AdGuard Home vs Gateway API
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted reverse proxy & gateways options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
AdGuard Home
Network-wide DNS ad and tracker blocker
VS
Gateway API
Next-generation Kubernetes traffic routing standard
| Feature | AdGuard Home | Gateway API |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Reverse Proxy & Gateways | Reverse Proxy & Gateways |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | kubernetes, helm |
| GitHub stars | ★ 35,977 | ★ 2,965 |
| First released | 2018 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Pi-hole, NextDNS | Kubernetes Ingress |
Why pick each one
Choose AdGuard Home if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 36k GitHub stars
Choose Gateway API if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- Kubernetes-ready with Helm charts available
- Active community (3k GitHub stars)
- Written in Go
Frequently asked questions
Is AdGuard Home or Gateway API better?
AdGuard Home is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Gateway API if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are AdGuard Home and Gateway API free and open-source?
Yes. AdGuard Home is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Gateway API under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run AdGuard Home and Gateway API with Docker?
AdGuard Home: yes. Gateway API: check the project docs for container support.