AdGuard Home

Active

Country: Cyprus (CY)
Founded: 2018
Developer: AdGuard Team
Pricing: Free (open-source)
Open source: Yes
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

Indexes

Ad Blockers

Overview

AdGuard Home is a network-wide, open-source DNS server application that blocks advertisements and tracking at the network level rather than on individual devices. Once installed on a router or network device, it automatically protects all connected devices—including browsers, apps, smart TVs, and IoT devices—without requiring client-side software installation on each device. The application operates by redirecting ad and tracking domains to a sinkhole, preventing devices from connecting to those servers while allowing users to manage traffic through a web-based interface.

Key Features

Network-wide ad blocking - Blocks ads at the DNS level across all devices on the network simultaneously
Customizable filter lists - Supports dozens of ad filters and allows creation of custom filter rules
DNSSEC support - Provides DNS security extensions to ensure DNS responses have not been tampered with
Parental controls - Shields children from inappropriate content and enforces Safe Search in browsers
Traffic encryption - Encrypts DNS traffic using DNS-over-HTTPS, DNS-over-TLS, DNS-over-QUIC, and DNSCrypt
Web-based management interface - User-friendly dashboard for managing settings and monitoring traffic from any device
IoT device protection - Controls traffic for smart devices that cannot run traditional ad blockers
Customizable DNS settings - Allows configuration of different DNS servers for specific domains

Pricing

Plan	Price	Includes
Free	$0	All core features including ad blocking, DNS filtering, parental controls, and web interface

Platforms & Requirements

AdGuard Home runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux systems, typically installed on a router or network server. It can also be deployed on NAS devices and other network-attached hardware. The application requires minimal system resources and supports installation as a system service. Notable limitation: setup requires network-level configuration and router access, making it less suitable for users without administrative network privileges.

Integrations & Ecosystem

DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH)
DNS-over-TLS (DoT)
DNS-over-QUIC (DoQ)
DNSCrypt protocol
DHCP server functionality
Home Assistant integration
GL-Inet router compatibility
AdGuard filter lists integration

Alternatives

App	Difference
Pi-hole	Similar network-wide DNS filtering but with less modern interface; AdGuard Home offers more user-friendly design and integrated AdGuard filters
Unbound	DNS resolver focused on privacy and security but requires more technical configuration compared to AdGuard Home's simplified setup
NextDNS	Cloud-based DNS filtering service rather than self-hosted; offers convenience but requires external service dependency
Cloudflare DNS	Public DNS service with filtering capabilities but lacks network-wide installation and local control features

Reputation

AdGuard Home is widely recognized as a robust, user-friendly alternative to Pi-hole for network-wide ad blocking and privacy protection. Strengths include its modern web interface, comprehensive filter options, strong DNSSEC support, and effectiveness across all device types including IoT. The open-source nature and active development foster community trust. Criticisms center on the steeper learning curve for initial setup compared to simpler ad blockers, and the requirement for router-level access which limits accessibility for non-technical users or those in restricted network environments.

Sources (7)