Diversion

A DNS-based ad blocker that runs on Asus routers with Asuswrt-Merlin firmware.

FreeProprietarySelf-hostedCommand line
Official websitediversion.ch

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About Diversion

Diversion blocks ads and unwanted domains for every device on the network by running on the router itself, working with the router's dnsmasq service. It is installed and managed through amtm, the script manager for Asuswrt-Merlin from the same site.

Development is active: version 6.1.1, released in August 2026, fixed guest network and boot-time secondary DNS issues. It suits Asus router owners running Merlin firmware who want network-wide blocking without a separate device.

Strengths

  • Network-wide blocking directly on the router
  • Managed and updated through amtm
  • Actively maintained with recent fixes

Limitations

  • Only works on Asus routers with Asuswrt-Merlin firmware
  • Router storage and memory limit how large blocklists can be

Details

Pricing
FreeFree script installed through amtm.
License
Proprietary
Platforms
Self-hosted, Command line
How it runs
Self-hosted
Account
Not required
Best suited for
Asus router owners on Merlin firmware who want network-wide ad blocking
Last verified
Added
Provenance
Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.

Alternatives to Diversion

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Software that can replace Diversion for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.

  • Pi-hole

    A DNS server for your home network that refuses to look up ad and tracker domains, for every device at once.

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    Pi-hole runs on a separate Linux machine rather than the router, adding a web dashboard, DNS caching and optional DHCP.

  • AdGuard Home

    Network-wide ad and tracker blocking in a single binary, with encrypted DNS built in rather than bolted on.

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    AdGuard Home runs as a single binary on many systems with a web interface, per-client rules and built-in encrypted DNS serving.

  • OpenWrt adblock

    A DNS-based ad and abuse domain blocking package for OpenWrt routers, covering every device on the network.

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    OpenWrt adblock provides the same router-level blocking but for routers running OpenWrt, installed from the standard package feeds.

  • Adblock Fast

    A lightweight DNS-based ad blocker for OpenWrt routers using dnsmasq, smartdns, Unbound or BIND.

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    Adblock Fast is an AGPL-3.0 router blocker for OpenWrt with very low memory use and an optional LuCI web interface, instead of Asuswrt-Merlin.

  • pfBlockerNG

    A pfSense package that adds IP blocklists, country blocking and DNS blocklists to the firewall.

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    pfBlockerNG runs on pfSense firewalls rather than Asus routers and adds IP blocklists and country blocking alongside DNS blocklists.

  • Blocky

    Lightweight DNS proxy with blocklists, written for container deployments.

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    Blocky is a small Apache-2.0 binary suited to containers and small boards, with per-client blocking configured in YAML.

  • SmartDNS

    A local DNS server that queries several upstream resolvers and returns the fastest-responding IP address.

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    SmartDNS runs on routers and home servers, returning the fastest upstream answer with basic ad blocking through domain rules.

Similar software

Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.

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