Quick Verdict
Pi-hole is better for most users — it has a polished web UI, the largest community, and the most third-party integrations. Choose Blocky if you prefer YAML-based configuration, want the smallest possible footprint, or need native DoH/DoT support without add-ons.
Overview
Pi-hole is the most popular network-wide ad blocker. It uses dnsmasq and lighttpd under the hood, provides a detailed web dashboard with query logs and statistics, and has a massive community creating blocklists, guides, and integrations. It's been the default recommendation for DNS ad blocking since 2015.
Blocky is a lightweight DNS proxy written in Go. It has no web UI — all configuration happens through a YAML file. It supports encrypted DNS natively (DoH/DoT/DoQ) and per-client filtering rules. It's designed for users who prefer infrastructure-as-code over web dashboards.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Pi-hole | Blocky |
|---|---|---|
| Web UI | Yes (detailed dashboard) | No (API only) |
| Configuration | Web UI + CLI + config files | YAML file only |
| DNS backend | dnsmasq | Custom Go resolver |
| Ad blocking | Yes | Yes |
| Custom DNS records | Yes | Yes (customDNS) |
| Conditional forwarding | Yes | Yes |
| DHCP server | Yes | No |
| DNS-over-HTTPS (client) | Via add-on (cloudflared) | Built-in |
| DNS-over-TLS (client) | Via add-on (unbound) | Built-in |
| DNS-over-HTTPS (server) | No | Built-in |
| Per-client rules | Yes (groups) | Yes (YAML config) |
| Query logging | Yes (web UI + database) | Console, CSV, or database |
| Regex blocking | Yes | Yes |
| Allowlists | Yes | Yes |
| DNSSEC | Via unbound add-on | Built-in (v0.28+) |
| Prometheus metrics | Community add-on | Built-in |
| API | Yes (REST) | Yes (REST) |
| Clustering / multi-instance | Gravity sync (community) | Redis sync (built-in) |
| Docker support | Official | Official |
| Architecture support | amd64, arm64, armv7 | amd64, arm64, armv7, armv6 |
Installation Complexity
Pi-hole requires more configuration but provides a guided experience. The Docker deployment needs port mappings for DNS (53), web UI (80), and optionally DHCP (67). You configure blocklists, upstream DNS, and settings through the web UI after deployment. Adding encrypted DNS requires a separate container (unbound or cloudflared).
Blocky is simpler in terms of container count (single container) but requires writing a YAML configuration file before starting. There's no setup wizard — you need to know what upstream resolvers, blocklists, and ports you want before deploying. The tradeoff is that the entire configuration is in a single file you can version control.
Winner: Tie. Pi-hole is easier if you prefer GUIs. Blocky is easier if you prefer config files.
Performance and Resource Usage
| Metric | Pi-hole | Blocky |
|---|---|---|
| Idle RAM | ~120-180 MB | ~30-50 MB |
| Docker image size | ~300 MB | ~15 MB |
| CPU usage | Low | Very low |
| Startup time | 10-15 seconds | 2-3 seconds |
| Container count | 1 (+ 1 for DoH/DoT) | 1 |
| Base image | Debian-based | scratch (empty) |
Blocky is 3-5x more memory-efficient and starts near-instantly. On a Raspberry Pi Zero or a VPS with 512 MB RAM, this difference is meaningful. Pi-hole's resource usage is still modest by any reasonable standard — both run fine on a Raspberry Pi 4.
Community and Support
| Metric | Pi-hole | Blocky |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | 50,000+ | 5,000+ |
| Subreddit | r/pihole (300K+ members) | None |
| Third-party blocklists | Extensive ecosystem | Same lists work |
| Third-party integrations | Dozens (Home Assistant, Grafana, etc.) | Prometheus/Grafana |
| Documentation | Comprehensive wiki + community | Good official docs |
| Guides/tutorials online | Thousands | Limited |
Pi-hole's community is an order of magnitude larger. If you run into an issue, you'll find a Pi-hole solution faster than a Blocky one. The good news is that blocklists are interchangeable — the same hosts-format lists work in both.
Use Cases
Choose Pi-hole If...
- You want a web dashboard to monitor DNS queries
- You're new to DNS ad blocking and want a guided setup
- You need DHCP server functionality
- You want the largest community and most integrations
- You value extensive third-party guides and tutorials
- You're setting it up for family members who might need to allowlist domains
Choose Blocky If...
- You prefer YAML configuration over web UIs
- You want native DoH/DoT without add-on containers
- You need the smallest possible resource footprint
- You manage infrastructure as code (Ansible, Terraform, etc.)
- You want DNSSEC validation without add-ons
- You're running on severely constrained hardware (Pi Zero, 512 MB VPS)
- You want built-in multi-instance sync via Redis
Final Verdict
Pi-hole is the safe, mainstream choice. Its web UI makes DNS ad blocking accessible to everyone, and the massive community means every question has been answered. If you're setting up your first DNS ad blocker, start here.
Blocky is the power-user alternative. It's leaner, faster, and more composable — native encrypted DNS, built-in Prometheus metrics, YAML configuration you can version control. If you're comfortable with config files and don't need a web dashboard, Blocky is the more elegant solution.
Both use the same blocklists and deliver the same ad-blocking effectiveness. The choice comes down to interface preference and resource constraints, not blocking capability.
FAQ
Can I use the same blocklists in both?
Yes. Both Pi-hole and Blocky support standard hosts-format blocklists (the most common format). The same URLs work in both — Steven Black, Hagezi, Disconnect, and all other popular lists.
Which blocks more ads?
Neither, inherently. Ad blocking effectiveness depends on your blocklists, not the DNS software. With the same lists, both block the same domains.
Can Blocky show me a query log like Pi-hole?
Not in a built-in web UI. Blocky can log queries to the console, CSV files, or a database (PostgreSQL/MySQL). Pair it with Grafana for a visual dashboard — the Blocky project provides a Grafana dashboard template that shows query stats, blocked percentages, and top domains.
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