Pi-hole review: the free, open-source DNS sinkhole that blocks ads and trackers network-wide. See features, setup requirements and alternatives.
Pi-hole is a free, open-source DNS sinkhole that blocks advertisements and trackers for every device on a network by intercepting and filtering DNS queries before they reach ad and tracking domains. It was created by Jacob Salmela in 2014 as a lightweight Raspberry Pi project and has grown into one of the most widely deployed self-hosted networking tools.
Because Pi-hole operates at the DNS level rather than inside individual browsers, it blocks ads and trackers across every device connected to the network, including smart TVs, phones, and IoT devices that cannot run browser extensions.
Pi-hole replaces or supplements a network's existing DNS server, comparing every DNS query against configurable blocklists and returning a null response for matched domains. It can also function as a DHCP server, and it ships with a web-based dashboard that shows real-time query logs, blocked-domain statistics, and per-client activity.
Administrators can add custom blocklists and allowlists, create per-client blocking rules, and run Pi-hole in recursive mode with upstream DNS resolvers of their choosing, including encrypted DNS-over-HTTPS or DNS-over-TLS providers.
Pi-hole is completely free and open source, with no paid tiers, subscriptions, or license fees for the software itself. It runs on inexpensive hardware such as a Raspberry Pi, or on any standard Linux machine or Docker host.
The project sustains itself through voluntary donations via GitHub Sponsors and Patreon, along with affiliate partnerships, rather than charging users for the software or offering a commercial edition.
Yes, Pi-hole is completely free and open source. The project is sustained through voluntary donations rather than software sales or subscriptions.
No. While Pi-hole was originally designed for the Raspberry Pi, it can run on most Linux systems, virtual machines, and as a Docker container.
Pi-hole works as a DNS sinkhole, comparing every DNS query on the network against blocklists and refusing to resolve domains known to serve ads or trackers.
Yes, because it filters at the network's DNS level, Pi-hole blocks ads and trackers for any device configured to use it as a DNS server, including phones, smart TVs, and IoT devices.
Pi-hole was created by Jacob Salmela in June 2014 as an open-source Raspberry Pi alternative to a commercial ad-blocking device called AdTrap.
Yes, Pi-hole includes an optional built-in DHCP server that can replace or work alongside your router's DHCP functionality.
Both are free, open-source DNS-level ad blockers with similar functionality; Pi-hole has a longer track record and larger community, while AdGuard Home is often noted for a slightly different default interface and feature set.
Pi-hole blocks known ad and tracking domains at the DNS level, but it does not replace a VPN or encrypt your traffic, and some tracking that does not rely on blocklisted domains may not be blocked.