Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Adguard AdBlocker VS Pi-hole

Compare Adguard AdBlocker VS Pi-hole and see what are their differences

Adguard AdBlocker logo Adguard AdBlocker

Adguard AdBlocker browser extension, see review on Medium.

Pi-hole logo Pi-hole

Pi-hole is a multi-platform, network-wide ad blocker.
  • Adguard AdBlocker Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-11-03
  • Pi-hole Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-12

Adguard AdBlocker features and specs

  • Efficient Ad Blocking
    AdGuard AdBlocker reliably blocks various types of ads, including pop-ups, banners, and video ads, enhancing the browsing experience by removing unwanted distractions.
  • Privacy Protection
    It provides robust privacy protection by blocking trackers and analytical scripts that follow users across the internet, safeguarding personal data and browsing habits.
  • Customizability
    Users can customize which websites to block ads on and add custom filters to tailor their ad-blocking needs, giving them control over their browsing experience.
  • Open Source
    Being open source, AdGuard AdBlocker's source code is publicly available, ensuring transparency and enabling community contributions and enhancements.
  • Multi-Browser Compatibility
    The extension is compatible with various browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari, making it accessible to a wide range of users.

Possible disadvantages of Adguard AdBlocker

  • Resource Intensive
    Running the extension can be resource-intensive on certain systems or configurations, potentially slowing down browser and system performance.
  • Compatibility Issues
    Certain websites might not function correctly with aggressive ad blocking, leading to display errors or missing content, requiring users to disable the extension on those sites.
  • Learning Curve for Beginners
    New users might find it challenging to navigate advanced settings and custom filter configurations, requiring time to fully utilize its capabilities.
  • Potential for Whitelisting
    Similar to other ad blockers, there might be concern over potential whitelisting of certain ads, impacting impartiality in ad blocking.
  • Limited Free Features
    Some advanced features may be limited or unavailable in the free version, encouraging users to opt for the paid version to access full capabilities.

Pi-hole features and specs

  • Ad Blocking
    Pi-hole effectively blocks unwanted advertisements across all devices on the network, enhancing the user experience by reducing clutter and improving page load times.
  • Privacy Protection
    Pi-hole helps protect user privacy by preventing ads and trackers from collecting data on browsing habits.
  • Low-Cost Solution
    Pi-hole can be run on inexpensive hardware like a Raspberry Pi, making it a cost-effective solution for network-wide ad blocking.
  • Customizable
    Users can create custom blocklists and whitelists, allowing for a tailored ad-blocking experience.
  • Network-Wide Coverage
    Since Pi-hole acts as a DNS sinkhole, it applies its filtering to all devices connected to the network without needing individual configurations.
  • Resource Efficient
    Pi-hole is lightweight and consumes minimal system resources, allowing it to run efficiently on small, low-power devices.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source project, Pi-hole benefits from community contributions, transparency, and regular updates.

Possible disadvantages of Pi-hole

  • Requires Technical Knowledge
    Setting up and maintaining Pi-hole may require a certain level of technical expertise, which could be a barrier for non-technical users.
  • Possible Overblocking
    Pi-hole may block legitimate content inadvertently, which can necessitate manual adjustments to the blocklists or whitelists.
  • Dependency on Device
    If the device running Pi-hole fails or experiences issues, DNS resolution could be disrupted for all connected devices.
  • Compatibility Issues
    Some web services and applications may not function correctly if they rely on content that Pi-hole blocks.
  • Limited Blocking Methods
    Pi-hole primarily blocks content through DNS filtering. More sophisticated ads that bypass DNS-based blocking mechanisms may not be effectively blocked.
  • Manual Updates Needed
    Users may need to manually update blocklists and Pi-hole software to ensure optimal performance and security.

Adguard AdBlocker videos

Adguard Adblocker Extension Review

Pi-hole videos

Block EVERY Online Ad with THIS - Pi-Hole on Raspberry Pi

More videos:

  • Review - I tried Pi-Hole for the first time... (DNS level Ad Blocker)
  • Review - Pi-hole -- Worth it? Gotchas?

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Adguard AdBlocker and Pi-hole)
Security & Privacy
3 3%
97% 97
Ad Blockers
4 4%
96% 96
Utilities
100 100%
0% 0
Monitoring Tools
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Adguard AdBlocker and Pi-hole

Adguard AdBlocker Reviews

Best Ad Blockers
AdGuard AdBlocker is a browser extension from AdGuard, which also makes mobile ad blocking applications and ad blocking software for Mac and PC. The extension is free, but will immediately ask you if you want “premium protection”, AKA if you want to buy one of their software licenses, which will set you back around $2 a month (or $50 for a lifetime license).

Pi-hole Reviews

22 NextDNS Alternatives
Pi-hole App contains an informative web interface that shows stats on all the domains being queried on the network that you are using. Pi-hole - Network-wide Ad Blocking is a signifying ad-blocking platform that helps its global users to block all the harmful and unhealthy advertisements on your online networks. You can run Pi-hole in a container or deploy it right to...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Pi-hole seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 1196 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Adguard AdBlocker mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Adguard AdBlocker yet. Tracking of Adguard AdBlocker recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Pi-hole mentions (1196)

  • Tools for thoughts1 Date:03/2025 Moderator:Daniel.J.Q.Goh
    This part can be link to Pi-Hole Before proceed to configuring VPN, recommended to get "Free DNS" for yourself at MyDNS to manage your own network. - Source: dev.to / 19 days ago
  • Using Raspberry Pi Computers For OSINT And Self-Quantification
    One of my favorite uses of a Raspberry Pi computer is Pi-hole. Which is promoted as a network-wide advertisement blocker. By installing Pi-hole on a RPi and attaching said device to your home LAN, a whole new world of OSINT and self-quantification is opened up. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • uBlock Origin is no longer available on the Chrome Store
    Time to set up Pi-Hole on my Rapsberry Pi 4 https://pi-hole.net/. - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Sniffnet – monitor your Internet traffic
    Tools like https://pi-hole.net does this for the whole house. It comes with a default set of blocked domains and you can easily add to it. It acts as your local DNS for the network. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • What if your computer beeps each time it sends data to Google?
    Https://pi-hole.net/ Easier than you might think to set up. Set and forget. Do it for your family and friends maybe. Sell routers pre-configured maybe. Not /the/ answer. Just one not-nothing step. - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Adguard AdBlocker and Pi-hole, you can also consider the following products

AdAway - An ad blocker that uses the hosts file. For Android, requires root.

NextDNS - Block ads, trackers and malicious websites on all your devices.

Blokada - The best ad blocker for Android. Free and open source.

uBlock Origin - Popular and efficient blocker for Chromium, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Safari, Thunderbird.

AdGuard - Surf the Web Ad-Free and Safely. Shield up!

Adblock Plus - AdBlock Plus is a browser extension for Firefox, Chrome, Opera, and several other popular browsers that prevents intrusive ads like pop-ups and malicious code from appearing on websites you visit.