blocky vs pi-hole
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
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.
Pi-hole acts as a DNS sinkhole that intercepts ad and tracking domains, preventing them from loading on any device on your network. It runs on a lightweight Linux system and provides a web interface for monitoring and configuration.
- Fast and lightweight
- Easy to configure
- Supports multiple DNS upstream providers
- Provides real-time DNS query logging and statistics
- Free and open source
- Works on all devices without client software
- Easy web UI for management
- Low resource footprint
- Limited customization options
- No user interface, requires command-line configuration
- No support for some DNS record types
- Requires basic Linux/Docker knowledge to set up
- Limited to DNS‑level blocking, cannot filter HTTPS content directly
- Community support only, no official SLA
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to blocky
View all →A free, open-source, self-hosted DNS server with built-in ad-blocking and DHCP.
Alternatives to pi-hole
View all →
A free, open-source, self-hosted DNS server with built-in ad-blocking and DHCP.
The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataPi-hole offers a user‑friendly web UI and richer analytics at the cost of a slightly higher setup complexity, while Blocky is a leaner, command‑line‑only DNS proxy with built‑in DoH/DoT support.
Key differences
- •Pi-hole provides a responsive web dashboard; Blocky has no UI and must be configured via CLI.
- •Blocky supports DNS over HTTPS and DNS over TLS natively; Pi-hole does not list these protocols.
- •Pi-hole automatically updates blocklists daily and shows per‑client analytics; Blocky offers only real‑time logging.
- •Blocky includes built‑in support for multiple upstream DNS providers and IPv6; Pi-hole’s upstream handling is not specified.
- •Support channels differ: Pi-hole relies on community docs, Blocky lists email support.
Pricing & value
Both are free and open source, offering comparable cost‑free value.
Ease of use / learning curve
Pi-hole includes a web UI for management, reducing command‑line effort; Blocky requires CLI only.
Features & depth
Pi-hole adds auto‑updating blocklists, per‑client analytics, and DHCP integration; Blocky lacks these.
Integrations & ecosystem
Blocky supports DoH, DoT, multiple upstream DNS providers, and IPv6 out of the box; Pi-hole does not mention these.
Support
Blocky lists email support; Pi-hole only community support and documentation.
Security & privacy
Blocky’s native DoH/DoT encryption improves privacy for DNS queries; Pi-hole lacks built‑in encrypted DNS.
Scalability
Both are self‑hosted, lightweight, and suitable for home or small‑business networks.
Choose blocky if…
Tech‑savvy users needing encrypted DNS (DoH/DoT) and flexible upstream provider selection, comfortable with CLI.
Choose pi-hole if…
Home or small‑business users who want a graphical interface and detailed analytics with minimal ongoing configuration.
Common questions
Do either tool charge for advanced features?
No; both are free and open source according to the provided facts.
Which solution provides a web-based management console?
Pi-hole includes a responsive web dashboard; Blocky has no UI and must be managed via command line.
Can I use encrypted DNS (DoH/DoT) with these tools?
Blocky supports DNS over HTTPS and DNS over TLS; Pi-hole does not list support for encrypted DNS.