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Quad9 alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Quad9: does not block ads or most trackers, and no custom blocklists or dashboard. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Quad9, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. NextDNS currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1NextDNS logoNextDNSFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +34 of 466.5
2AdGuard DNS logoAdGuard DNSFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +33 of 362.6
3Pi-hole logoPi-holeOpen sourceYesSelf-hosted, Linux4 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

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Quad9

    Adds ad and tracker blocking, custom lists and analytics on top of security filtering.

    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 ×0.3100
    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 NextDNS a good Quad9 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)
  2. AdGuard DNS logo

    2. AdGuard DNS

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

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

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Quad9

    Hosted DNS that blocks ads and trackers as well as threats.

    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 ×0.387
    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 AdGuard DNS a good Quad9 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)
  3. Pi-hole logo

    3. Pi-hole

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

    Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Linux

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Quad9

    Add ad blocking locally while keeping Quad9 as the upstream resolver.

    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 ×0.369
    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 Pi-hole a good Quad9 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)

The best Quad9 alternative for…

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

NextDNS logo

Best Quad9 alternative for most people

NextDNS

Adds ad and tracker blocking, custom lists and analytics on top of security filtering.

Pi-hole logo

Best Quad9 alternative for a free option

Pi-hole

Add ad blocking locally while keeping Quad9 as the upstream resolver.

AdGuard DNS logo

Best Quad9 alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

AdGuard DNS

Hosted DNS that blocks ads and trackers as well as threats.

Pi-hole logo

Best Quad9 alternative for open source

Pi-hole

Add ad blocking locally while keeping Quad9 as the upstream resolver.

Pi-hole logo

Best Quad9 alternative for self-hosting

Pi-hole

Add ad blocking locally while keeping Quad9 as the upstream resolver.

Control D logo

Best Quad9 alternative for Mac

Control D

Configurable DNS filtering with category blocking and device management.

NextDNS logo

Best Quad9 alternative for Windows

NextDNS

Adds ad and tracker blocking, custom lists and analytics on top of security filtering.

NextDNS logo

Best Quad9 alternative for Linux

NextDNS

Adds ad and tracker blocking, custom lists and analytics on top of security filtering.

NextDNS logo

Best Quad9 alternative for iPhone and Android

NextDNS

Adds ad and tracker blocking, custom lists and analytics on top of security filtering.

NextDNS logo

Best Quad9 alternative for working in the browser

NextDNS

Adds ad and tracker blocking, custom lists and analytics on top of security filtering.

Quad9 alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Quad9?

NextDNS ranks first right now. Adds ad and tracker blocking, custom lists and analytics on top of security filtering. AdGuard DNS and Control D follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Quad9?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to Quad9?

Yes: Pi-hole. Pi-hole can also be self-hosted.

Which Quad9 alternatives work on Linux?

NextDNS, AdGuard DNS, Control D and Pi-hole run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Quad9?

The complaints we hear most: does not block ads or most trackers; no custom blocklists or dashboard; protection depends on threat feeds catching new domains.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Quad9, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.