AdGuard Home Review, Pricing & Features

Free, open-source, self-hosted DNS server that blocks ads and trackers across your whole network, from AdGuard Software.

Category
DevOps
Pricing
Free (open source), from Free
Verified
Not yet
Last updated
July 18, 2026
Founded
2009
Headquarters
Limassol, Cyprus
WindowsOpen SourceSelf-HostedMac

Overview

AdGuard Home is a free, open-source, network-wide ad and tracker blocker built by AdGuard Software Ltd, founded in 2009 and headquartered in Limassol, Cyprus. Rather than blocking ads per device or browser, it operates as a DNS server that filters requests for every device on a network.

It is self-hosted, meaning users install and run it themselves on hardware such as a router, home server, or Raspberry Pi, giving full control over filtering without depending on a third-party cloud service.

Key Features

AdGuard Home blocks ads and redirects tracking-domain lookups at the DNS level for browsers and apps alike. It includes parental controls such as content filtering and Safe Search enforcement, support for custom filtering rules, and activity monitoring with network statistics.

Platforms & Deployment

AdGuard Home runs natively on Windows, macOS, and Linux, including low-power devices like the Raspberry Pi. It also offers an official Docker image and packages for platforms like Snap, Home Assistant, and OpenWrt, making it deployable in a wide range of home and small-network setups.

Key Features

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Completely free and open source
  • Blocks ads and trackers across an entire network without per-device apps
  • Full control via self-hosting, including on low-power hardware
  • Runs well on inexpensive hardware like a Raspberry Pi

Cons

  • Requires some technical setup to install and maintain your own server
  • No fully managed cloud option under this product (that's AdGuard's separate AdGuard DNS product)
  • Effectiveness depends on network configuration, such as devices using the configured DNS server

Frequently Asked Questions

Is AdGuard Home free?

Yes, AdGuard Home is free and open source with no paid tier.

Do I need to self-host AdGuard Home?

Yes, it's designed to be installed and run on your own hardware, such as a router, home server, or Raspberry Pi.

What platforms does AdGuard Home support?

It runs natively on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and supports Docker and Raspberry Pi deployments.

How is AdGuard Home different from a browser ad blocker?

It filters DNS requests at the network level, blocking ads and trackers for every connected device rather than a single browser.

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