blocklists VS AdGuardDNS

It lets you run the "on-device" version of RethinkDNS+. It lets you set blocklists to help you block domains based on categories such as trackers & ads, cryptocurrencies, gambling, social media, adult, security etc with precurated list of blocklists (which are defined here). These are DNS-based blocklists, so as such, they're less powerful than anti-ad browsers like Brave, Vivaldi or browser-based plugins like uBlockOrigin, AdGuard.

There's an open issue to include it: github/serverless-dns/blocklists/issues/21 (the reason we haven't already is that it isn't clear if existing blocklists are insufficient compared to it).

Filter list: Rethink actually has had 1:1 filter support with NextDNS for a long time. It doesn't now since NextDNS has moved a lot of its filters away from the erstwhile open metadata repository. So, now we do our own lists: https://github.com/serverless-dns/blocklists

Commit: https://github.com/serverless-dns/blocklists/commit/ffc73385e166e4d74af20471abfda327f7d89bb8

The code that generates the blocklists is also open source.

We _do_ compile to reduce memory and cpu impact. RethinkDNS app can do 5M entries without breaking a sweat. You don't see us ask folks to not use larger lists because the implementation is such. The code which compresses these blocklists into a compact form for use on mobile devices is open source: github.com/serverless-dns/blocklists/

The repository that builds these (and other lists) for RethinkDNS (the resolver) is at https://github.com/serverless-dns/blocklists

[0] https://github.com/serverless-dns/blocklists

I've tried hosted Pi-Hole and AdGuard Home. They are good as long as I'm around to fix stuffs. Then I tested something which can be global (home) and also for individual devices -- Control-D, NextDNS, and Adguard DNS. All of them works pretty well. If I really have to choose, then it would be in the order of NextDNS > Control-D > AdGuard DNS. Affiliated with none, and have decided to subscribe to all three to further test them for this year.

https://controld.com

https://nextdns.io

https://adguard-dns.io

I used Pi-Hole, then went to NextDNS, then to AdGuard DNS, tinkered with AdGuard Home, and currently testing Control-D. They are all actually pretty good, similar features, and it has become just a matter of personal choice.

In all fairness, when I have some time and can invest in decent hardwares, I might go back to AdGuard Home with one of the paid services as backup for travel, and when for the other family members.

Pi-Hole works really well but once-a-while, when I'm traveling, it will decide to act up and it's a whole IT support with the family over phone for minutes if not hours. I'm not smart enough to setup a secure enough tunnel and the like, and haven't read up enough on the topic. This follows similar pattern with AdGuard Home.

NextDNS, AdGuard DNS, Control-D are easy and just works, especially with the devices that the family uses. I think I bought one of those AdGuard Lifetime license, so I use that to block client-side rendered ads in conjunction with either AdGuard DNS or NextDNS or Control-D. Right now, Control-D is doing pretty good with my test-drive.

https://adguard-dns.io

https://nextdns.io

https://controld.com

https://github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardDNS

In the case of AdGuard DNS being open source does not change the fact that it is a centralized service and using such a service is a matter of trust.

Then just unlock it. I am not sure which Adguard method you use, if you use a personal one which I recommend then you can just whitelist the domain that is used. If you use the general DNS then use https://adguard-dns.io/ to customize it. Trust me you will like it.

Google is your friend my dude.. https://ourpact.com/ and https://adguard-dns.io/

A feature request has been made for ECH support for AdGuard DNS, but there has been no further information added. You can follow the issue tracker here.

On my Mac Adguard DNS (i.e. adguard-dns.io) does not work without the Adguard app.