Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

OpenDNS VS Pi-hole

Compare OpenDNS VS Pi-hole and see what are their differences

OpenDNS logo OpenDNS

OpenDNS provides faster and safer Internet access for your home or Business.

Pi-hole logo Pi-hole

Pi-hole is a multi-platform, network-wide ad blocker.
  • OpenDNS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-22
  • Pi-hole Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-12

OpenDNS features and specs

  • Improved Security
    OpenDNS offers robust protection against phishing attacks, malware, and botnets by blocking access to known malicious domains.
  • Enhanced Control
    Users get granular control over website access, enabling custom filtering to block inappropriate or unsafe sites, which is especially useful for parents and schools.
  • Faster DNS Resolution
    OpenDNS aims to provide faster domain name resolution, potentially reducing the time it takes to load websites compared to using ISPs' DNS services.
  • DNS Uptime
    With globally distributed servers, OpenDNS ensures high availability and reliability, minimizing the risk of DNS outages.
  • Detailed Analytics
    OpenDNS provides insightful web usage statistics and reports that can help identify trends and potential security threats.
  • Device Compatibility
    It is compatible with multiple platforms and devices, making it easy to configure on routers, computers, and mobile devices.
  • Ease of Use
    The service is straightforward to set up, often requiring only a simple change in DNS settings on your device or router.

Possible disadvantages of OpenDNS

  • Privacy Concerns
    By using OpenDNS, users are subject to its terms of service and privacy policy, which may involve data logging and sharing with third parties.
  • Limited Free Features
    The free version of OpenDNS has limited features compared to the premium offerings, which may not be sufficient for all users.
  • Potential Circumvention
    Tech-savvy users or devices can potentially circumvent OpenDNS filtering by manually changing DNS settings to another provider.
  • Dependency on Third-Party Service
    Relying on an external DNS service introduces an additional point of dependency, which could be problematic if the service experiences outages or disruptions.
  • Geographic Performance Variations
    Performance improvements in DNS resolution speed may vary based on geographic location due to the proximity of OpenDNS servers.
  • Complex Configuration for Advanced Features
    Utilizing some of the advanced features, like custom filtering and detailed analytics, may require a more complex configuration that could be challenging for non-technical users.
  • Limited control on Pure DNS Services
    Since OpenDNS modifies DNS requests for security and filtering purposes, users needing pure DNS services without any changes may find it restrictive.

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.

Analysis of OpenDNS

Overall verdict

  • OpenDNS is generally regarded as a good choice for users looking for enhanced internet security and customizable filtering, making it a strong option for both personal and enterprise use.

Why this product is good

  • OpenDNS is renowned for its robust security features, including phishing protection, parental controls, and DNS-level blocking of malicious websites. It provides fast and reliable DNS resolution, which can enhance internet speed and browsing experience. The platform also offers customizable filtering policies and is easy to set up for both individuals and businesses.

Recommended for

    Families seeking to implement parental controls, businesses needing to safeguard against cyber threats with minimal infrastructure changes, and individuals looking for improved online safety and reliability.

OpenDNS videos

OpenDNS - #2 - OpenDNS Review

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to secure home network using OpenDNS
  • Review - IN DEPTH: openDNS

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 OpenDNS and Pi-hole)
Security & Privacy
10 10%
90% 90
DNS
100 100%
0% 0
Ad Blockers
5 5%
95% 95
DNS Tools
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

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

OpenDNS Reviews

Best Free Firewalls for Windows, Mac & Android in 2024
Note that OpenDNS Home works best alongside Windows’ built-in firewall. Since it’s not a complete firewall software, you’ll need another firewall to properly monitor incoming and outgoing traffic to help block network intrusions. All things considered, though, OpenDNS Home is a great free solution to improve online safety.
Source: www.wizcase.com
Best DNS servers of 2022: Boost your internet speed with these free, public services
Google's support site offers only very basic guidance targeted at experienced users, warning that "only users who are proficient with configuring operating system settings [should] make these changes." If you're unsure what you're doing, check the tutorials from a provider such as OpenDNS, remembering to replace its nameservers with Google's: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4.
Best DNS Servers to Use for Free in 2022
Again, for users concerned about their children’s Internet safety, OpenDNS offers a service called OpenDNS FamilyShield that blocks adult content (available at the servers 208.67.222.123 and 208.67.220.123).
Best free DNS servers: 14 options to check out
Owned by Cisco, OpenDNS has two free options: Family Shield and Home. Family Shield is good for parents who want to make sure their kids can’t access inappropriate content. Home focuses on internet safety and performance.

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 a lot more popular than OpenDNS. While we know about 1196 links to Pi-hole, we've tracked only 11 mentions of OpenDNS. 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.

OpenDNS mentions (11)

  • Multiple DDNS configs?
    I've been using the DDNS option in the UI to sync with no-ip.com, so that I can remotely access my NAS via Wireguard, and this works great. However, my new router no longer supports DDNS without subscription. I need another DDNS client to sync with opendns.com, to get content filtering and parental controls, as my new router has no options for this. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Evaluating DNSfilter
    We have used opendns.com for this for years. Might take a look at them. Source: about 2 years ago
  • What does this error message mean? How/where do I change the URL?
    Can you visit opendns.com on your home network? The problem likely that site is getting blocked, and can't use the API to get the public IP of your box. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Firefox detected a potential security threat and did not continue to calyxos.org
    This might be an issue with my DNS provider. I use opendns.com to filter my DNS queries. They're giving the following reasons for blocking the site... Source: over 2 years ago
  • Wi-Fi web filtering
    If all users need the same level of filtering, opendns.com is free and works great. You need a way to forward DNS requests to the Open DNS server, such as a typical Windows DNS. Source: about 3 years ago
View more

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 / 21 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
View more

What are some alternatives?

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

1.1.1.1 - The free app that makes your Internet safer.

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

Quad9 - Quad9 is a free, recursive, anycast DNS platform that provides end users robust security protections, high-performance, and privacy.

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

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

Comodo Secure DNS - Comodo Secure DNS is the leading DNS provider. We offer Managed DNS, Enterprise DNS, Authoritative, Anycast and CDN DNS hosting.