PrivacyTools.io
Reviewed by Marco Wollank
AdGuard DNS logo

AdGuard DNS

adguard.com/en/adguard-dns/overview.html
4.4 (11)
GitHub ★ 965
Website → Ad · affiliate link
Ad Blocking DNS Open Source Easy setup Windows macOS Linux Android iOS Browser Router Freemium Cyprus
Rate AdGuard DNS:
No account needed

Easy to setup within minutes. Comes with setup guides for all systems. You only need to enter two IP adresses.

Threat level
Covered

A covered pick. Anyone can use it as a private drop-in, with no setup or know-how. Enough for most people. Threat levels

Screenshot of the AdGuard DNS website
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Our take

An easy on-ramp to DNS-level ad and tracker blocking: point two IP addresses at it and you’re filtering across every device, no app required. Against NextDNS it offers less granular per-device customization, so power users who want detailed profiles may prefer the alternative. Pick AdGuard DNS when you want blocking running in minutes with minimal fuss, and you’re comfortable with a hosted service handling your queries. If deep configurability is the priority, look at NextDNS or a self-hosted option.

GitHub at a glance
AdguardTeam/AdGuardDNS
Star on GitHub
AGPL-3.0 adblockadguarddnsdns-over-httpsdns-over-quicdns-over-tlsdnscryptgolangopen-sourceprivacy
Stars
965
+3 this week
Forks
82
39 watching
Last commit
15d ago
healthy
Star history
Issues
84% closed
158
open
839
closed
+9 / -16
opened / closed, last 4 weeks
Opened vs closed, last 12 weeks
Commits, last 26 weeks
3 commits, active 3 of 26 weeks
4 contributors since Dec 2018
Languages
  • Go 98.6%
  • Shell 1%
  • Dockerfile 0.2%
Updated daily from the GitHub API. Star tracking since Jun 15, 2026.
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Website at a glance
adguard.com
F score 5
Weak website security headers
Graded by Mozilla HTTP Observatory, tested 3d ago
Inspect this site yourself
Mozilla Observatory web-check urlscan.io SSL Labs Security Headers

Measures the security configuration of the tool's own website, not the privacy of the product itself. A strong tool can still score low here.

AdGuard DNS alternatives

NextDNS 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…
Pi-hole You can run Pi-hole in a container, or deploy it directly to a supported operating system via installer.
AdGuard DNS license, in plain English
AGPL-3.0
Strong copyleft · network

Free to use, even commercially. Changes must be published under the same license, and running a modified version as a network service counts as distributing it.

Permits

  • Commercial use
  • Modification
  • Distribution
  • Patent use
  • Private use

Requires

  • Disclose source
  • Network use is distribution
  • Same license
  • State changes
  • License and copyright notice

Does not provide

  • Liability cover
  • Warranty

Why it matters: The network clause is the point. Anyone who runs a modified version as a hosted service has to publish those changes, so the code handling your data stays inspectable. This is why privacy-first projects reach for AGPL.

Plain-language summary of the project's license, not legal advice. Read the full text for the exact terms.