AdGuard Home vs Pi-hole: Best DNS Blocker Guide (2026)

Network-wide ad blocking is one of the most popular home server projects. Block ads, trackers, and malicious domains for every device on your network—without installing anything on individual devices.

Two solutions dominate this space: Pi-hole, the original self-hosted DNS sinkhole, and AdGuard Home, the newer challenger with a modern interface and built-in encrypted DNS. Which should you choose in 2026?

Quick Comparison

What is Network-Wide Ad Blocking?

Traditional ad blockers work in your browser. Network-wide ad blockers work at the DNS level, intercepting requests for ad domains before they reach any device.

How it works:

1. Device requests ads.example.com
2. Request goes to your DNS server (Pi-hole/AdGuard)
3. DNS server checks blocklist
4. If blocked: Returns 0.0.0.0 (null route)
5. Ad never loads

Benefits:

• ✅ Works on ALL devices (TVs, phones, IoT, guests)
• ✅ No app/extension installation needed
• ✅ Blocks in-app ads
• ✅ Reduces bandwidth and improves page load times
• ✅ Enhances privacy by blocking trackers
• ✅ Single point of management

Limitations:

• ❌ Can't block ads served from same domain as content (YouTube)
• ❌ Some apps detect DNS blocking and refuse to work
• ❌ Requires always-on server

AdGuard Home: The Modern Choice

AdGuard Home was released in 2018 as a more modern alternative to Pi-hole. It's developed by AdGuard, a company known for their commercial ad-blocking products.

Key Features

Native Encrypted DNS Support

AdGuard Home supports all modern encrypted DNS protocols out of the box:

• DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH): Encrypted DNS over HTTPS, port 443
• DNS-over-TLS (DoT): Encrypted DNS over TLS, port 853
• DNS-over-QUIC (DoQ): Newest protocol, lower latency
• DNSCrypt: Legacy encrypted DNS protocol

This means your DNS queries are encrypted from your device to your server—ISPs and network observers can't see which domains you're resolving.

Built-in Parental Controls

No need for separate blocklists:

• Block adult content categories
• Enforce Safe Search on Google, Bing, YouTube, DuckDuckGo
• Set per-device restrictions
• Schedule access times

Per-Client Configuration

Assign different settings to different devices:

• Kids' devices: Parental controls enabled
• Work laptop: Minimal blocking for compatibility
• Guest network: Maximum blocking
• Gaming console: Whitelist gaming services

Modern Web Interface

The AdGuard Home dashboard provides:

• Real-time query statistics
• Top blocked domains
• Top clients
• Query log with advanced filtering
• Dark mode support
• Mobile-responsive design

Pros

• ✅ Single binary: Easy to install and update
• ✅ Native encrypted DNS: No additional setup required
• ✅ Excellent UI: Modern, clean, responsive
• ✅ Built-in parental controls: No separate configuration needed
• ✅ Per-client settings: Different rules for different devices
• ✅ Regular updates: Active development
• ✅ Lower resource usage than Pi-hole v6: More efficient in latest versions
• ✅ Cross-platform: Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD, ARM

Cons

• ❌ Smaller community: Fewer community-maintained blocklists
• ❌ Less customization: Fewer advanced options than Pi-hole
• ❌ Commercial backing: Some distrust of company motivations
• ❌ Newer project: Less battle-tested than Pi-hole
• ❌ Documentation: Less comprehensive than Pi-hole

Best For

AdGuard Home is ideal if you:

• Want encrypted DNS without extra setup
• Have family members who need parental controls
• Prefer modern, polished interfaces
• Want quick setup with sensible defaults
• Need per-device configuration

Pi-hole: The Community Favorite

Pi-hole has been the gold standard for network ad blocking since 2014. Originally designed for Raspberry Pi, it now runs on any Linux system.

Key Features

FTLDNS Engine

Pi-hole's custom DNS/DHCP server is highly optimized:

• Handles 100,000+ queries per day on a Raspberry Pi Zero
• Gravity database for efficient blocklist lookups
• Detailed logging and statistics

Extensive Blocklist Ecosystem

The Pi-hole community maintains thousands of blocklists:

• Default lists block 100,000+ domains
• Community lists available for specific purposes
• Easy regex filtering for advanced blocking
• Whitelist/blacklist management

Detailed Query Logging

Pi-hole's query log is extremely detailed:

• Every query logged with client, type, and status
• Long-term statistics database
• Export capabilities for analysis
• Privacy modes available

DHCP Server

Pi-hole can replace your router's DHCP:

• Assign static IPs
• See client hostnames in logs
• Simplify network configuration

Pros

• ✅ Massive community: Extensive documentation and support
• ✅ Battle-tested: 10+ years of production use
• ✅ Extensive customization: Regex, groups, per-client rules
• ✅ Community blocklists: Thousands of curated lists
• ✅ Detailed statistics: Deep insights into network traffic
• ✅ Open source: Fully transparent development
• ✅ Lightweight: Runs on Raspberry Pi Zero

Cons

• ❌ No native encrypted DNS: Requires cloudflared or other helper
• ❌ Dated UI: Functional but not modern (improving in v6)
• ❌ Complex installation: More steps than AdGuard Home
• ❌ Linux only: No native Windows/macOS support
• ❌ Updates can break: Major versions sometimes require reinstallation

Best For

Pi-hole is ideal if you:

• Want maximum customization control
• Value community support and documentation
• Already run Linux servers
• Need detailed traffic analysis
• Prefer established, proven software

Docker Setup Comparison

Both solutions run excellently in Docker. Here's how they compare:

AdGuard Home Docker Compose

version: "3"
services:
  adguardhome:
    image: adguard/adguardhome
    container_name: adguardhome
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "53:53/tcp"
      - "53:53/udp"
      - "3000:3000/tcp"    # Initial setup
      - "80:80/tcp"        # Web UI (after setup)
      - "443:443/tcp"      # HTTPS
      - "853:853/tcp"      # DNS-over-TLS
      - "784:784/udp"      # DNS-over-QUIC
    volumes:
      - ./adguard/work:/opt/adguardhome/work
      - ./adguard/conf:/opt/adguardhome/conf

Setup time: ~4 seconds to pull and start, 2 minutes for initial configuration.

Pi-hole Docker Compose

version: "3"
services:
  pihole:
    image: pihole/pihole:latest
    container_name: pihole
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "53:53/tcp"
      - "53:53/udp"
      - "80:80/tcp"
    environment:
      TZ: 'America/New_York'
      WEBPASSWORD: 'your-secure-password'
    volumes:
      - ./pihole/etc-pihole:/etc/pihole
      - ./pihole/etc-dnsmasq.d:/etc/dnsmasq.d

Setup time: ~2 minutes to pull and start, 5 minutes for configuration.

Adding Encrypted DNS to Pi-hole

Pi-hole requires additional configuration for encrypted DNS. Here's cloudflared setup:

version: "3"
services:
  pihole:
    # ... (same as above)
    depends_on:
      - cloudflared
    environment:
      PIHOLE_DNS_: 'cloudflared#5053'
      
  cloudflared:
    image: cloudflare/cloudflared:latest
    container_name: cloudflared
    restart: unless-stopped
    command: proxy-dns
    environment:
      TUNNEL_DNS_UPSTREAM: "https://1.1.1.1/dns-query,https://1.0.0.1/dns-query"
      TUNNEL_DNS_PORT: 5053
      TUNNEL_DNS_ADDRESS: "0.0.0.0"

This adds complexity but works reliably.

Resource Usage on Low-Power Hardware

Both solutions are extremely lightweight and perfect for home servers.

Raspberry Pi 4 Performance

Both handle typical home network loads (10,000-50,000 queries/day) without any performance concerns.

Intel N100 Performance

On beefier hardware like an N100 mini PC:

Either solution is massive overkill for home use on N100 hardware.

Memory Comparison

Long-term memory usage depends on:

1. Number of blocklist entries: More domains = more RAM
2. Query log retention: Longer history = more disk
3. Number of clients: More devices = slightly more RAM

With default settings and ~500,000 blocked domains:

• AdGuard Home: 80-100MB RAM
• Pi-hole: 60-80MB RAM

The difference is negligible for any modern hardware.

Encrypted DNS: DoH, DoT, and DoQ

Encrypted DNS prevents your ISP and network observers from seeing your DNS queries. Here's how both solutions handle it:

AdGuard Home: Native Support

AdGuard Home supports encrypted DNS out of the box:

Configuration (Settings → DNS Settings → Upstream DNS):

https://dns.cloudflare.com/dns-query
tls://dns.cloudflare.com
quic://dns.cloudflare.com

As an encrypted DNS server (Settings → Encryption):

1. Enable HTTPS/TLS
2. Upload or generate certificates
3. Devices can now use your AdGuard Home as encrypted DNS server

This means your devices → AdGuard Home can be encrypted too!

Pi-hole: Using cloudflared

Pi-hole requires a helper for encrypted DNS:

Installation:

# Download cloudflared
wget https://github.com/cloudflare/cloudflared/releases/latest/download/cloudflared-linux-amd64
chmod +x cloudflared-linux-amd64
sudo mv cloudflared-linux-amd64 /usr/local/bin/cloudflared

# Create service
sudo cloudflared service install

# Configure Pi-hole to use cloudflared
# Settings → DNS → Custom upstream: 127.0.0.1#5053

It works well but requires additional setup and maintenance.

Protocol Comparison

Recommendation: DoH is the most practical for most users.

Parental Controls & Family Features

AdGuard Home's Built-in Features

AdGuard Home provides comprehensive parental controls:

Safe Browsing

• Blocks known malicious domains
• Phishing protection
• Malware domain blocking

Parental Control

• Block adult content categories
• Per-client configuration
• No separate blocklist needed

Safe Search Enforcement

• Force Safe Search on Google, Bing, YouTube
• Works by rewriting DNS responses
• Can't be bypassed by users

Configuration example (per-client):

clients:
  - name: "Kids iPad"
    ids:
      - "192.168.1.50"
    filtering_enabled: true
    parental_enabled: true
    safebrowsing_enabled: true
    safesearch_enabled: true

Pi-hole's Manual Approach

Pi-hole requires manual blocklist configuration:

Add parental blocklists:

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/alternates/porn/hosts
https://blocklistproject.github.io/Lists/porn.txt

Safe Search requires DNS rewrites:

# In /etc/dnsmasq.d/05-safesearch.conf
address=/www.google.com/forcesafesearch.google.com
address=/www.youtube.com/restrict.youtube.com

More work but more control over exactly what's blocked.

Blocking Effectiveness

Default Blocklists

AdGuard Home defaults (~50,000 domains):

• AdGuard DNS filter
• AdAway Default Blocklist

Pi-hole defaults (~100,000 domains):

• StevenBlack's Unified Hosts
• Multiple default lists

Custom Lists Compatibility

Both support the same blocklist formats:

• Hosts file format
• AdBlock syntax (AdGuard Home: full, Pi-hole: partial)
• Domain lists

Popular community lists work with both:

• OISD (Full, Big, Small)
• Hagezi's lists
• 1Hosts
• Energized Protection

False Positive Handling

Both provide easy whitelisting:

AdGuard Home: Query log → Click domain → Unblock

Pi-hole: Query log → Click domain → Whitelist

The process is similar, though AdGuard Home's interface is slightly more intuitive.

Real-World Blocking Rates

From community testing with default + OISD blocklist:

Neither blocks YouTube or Spotify ads effectively—these are served from the same domains as content.

Migration: Pi-hole to AdGuard Home

Many users migrate from Pi-hole to AdGuard Home for the better UI and built-in encrypted DNS. Here's how:

Export from Pi-hole

# Export settings
pihole -a -t

# Copy the teleporter backup
# Or manually export blocklists and whitelist

Import to AdGuard Home

1. Install AdGuard Home
2. Complete initial setup
3. Settings → Filters → DNS Blocklists → Add blocklist
4. Add your Pi-hole blocklists one by one
5. Settings → DNS Settings → Add custom filtering rules
6. Paste any Pi-hole regex rules

Migration Tips

• Test in parallel: Run both temporarily on different ports
• Keep Pi-hole backup: Don't delete until confident in AdGuard Home
• Update DHCP: Point DNS to new server only after testing
• Monitor logs: Watch for unexpected blocks in first week

Which Should You Choose?

Choose AdGuard Home If...

• ✅ You want encrypted DNS without extra setup
• ✅ You prefer modern, polished interfaces
• ✅ You need built-in parental controls
• ✅ You want per-device configuration
• ✅ You're new to network ad blocking
• ✅ You run Windows or macOS (no Linux server)
• ✅ Quick setup is important

Choose Pi-hole If...

• ✅ You want maximum customization
• ✅ You value extensive community support
• ✅ You already have Linux administration experience
• ✅ You need detailed traffic analysis
• ✅ You prefer established, battle-tested software
• ✅ You want the largest selection of community blocklists
• ✅ You enjoy tinkering and fine-tuning

The Honest Truth

Both are excellent. The practical differences are:

1. UI: AdGuard Home wins
2. Encrypted DNS: AdGuard Home wins (built-in)
3. Community: Pi-hole wins
4. Documentation: Pi-hole wins
5. Ease of setup: AdGuard Home wins
6. Customization: Pi-hole wins

For most home users in 2026, AdGuard Home is the better starting point. The built-in encrypted DNS alone is worth it, and the UI makes daily management pleasant.

Pi-hole remains the choice for power users who want maximum control and don't mind extra configuration.

FAQ

Can I run both simultaneously?

Yes, but it's usually unnecessary. You could:

• Run AdGuard Home as primary, Pi-hole as backup
• Use one for certain VLANs
• Test both before deciding

Configure different DNS servers for different devices/networks.

Which blocks more ads?

Neither inherently blocks more—blocking effectiveness depends on your blocklists. Both support the same list formats. With identical lists, blocking is identical.

Do they work with VPNs?

Yes, with proper configuration:

For VPN clients: Point VPN DNS to your local DNS server For VPN servers: Both can provide DNS for VPN clients WireGuard/OpenVPN: Configure DNS in VPN client settings

What about DNS rebinding protection?

Both offer protection:

• AdGuard Home: Settings → DNS Settings → Enable DNSSEC
• Pi-hole: Automatically enabled via dnsmasq

Can I use them with Cloudflare WARP?

Partially. WARP bypasses local DNS. Options:

• Disable WARP DNS, keep VPN
• Use split tunneling to exclude local DNS
• Accept that WARP devices skip your blocker

How do I access blocked sites temporarily?

AdGuard Home: Add to client-specific whitelist, or use "Disable protection" button Pi-hole: Add to whitelist, or disable blocking temporarily

What's the future roadmap?

AdGuard Home: Focus on encryption, parental controls, and UI improvements Pi-hole v6: Major rewrite with improved UI, better performance, Docker-first approach

Conclusion

Network-wide ad blocking is a must-have for any home server, and both AdGuard Home and Pi-hole deliver excellent results.

Our recommendation for 2026:

• New users: Start with AdGuard Home. The setup is faster, the UI is better, and encrypted DNS works out of the box.

• Power users: Pi-hole offers more customization and has the larger community, but requires more setup for encrypted DNS.

• Either way: You'll block 90%+ of ads and trackers on every device, improve your privacy, and potentially speed up your browsing. Both solutions are free, lightweight, and run perfectly on low-power hardware.

Try one, and if it doesn't fit your needs, migrating to the other takes less than an hour. You can't go wrong with either choice.

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