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Blocky
It operates as a DNS proxy that intercepts and filters DNS queries for devices on a local network. Leveraging external blocklists for advertisements and malware, as well as customizable allow and deny lists per client group (for example, "Kids," "Smart home devices," or guest subnets), Blocky enables granular control over network traffic. Its filtering engine can act on request domains and on response CNAME records and even IP addresses, offering inspection against threat and ad lists.
It differs from tolls that maintain their own database or require substantial on-device resources, Blocky is stateless by design. Its configuration is handled via a single YAML file, making it fairly easy to maintain, automate, and deploy across multiple instances or via containers. The application requires no persistent database for regular operation, optional logging backends exist for analysis or audit needs, including CSV or various SQL database formats.
It supports all major DNS protocols, including DNS over UDP and TCP, DNS over HTTPS (DoH), and DNS over TLS (DoT). These protocols ensure that network queries remain private and encrypted, which is important in an momrnyt of pervasive tracking and advertising. The system also supports DNS extensions like DNSSEC and eDNS, giving it strong security features.
Why Use Blocky
The idea for deploying Blocky centers around privacy, simplicity, flexibility, and performance. It does not collect or phone home with user telemetry, statistics, or behavioral data; its filtering logic is entirely defined in its configuration files, with no hidden rules or third-party influences.
From a performance perspective, Blocky is engineered for speed. Its multi-resolver architecture allows the DNS traffic to be distributed among several upstream providers, improving anonymity and resilience against provider outages or censorship. Caching and prefetching of DNS responses accelerates query response times, reducing the latency perceived by end-users and decreasing the frequency and bandwidth consumed for upstream DNS lookups.
It also has straightforward integration with monitoring and analytics platforms. Its built-in Prometheus metrics endpoint and prepared Grafana dashboards allow administrators and business owners to monitor filtering effectiveness, query rates, and blocking activity at a glance. For troubleshooting or business intelligence, DNS query logging can be routed to CSV files or SQL databases, helping reporting and compliance capabilities without encumbering the runtime environment.
=Is Blocky Good for Small Businesses?
It is particularly well-suited to small businesses for several reasons. Its low resource footprint means it can be run efficiently on modest hardware, such as small form-factor servers or even Raspberry Pi devices. The lack of requirement for a persistent database reduces operational complexity, making disaster recovery, scaling, and migration hassle-free.
Small businesses often lack the time for extensive network troubleshooting or for managing database storage and backups on edge devices. Blocky's stateless design and functional logging capabilities address this pain point, especially for organizations that value quick provisioning or highly available DNS in containerized or cloud deployments. Configuration changes are easily automated or version-controlled, allowing for flexible policy changes and rapid redeployments across multiple locations.
Security and privacy become urgent matters for small businesses, especially when handling sensitive data or protecting employee and customer privacy. The protocol support for encrypted DNS (DoH, DoT), DNSSEC, and randomized resolver selection all contribute to a more secure, less surveilled online footprint. With no built-in tracking, telemetry, or external dependencies, It aligns with small businesses that prioritize full control over network filtering and data privacy.
Blocky Versus Pi-hole
Pi-hole remains a trusted solution with a wide and loyal user base, Blocky distinguishes itself in several aspects. Pi-hole's major advantage is its graphical web interface, which makes configuration and monitoring accessible to non-technical users. However, this comes at the cost of a heavier installation footprint, reliance on persistent storage, and potential complexity during upgrades or scaling.
Blocky opts for headless operation no built-in web interface placing emphasis on scriptable YAML configuration, CLI automation, and metrics endpoints for integration with professional monitoring tools. This makes Blocky good for environments where automation, statelessness, and reproducibility are valued over click-and-drag GUIs.
In terms of raw performance, benchmarks reveal Blocky has lower average DNS query resolution times compared to Pi-hole, even with large blocklists and concurrent traffic a benefit in busy offices or networks with demanding latency requirements. Blocky's deep CNAME and IP-based filtering, as well as regex support, offer a more nuanced blocking capability than Pi-hole's domain-based approach. The ability to define conditional DNS forwarding and resolver groups per client helps Blocky in networks with complex routing, guest Wi-Fi, or groups needing differentiated filtering.
it's support for encrypted DNS protocols (DoH, DoT) and random upstream resolver selection improves privacy at the network edge, while Pi-hole’s built-in DHCP service and community-driven blocklists offer advantages for home environments and advanced personal setups. For small businesses or self-hosters focused on dockerized, cloud-native, or containerized infrastructure, The statelessness, cross-arch support, and HA-readiness make it uniquely usable.
For us here at mintaarc we do fall in to that loyal fan base of Pi-hole we use it in our offices a and other virtual use cases. With that said.... Blocky is a strong tool that is worth looking at. https://0xerr0r.github.io/blocky/latest/