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StevenBlack hosts alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave StevenBlack hosts: no interface; updating is manual unless scripted, and hosts files can't block by wildcard. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces StevenBlack hosts, 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
2AdGuard Home logoAdGuard HomeOpen sourceYesSelf-hosted, Linux, Windows +13 of 362.6
3NextDNS logoNextDNSFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +34 of 457.2
  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 StevenBlack hosts

    Turns blocklists like these into network-wide blocking with a dashboard.

    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 ×0.3100
    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 StevenBlack hosts 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. AdGuard Home logo

    2. AdGuard Home

    Best for: Home-lab users who want network-wide blocking with a polished dashboard

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

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from StevenBlack hosts

    Network DNS server that loads lists like these with wildcard support.

    Pros

    • Covers every device on the network, including smart TVs
    • Encrypted DNS support built in
    • Single binary or Docker image, easy to set up

    Cons

    • 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
    Visit AdGuard Home 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 Home a good StevenBlack hosts alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Open source
    Yes, free
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Docker
    Official image
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Method
    DNS sinkholing
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. NextDNS logo

    3. 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

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from StevenBlack hosts

    Hosted filtering with curated lists and no files to maintain.

    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 StevenBlack hosts 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 StevenBlack hosts alternative for…

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

Pi-hole logo

Best StevenBlack hosts alternative for most people

Pi-hole

Turns blocklists like these into network-wide blocking with a dashboard.

AdGuard Home logo

Best StevenBlack hosts alternative for a free option

AdGuard Home

Network DNS server that loads lists like these with wildcard support.

NextDNS logo

Best StevenBlack hosts alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

NextDNS

Hosted filtering with curated lists and no files to maintain.

AdAway logo

Best StevenBlack hosts alternative for open source

AdAway

Android app that applies hosts lists, including StevenBlack's, for you.

Pi-hole logo

Best StevenBlack hosts alternative for self-hosting

Pi-hole

Turns blocklists like these into network-wide blocking with a dashboard.

AdGuard Home logo

Best StevenBlack hosts alternative for Mac

AdGuard Home

Network DNS server that loads lists like these with wildcard support.

AdGuard Home logo

Best StevenBlack hosts alternative for Windows

AdGuard Home

Network DNS server that loads lists like these with wildcard support.

Pi-hole logo

Best StevenBlack hosts alternative for Linux

Pi-hole

Turns blocklists like these into network-wide blocking with a dashboard.

NextDNS logo

Best StevenBlack hosts alternative for iPhone and Android

NextDNS

Hosted filtering with curated lists and no files to maintain.

NextDNS logo

Best StevenBlack hosts alternative for working in the browser

NextDNS

Hosted filtering with curated lists and no files to maintain.

StevenBlack hosts alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to StevenBlack hosts?

Pi-hole ranks first right now. Turns blocklists like these into network-wide blocking with a dashboard. AdGuard Home and AdAway follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to StevenBlack hosts?

Yes. Pi-hole (open source), AdGuard Home (open source), AdAway (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 StevenBlack hosts?

Yes: Pi-hole, AdGuard Home and AdAway. Pi-hole and AdGuard Home can also be self-hosted.

Which StevenBlack hosts alternatives work on Linux?

Pi-hole, AdGuard Home and NextDNS run on Linux.

Why do people switch from StevenBlack hosts?

The complaints we hear most: no interface; updating is manual unless scripted; hosts files can't block by wildcard; can occasionally block domains you need.

How is this list ranked?

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