Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

dnsmasq VS AdGuard

Compare dnsmasq VS AdGuard and see what are their differences

dnsmasq logo dnsmasq

Dnsmasq is a lightweight, easy to configure DNS forwarder and DHCP server.

AdGuard logo AdGuard

Surf the Web Ad-Free and Safely. Shield up!
  • dnsmasq Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-04-03
  • AdGuard Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-12

AdGuard is the best way to get rid of intrusive ads and online tracking, and to protect your computer from malware. Make your web surfing faster, safer and more comfortable with AdGuard!

dnsmasq features and specs

  • Lightweight
    Dnsmasq is designed to be lightweight and efficient, making it suitable for small, resource-constrained environments.
  • Easy Configuration
    It has a simple configuration process, which is beneficial for users who need a quick and straightforward setup of DNS and DHCP services.
  • Integrated DNS and DHCP
    Dnsmasq provides both DNS and DHCP services, allowing users to manage these network services in a unified manner.
  • DNS Caching
    It offers DNS caching, which can improve lookup speeds and reduce bandwidth usage for frequently accessed domains.
  • Customizability
    It allows for various custom configurations, including support for domain-specific configurations and conditional forwarding.

Possible disadvantages of dnsmasq

  • Limited Features
    Dnsmasq may lack some advanced features found in more comprehensive DNS and DHCP solutions, which can be a limitation for larger, more complex network setups.
  • Scalability
    While ideal for smaller networks, dnsmasq might not scale well for larger enterprise-level networks with extensive requirements.
  • Security
    As dnsmasq is a simple tool, it may not include advanced security features that are necessary for protecting data in a high-stakes environment.
  • Support
    Being an open-source tool, it might not have the same level of official support and documentation as some commercial DNS/DHCP solutions.

AdGuard features and specs

  • Effective Ad Blocking
    AdGuard effectively blocks intrusive ads, pop-ups, banner ads, and video ads, ensuring a smoother browsing experience.
  • Privacy Protection
    AdGuard helps protect user privacy by blocking third-party trackers, preventing websites from collecting personal data.
  • Customizability
    Users can customize the level of filtering and create their own rules to block specific types of content or to whitelist particular websites.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    AdGuard is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and as browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, etc.
  • Additional Features
    In addition to ad blocking, AdGuard offers features like parental control, safe browsing, and spyware protection.

Possible disadvantages of AdGuard

  • Subscription Cost
    While offering free versions, most of AdGuard's advanced features require a paid subscription, which may not be suitable for all users.
  • Resource Usage
    AdGuard can consume a noticeable amount of system resources, which may affect the performance on less powerful devices.
  • Potential Website Breakage
    Some websites may not function properly when AdGuard is enabled, requiring users to manually whitelist such sites.
  • Learning Curve
    For users who want to fully utilize AdGuard's customizability, there is a learning curve associated with understanding and configuring its advanced settings.
  • Mobile App Limitations
    On iOS, AdGuard's functionality is somewhat limited compared to its Android counterpart due to Apple's restrictive policy on system-wide ad blockers.

dnsmasq videos

DHCP Server Setup with Dnsmasq

More videos:

  • Review - Quick Configs Ubiquiti - DNSMASQ & DHCP
  • Review - DD-WRT DNSMasq Setup and Local DNS

AdGuard videos

AdGuard for Desktop and Android: Why We Use the Full Version

More videos:

  • Review - Bye Bye To Annoying Ads...Using AdGuard [Review]
  • Review - AdGuard Youtube ads killer and others Lifetime Deal

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to dnsmasq and AdGuard)
Security & Privacy
8 8%
92% 92
Ad Blockers
8 8%
92% 92
Block Ads
100 100%
0% 0
Monitoring Tools
13 13%
87% 87

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare dnsmasq and AdGuard

dnsmasq Reviews

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AdGuard Reviews

The Best Ad Blockers for YouTube 2024
AdGuard’s Chrome extension was effective in removing multiple types of ads, such as pop-up ads and chatbots. We also tested the macOS application when using Safari and saw the same results: no ads. We used AdGuard while watching a few videos on YouTube and were pleasantly surprised not to encounter ads while using the platform. AdGuard was able to remove pop-up ads, video...
List of 10 Best Ad Blockers in 2024
In thе еvеr-еxpanding digital landscapе of 2024, AdGuard еmеrgеs as onе of thе bеst ad blockers availablе. With its powerful fеaturеs and robust pеrformancе, AdGuard еffеctivеly shiеlds usеrs from intrusivе and unwantеd advеrtisеmеnts across various platforms. This advanced tool еmploys a combination of filtеrs, including AdGuard’s own databasе, to block ads on wеbsitеs,...
Best Ad Blockers in 2023: Adblock Plus vs AdGuard vs uBlock Origin and More
I made sure to include several excellent browser extensions, which are all better than AdGuard. On the other hand, I also wanted to include a full-fledged desktop app, which is where AdGuard performs admirably, hence its place on the list.
10 Best FREE Anti Tracking Software In 2023 [TOP SELECTIVE]
AdGuard is a tool with various features which allow users to work efficiently without worrying about their data privacy. This tool provides a faster browser as it disables all ads and trackers on the browser, enabling a faster browsing speed.
Best AD Blockers for Android [ 2022 ]
Then Adguard is a great alternative Not only does it block ads on both your browser and apps, but it’s also the only ad blocker that removes the spaces where the ads used to be.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, AdGuard seems to be a lot more popular than dnsmasq. While we know about 87 links to AdGuard, we've tracked only 7 mentions of dnsmasq. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

dnsmasq mentions (7)

  • East, west, north, south: How to fix your local cluster routes
    One way to handle this is to install dnsmasq, and configure resolving on the host in such a way that .local will use 127.0.0.1 to resolve DNS. Which will then respond with 127.0.0.1. Using the port matching the K3D cluster will then ensure the correct cluster receives the traffic. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Building a Kubernetes Cluster from Scratch With K3s And MetalLB
    MetalLB needs a pool of IP addresses it can use for the cluster. I reserved 5 IP addresses between 10.0.0.5 and 10.0.0.10, which were not part of my dnsmasq DHCP pool. Assigning IPs outside the DHCP range prevents conflicts with dynamically assigned IPs in the network. A single IP address would have sufficed for my simple set-up, but I plan to add more services to the cluster and I might need distinct IPs for... - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Working on Multiple Web Projects with Docker Compose and Traefik
    This seems like an improvement over my current solution in that it can keep multiple projects open simultaneously and route to each of them, but does add more complexity to the setup. I'm using Dnsmasq (https://thekelleys.org.uk/dnsmasq/doc.html) to map anything at .lo to the currently running project, like so:
      brew install dnsmasq.
    - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • easiest way to setup internal DNS routing?
    I would use a simple dns proxy like Blocky if you want adblocking or dnsmasq if you don't. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Frustrated with the hardware I own
    The pervious setup was much the same except the lab was under the UDMP without another gateway. I used UnifiOS to create networks(vLANs) and trusted that segregation to work. It did not. As I progressed in my home lab, I went through a few hypervisors and settled on EXSi and vSphere. 100% overkill but that is what labbing is for right? Again progressing through and adding things like windows AD and many Home... Source: over 2 years ago
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AdGuard mentions (87)

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing dnsmasq and AdGuard, you can also consider the following products

YogaDNS - YogaDNS automatically intercepts DNS requests at the system level and allows you to process them...

Adblock Plus - AdBlock Plus is a browser extension for Firefox, Chrome, Opera, and several other popular browsers that prevents intrusive ads like pop-ups and malicious code from appearing on websites you visit.

BIND - BIND is by far the most widely used DNS software on the Internet.

uBlock Origin - Popular and efficient blocker for Chromium, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Safari, Thunderbird.

PowerDNS - PowerDNS offers open source DNS software, services, and support.

AdBlock - Ad blocker for Chrome, Safari and Opera on desktop and Safari for iOS devices.