Self-Hosted DNS Ad-Blocking in 2026: Pi-hole vs AdGuard Home vs Blocky

Description and use

Deploying a local DNS sinkhole blocks ads and trackers on all devices, improves privacy and performance, and offers parental controls without client‑side software.

Problem

Home networks still receive ads, telemetry, and tracking from every device, including IoT gadgets that bypass browser extensions.

Outcome

Deploying a local DNS sinkhole blocks ads and trackers on every device, improves privacy, reduces latency, and offers parental controls without installing client‑side software.

Workflow

• 1. Choose a DNS sinkhole solution (Pi‑hole, AdGuard Home, or Blocky).
• 2. Pull the official Docker image and create a docker‑compose file with ports 53/udp, 53/tcp, and optional 443/53 for DoH/DoT.
• 3. Configure upstream DNS (e.g., Cloudflare 1.1.1.1) and enable DoH/DoT in the service settings.
• 4. Mount persistent volumes for configuration and logs.
• 5. Start the stack with docker compose up -d and verify DNS resolution via dig @127.0.0.1 example.com.
• 6. Set router or DHCP to point all clients to the local resolver IP.
• 7. (Optional) Enable parental controls and schedule screen‑off hours in the UI.
• 8. Monitor per‑client statistics and adjust blocklists as needed.

Evidence

Every device in your home — phones, smart TVs, IoT thermostats, gaming consoles — phones home to ad networks, telemetry endpoints, and tracking pixels dozens of times per hour.

Source

Pi-hole popularized the category, but in 2026 it is no longer the obvious choice.

Source