Pi-hole vs AdLock

Pi-hole8.7Visit AdLock8.6Visit

Higher score Pi-hole #5 in Ad Blocking Software 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 4 features Visit Pi-hole

vs

AdLock #6 in Ad Blocking Software 8.6/10 Free plan · 7-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 0 of 4 features Visit AdLock

• Pi-hole fits best

  Network-wide self-hosted blocking

• AdLock fits best

  Multi-device users wanting system-wide filtering

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	Pi-hole 8.7/10 Visit ↗	AdLock 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.7	8.6
Ranking	#5 in Ad Blocking Software	#6 in Ad Blocking Software
Best for	Network-wide self-hosted blocking	Multi-device users wanting system-wide filtering
Pricing model	Free	Free plan + paid
Starting price	Free plan	$15.99/yr
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	7 days
Deployment	Self-hosted, Cloud	Desktop, Mobile, Browser extension
Platforms	Web, Linux	Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Chrome extension
Support	Community, Docs	Email, Phone, Docs · 24/7
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Pi-hole 0/4 · AdLock 0/4
App blocking	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Tracker blocking	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Custom filters	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Element picker	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Platform coverage	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Device limit	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Filter-list control	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Blocks ads and content across a network through DNS filtering Supports regex rules, subscribed lists, allowlists and denylists Adds query logs, long-term statistics, DHCP and group policies	Blocks ads, trackers, pop-ups, and malicious content in apps and browsers Supports Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and a Chrome extension Offers local HTTP/DNS filtering, custom rules, allowlists, and regional lists
Cons	Requires self-hosting on supported Linux systems or Docker Administration requires DNS configuration and technical setup Paid SaaS plans and device limits are not part of its model	Paid plans are less compelling than free alternatives The Chrome extension provides browser-only blocking The seven-day trial applies to the iOS App Store subscription flow
Our verdict	Pi-hole is free, open-source DNS filtering software for administrators who want to block unwanted domains across an entire network. It runs on supported Linux distributions, hardware such as Raspberry Pi devices, or Docker, with… Read the review →	AdLock is a freemium ad-blocking application for individuals, households, and organizations that want filtering across desktop, mobile, browsers, and applications. It supports Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Chrome through a browser… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Pi-hole — where it wins

  • Blocks ads and content across a network through DNS filtering
  • Supports regex rules, subscribed lists, allowlists and denylists
  • Adds query logs, long-term statistics, DHCP and group policies

  Where it doesn't

  • Requires self-hosting on supported Linux systems or Docker
  • Administration requires DNS configuration and technical setup
  • Paid SaaS plans and device limits are not part of its model

• AdLock — where it wins

  • Blocks ads, trackers, pop-ups, and malicious content in apps and browsers
  • Supports Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and a Chrome extension
  • Offers local HTTP/DNS filtering, custom rules, allowlists, and regional lists

  Where it doesn't

  • Paid plans are less compelling than free alternatives
  • The Chrome extension provides browser-only blocking
  • The seven-day trial applies to the iOS App Store subscription flow

• Pi-hole8.7/10 · Free plan

  A free, open-source DNS filter for controlling unwanted domains across a network.

  Visit Pi-holeFull verdict →
• AdLock8.6/10 · Free plan · 7-day trial

  A broad cross-platform blocker with custom controls, but paid plans face free competition.

  Visit AdLockFull verdict →