A
ANextDNS vs Pi-hole
Price, audits and jurisdiction and who each one suits, side by side.
N
Choose NextDNS if…
- you're in its core audience: privacy-conscious individuals, parents
P
Choose Pi-hole if…
- you're in its core audience: home lab enthusiasts, families
Side by side
Feature NextDNS Pi-hole
Cost over 2 years$39.82—
PlatformsWebLinux, Self-hosted, Web, API
CategorySmart DNS & DNS privacyAd & tracker blockers
CompanyNextDNS Inc.Pi-hole
Full feature lists
N NextDNS
- Blocks malware, phishing, cryptojacking and typosquatting domains
- Ad and tracker blocklists updated in real time
- Native Tracking Protection for OS-level trackers
- Parental controls with SafeSearch and YouTube Restricted Mode
- Recreation Time schedules for apps and websites
- Configurable log retention and log storage region
- DNS-over-HTTPS, DNS-over-TLS and DNSSEC support
- Custom denylist, allowlist and DNS rewrites
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
What you'd pay
The cheapest plan that fits, per month, billed yearly where the plan offers it.
| Team size | NextDNS | Pi-hole |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $1.66 Pro | no published plan |
| 5 people | $16.58 Business | no published plan |
| 20 people | $16.58 Business | no published plan |
All plans and prices
NextDNS
FreeFree
Pro$1.99/month or $19.90/year
Business$19.90/month or $199/year
Education$19.90/month or $199/year
Pi-hole
Free. Plan details aren't published.
Strengths and limitations
NextDNS
- Free plan includes all features and 300,000 queries a month
- Unlimited devices and configurations on every plan
- Logs can be turned off completely or kept from one hour up to two years
- Accepts cards, PayPal and cryptocurrency
- Pro and Free plans get community support only
- Prices are listed in EUR
- Filtering stops on the free plan once the monthly quota is used up
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
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
Q
QQ
Free
Q
Free public DNS resolver that blocks malicious domains and logs no IP addresses
Smart DNS & DNS privacyFree plan
A
AA
Free trial
A
Ad, tracker and phishing blocker for desktop, mobile, browsers and networks
Ad & tracker blockers
Facts from each vendor's public pages, prices checked Nov 8, 2026. Editorial policy