Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchiTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Choose AdGuard Home if built-in encrypted-DNS options, per-client controls, and features such as parental controls or Safe Search are your priorities. Choose Pi-hole if you want a Linux-hosted DNS sinkhole with group management, a mature dashboard and command-line workflow, optional DHCP, and many deployment choices. For basic network-wide ad and tracker blocking, either can work.
The deciding factor is not a claimed speed or blocking-rate advantage—no controlled, independent head-to-head test establishes one. It is how each project fits your DNS topology, client-management needs, and willingness to add supporting software.
At a glance: which one fits your priority?
| Your priority | Better starting point | Why | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Encrypted DNS upstreams without another resolver | AdGuard Home | The AdGuard-authored comparison lists DNS-over-HTTPS, DNS-over-TLS and DNSCrypt upstream support as built in. | Confirm the current implementation and your chosen deployment before relying on a protocol. |
| Run a DNS-over-HTTPS or DNS-over-TLS server for clients | AdGuard Home | The same comparison lists those server modes as built in. | This is a vendor-maintained feature matrix, not a neutral benchmark. |
| Per-device policies | Either | Both projects are listed as supporting per-client configuration. | Your result depends on reliable client identification and network layout. |
| A straightforward network-wide sinkhole with custom lists | Either | Both use DNS sinkholing and let you customize what is blocked. | DNS filtering does not replace a browser content blocker. |
| Linux-hosted service with dashboard, CLI and group management | Pi-hole | Pi-hole documentation describes all of those functions, plus optional DHCP and DNS caching. | Check current operating-system and hardware prerequisites before installing. |
| A router that cannot advertise the filter as DNS | Pi-hole’s DHCP fallback, or manual client setup | Pi-hole documents running its own DHCP service after router DHCP is disabled, with manual device configuration as another fallback. | Never run two DHCP servers on the same network. |
These are feature-based starting points, not claims that one product is universally faster, safer or easier.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesWhat both products actually do
DNS sinkholing in plain language
When a phone, computer, television or other device asks for the address behind a domain, it sends a DNS query. Pi-hole or AdGuard Home checks that domain against blocklists and local rules. For a match, the filter returns a sinkhole response or otherwise prevents the normal resolution. The device then cannot connect to that blocked host in the ordinary way.
Because the decision happens at DNS level, one server can cover many devices without installing a program on each client. Pi-hole describes this use on non-browser devices, including smart TVs and mobile applications. Both projects also allow custom lists, so you can add or remove domains to suit your network.
Where DNS filtering stops
DNS rules operate on domain names, not on the full contents of a web page. They cannot inspect every request element the way a browser extension can. An advertisement and the content you want may come from the same domain; blocking that domain can break the service, while allowing it can let the advertisement through.
That limitation matters for video advertising and ads embedded in a first-party service. Neither product can honestly promise to remove every ad, and the result depends on the service’s architecture and the lists you use. Use a browser-level blocker when you need page-level cosmetic filtering or script control in addition to network-wide DNS policy.
Feature differences that affect the decision
The most direct side-by-side feature list is maintained by the AdGuard Home project. Its page history records a 2022 edit, so treat the distinctions below as the project’s account of built-in capabilities and verify current documentation before deployment. It also notes that some Pi-hole functions can be added with extra software or manual configuration.
| Capability | Pi-hole | AdGuard Home | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|---|
| DNS sinkholing and customizable filtering | Supported | Supported | This is the common core of both products. |
| Encrypted DNS upstreams | May require additional software or manual setup, according to the AdGuard comparison | Listed as built in for DNS-over-HTTPS, DNS-over-TLS and DNSCrypt upstreams | Useful when the filter itself must establish encrypted upstream DNS. |
| Serve DNS-over-HTTPS or DNS-over-TLS to clients | May require additional software or manual setup, according to the AdGuard comparison | Listed as built in | Relevant when clients should connect to the filter through an encrypted DNS protocol. |
| Phishing and malware blocking | Not listed as a built-in distinction in the cited matrix | Listed as built in | Check the current feature documentation and enabled lists before treating this as a security guarantee. |
| Parental controls and Safe Search enforcement | May require additional configuration or supporting tools | Listed as built in | These controls still depend on correct client identification and policy scope. |
| Per-client configuration | Listed as supported | Listed as supported | Implementation details and available identifiers differ. |
How to choose by network requirement
Pick AdGuard Home for an integrated encrypted-DNS stack
AdGuard Home is the stronger starting point when you want the DNS service to handle encrypted upstream connections or to accept encrypted DNS from clients without assembling a separate resolver. The project comparison also lists phishing and malware blocking, parental controls, Safe Search enforcement and access settings among its built-in capabilities.
Those features do not remove the need to design your network carefully. Decide which clients should receive which policy, how they will be identified, and whether your router or AdGuard Home supplies DHCP. Then verify that the current release supports the protocol and platform you intend to use.
Pick Pi-hole for a classic Linux sinkhole and group workflow
Pi-hole is a good fit when you want a Linux-hosted service with a web dashboard, command-line operation, configurable groups, DNS caching and an optional DHCP server. Its documentation presents both bare-metal and Docker deployment paths, subject to the prerequisites for the chosen platform.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Group management is useful when a household needs different lists for different sets of devices—for example, a stricter policy for children’s devices and a less restrictive policy for a work machine. The exact groups, lists and exceptions are decisions you make in the Pi-hole administration interface.
Rank #2
- All-in-One Complete Kit: This SANOOV RPi 5 bundle comes with Raspberry Pi 5 4GB RAM single board, active cooler, durable ABS case and screwdriver. No extra parts needed, ready to use right out of the box for beginners and hobbyists
- Powerful Single Board Computer: Equipped with 4GB RAM and high-performance processor, delivers fast running speed for 4K playback, AI projects, programming and daily computing tasks. SANOOV for raspberry pi 5 4GB is equipped with broadcom 64 quad-core Arm Cortex A76 processor with gigabit ethernet and upgraded with IEEE 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 dual-band 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz and Power Over Ethernet (POE). Upgrading delivers 2-3 x speed vs Pi 4, redefining the experience
- Efficient Active Cooler: Effectively lowers operating temperature and prevents performance throttling. Runs quietly even under long-time heavy load, ensures stable operation all day long. SANOOV RPi 5 4GB kit offer an active cooler, which combines an aluminium heatsink with a high-performance PWM fan. Active cooler is fully compatible with the Pi OS, which can effectively reduce the temperature of RPi5 and ensure its good performance during long-term high load operation
- Sturdy ABS Protective Case: Well-fitted for Raspberry Pi 5 board, can be secured with 4 screws to effectively protect the Pi 5 motherboard from damage, reserves full access to all ports and buttons. SANOOV uses ABS material to produce the case, which has a softer texture and feel. Meanwhile, SANOOV case adopts a layered design for easy disassembly and installation. (Tip: The Case cannot install M.2 HAT Add on Board and Solid State Drive!)
- Wide Application & Full Compatibility: Seamlessly compatible with official OS and mainstream peripheral accessories for Raspberry Pi 5. Whether you are a beginner, student, electronics hobbyist or professional developer, this all-in-one kit meets your diverse needs. It excels in IoT projects, robotics design, retro gaming devices, home media servers and other DIY creations. Backed by a large global community, you can easily find guides, technical support and shared projects online
Pick either for basic network-wide blocking
If your requirement is simply “send my network’s DNS queries through a customizable blocklist,” both projects provide the same fundamental method. Focus on which installation method your always-on hardware supports, which administration interface you prefer, and how you will recover DNS if that host goes offline.
Installation prerequisites: you do not have to buy a Raspberry Pi
Neither project requires a new Raspberry Pi specifically. Pi-hole describes its hardware and software requirements as minimal and supports bare-metal or Docker installation when the documented prerequisites are met. AdGuard Home’s setup material links to a Raspberry Pi guide and documents other deployment methods.
An existing, always-on Linux computer, server, NAS or other compatible device may be sufficient. Confirm current platform support, architecture, storage needs, privileges and installation instructions for that particular system. A board, power supply, storage device or case is relevant only if you decide to build a new host; the available evidence does not establish a required board model, kit, performance level or current price.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Network setup: make clients use the filter
Installing either application does not automatically redirect every device. Clients must receive the filtering host’s address as their DNS server, or be configured to use it directly.
Option 1: advertise the filter through the router
- Install and test Pi-hole or AdGuard Home on an always-on host with a stable address.
- Open the router’s LAN or DHCP settings.
- Set the DNS server handed to DHCP clients to the filter host’s address.
- Renew leases or reconnect clients so they receive the new DNS setting.
- Check a client’s network details and the filter dashboard to confirm that queries arrive.
The exact labels vary by router, but the principle is the same: the router tells clients where to resolve names.
Option 2: let Pi-hole provide DHCP
- Record the current LAN range and reservation details so you can reproduce them safely.
- Disable the router’s DHCP service.
- Enable Pi-hole’s DHCP server and configure the same network range, gateway and lease settings.
- Renew leases on clients and verify that Pi-hole is now their DNS provider.
Pi-hole documents this as a fallback when the router cannot advertise a custom DNS server. Do not leave both DHCP servers active: competing offers can give clients inconsistent gateways or DNS addresses.
Option 3: configure devices individually
As a last resort, set the filter host’s address manually in each device’s network settings. This works for a small number of systems but is harder to maintain, especially when the host address changes or guests join the network.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
AdGuard Home client policies and identification
AdGuard Home’s client documentation describes identifying clients by IP address, CIDR range, MAC address when AdGuard Home is acting as DHCP server, or ClientIDs for certain encrypted-DNS protocols. Once identified, a client can receive different blocking choices or upstream servers.
Rank #3
- powful cputhe cpu of the raspberry pi 4 model b adopts the latest arm cortex-a72 architecture, which is also used in high-performance smartphones, and has evolved into a real pc.the operating clock has been changed from pi3's 1.2ghz to 1.5ghz, and the speed has become a different dimension with the updated architecture.
- video output/gputhe on-board gpu of the raspberry pi 4 supports 4kp@60 and newly supports h.265 decoding, opengl es 3.0, etc.as for the video output, two micro hdmis with smaller connectors are installed, and the raspberry pi 4 also supports dual screen output.
- usb 3.0with a new soc, the speed of the raspberry pi 4 around i/o has been improved, and finally usb 3.0 is supported.usb boot is faster and more convenient.
- network&bluetoothgigabit ethernet (wired lan) has also been significantly speeded up from 300mbps of pi 3b + to 1000mbps (logical value).in addition, bluetooth supported version has been upgraded to 5.0, and the transfer speed of pi 4 has been doubled.
- power input connectorthe power input connector of the raspberry pi 4 has been changed to usb type c. it is easier to use than micro usb and can supply a larger current reliably.the power requirement of raspberry pi 4 model b is 5v 3.0a, which is higher than the previous model.
Plan identifiers before creating policies. A changing address can make a rule appear unreliable, while a shared address or broad CIDR range can apply a policy to more devices than intended. If you use encrypted DNS, confirm that the selected protocol exposes the client identity in a way AdGuard Home can match.
Ports, privileges and first-run access
AdGuard Home’s setup guide lists these common ports for an initial installation:
| Purpose | Port and transport |
|---|---|
| Initial setup interface | TCP 3000 |
| Web interface | TCP 80 |
| Ordinary DNS | UDP 53 |
Encrypted DNS modes can require additional ports. Binding a service to port 53 commonly requires elevated privileges, and container, operating-system and reverse-proxy arrangements can change which host ports are exposed. If the setup page is unreachable, check the host firewall, container port mappings, an existing DNS service and whether another process already owns the port.
Recommended Free Tools
Pi-hole operating considerations
Dashboard, command line and groups
Pi-hole provides a web dashboard for visibility into queries and blocking, along with command-line administration. Group management lets you assign different domains or lists to selected clients rather than applying one policy to every device.
Optional DHCP and DNS caching
Pi-hole can provide DHCP when the router cannot advertise the filter and can cache DNS queries. Both choices affect the network’s dependency on the Pi-hole host, so document the arrangement and keep a recovery path.
Deployment choices
Pi-hole supports bare-metal and Docker approaches subject to current prerequisites. Bare metal can simplify access to the host network; Docker can fit an existing container stack but requires deliberate port, volume and restart configuration. Select the method you can maintain rather than assuming one is inherently superior.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.AdGuard Home operating considerations
Built-in policy features
AdGuard Home’s comparison lists parental controls, Safe Search enforcement, phishing and malware blocking, access settings and encrypted DNS functions as built-in capabilities. Enable only the policies you understand, because aggressive filtering can affect legitimate services and shared devices.
Per-client upstreams
Per-client settings can assign different upstream servers as well as different blocking behavior. This enables a guest or work device to follow a separate policy, but it also increases the number of configurations you must document and troubleshoot.
Rank #4
- Includes Raspberry Pi 4 4GB Model B with 1.5GHz 64-bit quad-core CPU (4GB RAM)
- Includes Pre-Loaded 32GB EVO+ Micro SD Card (Class 10), USB MicroSD Card Reader
- CanaKit Premium High-Gloss Raspberry Pi 4 Case with Integrated Fan Mount, CanaKit Low Noise Bearing System Fan
- CanaKit 3.5A USB-C Raspberry Pi 4 Power Supply (US Plug) with Noise Filter, Set of Heat Sinks, Display Cable - 6 foot (Supports up to 4K60p)
- CanaKit USB-C PiSwitch (On/Off Power Switch for Raspberry Pi 4)
Privacy statement and its limits
The AdGuard Home repository states that the project does not collect usage statistics and does not use web services unless configured. That is a specific project statement, not a complete privacy comparison: your logs, retention settings, upstream resolver and deployment choices still determine what information exists on your network.
Reliability, bypasses and recovery
Keep DNS failure from taking down the network
A local DNS filter sits in the name-resolution path. Pi-hole’s post-installation guidance warns that a host configured to use its own Pi-hole as upstream DNS can lose resolution if the service fails. Avoid making the filter’s host depend on a broken local resolver during startup, and know how to change clients temporarily to a functioning DNS service while you repair it.
For important networks, use an appropriate availability design: a second filter host, a documented emergency DNS setting, or a maintenance window during upgrades. The right choice depends on your equipment and tolerance for interruption; neither project documentation supplies a universal high-availability design.
Check for clients that bypass router DNS
A device or browser configured with another DNS service may ignore the address supplied by DHCP. Encrypted-DNS settings can also change where queries go. After deployment, inspect representative phones, computers, browsers, televisions and applications rather than assuming every client follows the router’s setting.
Use logs to troubleshoot deliberately
- If no queries appear, verify the client’s DNS address, DHCP lease and network reachability.
- If some clients work and others do not, compare their DNS and encrypted-DNS settings.
- If a site breaks, identify the blocked domain and create the narrowest possible allow rule.
- If the filter host loses connectivity, restore temporary DNS service first, then investigate the application, firewall, host and upstream settings.
What neither project can prove from the available evidence
The official materials considered here do not provide a controlled, independent head-to-head benchmark for query speed, uptime, resource use, blocking percentage or security outcomes. Do not select a product because an article claims it is faster or blocks more unless that claim is backed by a test matching your hardware, lists, clients and network conditions.
Pi-hole documentation makes a qualitative statement that server-grade hardware can handle “hundreds of millions of queries,” but it does not provide test conditions, a date or comparative context for a typical home. Treat it as an illustration of possible scale, not a home-network performance promise.
Decision scenarios
| Scenario | Practical choice | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| You want encrypted upstream DNS built into the filtering service. | Start with AdGuard Home. | Its project comparison lists encrypted upstream protocols as built in. |
| Your router cannot distribute a custom DNS address. | Use Pi-hole DHCP or configure clients manually. | Pi-hole documents both approaches; disable router DHCP before enabling Pi-hole DHCP. |
| You already run a compatible Linux host and want groups, dashboard and CLI. | Start with Pi-hole. | Those functions are described in its official documentation. |
| You need different upstreams or blocking rules per identified client. | Evaluate AdGuard Home’s client settings, or compare both implementations against your topology. | AdGuard documents IP, CIDR, MAC and selected ClientID identification methods. |
| You only need a customizable DNS blocklist for ordinary home devices. | Either. | The core sinkholing method is shared; host reliability and DNS configuration matter more than a claimed winner. |
| You expect browser-level removal of every advertisement. | Neither alone. | DNS filtering works at domain level and cannot provide all browser ad-blocking capabilities. |
A practical selection checklist
- List the devices that must use the filter, including televisions, phones and applications.
- Confirm an always-on host, a stable address and a supported operating system or container runtime.
- Decide whether the router can advertise custom DNS and whether you can safely operate DHCP on the filter host.
- Choose whether encrypted upstream or client DNS is a requirement rather than an optional extra.
- Define which clients need separate lists, upstreams, parental controls or Safe Search policies.
- Plan how you will detect and handle devices that use their own encrypted-DNS configuration.
- Document a temporary DNS recovery method before making the filter authoritative for the network.
- Verify current release documentation for supported platforms, protocol behavior, setup ports and hardware compatibility.
Bottom-line decision
AdGuard Home is the more direct fit for an integrated encrypted-DNS service and the built-in policy features listed by its project comparison. Pi-hole is the more natural fit for a Linux-centered sinkhole with groups, dashboard and command-line administration, optional DHCP and broad deployment flexibility. If your goal is simply network-wide DNS blocking on a properly configured home network, choose the project that matches your host, client-identification and recovery plan; neither has a sourced universal performance advantage.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
