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Head-to-head · Internet Filtering Software

Cloudflare Gateway vs Pi-hole

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score Cloudflare Gateway #1 in Internet Filtering Software 9.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 3 features Visit Cloudflare
Pi-hole #3 in Internet Filtering Software 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 3 features Visit Pi-hole

Cloudflare Gateway leads on 0 checks, Pi-hole on 0, and 4 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 scoreCloudflare Gateway · 9.2/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresCloudflare Gateway · 3 of 3

Cloudflare Gateway scores higher on our rubric for internet filtering software: 9.2 against 9.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #3.

Cloudflare Gateway is the better fit for organizations needing filtering beyond DNS. Pi-hole is the better fit for free self-hosted network ad and content blocking.

  • Cloudflare Gateway fits best

    Organizations needing filtering beyond DNS

  • 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 Cloudflare Gateway 9.2/10 Visit ↗ Pi-hole 9.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.2 9.0
Ranking #1 in Internet Filtering Software #3 in Internet Filtering Software
Best for Organizations needing filtering beyond DNS Free self-hosted network ad and content blocking
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free
Starting price — Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Mobile Self-hosted, Cloud
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android Web, Linux
Support Community, Live chat, Tickets, Phone Community, Docs
Integrations 6 integrations 2 integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market
Features Cloudflare Gateway 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 macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, PAC files, DNS locations, Cloudflare WAN, Cloudflare Mesh, HTML5 browsers Alpine, Armbian OS, Debian, CentOS Stream, Fedora, Raspberry Pi OS, Ubuntu; Docker and network DNS environments
Our review
Pros
  • Filters DNS, HTTP/HTTPS, network traffic, and custom lists
  • Supports identity controls, SafeSearch, scheduling, and activity logs
  • Runs across Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, network DNS, and API
  • 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
  • Activity reporting is basic
  • Free log retention is limited to up to 24 hours
  • Contract plan pricing is custom
  • Requires self-hosted administration on supported Linux or Docker
  • Does not provide broader SafeSearch enforcement
  • Lacks time-based filtering schedules
Our verdict

Cloudflare Gateway is a cloud-delivered secure web gateway for organizations that need to control more than DNS requests. Administrators can filter DNS, HTTP and HTTPS requests, network traffic, packets, ports, and protocols. Policies can…

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. Cloudflare GatewayInternet Filtering Software 9.2Free plan
  2. Pi-holeInternet Filtering Software 9.0Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Cloudflare Gateway — where it wins

    • Filters DNS, HTTP/HTTPS, network traffic, and custom lists
    • Supports identity controls, SafeSearch, scheduling, and activity logs
    • Runs across Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, network DNS, and API

    Where it doesn't

    • Activity reporting is basic
    • Free log retention is limited to up to 24 hours
    • Contract plan pricing is custom

  • 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