Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Pi-hole VS Unbound

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

Pi-hole logo Pi-hole

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

Unbound logo Unbound

Unbound is a validating, recursive, and caching DNS resolver.
  • Pi-hole Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-12
  • Unbound Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-31

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.

Unbound features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Unbound offers a clean and intuitive user interface that makes photo management simple and efficient for users.
  • Speed
    Unbound operates quickly, allowing users to browse through large sets of photos without experiencing lag.
  • Event-based Organization
    The app organizes photos based on events, making it easier for users to find and manage images based on event-specific albums.
  • iCloud Integration
    Unbound seamlessly integrates with iCloud, enabling automatic synchronization of photos across Apple devices.
  • No Ads
    Users can enjoy an ad-free experience, ensuring smoother usage without distracting advertisements.

Possible disadvantages of Unbound

  • Limited Editing Features
    Unbound lacks advanced photo editing tools, which may require users to rely on additional apps for editing needs.
  • Apple Ecosystem
    The app is primarily designed for Apple users, which limits its usability for Android and Windows users.
  • Cost
    Unbound is a paid app, which might be a deterrent for users looking for free alternatives.
  • No Advanced Sorting
    The app does not have advanced sorting features, which could be a drawback for users needing more customizable organization.
  • Limited Cloud Support
    Currently, Unbound mainly supports iCloud, restricting its cloud capabilities compared to apps supporting multiple cloud services.

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?

Unbound videos

Conair Unbound Cordless Auto-Curler Review | The Worlds FIRST Wireless Curling Iron

More videos:

  • Review - The New Conair Unbound Review #howtocurlhair #howtouseacurler #cordelesscurling #conair
  • Review - Conair Unbound Cordless Auto-Curler **It Ate My Hair!** | Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Pi-hole and Unbound)
Security & Privacy
97 97%
3% 3
Ad Blockers
95 95%
5% 5
Monitoring Tools
94 94%
6% 6
Block Ads
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 Unbound

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...

Unbound Reviews

We have no reviews of Unbound 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 / 15 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

Unbound mentions (0)

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

What are some alternatives?

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

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

BIND - BIND is by far the most widely used DNS software on the Internet.

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

PowerDNS - PowerDNS offers open source DNS software, services, and support.

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

Knot DNS - High-performance authoritative-only DNS server