OpenBLD

OpenBLD is a protective DNS service for blocking malware, phishing, tracking, and other unwanted domains across personal devices and networks. It fits households, small offices, and organizations that want policy-based DNS without installing an agent on every free-plan device. Its combination of multiple DNS protocols and an enterprise deployment tier is useful, but compatibility and public-service constraints deserve close attention.

Overview

OpenBLD has operated since 2019 and uses DNS filtering rather than endpoint software as its core control. Free is positioned for private use, home networks, and small offices; Plus targets companies, security teams, and managed service providers. That split is sensible: individuals get a straightforward resolver, while larger teams can build policies and monitoring into existing infrastructure.

Privacy controls are clearly stated. Logs can be enabled for troubleshooting, are not transferred to third parties or used for advertising, and are anonymized whenever possible. Public DNS use is capped at 100 requests per second per IP, special requests such as AXFR and ANY are refused, and requests from virtual servers or cloud environments may be blocked automatically. YouTube is outside OpenBLD's coverage, so it is not a complete answer for filtering every major service.

Key features

OpenBLD supports classic DNS, DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH), and DNS-over-TLS (DoT). That gives users transport choices for browsers, operating systems, and routers instead of tying protection to one client. The ADA profile is intended for most users and is the better starting point when avoiding breakage matters. RIC applies stricter filtering, which can block more questionable destinations but may also affect services that rely on domains it classifies as risky.

Free requires no agent or additional installation. It can be configured on phones, browsers, desktops, and routers, making it practical for mixed-device households and small offices. The extension supports Chrome, Edge, Brave, Vivaldi, and Opera, but the underlying OpenBLD service must be configured first; it is not a standalone browser blocker. Mobile documentation supports Android 9 and later and iOS 14 and later. Custom blocklists and advanced activity reports add useful tuning and visibility beyond a basic public resolver.

Plus adds organization-specific policies, centralized DNS analytics, security events, and corporate DNS integrations. Depending on requirements, integrations may include Active Directory DNS, ClickHouse, VictoriaLogs, Grafana, Prometheus-compatible monitoring, syslog, and SIEM systems. Deployment can be Managed Cloud, Dedicated DNS, or On-Premise. On-Premise is the strongest option for organizations that need DNS traffic, events, and analytics to remain inside their own infrastructure.

Pricing

Free is the clear fit for personal networks and small offices that can stay within its daily query allowance and public-resolver restrictions. It gives up organizational policy controls, centralized analytics, security-event features, and professional support. Plus is for businesses and MSP or MSSP providers that need those controls or a private deployment; its price is not published, while the general paid offering starts from $15/mo. The standard OpenBLD DNS service has no SLA, so uptime commitments should be discussed as part of a Plus arrangement rather than assumed.

Platforms

OpenBLD supports Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, web access, browser extensions, and self-hosted deployments. Android 9+ and iOS 14+ are supported, and routers can be configured on Free. The extension covers Chrome, Edge, Brave, Vivaldi, and Opera, provided service setup is completed first.

Who it's for

Choose Free for household-wide DNS protection, a small office, or a user who wants custom blocklists without installing endpoint agents. Choose Plus when a company needs centrally managed policies, analytics, security events, integrations with monitoring or identity systems, professional support, or DNS data kept on its own infrastructure. It is a weaker fit if YouTube must be covered or if cloud-hosted clients are likely to trigger public-service blocking.

Pros and cons

Pros

• DoH, DoT, and classic DNS support suit different devices and network designs.
• Agent-free Free setup works across phones, browsers, desktops, and routers.
• Custom blocklists and advanced activity reports provide meaningful control over filtering.
• Plus offers organization policies, analytics, integrations, and an On-Premise option for data control.
• Logs are not used for advertising or transferred to third parties, with anonymization whenever possible.

Cons

• Free is limited to roughly 100,000 queries per day and 100 requests per second per IP.
• AXFR and ANY requests are disallowed, and virtual-server or cloud traffic may be blocked automatically.
• YouTube is not covered.
• RIC's stricter filtering can interfere with some services.
• Free support is directed to Telegram, and the standard DNS service has no SLA.
• Plus pricing is custom, so its total cost cannot be assessed from the published plans alone.

Alternatives

AdGuard DNS is a better comparison for readers who want a free tier, a free trial, and an open-source service with broad platform coverage.

DNS for Family suits households seeking a completely free service with no subscription, while accepting fair-use limits on unusually high query volumes.

FilterDNS is an option for readers who prefer a free service associated with the ZKM | Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe.

NextDNS is preferable when 300,000 monthly queries, unlimited devices, unlimited configurations, and all features on its free plan match your usage pattern.

OpenDNS Home is the simpler choice for free DNS filtering, including a Family Shield profile preconfigured to block adult content without sign-up.

Cloudflare Gateway is worth considering for teams wanting a free plan for up to 50 users with standard log retention, or a published pay-as-you-go tier.

DNS Daddy is for readers seeking a free, open-source service with no account, trial, subscription, or paid tiers.

GateSentry is an alternative for users who specifically want a free open-source product under the Apache-2.0 license.

The broader Internet Filtering Software directory is useful if DNS protection is not the right layer for your needs.

Verdict

OpenBLD is a strong choice for households, small offices, and security teams that want flexible DNS transports, agent-free setup, and a path to centralized enterprise deployment. Choose it for its filtering controls and On-Premise Plus option; look elsewhere if YouTube coverage, an uptime commitment on the standard service, or transparent enterprise pricing is essential.