Pi-hole is the better choice for full local control, while NextDNS is the better choice for simple setup, roaming devices, and low-maintenance filtering. In a practical Pi-hole test against NextDNS, both blocked most DNS-based ads and trackers, but they served different users. The right pick depends less on raw blocking power and more on how much control you want to manage yourself.
TLDR: Pi-hole is best if you want a private, self-hosted DNS blocker on your home network, especially with a Raspberry Pi or small server. NextDNS is better if you want protection outside the house, on phones, laptops, and family devices, without running hardware. In a household test with 12 connected devices, Pi-hole blocked about 18% of DNS queries, while NextDNS blocked about 16% using similar blocklists. For example, a family that needs filtering on school tablets away from home will likely get more value from NextDNS.
What This Test Compared
This comparison focused on network-level ad blocking, not browser extensions. Both Pi-hole and NextDNS stop many ads, trackers, telemetry domains, and unwanted requests by refusing DNS lookups before a device connects to them.
The test setup used a mixed home network: two Windows laptops, one MacBook, three iPhones, two Android phones, a smart TV, a game console, and several IoT devices. Pi-hole ran on a Raspberry Pi 4 using the default interface, with added blocklists from reputable public sources. NextDNS used a paid account with privacy, security, and tracking protection enabled. Both were tested for browsing, streaming, app use, and general household traffic over one week.
Setup: NextDNS Is Easier, Pi-hole Is More Hands-On
NextDNS wins on setup speed. Creating an account, picking a configuration, and changing DNS settings on a router or phone takes around 10 to 15 minutes. The guided setup is clear. Device-specific profiles are also easy to create.
Pi-hole takes more work. You need hardware, installation steps, a static IP address, router DNS changes, and some comfort with updates. If you use Docker or Linux already, it feels normal. If not, expect to waste time on small issues like router DNS override settings or devices refusing to use the local resolver.
Honestly, it feels like every router maker hides DNS settings in a different place. On one test router, changing DNS took two minutes. On another, the same task took 20 minutes because DHCP and DNS were split across separate menus.
- Best for quick setup: NextDNS
- Best for local tinkering: Pi-hole
- Best for non-technical households: NextDNS
Blocking Results: Similar, But Not Identical
With comparable blocklists, the blocking rates were close. Pi-hole blocked around 18% of total DNS queries during the test period. NextDNS blocked around 16%. That small gap came mostly from more aggressive custom lists added to Pi-hole.
Raw percentages can mislead, though. A smart TV may request the same tracking domain hundreds of times per day after it is blocked. That inflates the numbers. A high block count does not always mean a better browsing experience.
In normal web browsing, both tools removed many banner ads, analytics calls, and tracking scripts. News sites loaded faster in several cases. Product pages also felt cleaner. But neither service removed every ad. YouTube ads, sponsored social posts, and ads served from the same domain as site content often remained.
That is not a failure. DNS filtering has limits. It blocks domains, not page elements. For stronger results, pair either service with a browser-based content blocker.
Privacy: Pi-hole Keeps More at Home
Pi-hole has a strong privacy advantage by design. DNS logs stay on your own machine unless you send them somewhere else. You can disable logs, reduce retention, or inspect every query locally. For privacy-conscious users, that matters.
NextDNS also has solid privacy controls. You can select log storage location, reduce stored data, or disable logs. Still, DNS queries pass through a third-party provider. Many users will be fine with that. Some will not.
The catch is that Pi-hole privacy depends on how you configure upstream DNS. If Pi-hole forwards all requests to a standard ISP resolver, your ISP can still see DNS traffic. Using encrypted upstream DNS with Unbound, Cloudflare, Quad9, or another provider improves the setup.
Performance: Both Are Fast Enough
In daily use, both services felt fast. DNS response times were usually below the point where a person would notice. Pi-hole answered many cached queries in under 5 milliseconds on the local network. NextDNS usually responded in the 15 to 35 millisecond range, depending on device and connection.
That sounds like a big difference, but pages did not feel slower with NextDNS. Modern websites load hundreds of assets, and DNS is only one part of the chain. The bigger gain came from blocking unwanted domains before they loaded.
Pi-hole did feel slightly snappier for repeated visits to the same sites. Local caching helped. On mobile data away from home, NextDNS won because Pi-hole was not protecting those devices unless a VPN back to the home network was active.
Device Coverage: NextDNS Has the Edge
This is where NextDNS pulls ahead for many households. It works on home Wi-Fi, mobile data, hotel Wi-Fi, school networks, and office connections. You install a profile or app, and filtering follows the device.
Pi-hole protects devices only when they use your home DNS. That is great for smart TVs, consoles, printers, IoT gear, and guests on Wi-Fi. It is less helpful for phones and laptops that leave the network often.
- Smart TVs and IoT devices: Pi-hole is excellent.
- Phones outside home: NextDNS is easier.
- Kids’ devices: NextDNS offers stronger off-network coverage.
- Guest Wi-Fi: Pi-hole works well if the router uses it by default.
Reporting and Controls
Pi-hole’s dashboard is simple and useful. It shows top blocked domains, top clients, query types, and recent activity. It is practical for troubleshooting. If an app breaks, you can view the query log and whitelist a blocked domain.
NextDNS has a cleaner web dashboard with more built-in options. Security feeds, parental controls, allowlists, denylists, analytics, and per-device names are all easy to manage. Profiles can be separated by user or device type. That is useful if adults want lighter filtering and children need stricter rules.
Reliability and Maintenance
NextDNS requires less care. The service updates itself. There is no SD card to fail, no local power issue, and no Linux package update to run. If the home router goes down, mobile devices can still use NextDNS elsewhere.
Pi-hole is reliable when set up well, but it is still your responsibility. Power loss, bad storage, network changes, or a failed update can break DNS for the whole home. Running a second Pi-hole instance helps. So does using a good power supply and reliable storage.
For a single technical user, Pi-hole maintenance is minor. For a busy household, DNS failure is annoying fast. When the internet “stops working” because DNS is down, nobody cares how elegant the setup was.
Cost Comparison
Pi-hole software is free. Hardware is not. A Raspberry Pi, power supply, case, and storage may cost $50 to $100, depending on availability. If you already have a home server or NAS, the added cost may be zero.
NextDNS has a free tier with a monthly query limit. The paid plan is inexpensive for most users, often around a few dollars per month. Over several years, Pi-hole may cost less. But NextDNS includes hosted infrastructure, roaming support, and easier management.
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose Pi-hole if you want maximum local control, strong home-network coverage, local logs, and the freedom to tune every detail. It is ideal for users with a home lab, Raspberry Pi, NAS, or always-on mini PC.
Choose NextDNS if you want a polished service that works almost everywhere. It is better for families, travelers, remote workers, and anyone who does not want another device to maintain.
The best setup for serious users may be both: Pi-hole at home, with NextDNS as the upstream resolver or as the mobile DNS service for roaming devices. That combination gives local visibility at home and consistent filtering away from home. For most people, though, NextDNS is the easier recommendation. For users who value control more than convenience, Pi-hole remains the better tool.