Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Pi-hole VS AdGuard DNS

Compare Pi-hole VS AdGuard DNS and see what are their differences

Pi-hole logo Pi-hole

Pi-hole is a multi-platform, network-wide ad blocker.

AdGuard DNS logo AdGuard DNS

Soon you'll be able to create your own private DNS server that will protect your personal data, block ads and trackers, and allow you to control access to specific Internet content.
  • Pi-hole Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-12
  • AdGuard DNS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-02

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 DNS features and specs

  • Privacy Protection
    AdGuard DNS provides enhanced privacy by blocking trackers and analytics systems, preventing them from collecting data about your online activities.
  • Ad Blocking
    It effectively blocks advertisements on websites, resulting in a cleaner, faster, and less cluttered browsing experience.
  • Malware Blocking
    AdGuard DNS blocks access to malicious and phishing domains, protecting users from potentially harmful websites.
  • Parental Control
    The service offers features that allow parents to restrict access to adult content, providing a safer browsing environment for children.
  • Ease of Use
    AdGuard DNS is easy to configure; users can simply change their DNS settings to start using the service without needing complex software installations.

Possible disadvantages of AdGuard DNS

  • Limited Customization
    While it provides effective ad blocking and security features, users have limited ability to customize which domains are blocked or allowed.
  • Potential False Positives
    Some legitimate websites may mistakenly be blocked, disrupting access to desired content.
  • Dependency on External Service
    Using a DNS service like AdGuard DNS means reliance on an external provider, which could be a point of concern if the service experiences outages or performance issues.
  • Limited Logging and Analytics
    While designed to enhance privacy, this limitation might not be suitable for users who desire detailed analytics or logging of DNS queries.
  • No Advanced Features
    AdGuard DNS lacks some advanced features available in other DNS services, such as DNS over HTTPS (DoH) or DNS over TLS (DoT) for more secure DNS traffic.

Analysis of AdGuard DNS

Overall verdict

  • AdGuard DNS is a robust and reliable choice for users seeking enhanced privacy, security, and ad-blocking capabilities. It effectively filters out unwanted content and promotes safer browsing experiences, making it a worthwhile option for both tech-savvy users and general consumers.

Why this product is good

  • AdGuard DNS is considered good by many users and experts due to its ability to block ads, trackers, and known malicious websites at the DNS level. It improves privacy and security without the need to install additional software on each device. Additionally, AdGuard DNS offers customizable filtering and parental controls, which provide an extra layer of internet safety for families.

Recommended for

    AdGuard DNS is well-suited for individuals and families looking to improve their online privacy and security. It is also recommended for users who want a hassle-free, network-wide ad-blocking solution and those who wish to protect their network devices from harmful websites and malware with minimal setup.

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?

AdGuard DNS videos

How-To Block Internet Ads and Adult Websites : AdGuard DNS Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Pi-hole and AdGuard DNS)
Security & Privacy
92 92%
8% 8
Ad Blockers
100 100%
0% 0
DNS
0 0%
100% 100
Monitoring Tools
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using Pi-hole and AdGuard DNS. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

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

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...

AdGuard DNS Reviews

We have no reviews of AdGuard DNS yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Pi-hole seems to be a lot more popular than AdGuard DNS. While we know about 1196 links to Pi-hole, we've tracked only 39 mentions of AdGuard DNS. 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.

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
View more

AdGuard DNS mentions (39)

  • Candy Crush, Tinder, MyFitnessPal: See the Apps Hijacked to Spy on Your Location
    Easier just to block the ad servers at the DNS level. I use NextDNS [1] as it lets me configure it, but AdGuard [2] DNS probably also works well. 1. https://nextdns.io/ 2. https://adguard-dns.io/en/welcome.html. - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Trying Adguard DNS and I have a question.
    At the bottom of this link https://adguard-dns.io/en/welcome.html, is a world map with the AdGuard servers on it. Try the public AdGuard DNS servers https://adguard-dns.io/en/public-dns.html, you want the ones under plain DNS. If they show up with small delays then report the 94.140.14.59 as being misconfigured, My current understanding is the public server number is supposed to route you to the closest/fastest... Source: over 1 year ago
  • Adguard Home vs Adguard DNS
    So I've been looking for a DNS solution for my home. I looked at the options and settled on AdGuard Home. As I was going to install it I came across Adguard DNS, more particularly this one. Source: over 1 year ago
  • I switched to iPhone recently, I miss my android.
    #3. You can swipe in from the left edge of the screen to go back usually (also get AdGuard DNS to reduce ads in non-browser apps, since you're already using Brave). Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Malwarebyetes blocking qBittorent
    - If you are worried about what you might get while browsing the internet: Please use an adblocker (uBlock Origin) while browsing, and you can also use a DNS that will protect you. See https://adguard-dns.io/en/welcome.html . It is completely free. Source: almost 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

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

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

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

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

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

1.1.1.1 - The free app that makes your Internet safer.

SponsorBlock - SponsorBlock is an open-source crowdsourced browser extension to skip sponsor segments in YouTube videos.