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AdGuard DNS review: ad and tracker blocking at the network level

AdGuard DNS filters ads, trackers, and malware domains before they load, for every device on your network — without installing an app. Here is how it works, what it costs you in compatibility, and how to set it up.

Updated 8 min read

What is AdGuard DNS?

AdGuard DNS is a free public DNS resolver that blocks ads, trackers, and malware domains at the network level. Point any device or router at 94.140.14.14 and it stops those requests before a connection is even made — no browser extension needed.

It is run by AdGuard, the company behind the AdGuard ad-blocking browser extension and app, and works independently of that software.

How network-level ad blocking works

A browser extension blocks ads by inspecting the page after it loads. DNS-level blocking works earlier: when a page tries to fetch a script or image from a known ad or tracking domain, your device asks AdGuard DNS to resolve that domain's name to an address. If the domain is on AdGuard's blocklist, the resolver simply refuses to answer (or returns a non-routable address), so the request never leaves your device. The rest of the page loads normally.

Because this happens at the DNS layer, it protects every application that uses your network's DNS settings — not just a browser. A smart TV, a game console, or an app that doesn't support ad-block extensions still gets the same filtering, as long as it is using AdGuard DNS to resolve names.

Addresses and variants

AdGuard publishes three sets of addresses. Pick the one that matches how much filtering you want — all three resolve the internet identically for everything that isn't on a blocklist.

Default (ads + trackers + malware)

Primary IPv4
94.140.14.14
Secondary IPv4
94.140.15.15
Primary IPv6
2a10:50c0::ad1:ff
Secondary IPv6
2a10:50c0::ad2:ff

Blocks known ad, tracker, and malware domains. The address most people should use.

Family protection

Primary IPv4
94.140.14.15
Secondary IPv4
94.140.15.16

Adds adult-content blocking and safe search. Everything in the default tier, plus safe search enforcement.

Non-filtering

Primary IPv4
94.140.14.140
Secondary IPv4
94.140.14.141

No blocking — a plain, private resolver. Useful for troubleshooting or comparing raw speed without filtering.

AdGuard also supports encrypted DNS. Its DNS-over-HTTPS endpoint is https://dns.adguard-dns.com/dns-query, and its DNS-over-TLS hostname is dns.adguard-dns.com — use whichever your router or operating system supports for a resolver your ISP can't casually inspect.

Privacy and logging

Blocks ads and trackers at the DNS level and stores anonymized statistics only, with no personally identifying logs. That means AdGuard is not selling or retaining a queryable history tied to you personally, which is the main privacy concern with using someone else's DNS resolver. As with any third-party resolver, you are still trusting AdGuard's stated policy rather than verifying it yourself — read its privacy policy if that trust matters to you, and compare it against other options on the best DNS for privacy guide.

Pros and cons

Strengths

  • Blocks ads and trackers network-wide without installing an app on every device.
  • Adds malware-domain blocking on top of ad blocking, at no cost.
  • Family variant adds adult-content blocking and safe search in one address change.
  • Stated no-log stance on personally identifying query data.
  • Supports encrypted DNS-over-HTTPS and DNS-over-TLS.

Trade-offs

  • Filtering can occasionally break a site that relies on a now-blocked domain for core functionality, not just ads.
  • Some ad formats served from the same domain as the content will still get through.
  • You are trusting AdGuard's blocklists and policies rather than running your own filter.
  • Not the fastest resolver on every connection — filtering adds a small amount of lookup work.

Who AdGuard DNS suits

AdGuard DNS is a good fit if you want fewer ads and trackers across your whole home network — every phone, laptop, TV, and console — without installing separate ad-blocking software on each one, and you're comfortable with the occasional broken site as a trade-off. The Family variant suits households that also want adult-content filtering and safe search enforced by default. If you would rather have zero filtering and the plainest possible resolver, use the Non-filtering address or compare unfiltered options like Cloudflare DNS and Google DNS.

How to set up AdGuard DNS

Setting a resolver takes a couple of minutes on any device. Enter the primary and secondary addresses above (IPv4, plus IPv6 if your network uses it) in your device's or router's DNS settings. Setting it on your router applies it to every device on the network at once; setting it per-device only affects that device.

Once it's set, run the free DNS speed test to see AdGuard's actual response time from your connection, and compare it against other resolvers before committing.

See how AdGuard DNS performs on your connection

The live test measures real latency from your browser — no account, nothing stored.

Run the free DNS speed test

AdGuard DNS — frequently asked questions

What is AdGuard DNS?

AdGuard DNS is a free public DNS resolver that blocks ads, trackers, and known malware domains before your browser even loads them, for every device that uses it — no app or browser extension required.

Is AdGuard DNS free?

Yes. The default and Family addresses are free to use on any router, computer, phone, or console. AdGuard also sells a paid app and VPN, but the public DNS resolvers themselves cost nothing.

Will AdGuard DNS block all ads?

It blocks a large share of ad and tracker domains at the DNS level, but it cannot remove ads embedded in the same domain as the content (common on video and social platforms) or block ads that load via first-party server-side routes.

Does AdGuard DNS slow down browsing?

Blocking a domain is typically instant and can make pages feel faster by skipping ad and tracker requests entirely. Run the live DNS speed test from your own connection to see AdGuard's actual response latency compared with other resolvers.

What is the difference between the default and Family AdGuard DNS addresses?

The default address (94.140.14.14) blocks ads, trackers, and malware. The Family address adds adult-content blocking and forces safe search on major search engines. The Non-filtering address blocks nothing and simply resolves DNS.