Alternatives to Pi-hole

Pi-hole is a popular open-source network-wide ad blocker that functions as a DNS sinkhole. It blocks advertisements at the network level, meaning all devices connected to the network will benefit from ad blocking without needing to install any software on individual devices. Pi-hole also provides statistics on blocked domains and queries. However, Pi-hole does not provide encryption or VPN services, and there is a small learning curve involved in setting it up and maintaining it.

1. AdGuard Home: AdGuard Home is a network-wide ad and tracker blocker that provides features like DNS filtering, parental control, and the ability to configure custom DNS settings. It offers a user-friendly web interface for easy management. One downside is that users need to manually update the blocklists.
2. pfBlockerNG: pfBlockerNG is a package for the pfSense firewall that offers ad blocking, IP blocking, and geoIP blocking capabilities. It provides detailed logging and reporting features. However, it requires setting up and maintaining a pfSense firewall.
3. NextDNS: NextDNS is a cloud-based DNS filtering service that blocks ads, trackers, and malware at the DNS level. It offers advanced analytics and reporting features, along with support for custom blocklists and allowlists. The service has a subscription-based pricing model.
4. uBlock Origin: uBlock Origin is a browser extension that provides efficient ad and tracker blocking for individual devices. It is lightweight and customizable, with support for creating custom filter lists. One limitation is that it only works on the device where the extension is installed.
5. AdAway: AdAway is an open-source ad blocker for Android devices that modifies the hosts file to block ads. It does not require root access on all Android versions, making it easy to use. However, it may not block all ads in certain apps.
6. DNS66: DNS66 is an open-source ad blocker for Android devices that uses a local VPN to filter traffic and block ads. It offers customizable blocklists and allowlists. However, it may cause conflicts with other VPN services.
7. Blockada: Blokada is a free ad blocker for Android devices that blocks ads, trackers, and malware at the DNS level. It provides a simple and user-friendly interface for managing ad blocking settings. One limitation is that it is not available on iOS devices.
8. AdBlock Plus: AdBlock Plus is a popular browser extension for blocking ads on various platforms. It offers acceptable ads, along with customizable filter lists. However, some users have raised concerns about the effectiveness of ad blocking.
9. HostsMan: HostsMan is a freeware tool for managing and updating hosts file-based ad blocking on Windows. It provides easy access to multiple blocklists and allows for manual editing of the hosts file. It lacks advanced features compared to network-wide solutions like Pi-hole.
10. AdBlock for iOS: AdBlock is a popular ad blocking app for iOS devices that blocks ads in Safari. It offers customizable whitelists, blacklist, and filter lists. However, it only works within the Safari browser and does not provide network-wide ad blocking.