Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Pi-hole VS DNSCrypt Proxy Client

Compare Pi-hole VS DNSCrypt Proxy Client and see what are their differences

Pi-hole logo Pi-hole

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

DNSCrypt Proxy Client logo DNSCrypt Proxy Client

Windows client for managing the DNSCrypt proxy.
  • Pi-hole Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-12
  • DNSCrypt Proxy Client Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-01

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.

DNSCrypt Proxy Client features and specs

  • Enhanced Security
    DNSCrypt Proxy Client encrypts DNS traffic, mitigating DNS spoofing attacks and other vulnerabilities by ensuring that DNS data is secured between the client and the resolver.
  • Privacy Protection
    By encrypting DNS queries, DNSCrypt helps prevent third parties from snooping on internet activity and collecting personal data, enhancing user privacy.
  • Open Source
    Being open-source software, DNSCrypt Proxy Client allows users to audit the code for security vulnerabilities and contribute to its development.
  • Flexibility
    The client supports multiple DNSCrypt protocol versions and also allows users to choose from various DNS resolvers, giving users control over their DNS configurations.
  • Cross-Platform
    DNSCrypt Proxy Client can be used on various operating systems, including Windows, which allows users to have a consistent DNS security solution across devices.

Possible disadvantages of DNSCrypt Proxy Client

  • Complex Setup
    The setup process can be complex for non-technical users, as it requires manual configuration, which can be challenging and time-consuming.
  • Limited Support
    There may be limited support or documentation available for this specific client, potentially making troubleshooting difficult for users encountering issues.
  • Performance Overhead
    Encrypting DNS traffic can introduce additional latency, which may affect browsing performance slightly due to the increased computation required for encryption and decryption.
  • Dependency on Resolvers
    While DNSCrypt encrypts traffic, the actual privacy and security benefits heavily depend on the chosen DNS resolver's policies and reliability.
  • Potential Compatibility Issues
    Some applications or networks may not be fully compatible with DNSCrypt, leading to potential connectivity or functionality issues, especially in tightly controlled network environments.

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?

DNSCrypt Proxy Client videos

No DNSCrypt Proxy Client videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Pi-hole and DNSCrypt Proxy Client)
Security & Privacy
98 98%
2% 2
Ad Blockers
98 98%
2% 2
Monitoring Tools
100 100%
0% 0
DNS
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 Pi-hole and DNSCrypt Proxy Client

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...

DNSCrypt Proxy Client Reviews

We have no reviews of DNSCrypt Proxy Client yet.
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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.

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 / about 1 month 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 / 5 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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DNSCrypt Proxy Client mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of DNSCrypt Proxy Client yet. Tracking of DNSCrypt Proxy Client recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Pi-hole and DNSCrypt Proxy Client, you can also consider the following products

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

YogaDNS - YogaDNS automatically intercepts DNS requests at the system level and allows you to process them...

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

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

Simple DNSCrypt - A simple management tool for dnscrypt-proxy.

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