Pi-hole

Self-hosted DNS blocker where your queries never leave your network.

pi-hole.net

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FreeOpen SourceLinuxWebOpen-source project

Pricing Free and open-source; you only pay for whatever hardware you choose to run it on.

Pi-hole is the do-it-yourself network blocker: you run the DNS server yourself, usually on a Raspberry Pi, a mini PC, or in a container and it blocks ads and trackers for every device on your network. Because you host it, your queries never leave your network the way they do with a hosted resolver. Version 6 (2025) folded a web server and a REST API into the core and simplified configuration into a single file. Setup takes more effort than a hosted service and it only filters at the DNS level so pair it with a browser blocker like uBlock Origin for cosmetic filtering. The listed platforms mean the server runs on Linux and is managed through its web dashboard.

Strengths

  • Self-hosted; queries never leave your network
  • Fully open-source (EUPL-1.2), free, no telemetry
  • Blocks ads for every device on the network

Considerations

  • Requires your own hardware and some setup effort
  • DNS-level only; no in-page cosmetic filtering

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Pi-hole alternatives

uBlock OriginThe gold-standard browser extension for blocking ads and trackers.NextDNSConfigurable DNS-level blocking for every device on your network.uBlock Origin LiteThe Manifest V3 blocker for Chromium browsers, from uBO's own developer.AdGuard DNSSet-in-minutes public DNS resolver that blocks ads and trackers.