AdGuard Home vs blocky
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
AdGuardHome is a network-wide ads & trackers blocking DNS server. It provides a simple and effective way to block ads and trackers across all devices on your network, without the need for individual device configuration.
Blocky is a fast and lightweight DNS proxy that acts as an ad-blocker for local networks. It provides many features to help users manage their DNS traffic and block unwanted ads. Blocky is designed to be easy to use and configure, making it a great solution for users who want to block ads on their local network.
- Effective ad and tracker blocking
- Easy to configure and manage
- Supports custom blocklists and allowlists
- Open source and free to use
- Fast and lightweight
- Easy to configure
- Supports multiple DNS upstream providers
- Provides real-time DNS query logging and statistics
- May require technical knowledge to set up
- May not block all types of ads or trackers
- May require periodic updates to blocklists
- Limited customization options
- No user interface, requires command-line configuration
- No support for some DNS record types
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to AdGuard Home
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Multi-layered threat detection with secure banking and anti-ransomware
Alternatives to blocky
View all →A free, open-source, self-hosted DNS server with built-in ad-blocking and DHCP.
The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataAdGuard Home offers a richer web UI and broader blocklist support but needs more setup knowledge, while Blocky is faster, lighter, and command‑line only.
Key differences
- •AdGuard Home provides a web‑based configuration UI; Blocky requires command‑line configuration only.
- •AdGuard Home supports DNS‑over‑TLS and DNS‑over‑HTTPS plus custom blocklists; Blocky also supports DoH/DoT but has fewer customization options.
- •AdGuard Home has community support; Blocky lists email support as its option.
- •AdGuard Home has an API; Blocky does not.
- •AdGuard Home has far more GitHub stars (35,742 vs 6,845), indicating larger community adoption.
Pricing & value
Both are free, but AdGuard Home’s richer UI and blocklist features give more value for the same price.
Ease of use / learning curve
Blocky is described as easy to configure via CLI, while AdGuard Home may require technical knowledge to set up.
Features & depth
AdGuard Home supports custom blocklists, allowlists, DNS‑over‑TLS/HTTPS, and an API; Blocky lacks an API and has limited customization.
Integrations & ecosystem
AdGuard Home’s API and larger GitHub star count suggest broader integration possibilities than Blocky.
Support
Blocky lists email support; AdGuard Home only offers community support, making Blocky’s support option slightly stronger.
Security & privacy
Both support DoH/DoT, but AdGuard Home also supports DNS‑over‑TLS and has an API for secure management.
Scalability
Both are self‑hosted, open‑source solutions suitable for home or small‑business scale; no data differentiates them.
Choose AdGuard Home if…
Home or small‑business users who want a graphical UI, API access, and extensive blocklist control.
Choose blocky if…
Tech‑savvy users who prioritize speed, low resource use, and are comfortable with CLI‑only configuration.
Common questions
Is there any cost to use either tool?
Both AdGuard Home and Blocky are free to use.
Do either of them provide a graphical interface for management?
AdGuard Home includes a web‑based UI; Blocky has no UI and must be managed via command line.
Can I integrate these tools with other systems via an API?
AdGuard Home offers an API; Blocky does not provide an API.