Free, open-source alternatives to NextDNS
DNS ad and tracker blocking. 5 apps you can run yourself instead of NextDNS, sorted by how well they replace it. Each one is open source, so your data stays with you.
AdGuard HomeBest match
User-friendly ads & trackers blocking DNS server.
Pi-hole
Blackhole for Internet advertisements with a GUI for management and monitoring.
Technitium DNS Server
Authoritative/recursive DNS server with ad blocking functionality.
blocky
Fast and lightweight DNS proxy as ad-blocker for local network with many features (alternative to Pi-hole).
Numa
Ad-blocking DNS resolver with DNSSEC-validating recursive resolution, DoH/DoT/Oblivious DoH, ephemeral overrides, and local service domains, in a single Rust binary (alternative to Pi-hole, AdGuard Home, NextDNS).
Side by side
| App | Stars | License | Activity | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AdGuard Home | 37,380 | GPL-3.0 | Docker | |
| Pi-hole | 61,257 | EUPL-1.2 | Shell, PHP, Docker | |
| Technitium DNS Server | 10,096 | GPL-3.0 | Docker, C# | |
| blocky | 7,022 | Apache-2.0 | Go, Docker | |
| Numa | 1,532 | MIT | Rust, Docker, Nix |
Why replace NextDNS?
NextDNS works, but your data lives in someone else's account, the price can change at any time, and features can disappear. An open-source app you run yourself is yours: you choose where it runs, who can see the data, and when to update.
Questions
What is the best free alternative to NextDNS?
AdGuard Home is the closest open-source replacement for NextDNS in our list. Pi-hole and Technitium DNS Server are worth a look too, depending on what you need.
Can I self-host an alternative to NextDNS?
Yes. All 5 apps on this page are open source and can run on your own server, usually with Docker, or on a managed host that installs them for you.