AdGuard vs Pi-hole
A detailed comparison to help you choose between AdGuard and Pi-hole.
AdGuard Ad blocker with DNS-level protection. | Pi-hole Network-wide ad blocker for Raspberry Pi. | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5 (180 reviews) | 4.7 (498 reviews) |
| Pricing Model | freemium | free |
| Starting Price | From $0/mo | Free |
| Best For | Best for users wanting to block ads and trackers across the web | Best for users wanting to block ads and trackers across the web |
| Free Tier | ||
| API Access | ||
| Team Features | ||
| Open Source | ||
| Tags | — | — |
| Visit AdGuard → |
AdGuard
Pros
- + Free, open-source browser extension
- + No “acceptable ads” monetization program
- + Powerful filter lists and manual rules
- + Android app includes DNS protection and firewall
- + AdGuard Home enables network-wide DNS blocking
- + Refund window guidance published (60 days)
Cons
- - Feature set varies by platform and browser limits
- - Advanced setup can require troubleshooting
- - Not all AdGuard products are open source
- - Some privacy controls are global, not per-site
Pi-hole
Pros
- + Network-wide blocking for all DNS-using devices
- + Responsive admin dashboard with per-client visibility
- + Group-based policies for clients and block rules
- + Optional DHCP server when router is limited
- + Upstream encrypted DNS supported via dnscrypt-proxy
Cons
- - DNS-level blocking can’t remove same-domain ads
- - Client-side DoH or VPN can bypass filtering
- - Query logging can expose sensitive browsing metadata
- - Requires self-hosting, updates, and basic ops skills
- - Past v6 WebUI/API DoS advisory (patched later)
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