Best Self-Hosted Ad Blockers & DNS in 2026
Quick Picks
| Need | Best Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall | AdGuard Home | Modern UI, encrypted DNS, per-client settings |
| Largest community | Pi-hole | Massive ecosystem, most blocklists, proven track record |
| Lightest weight | Blocky | Config-as-code, runs on anything |
| Most DNS features | Technitium | Full authoritative DNS server with ad blocking |
The Full Breakdown
1. AdGuard Home — Best Overall
AdGuard Home edges ahead in 2026 with built-in encrypted DNS (DoH, DoT, DoQ), per-client filtering rules, parental controls, and a cleaner web interface. It’s compatible with most Pi-hole blocklists and is easy to set up.
Strengths: Built-in encrypted DNS, per-client settings, parental controls, safe search enforcement. Weaknesses: Smaller community than Pi-hole, fewer third-party integrations.
2. Pi-hole — Largest Community
Pi-hole is the original self-hosted DNS ad blocker. The community is enormous — every self-hosting guide mentions it, blocklists are abundant, and it’s battle-tested on millions of installations. It does its core job (DNS ad blocking) exceptionally well.
Strengths: Largest community, most blocklists, proven reliability, great documentation. Weaknesses: No built-in encrypted DNS, no per-client settings, no DHCP server.
3. Blocky — Lightest Weight
Blocky is a DNS-based ad blocker configured entirely through a YAML file. No web UI (there’s an optional one). It’s designed for people who prefer config-as-code and want minimal resource usage. Perfect for Kubernetes setups.
Strengths: Minimal resources, config-as-code, great for automation and Kubernetes. Weaknesses: No built-in web UI, less beginner-friendly.
4. Technitium DNS — Most DNS Features
Technitium is a full-featured DNS server that also does ad blocking. If you need authoritative DNS, DNSSEC, zone management, and ad blocking in one tool, Technitium is it.
Strengths: Full DNS server, authoritative DNS support, DNSSEC, most complete DNS feature set. Weaknesses: More complex than needed for just ad blocking, higher resource usage.
Comparison Table
| Feature | AdGuard Home | Pi-hole | Blocky | Technitium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web UI | Yes (modern) | Yes (classic) | Optional | Yes |
| Encrypted DNS | Built-in | External setup | Yes | Yes |
| Per-client rules | Yes | Limited | Yes | Yes |
| DHCP server | Built-in | No | No | No |
| Parental controls | Yes | No | No | No |
| Config-as-code | YAML | No | YAML | No |
| Resource usage | Low | Low | Very low | Medium |
See also: Pi-hole vs AdGuard Home