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Portmaster alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Portmaster: no macOS version, and can conflict with VPNs and security software. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Portmaster, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. AdGuard currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Pi-hole logoPi-holeOpen sourceYesSelf-hosted, Linux4 of 462.6
2NextDNS logoNextDNSFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +34 of 459.6
  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

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Portmaster

    Network-wide DNS blocking that covers every device, not just one computer.

    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 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 Pi-hole a good Portmaster 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. NextDNS logo

    2. 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

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Portmaster

    Cloud DNS filtering for all devices without a local firewall.

    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 ×0.377
    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 NextDNS a good Portmaster 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 Portmaster alternative for…

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

AdGuard logo

Best Portmaster alternative for most people

AdGuard

Paid system-wide ad blocking for Windows and Mac, with less firewall detail.

Pi-hole logo

Best Portmaster alternative for a free option

Pi-hole

Network-wide DNS blocking that covers every device, not just one computer.

NextDNS logo

Best Portmaster alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

NextDNS

Cloud DNS filtering for all devices without a local firewall.

uBlock Origin logo

Best Portmaster alternative for open source

uBlock Origin

Free browser-level blocking if you don't need app-level control.

Pi-hole logo

Best Portmaster alternative for self-hosting

Pi-hole

Network-wide DNS blocking that covers every device, not just one computer.

AdGuard logo

Best Portmaster alternative for Mac

AdGuard

Paid system-wide ad blocking for Windows and Mac, with less firewall detail.

AdGuard logo

Best Portmaster alternative for Windows

AdGuard

Paid system-wide ad blocking for Windows and Mac, with less firewall detail.

AdGuard logo

Best Portmaster alternative for Linux

AdGuard

Paid system-wide ad blocking for Windows and Mac, with less firewall detail.

AdGuard logo

Best Portmaster alternative for iPhone and Android

AdGuard

Paid system-wide ad blocking for Windows and Mac, with less firewall detail.

NextDNS logo

Best Portmaster alternative for working in the browser

NextDNS

Cloud DNS filtering for all devices without a local firewall.

Portmaster alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Portmaster?

AdGuard ranks first right now. Paid system-wide ad blocking for Windows and Mac, with less firewall detail. Pi-hole and NextDNS follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Portmaster?

Yes. Pi-hole (open source), NextDNS (free plan + paid) and uBlock Origin (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Portmaster?

Yes: Pi-hole and uBlock Origin. Pi-hole can also be self-hosted.

Which Portmaster alternatives work on Linux?

AdGuard, Pi-hole and NextDNS run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Portmaster?

The complaints we hear most: no macOS version; can conflict with VPNs and security software; history and SPN features are paid.

How is this list ranked?

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