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Head-to-head · DNS Filtering Software

Pi-hole vs CleanBrowsing

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 1 check side by side
Higher score Pi-hole #6 in DNS Filtering Software 8.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 4 features Visit Pi-hole
CleanBrowsing #7 in DNS Filtering Software 8.5/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 4 features Visit CleanBrowsing

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

Our verdict

  • Highest scorePi-hole · 8.6/10
  • Free planboth

Pi-hole scores higher on our rubric for dns filtering software: 8.6 against 8.5 out of 10; our editors rank them #6 and #7.

Pi-hole is the better fit for self-hosted network-wide ad blocking. CleanBrowsing is the better fit for families and small networks needing profiles.

  • Pi-hole fits best

    Self-hosted network-wide ad blocking

  • CleanBrowsing fits best

    Families and small networks needing profiles

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Side by side

Feature Pi-hole 8.6/10 Visit ↗ CleanBrowsing 8.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.6 8.5
Ranking #6 in DNS Filtering Software #7 in DNS Filtering Software
Best for Self-hosted network-wide ad blocking Families and small networks needing profiles
Pricing model Free Free plan + paid
Starting price Free plan $75/yr
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Self-hosted, Cloud Cloud, Desktop, Mobile
Platforms Web, Linux Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Support Community, Docs Email, Docs
Integrations 2 integrations 6 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Pi-hole 0/4 · CleanBrowsing 0/4
Category filtering Not checked yet Not checked yet
Custom domain policies Not checked yet Not checked yet
Roaming protection Not checked yet Not checked yet
Activity reports Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Deployment modes Not checked yet Not checked yet
Device limit Not checked yet 25 devices
Encrypted DNS support Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Blocks unwanted domains across an entire network
  • Supports custom lists, regex rules and group-based policies
  • Provides dashboards, long-term statistics and an interactive API
  • Profiles group device policies by user or network need
  • Encrypted DNS supports DNS-over-HTTPS, DNS-over-TLS, and DNSCrypt
  • Works across major operating systems, routers, and network devices
Cons
  • Deployment centers on supported Linux distributions or Docker
  • Requires self-hosted administration and DNS configuration
  • Offers fewer family-policy features than some alternatives
  • Free public filters provide less dashboard customization than paid plans
  • Basic plans cap devices at 25 and profiles at 3
  • Self-service plans do not include a trial
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, Raspberry Pi OS, or Docker, with administration available through…

Read the review →

CleanBrowsing is a DNS-based internet filtering service for families, schools, businesses, public Wi-Fi providers, and other organizations. It applies predefined content and platform filters to domain requests, while custom allow and block…

Read the review →
  1. Pi-holeDNS Filtering Software 8.6Free plan
  2. CleanBrowsingDNS Filtering Software 8.5Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Pi-hole — where it wins

    • Blocks unwanted domains across an entire network
    • Supports custom lists, regex rules and group-based policies
    • Provides dashboards, long-term statistics and an interactive API

    Where it doesn't

    • Deployment centers on supported Linux distributions or Docker
    • Requires self-hosted administration and DNS configuration
    • Offers fewer family-policy features than some alternatives

  • CleanBrowsing — where it wins

    • Profiles group device policies by user or network need
    • Encrypted DNS supports DNS-over-HTTPS, DNS-over-TLS, and DNSCrypt
    • Works across major operating systems, routers, and network devices

    Where it doesn't

    • Free public filters provide less dashboard customization than paid plans
    • Basic plans cap devices at 25 and profiles at 3
    • Self-service plans do not include a trial

More comparisons

All DNS filtering software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update