Alternatives to Blocky
Lightweight DNS proxy with blocklists, written for container deployments. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Blocky
Lightweight DNS proxy with blocklists, written for container deployments.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Blocky.
Pi-hole
A DNS server for your home network that refuses to look up ad and tracker domains, for every device at once.
Pi-hole adds a web interface, DNS caching and an optional DHCP server, but runs only on Linux rather than as a single cross-platform container binary.
AdGuard Home
Network-wide ad and tracker blocking in a single binary, with encrypted DNS built in rather than bolted on.
AdGuard Home ships as one binary with a web interface, parental controls and safe search, and serves DNS-over-HTTPS, TLS and QUIC itself.
dnscrypt-proxy
Encrypts your DNS lookups so your internet provider cannot read or tamper with them, and blocks domains while it is there.
dnscrypt-proxy combines filtering with DNSCrypt, Anonymized DNS and Oblivious DoH, configured through a TOML file, and is aimed more at protecting one machine than a network.
RouteDNS
A DNS stub resolver, proxy and router with blocklists and DoT, DoH, DoQ and DTLS support.
RouteDNS also uses file configuration and blocklists, adding DoT, DoH, DoQ and DTLS upstreams with flexible query routing.
mosdns
A plugin-based DNS forwarder with rule-based routing, domain blocking and encrypted DNS support.
mosdns offers plugin-based rule routing and domain blocking with DoT, DoH and DoQ, but its documentation is in Chinese.
SmartDNS
A local DNS server that queries several upstream resolvers and returns the fastest-responding IP address.
SmartDNS returns the fastest upstream answer and can block ad domains through rules, with Docker and systemd setups included.
CoreDNS
A DNS server written in Go that builds its behavior from a chain of plugins.
CoreDNS is an Apache-2.0 plugin-chain server built for Kubernetes, where blocking needs manual plugin setup rather than ready blocklists.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Blocky as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
Acrylic DNS Proxy
A local caching DNS proxy for Windows that blocks unwanted domains with a custom hosts file.
Blocky is a small open source DNS proxy with blocklists and encrypted upstreams across platforms, configured through YAML with no administration interface.
Adblock Fast
A lightweight DNS-based ad blocker for OpenWrt routers using dnsmasq, smartdns, Unbound or BIND.
Blocky is a lightweight DNS proxy with blocklists and per-client rules, suited to containers and small boards rather than tied to OpenWrt.
ctrld
A configurable, multi-protocol DNS forwarding proxy from Control D with policy-based upstream routing.
Blocky is an Apache-2.0 DNS proxy with encrypted upstreams and per-client blocking groups, configured in YAML and aimed at container deployments.
Diversion
A DNS-based ad blocker that runs on Asus routers with Asuswrt-Merlin firmware.
Blocky is a small Apache-2.0 binary suited to containers and small boards, with per-client blocking configured in YAML.
NxFilter
A self-hosted DNS filter with per-user policies, reports and Active Directory integration.
Blocky is an Apache-2.0 open source proxy with per-client and per-group blocking suited to containers, but has no administration interface, reports or directory integration.
OpenWrt adblock
A DNS-based ad and abuse domain blocking package for OpenWrt routers, covering every device on the network.
Blocky is a small Apache-2.0 DNS proxy suited to containers and small boards, with per-client blocking rules, configured in YAML without an admin interface.
Stubby
Local DNS stub resolver that encrypts queries with DNS-over-TLS.
Blocky forwards to encrypted upstream resolvers and adds blocklists with per-client rules, aimed at container deployments serving several devices, and is configured in YAML.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
