AppBreakup

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.

No alternatives match these filters.

Show all 5 alternatives

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.