Pi-hole made network-wide ad blocking popular, but it isn’t the only open source option, and it isn’t always the best fit. Some alternatives offer built-in encrypted DNS, per-device rules, single-binary installs, or full authoritative DNS for your home lab. Here are the seven best open source Pi-hole alternatives and DNS tools in 2026.
Quick Comparison: Best Open Source Pi-hole Alternatives
| Rank | Tool | Best For | Web Interface | Runs On |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AdGuard Home | Best overall Pi-hole alternative | Yes | Linux, Windows, macOS, Docker, routers |
| 2 | Technitium DNS Server | Full-featured home lab DNS | Yes | Windows, Linux, macOS, Docker |
| 3 | Blocky | Lightweight, config-driven blocking | No (third-party options) | Linux, Docker |
| 4 | Unbound | Private recursive resolving | No | Linux, BSD, macOS, Windows |
| 5 | dnscrypt-proxy | Encrypted DNS with blocklists | No | Windows, macOS, Linux, routers |
| 6 | Portmaster | Per-app firewall with DNS blocking | Yes | Windows, Linux |
| 7 | RethinkDNS | Android devices | App | Android |
Before You Choose: What to Know
- Network-wide vs. per-device. Server tools like AdGuard Home protect every device on your network, including smart TVs. Device tools like Portmaster and RethinkDNS protect one computer or phone, even away from home.
- DNS blocking has limits. DNS blockers can’t remove ads served from the same domain as the content, which is why most YouTube ads still get through. Pair them with a browser ad blocker.
- Plan for downtime. If your DNS server goes offline, your whole network loses name resolution. Set up a secondary server or fallback.
- Encrypted DNS matters. Tools with built-in DNS-over-HTTPS, DNS-over-TLS, or DNS-over-QUIC keep your ISP from seeing every site you visit.
- Keep it updated. DNS servers face the internet directly, and several projects on this list shipped important security fixes in 2026.
1. AdGuard Home: Best Overall Pi-hole Alternative
AdGuard Home is an open source, network-wide ad and tracker blocking DNS server and the closest drop-in replacement for Pi-hole.
What It Does Well
- Ships as a single binary that’s easy to run on almost anything, including Docker and many routers
- Built-in support for encrypted DNS protocols, parental controls, and per-client settings
- A hugely popular project with more than 25,000 GitHub stars
- Takes security seriously, with recent releases hardening DNS-over-QUIC against resource exhaustion attacks and adding stricter validation of DoH and DNSCrypt upstream responses
- The edge channel has moved to a new interface and versioning scheme
Where It Falls Short
- Less community documentation and fewer third-party add-ons than Pi-hole
- A 2026 path traversal vulnerability in GL.iNet mode (CVE-2026-41448) is a reminder to update promptly
- Like every DNS blocker, it can’t stop same-domain ads such as YouTube’s
Who It’s For
- Anyone who wants Pi-hole-style blocking with a cleaner interface and encrypted DNS built in
2. Technitium DNS Server: Best Full-Featured Home Lab DNS
Technitium DNS Server is an open source authoritative and recursive DNS server that you can self-host for privacy and security.
What It Does Well
- Handles ad blocking, local zones for your own domains, recursive resolving, and forwarding in one package
- Supports DNS-over-TLS, DNS-over-HTTPS, and DNS-over-QUIC forwarders
- Version 15, released in April 2026, added single sign-on with OpenID Connect and moved to the .NET 10 runtime
- A September 2026 update added LDAP authentication
- Licensed under GPL v3, with its official Docker image downloaded more than 9 million times
Where It Falls Short
- More complex than AdGuard Home for users who only want ad blocking
- Upgrading to version 15 may require manually installing the .NET 10 runtime first
- Recent releases fixed several vulnerabilities, including a DNS-over-HTTPS/3 denial of service bug and an XSS issue in the logs view, so stay current
Who It’s For
- Home lab builders who want ad blocking plus a real authoritative DNS server for local services
3. Blocky: Best Lightweight, Config-Driven Blocker
Blocky is a fast, lightweight DNS proxy and ad blocker for local networks, written in Go.
What It Does Well
- Supports allow and deny lists per client group, such as kids’ devices or smart home gadgets
- Blocks by requested domain, deep CNAME inspection, and response IP addresses
- Supports DNS-over-HTTPS, DNS-over-TLS, DNSSEC, and conditional forwarding
- Spreads your queries across multiple upstream resolvers for extra privacy, and collects no user data or telemetry
- Recent releases added a stats command and dnstap query logging
Where It Falls Short
- Configured through a YAML file rather than a built-in web interface
- Visual dashboards require third-party tools
- A smaller community than Pi-hole or AdGuard Home
Who It’s For
- Home lab users running Docker or Kubernetes who prefer configuration files over web dashboards
4. Unbound: Best Private Recursive Resolver
Unbound is a validating, recursive, and caching DNS resolver from NLnet Labs, and the most common companion for Pi-hole and its alternatives.
What It Does Well
- Resolves queries directly from the root servers instead of sending them to Google, Cloudflare, or your ISP
- Runs on FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, macOS, Linux, and Windows, and ships in most Linux distributions
- Can be set up with only a few lines of configuration
- Version 1.26.0 arrived in August 2026, following a release that fixed more than 20 security issues
Where It Falls Short
- Not an ad blocker on its own, so you’ll pair it with AdGuard Home, Blocky, or Pi-hole
- No web interface
- The steady stream of 2026 security fixes makes updates essential
Who It’s For
- Privacy-focused users who don’t want to trust any third-party DNS provider
5. dnscrypt-proxy: Best Encrypted DNS Proxy With Blocklists
dnscrypt-proxy is a flexible DNS proxy with support for modern encrypted DNS protocols and built-in filtering.
What It Does Well
- Supports DNSCrypt, DNS-over-HTTPS, Anonymized DNSCrypt, and Oblivious DoH
- Added PQDNSCrypt, using post-quantum cryptography to protect query confidentiality against future quantum computers
- Hot-reloads configuration, so you can change filtering rules without restarting
- Includes a blocklist generator that now downloads lists in parallel
- Licensed under ISC and runs on computers and routers alike
Where It Falls Short
- No graphical interface or dashboard
- Configuration takes some reading
- Best as a per-device or router tool rather than a full network management platform
Who It’s For
- Privacy enthusiasts who want the strongest encrypted DNS with lightweight blocking
6. Portmaster: Best Per-App Firewall With DNS Blocking
Portmaster is a free, open source application firewall that blocks trackers and secures DNS on Windows and Linux computers.
What It Does Well
- Monitors all network activity and blocks trackers and malware automatically
- Intercepts stray DNS queries and resolves them through your chosen DNS-over-TLS or DNS-over-HTTPS provider
- Lets you set global and per-app rules
- Protects your computer wherever you go, not just on your home network
Where It Falls Short
- Protects only the device it’s installed on
- The interface still uses Electron
- Some advanced features require the paid Pro plan
Who It’s For
- Laptop users who want Pi-hole-style blocking and app-level network control on the go
7. RethinkDNS: Best for Android
RethinkDNS is an open source Android app that combines encrypted DNS with a per-app firewall.
What It Does Well
- Supports DoH, DoT, and DNSCrypt with 190+ blocklists
- Blocks ads and trackers across all your apps, not just the browser
- The firewall lets you decide which apps can reach the internet at all
- No account required, with on-device query logging
Where It Falls Short
- Uses Android’s VPN slot, so running a real VPN alongside it requires workarounds
- The interface takes time to learn
- Android only
Who It’s For
- Android users who want Pi-hole-style protection on mobile data and public Wi-Fi
How to Choose the Right Pi-hole Alternative
- Want the easiest Pi-hole replacement: AdGuard Home
- Want a full DNS server for your home lab: Technitium DNS Server
- Prefer config files and Docker: Blocky
- Want to stop trusting third-party resolvers: Add Unbound to any blocker
- Want encrypted DNS on a single device: dnscrypt-proxy
- Need protection on a laptop away from home: Portmaster
- On Android: RethinkDNS
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AdGuard Home Better Than Pi-hole?
- Neither is strictly better. AdGuard Home includes encrypted DNS and installs as a single binary, while Pi-hole has a larger community and more third-party tools.
Can These Tools Block YouTube Ads?
- Generally no. YouTube serves ads from the same domains as its videos, so use a browser ad blocker for YouTube.
Do I Need a Raspberry Pi?
- No. AdGuard Home, Technitium, and Blocky run on almost any computer, virtual machine, NAS, or Docker host.
Should I Use Unbound With My Ad Blocker?
- If privacy matters to you, yes. Unbound resolves queries directly instead of sending them to a third-party DNS provider.
Is Pi-hole Still Worth Using?
- Absolutely. Pi-hole remains actively maintained and reliable, but the alternatives above may fit better if you want encrypted DNS, per-client rules, or mobile protection.
Bottom Line: For most people, AdGuard Home is the best open source Pi-hole alternative in 2026. It installs easily, includes encrypted DNS out of the box, and blocks ads for every device on your network. Choose Technitium DNS Server if you want a full home lab DNS server, Blocky if you prefer lightweight configuration files, and add Unbound to any setup for private recursive resolving. For protection away from home, Portmaster covers laptops and RethinkDNS covers Android phones. Whichever you pick, keep it updated and pair it with a browser ad blocker for the ads DNS can’t catch.
Meet Ry, “TechGuru,” a 36-year-old technology enthusiast with a deep passion for tech innovations. With extensive experience, he specializes in gaming hardware and software, and has expertise in gadgets, custom PCs, and audio.
Besides writing about tech and reviewing new products, he enjoys traveling, hiking, and photography. Committed to keeping up with the latest industry trends, he aims to guide readers in making informed tech decisions.