Pi-hole
6.3#4 in dns server softwareFree planFree planWebAPILinuxSelf-hosted
VisitPi-hole vs Simple DNS Plus
Simple DNS Plus
6.2#6 in dns server software$69 one-timeAPISelf-hostedWindows
VisitWhat both publish
| Fact | Pi-hole | Simple DNS Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Pi-hole is a DNS sinkhole that protects devices from unwanted content without installing client-side software. | Simple DNS Plus is a DNS server for Windows that supports authoritative DNS and recursive DNS resolution with caching. |
| Security | Pi-hole creates a self-signed certificate during installation to encrypt its web interface and API, though browsers do not trust that certificate by default. | Security features include recursion restrictions by client IP, TSIG-authenticated zone transfers, response filtering, and IP blocking or rate limiting. |
| Support | The project is maintained by volunteer developers and accepts donations, issue reports, feature suggestions, and pull requests. | The site provides online documentation, a knowledge base, contact support, and remote management installation instructions. |
Pi-hole plans
- Pi-holeFree
Simple DNS Plus plans
- 5 zones license (2 or more licenses)$69, paid once
- 5 zones license (single license)$79, paid once
- 25 zones license (2 or more licenses)$99, paid once
- 25 zones license (single license)$129, paid once
- 100 zones license (2 or more licenses)$149, paid once
- 100 zones license (single license)$189, paid once
Pick Pi-hole if…
Pi-hole suits people who want DNS-based content blocking for an entire network and can run software on supported Linux hardware or in Docker. It also fits users who want configurable filtering, query reporting, or API access.
Pick Simple DNS Plus if…
You want what its maker publishes above — check its page for the details.