N
AdGuard vs Pi-hole
Pricing, features, platforms and who each one suits — side by side.
A
Choose AdGuard if…
- you need encrypted DNS
- you want more money-back (days) (30 vs 0)
- you're in its core audience: privacy-conscious individuals, families
P
Choose Pi-hole if…
- you want a lower cheapest paid plan ($0.00 vs $2.49)
- you're in its core audience: home lab enthusiasts, families
Side by side
Feature AdGuard Pi-hole
Per device per month$0.83—
Free plan limitsBrowser extensions; free mobile apps block ads in browsers/Safari onlyNo limits; fully free, self-hosted (donation-supported)
How it blocksBrowser extension, DNS filtering, System-wide app, Router/networkDNS filtering, Router/network
PlatformsWindows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Self-hostedLinux, Self-hosted, Web, API
CompanyAdGuardPi-hole
Full feature lists
A AdGuard
- System-wide ad and tracker blocking in browsers and apps
- Phishing and malicious site protection
- Parental control against adult content
- Android ad blocking without root access
- DNS-level filtering on iOS
- Router-level blocking with AdGuard Home
- Command-line Linux ad blocker with custom filters
- Browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera
P Pi-hole
- Network-wide DNS-level ad and tracker blocking
- Built-in web dashboard with query statistics
- Long-term query log with advanced filtering
- Group-based blocklists per device
- Regex allow and deny rules plus community blocklists
- Optional built-in DHCP server with IPv6 support
- Full REST API with built-in interactive docs
- Teleporter backup and restore of the full configuration
Their home pages
What each vendor shows first: the pitch, the plans and the sign-up.
AdGuard · adguard.com
Pi-hole · pi-hole.netStrengths and limitations
AdGuard
- Apps for Windows, Mac, Android, Android TV, iOS and Linux
- Android app works without root access
- 14-day trial on the desktop and Android apps
- Free browser extensions for six browsers
- The full Android app is installed via APK rather than Google Play
- The Linux version is command-line only
Pi-hole
- Covers every device on the network from one install
- Runs on modest hardware like a Raspberry Pi or in Docker
- Open source, with code on GitHub
- Full REST API and a detailed query log
- Needs a self-hosted Linux machine or Docker
- Router DNS or DHCP changes are needed for network-wide use
- Mobile protection away from home needs a separate VPN setup
More comparisons
Other options to consider
N
Free, from $1.99/mo
N
Cloud DNS firewall that blocks threats, ads, trackers and adult content
Smart DNS & DNS privacyFree plan
A
AA
Freemium
A
Ad-blocking DNS that filters ads, trackers and adult content on all devices
Smart DNS & DNS privacyFree planOpen source
C
CC
From $2/mo
C
Encrypted DNS filtering for businesses, MSPs and schools on every OS
Smart DNS & DNS privacyAPI
P
PSwiss no-logs VPN with a free plan, 20,000+ servers and built-in ad blocking
Free, from $3.49/mo
P
Free, from $3.49/mo
P
Swiss no-logs VPN with a free plan, 20,000+ servers and built-in ad blocking
VPNFree planOpen source
N
N
From $2.99/mo
S
SS
From $2.49/mo
Facts from each vendor's public pages, prices checked Nov 8, 2026. Editorial policy