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Head-to-head · Internet Filtering Software

Cisco Umbrella vs Pi-hole

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score Cisco Umbrella #2 in Internet Filtering Software 9.1/10 Pricing on request · 14-day trial Free trial✓ 3 of 3 features Visit Cisco Umbrella
Pi-hole #3 in Internet Filtering Software 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 3 features Visit Pi-hole

Cisco Umbrella leads on 0 checks, Pi-hole on 1, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreCisco Umbrella · 9.1/10
  • Free planonly Pi-hole
  • Free trialonly Cisco Umbrella
  • Most featuresCisco Umbrella · 3 of 3

Cisco Umbrella scores higher on our rubric for internet filtering software: 9.1 against 9.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #3.

Pi-hole offers free plan; Cisco Umbrella doesn't.

Cisco Umbrella is the better fit for mature enterprise network filtering. Pi-hole is the better fit for free self-hosted network ad and content blocking.

  • Cisco Umbrella fits best

    Mature enterprise network filtering

  • Pi-hole fits best

    Free self-hosted network ad and content blocking

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Cisco Umbrella 9.1/10 Visit ↗ Pi-hole 9.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.1 9.0
Ranking #2 in Internet Filtering Software #3 in Internet Filtering Software
Best for Mature enterprise network filtering Free self-hosted network ad and content blocking
Pricing model Paid Free
Starting price Pricing on request · 14-day trial Free plan
Free plan — ✓ (best)
Free trial 14 days —
Deployment Cloud, Mobile Self-hosted, Cloud
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android Web, Linux
Support Tickets, Phone, Docs Community, Docs
Integrations 6 integrations 2 integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market
Features Cisco Umbrella 3/3 · Pi-hole 1/3
Custom blocklists ✓ ✓
Safe search controls ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Filtering schedules ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Device limit Not checked yet Not checked yet
Activity reports Advanced Advanced
Platform support Windows, macOS, Chrome OS, iOS, Android, DNS networks, Cisco network devices Alpine, Armbian OS, Debian, CentOS Stream, Fedora, Raspberry Pi OS, Ubuntu; Docker and network DNS environments
Our review
Pros
  • DNS and category filtering with custom allow and block lists
  • Identity, device, network, schedule, and application-based policies
  • Cisco integrations, reporting APIs, and log exports
  • Blocks ads and unwanted domains across an entire network
  • Supports custom lists, regex rules, groups and privacy controls
  • Includes DNS logs, long-term statistics, DHCP and an API
Cons
  • No free plan for smaller teams evaluating long term
  • Pricing requires contacting sales
  • Planned end-of-sale and end-of-life transition
  • Requires self-hosted administration on supported Linux or Docker
  • Does not provide broader SafeSearch enforcement
  • Lacks time-based filtering schedules
Our verdict

Cisco Umbrella is a cloud-delivered DNS and web security service for organizations that need to control internet access across users, devices, and networks. It combines DNS-layer blocking for malware, phishing, botnets, ransomware, and…

Read the review →

Pi-hole is free, open-source DNS filtering software for administrators who want to block unwanted domains across a network. It runs on supported Linux distributions, Raspberry Pi OS and Docker, with a web interface, command-line…

Read the review →
  1. Cisco UmbrellaInternet Filtering Software 9.1Pricing on request · 14-day trial
  2. Pi-holeInternet Filtering Software 9.0Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Cisco Umbrella — where it wins

    • DNS and category filtering with custom allow and block lists
    • Identity, device, network, schedule, and application-based policies
    • Cisco integrations, reporting APIs, and log exports

    Where it doesn't

    • No free plan for smaller teams evaluating long term
    • Pricing requires contacting sales
    • Planned end-of-sale and end-of-life transition

  • Pi-hole — where it wins

    • Blocks ads and unwanted domains across an entire network
    • Supports custom lists, regex rules, groups and privacy controls
    • Includes DNS logs, long-term statistics, DHCP and an API

    Where it doesn't

    • Requires self-hosted administration on supported Linux or Docker
    • Does not provide broader SafeSearch enforcement
    • Lacks time-based filtering schedules

More comparisons

All internet filtering software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update