Self-hostable open-source NextDNS alternatives
DNS filtering and ad/tracker blocking. Self-hosted DNS keeps queries on your network and is free at any scale.
Among 3 self-hostable open-source NextDNS alternatives tracked here, Pi-hole currently leads on the Self-Host Health Score (98/100, 59k★, last commit today). For a Raspberry Pi or a low-RAM VPS, Pi-hole is the lightest at a documented ~512 MB (no external database). 3 of them publish official ARM64 images (Raspberry Pi / Apple Silicon).
| Tool | Health | Stars | Database | Min RAM | ARM/Pi | One-click | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pi-hole
↗
The classic network-wide DNS sinkhole ad blocker. |
98 Thriving |
59k★ Shell |
none | 512 MB | ✓ ● | — | today |
| AdGuard Home
↗
Network-wide ad/tracker blocking DNS server with a clean UI. |
97 Thriving |
35k★ Go |
none | 512 MB | ✓ ● | — | 1d ago GPL-3.0 |
| Technitium DNS
↗
Full authoritative + recursive DNS server with blocking. |
92 Thriving |
8.7k★ C# |
none | 512 MB | ✓ ● | — | 28d ago GPL-3.0 |
FAQ
What is the best self-hostable NextDNS alternative?
By the live Self-Host Health Score, Pi-hole ranks highest (98/100).
Which open-source NextDNS alternatives run on a Raspberry Pi?
Those publishing official ARM64 images: Pi-hole, AdGuard Home, Technitium DNS.
Which is the lightest on RAM?
Pi-hole, at about 512 MB.