AdGuard Home
A free, open-source DNS server that blocks ads and trackers network-wide for all your home devices.
What is AdGuard Home?
AdGuard Home is a network-wide DNS server that blocks advertisements, tracking domains, malware, and phishing attempts by rerouting unwanted DNS queries to a black hole. It provides privacy protection for every device on a network without requiring client-side software, acting as a centralized filtering solution.
Home network administrators, privacy-conscious users, and developers managing IoT or smart home environments who want to implement network-level ad and tracker blocking across all connected devices.
Developers choose AdGuard Home for its out-of-the-box feature set including encrypted DNS support, a built-in DHCP server, and a modern web admin interface, offering greater control and easier setup compared to alternatives like Pi-Hole without needing additional software.
Overview
Network-wide ads & trackers blocking DNS server
Use Cases
Best For
- Blocking ads and trackers across all devices on a home network, including computers, smartphones, SmartTVs, and IoT devices.
- Implementing parental controls to block adult content and enforce safe search on search engines.
- Setting up a custom DNS server with DNS-over-HTTPS, DNS-over-TLS, or DNSCrypt for secure upstream queries.
- Managing network IP assignments and integrating a DHCP server seamlessly with existing network configurations.
- Applying per-device configuration and monitoring network activity through detailed logs and a web admin interface.
- Creating custom filtering rules and using blocklists to permit or block specific domains based on user preferences.
Not Ideal For
- Blocking ads on video platforms like YouTube or Twitch, where ads share domains with content, making DNS-level blocking ineffective.
- Projects requiring deep content inspection or modification, such as removing specific page elements, since it only operates at the DNS level.
- Environments with restricted DNS configuration, such as corporate networks or public Wi-Fi, where redirecting all devices is impractical.
- Users seeking a zero-maintenance, client-only solution without managing a dedicated server.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Blocks ads and trackers across all devices including IoT and SmartTVs without client-side software, as highlighted in the README's description of covering ALL home devices.
Supports DNS-over-HTTPS, DNS-over-TLS, and DNSCrypt out of the box for secure upstream queries, eliminating the need for additional software compared to alternatives like Pi-Hole.
Allows users to choose blocklists, create custom rules, and apply parental controls with per-device configuration, providing fine-grained control over network traffic as stated in the key features.
Includes a built-in DHCP server for managing IP assignments, simplifying network integration and reducing setup complexity compared to solutions requiring separate configurations.
Cons
Cannot block ads on platforms like YouTube, Twitch, or sponsored posts on social media, as admitted in the 'Known limitations' section, because DNS blocking fails when ads share domains with content.
Requires setting up and maintaining a dedicated server, which can be complex for casual users and involves ongoing updates, unlike client-side blockers that are more plug-and-play.
Future features like content blocking proxy may require intricate setup, as hinted in the README, making advanced use cases less accessible to non-technical users.
Open Source Alternative To
AdGuard Home is an open-source alternative to the following products:
Frequently Asked Questions
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