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AdGuard Home alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave AdGuard Home: can't block ads served from the same domain as content, and needs an always-on device on your network. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces AdGuard Home, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Pi-hole currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Pi-hole logoPi-holeOpen sourceYesSelf-hosted, Linux4 of 466.5
2Technitium DNS Server logoTechnitium DNS ServerOpen sourceYesSelf-hosted, Windows, Linux +14 of 462.6
3Blocky logoBlockyOpen sourceYesSelf-hosted, Linux3 of 359.6
4AdGuard DNS logoAdGuard DNSFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +33 of 357.2
5NextDNS logoNextDNSFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +34 of 455.3
  1. Pi-hole logo

    1. Pi-holeTop pick

    Best for: Tinkerers who want ad blocking for every device on their home network

    Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Linux

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from AdGuard Home

    The original self-hosted DNS sinkhole, with a large community and plugin ecosystem.

    Pros

    • Covers every device on the network
    • Huge community, guides and blocklists
    • Runs on cheap hardware like a Raspberry Pi

    Cons

    • Can't block same-domain ads like YouTube's
    • Needs a device running around the clock
    • Occasional allowlisting needed when sites break
    Visit Pi-hole Compare with AdGuard HomeDetails and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Pi-hole a good AdGuard Home alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Install options
    Docker or supported Linux
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pi-hole.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Hardware
    Raspberry Pi, PC, VM or NAS
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pi-hole.net(opens source in a new tab)
    DHCP server
    Optional
    Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.pi-hole.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Method
    DNS sinkhole
    Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.pi-hole.net(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Technitium DNS Server logo

    2. Technitium DNS Server

    Best for: Home-lab and IT users who want a full DNS server with built-in ad blocking

    Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Windows, Linux, macOS

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from AdGuard Home

    A full authoritative and recursive DNS server with ad blocking, for more DNS control.

    Pros

    • Full recursive and authoritative DNS server
    • Encrypted DNS: DoT, DoH and DoQ
    • Runs on Windows, Linux, macOS, Raspberry Pi or Docker

    Cons

    • More technical interface than Pi-hole
    • Smaller community and fewer guides
    • Needs the .NET runtime outside Docker
    Visit Technitium DNS Server Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Technitium DNS Server a good AdGuard Home alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Open source
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026technitium.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Ad blocking
    Network-wide, at DNS level
    Checked Oct 25, 2026technitium.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Encrypted DNS
    DoT, DoH, DoQ
    Checked Oct 25, 2026technitium.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Docker
    Official image
    Checked Oct 25, 2026technitium.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Blocky logo

    3. Blocky

    Best for: Home-lab users running containers who want blocking configured as code

    Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Linux

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from AdGuard Home

    Lightweight Go DNS proxy configured in YAML, suited to containers.

    Pros

    • Light, fast and stateless; ideal for containers
    • Per-client-group blocklists and resolvers
    • Prometheus metrics and Grafana dashboards

    Cons

    • No built-in web interface
    • Configuration requires editing YAML
    • Smaller community than Pi-hole
    Visit Blocky Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Blocky a good AdGuard Home alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    What it is
    DNS proxy and ad blocker in Go
    Checked Oct 25, 20260xerr0r.github.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Per-client lists
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 20260xerr0r.github.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Monitoring
    Prometheus and Grafana
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. AdGuard DNS logo

    4. AdGuard DNS

    Best for: Households wanting DNS filtering and parental controls without running a server

    Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from AdGuard Home

    AdGuard's hosted DNS filtering, if you'd rather not run a server.

    Pros

    • No server to run; works on any device or router
    • Per-device statistics and rules
    • Parental controls with screen-time schedules

    Cons

    • Can't block ads served from the same domain as content
    • Your DNS queries go through AdGuard's servers
    • Free plan has usage limits
    Visit AdGuard DNS Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is AdGuard DNS a good AdGuard Home alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Free plan
    Starter, included by default
    Checked Oct 25, 2026adguard-dns.io(opens source in a new tab)
    VPN bundle
    Personal plan free with AdGuard VPN
    Checked Oct 25, 2026adguard-dns.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Statistics
    Real-time, per device
    Checked Oct 25, 2026adguard-dns.io(opens source in a new tab)
  5. NextDNS logo

    5. NextDNS

    Best for: People who want Pi-hole-style blocking on all devices without running a server

    Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from AdGuard Home

    Hosted DNS filtering that also protects devices away from home.

    Pros

    • Works everywhere, including on mobile data
    • All features available on the free plan
    • Very cheap paid plan with unlimited queries

    Cons

    • Free plan stops blocking after 300,000 queries a month
    • DNS queries are handled by a third party
    • Can't remove ads served from the same domain as content
    Visit NextDNS Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is NextDNS a good AdGuard Home alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    300,000 queries/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026nextdns.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Over quota
    Resolves without blocking
    Checked Oct 25, 2026nextdns.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Paid plan
    Unlimited queries
    Checked Oct 25, 2026nextdns.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Payment methods
    Cards, PayPal, crypto
    Checked Oct 25, 2026nextdns.io(opens source in a new tab)

The best AdGuard Home alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Pi-hole logo

Best AdGuard Home alternative for most people

Pi-hole

The original self-hosted DNS sinkhole, with a large community and plugin ecosystem.

Technitium DNS Server logo

Best AdGuard Home alternative for a free option

Technitium DNS Server

A full authoritative and recursive DNS server with ad blocking, for more DNS control.

AdGuard DNS logo

Best AdGuard Home alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

AdGuard DNS

AdGuard's hosted DNS filtering, if you'd rather not run a server.

Blocky logo

Best AdGuard Home alternative for open source

Blocky

Lightweight Go DNS proxy configured in YAML, suited to containers.

Pi-hole logo

Best AdGuard Home alternative for self-hosting

Pi-hole

The original self-hosted DNS sinkhole, with a large community and plugin ecosystem.

NextDNS logo

Best AdGuard Home alternative for Mac

NextDNS

Hosted DNS filtering that also protects devices away from home.

Technitium DNS Server logo

Best AdGuard Home alternative for Windows

Technitium DNS Server

A full authoritative and recursive DNS server with ad blocking, for more DNS control.

Pi-hole logo

Best AdGuard Home alternative for Linux

Pi-hole

The original self-hosted DNS sinkhole, with a large community and plugin ecosystem.

AdGuard DNS logo

Best AdGuard Home alternative for iPhone and Android

AdGuard DNS

AdGuard's hosted DNS filtering, if you'd rather not run a server.

AdGuard DNS logo

Best AdGuard Home alternative for working in the browser

AdGuard DNS

AdGuard's hosted DNS filtering, if you'd rather not run a server.

AdGuard Home alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to AdGuard Home?

Pi-hole ranks first right now. The original self-hosted DNS sinkhole, with a large community and plugin ecosystem. Technitium DNS Server and Blocky follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to AdGuard Home?

Yes. Pi-hole (open source), Technitium DNS Server (open source), Blocky (open source) and AdGuard DNS (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to AdGuard Home?

Yes: Pi-hole, Technitium DNS Server and Blocky. Pi-hole, Technitium DNS Server and Blocky can also be self-hosted.

Which AdGuard Home alternatives work on Linux?

Pi-hole, Technitium DNS Server, Blocky, AdGuard DNS and NextDNS run on Linux.

Why do people switch from AdGuard Home?

The complaints we hear most: can't block ads served from the same domain as content; needs an always-on device on your network; protection stops when devices leave home unless you expose it.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces AdGuard Home, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.