# AdGuard DNS

26 Hacker News commenters recommended AdGuard DNS and 3 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 11 of 13 months. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** Recommended for blocking ads on every device with no app to install, just a DNS setting. Critics note you cannot whitelist specific domains.

## Why people recommend it

- Blocks ads on every device (3 comments): "takes care of all ads on every device on my network" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46187189)) "It's worth trying on devices where you can't install ad blocking software" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45939499)) "It's too bad not enough people know about using adguard dns on their phones. Dunno about iPhones but it works wonders on Android." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48906119))
- Little or no setup needed (3 comments): "No configuration just works, no annoyances." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46190268)) "no infrastructure setup needed" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49520283)) "or even just set dns.adguard-dns.com in your phone DNS settings" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48271156))
- Works well and reliably (3 comments): "Works very well, it's been a good long while since any ad cheapened my web experience." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49322085)) "AdGuard DNS servers are excellent." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47476192)) "AdGuard DNS works well for this." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47744675))
- Trusted as a major DNS provider (2 comments): "it is safer to use a big popular DNS recursor (google, cloudflare, adguard, quad9, etc)" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45944816)) "mostly associate your brand with the DNS services and lists you provide (thank you!)" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46713825))

## What people warn about

- Cannot whitelist specific domains (2 comments): "This has the disadvantage that you can’t whitelist specific domains" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47754078)) "then you should be able to whitelist domains" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47761492))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [NextDNS](https://hackerapproved.com/p/nextdns.md): 81 recommend
- [RethinkDNS](https://hackerapproved.com/p/rethinkdns.md): 16 recommend
- [Control D](https://hackerapproved.com/p/controld.md): 16 recommend
- [Pi-hole](https://hackerapproved.com/p/pihole.md): 5 recommend

## Where to get it

- [Visit the official site](https://adguard-dns.io/en/welcome.html)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "AdGuard DNS", https://hackerapproved.com/p/adguard-dns/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).