Quad9 vs Pi-hole
A detailed comparison to help you choose between Quad9 and Pi-hole.
Quad9 Non-profit DNS resolver with threat blocking (9.9.9.9). | Pi-hole Network-wide ad blocker for Raspberry Pi. | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5 (432 reviews) | 4.7 (498 reviews) |
| Pricing Model | free | free |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| Best For | Best for users wanting private and fast DNS resolution | Best for users wanting to block ads and trackers across the web |
| Free Tier | ||
| API Access | ||
| Team Features | ||
| Open Source | ||
| Tags | — | — |
Quad9
Pros
- + Free resolver; no account or sign-up required
- + Threat-blocking option for malicious domains
- + Supports DoT, DoH, DNSCrypt, DoH3, DoQ
- + States it does not store client IP addresses
- + Opt-in ECS endpoint for better CDN geolocation
- + Transparent block behavior and tester guidance
Cons
- - Not a VPN; websites still see your IP
- - ECS mode leaks partial client network info
- - NXDOMAIN blocking can confuse troubleshooting
- - No independent no-logs audit confirmed in sources
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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