Pi-hole

Pi‑hole functions as a DNS sinkhole that intercepts queries for advertising and tracking domains, preventing unwanted content from reaching any device on a network without requiring client‑side software. It operates on modest Linux hardware or in a container, and can also serve as a DHCP server so that all connected devices automatically use it as their DNS resolver. The system caches DNS responses to speed up browsing and supports both IPv4 and IPv6 traffic, handling large query volumes when deployed on more powerful hardware.

A responsive web dashboard provides real‑time query logs, long‑term statistics, audit trails, and controls for managing whitelist and blacklist entries, including regular‑expression based rules. An API is available for external integration, and the interface includes privacy modes and additional settings for fine‑tuning behavior.

The project is open‑source under the EUPL‑1.2 license, self‑hostable, free of subscription fees, and maintained by a distributed volunteer team. Installation can be performed via an automated script, manual steps, or official Docker images, allowing users to set up network‑wide ad blocking quickly on supported operating systems.