Pi-hole is well-known in the self-hosting and privacy communities, but many people assume it requires powerful hardware to run correctly. After looking at how little CPU and RAM Pi-hole actually uses, I realized I didn’t need a full-sized Raspberry Pi or a mini PC. Instead, I repurposed a $15 Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W to act as a dedicated local DNS server and ad blocker. I’d already used one for network penetration testing, so it made sense to deploy another as my local DNS server and ad blocker.

Everything about this setup is designed to be low-power, low-cost, and low-maintenance. It runs silently off a USB power adapter and connects to my network via Wi-Fi. Despite its small size, it handles every DNS request from my phones, computers, smart home devices, and smart TV. The dashboard is snappy, stats load instantly, and I rarely need to touch it. For such a small device, it has a significant impact.

Why I chose the Zero 2 W

It’s small, cheap, and surprisingly capable

The Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W features a quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor and includes 512MB of RAM. That might not seem like much, but for running a lightweight DNS server and basic web interface, it’s plenty. The built-in Wi-Fi makes setup simple and eliminates the need for additional networking gear. If you're looking to keep hardware costs low, this little board fits the bill perfectly.

It uses very little power, which is ideal for a device that runs continuously. I’ve had it plugged into the USB port on a power strip behind my desk for months without any issues. Heat and noise aren’t concerns here, either. There’s no fan and no need for one. The Pi Zero 2 W stays cool and completely silent, even under a full network load.

In terms of performance, I haven’t encountered any slowdowns, even with over 25 devices on my network. Pi-hole’s web UI stays responsive, the query log updates in real time, and the ad-blocking is instant. For a job as specific as DNS filtering, the Zero 2 W is overqualified. That makes it a great fit, especially if you don’t want to dedicate a full-size SBC or server to such a simple task.

Setting it up is quick and easy

Installing Pi-hole on a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W

Getting started doesn’t require much more than the board itself and a microSD card. I used Raspberry Pi OS Lite to keep things lightweight and headless. Before the first boot, I dropped an empty ssh file and a preconfigured wpa_supplicant.conf into the boot partition. This allowed me to connect via SSH without needing a display or keyboard, saving even more setup time.

Once I connected to the Zero 2 W over SSH, I ran the official Pi-hole installer. The script walks you through DNS configuration, upstream provider selection, and optional DHCP settings. I chose to keep my router handling DHCP and just focused on DNS filtering. It took maybe 10 minutes from start to finish. When it was done, I pointed my router's DNS settings to the Pi’s IP address and started seeing blocked requests right away.

The entire system runs unattended. Pi-hole updates itself on command, and I rarely log in unless I’m curious about which devices are calling out to shady domains. The default blocklists are solid, but I’ve added a few curated ones over time to fine-tune the settings further. With a little effort up front, this becomes a set-and-forget tool that improves your entire network without requiring constant attention.

Planning for future improvements

Adding Ethernet and monitoring performance

Using Wi-Fi is convenient, especially on the Zero 2 W, but it’s not always ideal. Wireless interference or outages could leave your network without DNS. That’s why my next step will be to add a USB Ethernet adapter. Even a basic USB 2.0 model will offer a more stable connection and slightly lower latency. It would also ensure Pi-hole is always reachable, even if Wi-Fi drops out temporarily.

Thankfully, the Pi-hole software is designed to run on minimal hardware and doesn’t stress the network much. Still, I like keeping an eye on how it performs. The built-in query log shows DNS activity per client and highlights what’s getting blocked. There are also third-party dashboards that utilize Prometheus and Grafana, offering detailed charts and longer-term data. For my needs, the web dashboard is enough, but the options are there.

Since the system works so well, it’s easy to forget it’s even there. But I like knowing that if I want to migrate it to a more robust device, all my settings and blocklists can be backed up and restored. For most people, though, there’s no need to go bigger unless your network gets very complex. The Zero 2 W is doing more than enough on its own, and a minor hardware upgrade, such as adding Ethernet, is all it needs.

Worth the effort and the tiny cost

This tiny board made a noticeable difference

I wasn’t expecting such a small and inexpensive setup to change how my network feels, but it did. Pages load faster, videos play without pre-roll ads, and tracking requests vanish before they leave the network. All of this comes from one $15 board, a bit of Linux, and some smart software. If you're on the fence about trying Pi-hole, this is the easiest way to do it.

For anyone running a home lab or tinkering with Raspberry Pis, the Zero 2 W makes a great Pi-hole host. It’s affordable, power-efficient, and more than capable of handling the job. The fact that it runs quietly in the background without needing constant care makes it even better. Set it up once and enjoy the benefits every time you go online.

There are many ways to filter your network traffic, but this one is fast, inexpensive, and just works. Even without a wired Ethernet connection, it's stable enough for everyday use. Add that in later, and you’ve got an even better system. This little project was absolutely worth it.