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Head-to-head · Internet Filtering Software

Pi-hole vs Check Point URL Filtering

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score Pi-hole #3 in Internet Filtering Software 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 3 features Visit Pi-hole
Check Point URL Filtering #6 in Internet Filtering Software 8.7/10 Pricing on request ✓ 2 of 3 features Visit Check Point

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

Our verdict

  • Highest scorePi-hole · 9.0/10
  • Free planonly Pi-hole
  • Most featuresCheck Point URL Filtering · 2 of 3

Pi-hole scores higher on our rubric for internet filtering software: 9.0 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #6.

Pi-hole is the better fit for free self-hosted network ad and content blocking. Check Point URL Filtering is the better fit for check Point security environments.

  • Pi-hole fits best

    Free self-hosted network ad and content blocking

  • Check Point URL Filtering fits best

    Check Point security environments

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Side by side

Feature Pi-hole 9.0/10 Visit ↗ Check Point URL Filtering 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.0 8.7
Ranking #3 in Internet Filtering Software #6 in Internet Filtering Software
Best for Free self-hosted network ad and content blocking Check Point security environments
Pricing model Free Paid
Starting price Free plan Pricing on request
Free plan ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Free trial — —
Deployment Self-hosted, Cloud Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms Web, Linux Web
Support Community, Docs Docs
Integrations 2 integrations 3 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Pi-hole 1/3 · Check Point URL Filtering 2/3
Custom blocklists ✓ ✓
Safe search controls Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Filtering schedules Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Device limit Not checked yet Not checked yet
Activity reports Advanced Advanced
Platform support Alpine, Armbian OS, Debian, CentOS Stream, Fedora, Raspberry Pi OS, Ubuntu; Docker and network DNS environments Check Point Security Gateway; HTTPS/HTTP web traffic; browser-based Harmony Browse variant supports Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge Chromium, Safari 14+, and Brave
Our review
Pros
  • 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
  • Granular policies by category, user, group, machine, or URL
  • SSL/TLS inspection, SafeSearch, and custom allowlists or blocklists
  • SmartEvent logging plus UserCheck policy education
Cons
  • Requires self-hosted administration on supported Linux or Docker
  • Does not provide broader SafeSearch enforcement
  • Lacks time-based filtering schedules
  • Primarily suited to organizations using Check Point Security Gateway
  • Pricing requires contact with Check Point or a partner
  • Advanced controls depend on the Check Point security ecosystem
Our verdict

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 →

Check Point URL Filtering is a web access control product for organizations that need to restrict malicious, inappropriate, or non-work-related websites. It is designed primarily for teams operating Check Point Security Gateways, with…

Read the review →
  1. Pi-holeInternet Filtering Software 9.0Free plan
  2. Check Point URL FilteringInternet Filtering Software 8.7Pricing on request

Strengths and trade-offs

  • 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

  • Check Point URL Filtering — where it wins

    • Granular policies by category, user, group, machine, or URL
    • SSL/TLS inspection, SafeSearch, and custom allowlists or blocklists
    • SmartEvent logging plus UserCheck policy education

    Where it doesn't

    • Primarily suited to organizations using Check Point Security Gateway
    • Pricing requires contact with Check Point or a partner
    • Advanced controls depend on the Check Point security ecosystem

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