AdGuard Home MCP Server vs MCP Pihole
A side-by-side look at the AdGuard Home MCP Server and MCP Pihole MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose AdGuard Home MCP Server for home automation work as a local process; choose MCP Pihole for home automation as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose AdGuard Home MCP Server when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Home Automation domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
ADGUARD_URL, ADGUARD_USERNAME, ADGUARD_PASSWORD, ADGUARD_ACCESS_TIER, ADGUARD_CATEGORIES, ADGUARD_TOOL_BLACKLIST, ADGUARD_TOOL_WHITELIST, MCP_TRANSPORT. - You want tools like
global_get_status, global_get_profile, global_check_version.
Choose MCP Pihole when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Home Automation domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
PIHOLE_URL, PIHOLE_PASSWORD. - You want tools like
pihole_get_stats, pihole_get_top_blocked, pihole_get_top_permitted.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Home Automation | Home Automation |
| Quality signal | 56/100 · Good | 55/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | Not declared |
| Pricing | Not declared | Not declared |
| Required env vars | ADGUARD_URLADGUARD_USERNAMEADGUARD_PASSWORDADGUARD_ACCESS_TIERADGUARD_CATEGORIESADGUARD_TOOL_BLACKLISTADGUARD_TOOL_WHITELISTMCP_TRANSPORT | PIHOLE_URLPIHOLE_PASSWORD |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 12 | 8 |
| Directory activity | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 65 | 16 |
| Full listing | View AdGuard Home MCP Server | View MCP Pihole |
Tools & capabilities
AdGuard Home MCP Server tools 65
global_get_statusRetrieve server status including version, DNS addresses, protection state, and portsglobal_get_profileRetrieve user profile (name, language, theme)global_check_versionCheck for AdGuard Home updates and compare with current versionglobal_set_protectionEnable or disable DNS protection globally, with optional duration for temporary disableglobal_update_profileUpdate user profile settings (name, language, theme)global_begin_updateInitiate an AdGuard Home software updatedns_get_infoRetrieve full DNS configuration including upstreams, cache settings, blocking mode, and DNSSECdns_test_upstreamTest upstream DNS server configuration to verify servers are reachabledns_set_configUpdate DNS server configuration (23 optional fields for partial update, incl. rate-limit subnet lengths and allowlist)dns_clear_cacheClear the DNS resolver cachequerylog_getSearch DNS query log with optional filtering by reason or response status, search term, and cursor pagination via `older_than` (returns a paging hint on empty results)querylog_get_configRetrieve query log configuration settings- +53 more on the listing page
MCP Pihole tools 16
pihole_get_statsGet comprehensive Pi-hole statisticspihole_get_top_blockedGet top blocked domainspihole_get_top_permittedGet top permitted domainspihole_get_top_clientsGet top clients by query countpihole_get_query_logGet recent DNS queriespihole_get_blocking_statusCheck if blocking is enabledpihole_enable_blockingEnable DNS blockingpihole_disable_blockingDisable blocking (optionally with timer)pihole_get_whitelistList all whitelisted domainspihole_get_blacklistList all blacklisted domainspihole_add_to_whitelistAdd domain to whitelistpihole_add_to_blacklistAdd domain to blacklist- +4 more on the listing page
Ready-to-paste client configs
Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.
AdGuard Home MCP Server
{
"mcpServers": {
"adguard-home-mcp-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@samik081/mcp-adguard-home"
],
"env": {
"ADGUARD_URL": "YOUR_ADGUARD_URL_HERE",
"ADGUARD_USERNAME": "YOUR_ADGUARD_USERNAME_HERE",
"ADGUARD_PASSWORD": "YOUR_ADGUARD_PASSWORD_HERE",
"ADGUARD_ACCESS_TIER": "YOUR_ADGUARD_ACCESS_TIER_HERE",
"ADGUARD_CATEGORIES": "YOUR_ADGUARD_CATEGORIES_HERE",
"ADGUARD_TOOL_BLACKLIST": "YOUR_ADGUARD_TOOL_BLACKLIST_HERE",
"ADGUARD_TOOL_WHITELIST": "YOUR_ADGUARD_TOOL_WHITELIST_HERE",
"MCP_TRANSPORT": "YOUR_MCP_TRANSPORT_HERE"
}
}
}
}
MCP Pihole
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-pihole": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"mcp-pihole-server"
],
"env": {
"PIHOLE_URL": "YOUR_PIHOLE_URL_HERE",
"PIHOLE_PASSWORD": "YOUR_PIHOLE_PASSWORD_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
AdGuard Home MCP Server is categorized under Home Automation and uses a local stdio subprocess. MCP Pihole belongs to Home Automation and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick AdGuard Home MCP Server for home automation work and MCP Pihole for home automation.
Copy the mcpServers block from the config section on this page into your client's config (for example claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json), then fully restart the client.
AdGuard Home MCP Server has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. MCP Pihole has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. If a server needs environment variables such as API keys, define them under the env key in your client's MCP config.
Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add adguard-home-mcp-server and mcp-pihole as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, AdGuard Home MCP Server has a quality signal of 56/100 (Good) with 0 views, 0 installs and 12 GitHub stars. MCP Pihole has 55/100 (Good) with 0 views, 0 installs and 8 GitHub stars.