AdGuard Home vs Blocky: Which DNS Ad Blocker?
Quick Verdict
AdGuard Home is the better choice for most users. It has a clean web UI, built-in encrypted DNS (DoH/DoT/DoQ), DHCP, per-client settings, and parental controls — all ready to use out of the box. Choose Blocky if you prefer YAML-based configuration, want the absolute smallest footprint, or manage your infrastructure as code.
Overview
AdGuard Home is a network-wide ad blocker and DNS server with a polished web interface. It was built as a modern alternative to Pi-hole and includes encrypted DNS, DHCP, and per-client filtering natively. Developed by AdGuard, the company behind the commercial AdGuard ad blocker.
Blocky is a minimalist DNS proxy written in Go, configured entirely via a YAML file. No web UI, no DHCP — just DNS proxying, ad blocking, and caching with the smallest possible footprint. Designed for the infrastructure-as-code crowd.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | AdGuard Home | Blocky |
|---|---|---|
| Web UI | Yes (polished) | No |
| Configuration | Web UI + YAML config | YAML file only |
| DNS-over-HTTPS (server) | Built-in | Built-in |
| DNS-over-TLS (server) | Built-in | Built-in |
| DNS-over-QUIC (server) | Built-in | No |
| DNSCrypt (server) | Built-in | No |
| DHCP server | Yes | No |
| Per-client rules | Yes (via UI) | Yes (via YAML) |
| Parental controls | Yes | No (use blocklists) |
| Safe Search enforcement | Yes (Google, YouTube, Bing) | No |
| DNS rewrites | Yes | Yes (customDNS) |
| Conditional forwarding | Yes | Yes |
| Regex blocking | Yes | Yes |
| Query logging | Yes (built-in UI) | Console, CSV, database |
| DNSSEC | Validates upstream | Built-in validation (v0.28+) |
| Prometheus metrics | No (custom stats API) | Built-in |
| Multi-instance sync | No (third-party tools) | Redis (built-in) |
| API | Yes | Yes |
Installation Complexity
AdGuard Home ships as a single binary/container with a setup wizard. On first launch, the web UI walks you through DNS settings, admin account creation, and basic configuration. Most users are blocking ads within 5 minutes of docker compose up.
Blocky requires writing a config.yml before the first start. You need to specify upstream resolvers, blocklist URLs, ports, and caching settings in YAML. There’s no wizard — you create the config file, mount it into the container, and start.
Winner: AdGuard Home. The setup wizard and web UI make initial configuration straightforward for anyone.
Performance and Resource Usage
| Metric | AdGuard Home | Blocky |
|---|---|---|
| Idle RAM | ~60-80 MB | ~30-50 MB |
| Docker image size | ~50 MB | ~15 MB |
| CPU usage | Low | Very low |
| Startup time | 3-5 seconds | 2-3 seconds |
| Base image | Alpine-based | scratch (empty) |
Both are lightweight. AdGuard Home uses roughly 2x Blocky’s memory, but both run comfortably on a Raspberry Pi. The difference matters only on severely constrained hardware.
Community and Support
| Metric | AdGuard Home | Blocky |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | 27,000+ | 5,000+ |
| Backing | AdGuard (company) | Community project |
| Documentation | Excellent | Good |
| Third-party integrations | Home Assistant, many others | Prometheus/Grafana |
| Update frequency | Regular | Regular |
AdGuard Home benefits from corporate backing — consistent releases, professional documentation, and dedicated support channels. Blocky is a well-maintained community project with a smaller but engaged user base.
Use Cases
Choose AdGuard Home If…
- You want a polished web UI for DNS management
- You need DHCP server functionality
- You want parental controls and Safe Search enforcement
- You need the most encrypted DNS protocol options (DoH/DoT/DoQ/DNSCrypt)
- You want per-client settings manageable through a UI
- You’re setting it up for a household with non-technical members
Choose Blocky If…
- You prefer infrastructure-as-code (YAML config, version control)
- You want the smallest possible resource footprint
- You need built-in Prometheus metrics for monitoring
- You want built-in multi-instance Redis sync
- You don’t need a web UI and prefer API/config management
- You’re running on very constrained hardware
Final Verdict
AdGuard Home is the better all-around choice. It covers everything Blocky does (ad blocking, encrypted DNS, custom rules) plus a web UI, DHCP, parental controls, and Safe Search — with only marginally more resource usage. For most self-hosters, the UI alone makes it the winner.
Blocky wins on minimalism. If you genuinely don’t want a web UI and prefer managing everything through config files, Blocky is more aligned with that philosophy. Its built-in Prometheus metrics and Redis sync are also advantages for monitoring-heavy setups.
Both block ads equally well with the same blocklists. The choice is about management style, not blocking effectiveness.
FAQ
Which one blocks more ads?
Neither. Both use the same hosts-format blocklists. With identical lists, they block the same domains. Ad blocking effectiveness is determined by your blocklists, not your DNS software.
Can I replace AdGuard Home with Blocky without losing features?
You’ll lose the web UI, DHCP, parental controls, Safe Search enforcement, and DoQ/DNSCrypt support. You gain Prometheus metrics and Redis sync. If you only use AdGuard Home for DNS ad blocking with upstream DoT/DoH, Blocky is a drop-in replacement.
Can I monitor Blocky like I monitor AdGuard Home’s dashboard?
Yes, with extra setup. Enable Prometheus metrics in Blocky, then set up Grafana with the Blocky dashboard template. The result is actually more powerful than AdGuard Home’s built-in stats, but requires deploying Prometheus and Grafana.
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