the DNS of the network.

   ```
   kilobat dns automatic
   ```

   Needs an administrator password.
5. Clear the DNS cache after a site moved.

   ```
   kilobat dns flush
   ```

   Needs an administrator password.

## Through MCP

Connect the MCP server once with `claude mcp add kilobat -- kilobat mcp`. For other clients, see [the docs](https://kilobat.app/docs#agents). Then an agent can call these tools. Tools that change settings tell the agent to ask you first.

| Tool and arguments | What it does |
|---|---|
| `benchmark_dns` | Lookup times through the system resolver, Cloudflare, Google and Quad9. |
| `set_dns` `{"provider": "quad9"}` | Sets DNS for the active network service. macOS asks for a password. `flush` clears the cache. |
| `diagnose_network` | Includes the DNS lookup time and the resolvers. |

## Good to know

- Treat a resolver as faster only if it wins twice by about 20 ms or more.
- Company networks and VPNs often need their own DNS for internal names. Ask your administrator before you change it.
- A custom resolver can stop hotel and café login pages from appearing.

## Sources

- [Kilobat skill: mac-dns-troubleshooting](https://github.com/seifip/kilobat-skills/tree/main/skills/mac-dns-troubleshooting)
- [Kilobat docs: Commands](https://kilobat.app/docs#commands)
- [Kilobat llms.txt: CLI and MCP reference](https://kilobat.app/llms.txt)

Sources checked on 29 October 2026. Man pages are the ones installed with macOS; open one with `man <name>` in Terminal.

## Related guides

- [Slow DNS on a Mac](https://kilobat.app/guides/slow-dns-mac): Every new site needs a DNS lookup before it can load.
- [Flush the DNS cache on a Mac](https://kilobat.app/guides/flush-dns-cache-mac): macOS keeps DNS answers for some time.
- [Use encrypted DNS on a Mac](https://kilobat.app/guides/encrypted-dns-mac): Normal DNS queries are not encrypted.
- [Wi-Fi login page does not appear on a Mac](https://kilobat.app/guides/captive-portal-not-appearing): Public networks often hold all traffic until you sign in on a login page.