AdGuard Home vs Pi-hole
Detailed comparison to help you choose the right tool for your needs
A
AdGuard Home
Open-source network-wide DNS blocking with encrypted DNS support
4.7
Editorial RatingP
Pi-hole
Network-wide ad blocker and DNS sinkhole for your home network
4.8
Editorial RatingQuick Comparison
Rating
4.7
vs4.8
Starting Price
Free
vsFree
Pricing Model
free
vsfree
Feature
AdGuard Home
Pi-hole
DNS-based ad blocking
Encrypted DNS (DoH/DoT)
Parental controls
Safe browsing
Custom filtering rules
Client-specific settings
Network-wide ad blocking
DNS sinkhole
Query logging dashboard
Custom blocklists
DHCP server
API access
AdGuard Home Pros
- Native DNS-over-HTTPS and DNS-over-TLS without extra configuration
- Per-client filtering rules for different devices on your network
- Modern, cleaner interface compared to Pi-hole
- Built-in parental controls and safe browsing protection
- Single binary installation — no complex dependencies
- Free and open-source with active development
AdGuard Home Cons
- Smaller community than Pi-hole — fewer third-party guides and tutorials
- Same local network limitation as Pi-hole — requires VPN for remote use
- Advanced filtering requires learning regex syntax
- Less mature ecosystem of community blocklists versus Pi-hole gravity lists
- Switching from Pi-hole requires reconfiguring router DNS settings
- Some features require understanding DNS protocol concepts
Pi-hole Pros
- Blocks ads across all devices including smart TVs and IoT without browser extensions
- Completely free and open-source with no subscription
- Real-time dashboard reveals how much tracking happens on your network
- Built-in DHCP server simplifies network configuration
- Massive community with extensive blocklist resources and documentation
- Runs on minimal hardware — Raspberry Pi Zero handles a full home network
Pi-hole Cons
- Only works on local network — outside access requires VPN setup
- Some websites detect DNS-based blocking and refuse to load
- Requires basic networking knowledge to configure router DNS settings
- Needs a dedicated device or container running continuously
- Cannot block ads served from first-party domains via HTTPS
- Regular blocklist updates required to catch new ad domains