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Pi-hole alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Pi-hole: can't block same-domain ads like YouTube's, and needs a device running around the clock. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Pi-hole, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. AdGuard Home currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1NextDNS logoNextDNSFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +34 of 457.2
  1. NextDNS logo

    1. NextDNSTop pick

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

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

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Pi-hole

    Hosted DNS filtering with no hardware to maintain, and protection 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 ×0.369
    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 NextDNS a good Pi-hole 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 Pi-hole alternative for…

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

AdGuard Home logo

Best Pi-hole alternative for most people

AdGuard Home

Same approach with built-in encrypted DNS and a single-binary install.

Technitium DNS Server logo

Best Pi-hole alternative for a free option

Technitium DNS Server

Full DNS server with blocking, for people who want a real resolver too.

NextDNS logo

Best Pi-hole alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

NextDNS

Hosted DNS filtering with no hardware to maintain, and protection away from home.

Blocky logo

Best Pi-hole alternative for open source

Blocky

Stateless Go DNS proxy configured in YAML, easy to run in containers.

AdGuard Home logo

Best Pi-hole alternative for self-hosting

AdGuard Home

Same approach with built-in encrypted DNS and a single-binary install.

StevenBlack hosts logo

Best Pi-hole alternative for Mac

StevenBlack hosts

The unified hosts lists many Pi-hole users already rely on, usable without a server.

AdGuard Home logo

Best Pi-hole alternative for Windows

AdGuard Home

Same approach with built-in encrypted DNS and a single-binary install.

AdGuard Home logo

Best Pi-hole alternative for Linux

AdGuard Home

Same approach with built-in encrypted DNS and a single-binary install.

NextDNS logo

Best Pi-hole alternative for iPhone and Android

NextDNS

Hosted DNS filtering with no hardware to maintain, and protection away from home.

NextDNS logo

Best Pi-hole alternative for working in the browser

NextDNS

Hosted DNS filtering with no hardware to maintain, and protection away from home.

Pi-hole alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Pi-hole?

AdGuard Home ranks first right now. Same approach with built-in encrypted DNS and a single-binary install. Technitium DNS Server and Blocky follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Pi-hole?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to Pi-hole?

Yes: AdGuard Home, Technitium DNS Server, Blocky and StevenBlack hosts. AdGuard Home, Technitium DNS Server and Blocky can also be self-hosted.

Which Pi-hole alternatives work on Linux?

AdGuard Home, Technitium DNS Server, Blocky, NextDNS and StevenBlack hosts run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Pi-hole?

The complaints we hear most: can't block same-domain ads like YouTube's; needs a device running around the clock; occasional allowlisting needed when sites break.

How is this list ranked?

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