NextDNS
Ad · The major advantage of NextDNS over AdGuard DNS is to be able to configure the service to your needs via parental controls, website restrictions or block whole categories of…
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Best DNS Ad Blockers in 2026: Block Ads for Every Device
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AdGuard DNS
Ad · Easy to setup within minutes. Comes with setup guides for all systems. You only need to enter two IP adresses.
Pi-hole
You can run Pi-hole in a container, or deploy it directly to a supported operating system via installer.
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Ad blocking at the DNS level stops ads and trackers for every device on your network at once, before they ever load, with no browser extension to install. These resolvers sinkhole the requests that serve ads and telemetry, so phones, TVs, and smart-home gadgets all get cleaner, faster, more private traffic.
How DNS ad blocking works
Every page your devices open first asks a DNS resolver to turn domain names into addresses. A blocking resolver simply refuses to answer for known ad and tracker domains, so those requests never connect in the first place. Because it happens at the network layer rather than in the browser, one setup covers every device on the network, including the ones where installing an ad blocker is impossible.
What to look for
Decide between self-hosted and hosted. Self-hosted (Pi-hole) runs on your own hardware for full control and no third-party trust; hosted resolvers run in the cloud for zero maintenance. Either way, look for a clear no-logging policy, support for encrypted DNS so your provider cannot see or tamper with your lookups, and editable block lists so you can unblock anything that breaks.
What it can and cannot do
DNS blocking removes domain-level ads and trackers across your whole network, but it cannot strip ads served from the same domain as the content (some in-video ads), and it does not stop in-page fingerprinting. Pair it with an in-browser content blocker for those gaps. The two together cover far more than either does alone.
Frequently asked
- Do I have to install something on every device?
- No. That is the appeal. Point your router or a device's DNS setting at a blocking resolver and everything behind it is covered, including the smart TVs and phones where you cannot install a browser ad blocker.
- Will it break websites?
- Occasionally a blocked domain takes a working feature with it. Every option here lets you whitelist a domain in a few seconds, so the rare breakage is easy to undo.
- Self-hosted or hosted?
- Run Pi-hole on your own hardware if you want full control and zero third-party trust. Pick a hosted resolver if you would rather not maintain anything. Both block the same way; the difference is who runs the box.