AdGuardHome vs DnsServer
AdGuardHome and DnsServer are both network ad blocking software. AdGuardHome is open source under GPL-3.0, with 38k GitHub stars. DnsServer is open source under GPL-3.0, with 10k GitHub stars.
Which to pick
- Pick AdGuardHome when
- You want Pi-hole-style blocking with built-in DoH, DoT and DoQ in a single binary.
- Pick DnsServer when
- You want a full DNS server for your home or office, including authoritative zones, not just a blocker.
Side by side
A network-wide DNS server that blocks ads and trackers, with encrypted DNS support, per-client settings and a web dashboard.
A cross-platform authoritative and recursive DNS server with ad blocking, DHCP, encrypted DNS, clustering and a web console.
DNS blocking cannot stop ads served from the same domains as content.
Essentially one developer behind it.
Production-ready (both)
Self-hosted server (both)
Go, TypeScript and React
C# and .NET
Open source, GPL-3.0 (strong copyleft) (both)
Use inside your business is unrestricted, but anything you distribute that includes it must be released under the same license. (both)
38k GitHub stars
10k GitHub stars
Established: started 10 years ago, latest release v0.107.79.
Established: started 9 years ago, latest release v15.6.2.
Other comparisons
More network ad blockers and DNS filters
Both sides were judged on 2026-11-03 from each project's README and GitHub data. License, age and popularity lines are worked out directly.