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OpenBLD

openbld.net

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Spec score 9.0 #6 of 65 in Internet Filtering Software

What it is

OpenBLD provides protective DNS to block malware, phishing, tracking and unwanted domains. It supports classic DNS, DNS-over-HTTPS and DNS-over-TLS. The free service can be configured on phones, browsers, computers and routers without installing an agent or additional software. Its ADA profile is adaptive for most users, while RIC applies stricter filtering that may affect some services. OpenBLD Free is presented for personal use, home networks and small offices, and is billed Free forever with about 100,000 DNS queries per day and a limit of 100 requests per second per IP. OpenBLD Plus is aimed at companies, security teams and managed service providers. It adds organization-specific policies, centralized DNS analytics, security events and corporate DNS integrations. Deployment options are Managed Cloud, Dedicated DNS and On-Premise; the On-Premise option keeps DNS traffic, events and analytics within customer infrastructure. The documentation says there is no Service Level Agreement for OpenBLD DNS, while Plus lists SLA options. The service was founded in 2019.

Spec sheet

What it does
OpenBLD provides public protective DNS intended to block malware, phishing, tracking and unwanted domains.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Product
OpenBLD provides protective DNS to block malware, phishing, tracking, and unwanted domains.Read 8 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Audience
OpenBLD Free is presented for personal use, home networks, and small offices; Plus is designed for companies, security teams, and MSP or MSSP providers.Read 8 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Integrations
Plus integration options may include Active Directory DNS, ClickHouse, VictoriaLogs, Grafana, Prometheus-compatible monitoring, syslog, and SIEM systems.Read 8 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Privacy
The service says logs may be enabled for troubleshooting, are not transferred to third parties or collected for advertising, and are anonymized whenever possible.Read 8 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Support
OpenBLD Plus includes professional support, while technical questions and general support are directed to Telegram.Read 8 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Founded
2019Read 28 Sep 2026 · openbld.net
ADA behavior
ADA is designed for everyday browsing and allows common Google, Microsoft, Yandex and social-media services.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Browser extension
OpenBLD lists an extension for Chrome, Edge, Brave, Vivaldi and Opera, and setup of DNS is required before using it.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Chrome extension details
The Chrome listing shows version 1.1, a 92.02 KiB size and an update date of January 29, 2024.Read 15 Oct 2026 · chromewebstore.google.com
Company size
LinkedIn lists OpenBLD.net as a nonprofit with one employee and headquarters in Almaty, Kazakhstan.Read 15 Oct 2026 · kz.linkedin.com
Corporate integrations
Documented Plus deployment scenarios include Active Directory DNS, internal zones, upstream resolvers, split DNS, VPN users and dnsdist infrastructure.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Coverage exception
OpenBLD states that it does not cover YouTube.Read 8 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Coverage limitation
The documentation explicitly says OpenBLD does not cover YouTube resources.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Data handling
The service says logs may be enabled for troubleshooting, are not transferred to third parties or used for advertising, and are anonymized where possible.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Deployment and data control
Plus is available as Managed Cloud, Dedicated DNS, or On-Premise; On-Premise lets DNS traffic, events, and analytics remain within customer infrastructure.Read 8 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Deployment choices
OpenBLD Plus is offered as managed cloud, on-premise or dedicated DNS deployment.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Desktop and router use
OpenBLD can be configured in browsers, operating systems, home or office routers and mobile devices without an agent.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Documentation and support
Documentation covers introduction, setup categories, operating modes, Plus deployments, contacts and a dated technical blog; support is offered through Telegram and email.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Filtering modes
The service offers Adaptive ADA, stricter RIC and OpenBLD Plus modes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Founded year
The official chronology says the public OpenBLD.net DNS service launched in 2019 after beginning as Open BLD Sys-Admin DNS Service.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Independent domain fact
IPAddress.com records the openbld.net domain registration date as May 2, 2023 and identifies GitHub.com as the server header.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ipaddress.com
Independent infrastructure description
IPAddress.com describes OpenBLD as a free Anycast and GeoDNS DNS service focused on blocking ads, tracking, telemetry and malicious domains.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ipaddress.com
Licence
The public GitHub repository for the OpenBLD website is marked CC0-1.0; the service's internal zBLD components are described as internal technology rather than separately licensed source code.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Limit: ECS support
The Spanish review says OpenBLD does not support EDNS Client Subnet, which can prevent CDNs from selecting the nearest server to the user.Read 15 Oct 2026 · portalvasco.com
Limit: geographic coverage
The Spanish review reports that OpenBLD had no point of presence in Spain at the time of its April 2025 test.Read 15 Oct 2026 · portalvasco.com
Maker identity
LinkedIn identifies Yevgeniy Goncharov as the employee associated with OpenBLD.net, while the project blog names him as maintainer.Read 15 Oct 2026 · kz.linkedin.com
Mobile setup
Android devices use Private DNS configuration, while Apple devices use an installable DNS profile.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Mobile support
The documentation lists Android 9+ and iOS 14+ as supported.Read 8 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Monitoring integrations
Plus security events can be sent to ClickHouse, VictoriaLogs, Grafana, Prometheus-compatible monitoring, syslog and SIEM systems.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Notable news: architecture change
A November 9, 2023 update announced plans to remove DNS port 53 from most RIC servers while retaining DoH and DoT.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Notable news: IP anonymization
On April 15, 2026, OpenBLD announced an IP-anonymization mode using masking, hashing or hidden values in logs and metrics.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
OpenBLD Plus policies
Plus supports organization-specific allowlists, blocklists and security policies.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Organizational features
OpenBLD Plus offers organization-specific policies, centralized DNS analytics, security events, and corporate DNS integrations.Read 8 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Plus analytics
Plus analytics cover DNS volume, requested and blocked domains, suspicious activity, affected clients and operational issues.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Praise: broad compatibility
The Spanish review highlights operation on mobiles, browsers and computers without installing client software.Read 15 Oct 2026 · portalvasco.com
Praise: ease of use
An independent Spanish review praises the well-presented site, clear information and configuration guides.Read 15 Oct 2026 · portalvasco.com
Protocols
OpenBLD publishes classic DNS, DNS-over-HTTPS and DNS-over-TLS connectivity, with DNSSEC, GeoDNS and TLS support advertised on the home page.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Public API or SDK
The public documentation exposes DoH and DoT resolver endpoints but does not describe a conventional REST API, SDK or developer package.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Rating on Chrome Web Store
5 out of 5 from 6 ratingsRead 15 Oct 2026 · chromewebstore.google.com
Report-only mode
Plus can analyze DNS traffic and record findings while allowing requests to continue before enforcement is enabled.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
RIC behavior
RIC applies stricter filtering that can affect websites, applications, redirects and other internet content.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Security limitation
OpenBLD states that incoming requests from virtual-server or cloud environments may be blocked automatically.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Self-hosting
The Plus documentation says on-premise installations keep DNS traffic, logs, analytics, integrations, infrastructure and retention policies under customer control.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Service commitment
OpenBLD says the donation-supported service has no service-level agreement.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Setup
OpenBLD Free requires no agent or additional software installation and can be configured on phones, browsers, desktops, and routers.Read 8 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Supported mobile versions
The documentation states support for Android 9 and newer and iOS 14 and newer.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Technology stack
OpenBLD identifies zBLD, zLB, benZine and Cactusd as internal technologies and lists Prometheus, Grafana, PowerDNS, Knot DNS, Nginx, Node.js, React, Vue and other open-source or free components.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Third-party blocklists
The site offers Hagezi and OISD community-maintained filtering profiles.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Traffic limitation
The public resolver limits clients to a maximum of 100 requests per second per IP address and disallows AXFR, ANY and brute-force requests.Read 15 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
Usage limits
Public DNS use is limited to 100 requests per second per IP, disallows special requests such as AXFR and ANY, and may automatically block requests from virtual servers or cloud environments.Read 8 Oct 2026 · openbld.net

Plans and prices

OpenBLD Free Free Free forever ~100k DNS queries/day · private, home-network and small-office use · no registration Read 15 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
OpenBLD Plus $15 a month Monthly donation of $15+ Personal or enterprise support · no limits on redundant requests · incident analysis Read 15 Oct 2026 · openbld.net
OpenBLD Plus enterprise deployments Priced on request Contact for pilot, managed cloud, dedicated DNS or on-premise pricing Custom policies · analytics · integrations · professional support · SLA options Read 15 Oct 2026 · openbld.net

Every OpenBLD plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Supports classic DNS, DoH and DoT.
  • Free setup needs no agent or added software.
  • Plus offers Managed Cloud, Dedicated DNS and On-Premise.
  • On-Premise keeps traffic and analytics within customer infrastructure.

Limits

  • Public DNS is limited to 100 requests per second per IP.
  • Special requests such as AXFR and ANY are disallowed.
  • OpenBLD states that YouTube is not covered.
  • OpenBLD DNS has no Service Level Agreement.

Who it suits

OpenBLD Free is presented for personal use, home networks and small offices. Plus is designed for companies, security teams and MSP or MSSP providers that need organizational policies, analytics or deployment choices.

OpenBLD in depth

Read the full write-up

OpenBLD is a protective DNS service for blocking malware, phishing, trackers and other unwanted domains across devices and networks. It suits individuals, households, small offices and organizations that want DNS-level controls without installing an agent on Free-plan devices. Its strongest case is flexible deployment; its public-use restrictions and narrower service commitments require careful qualification.

Overview

Founded in 2019, OpenBLD combines conventional DNS with DNS-over-HTTPS and DNS-over-TLS. Free is aimed at personal use, home networks and small offices, while Plus targets companies, security teams and managed service providers. The service says troubleshooting logs may be enabled, are not transferred to third parties or used for advertising, and are anonymized whenever possible.

Key features

Filtering is organized around two profiles. ADA is the practical starting point for most users; RIC is stricter and can affect services that depend on domains it blocks. Free requires no agent or additional software, and can be configured on phones, browsers, desktops and routers. That makes it a good fit for mixed-device households and small offices that do not want endpoint software.

The browser extension supports Chrome, Edge, Brave, Vivaldi and Opera, but it only becomes useful after the OpenBLD service itself is configured. Mobile support covers Android 9 and later and iOS 14 and later. Custom blocklists and advanced activity reports give users more control than a basic resolver and help with reviewing or tuning filtering.

Public DNS use is capped at 100 requests per second per IP. AXFR and ANY requests are disallowed, and requests from virtual servers or cloud environments may be blocked automatically. Those rules make the public service unsuitable for some hosted infrastructure and unusually busy deployments. OpenBLD also explicitly excludes YouTube from coverage.

Plus adds organization-specific policies, centralized DNS analytics, security events, corporate DNS integrations and professional support. Integration options 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; the latter keeps DNS traffic, events and analytics inside the customer’s infrastructure. The standard OpenBLD DNS service has no SLA, while Plus offers SLA options.

Pricing

OpenBLD Free costs nothing, billed Free forever. It includes approximately 100,000 DNS queries per day, private use and the 100-requests-per-second-per-IP limit. This is the right plan for personal devices, a home network or a small office with moderate demand. It is not licensed for public use, and its traffic restrictions and YouTube exclusion remain in force.

OpenBLD Plus uses custom pricing, billed by contacting OpenBLD for requirements and pricing. It includes Managed Cloud, Dedicated DNS or On-Premise deployment, professional support and SLA options, alongside organizational policies, analytics, security events and integrations. Companies and MSP or MSSP providers should choose it when centralized administration, monitoring or infrastructure control matters more than a fixed public price. The published paid-from figure is $15/mo, but Plus itself requires a tailored quote.

Platforms

OpenBLD supports Android, iOS, Linux, macOS and Windows, as well as browsers, web access, routers and self-hosted deployments. Android 9+ and iOS 14+ are supported, and the extension covers Chrome, Edge, Brave, Vivaldi and Opera.

Who it's for

Choose Free for household protection, personal devices and small offices that can operate within a daily query allowance. Choose Plus for organizations needing policy control, centralized reporting, professional support, integrations or an on-premise data boundary. Look elsewhere if YouTube filtering is essential, cloud-hosted resolvers must be guaranteed access, or a standard DNS SLA is mandatory.

Pros and cons

Pros: no-install Free setup; support for DNS, DoH and DoT; custom blocklists and advanced reports; broad device and router coverage; Plus deployment from managed cloud to on-premise.

Cons: Free is private-use only; roughly 100,000 queries per day may constrain heavier networks; 100 requests per second per IP and cloud-environment blocking limit some deployments; YouTube is not covered; standard DNS has no SLA; Plus pricing is custom.

Alternatives

AdGuard DNS is the better comparison if open-source code inspection, a free trial or API support matters, with a free Starter plan. Pick Control D when endpoint-based SMB pricing at $2 a month and a free trial suit your rollout. Diladele Web Safety fits Linux, Windows and self-hosted deployments, including a free allowance for up to seven filtered devices or users. FilterDNS is a free alternative from a public cultural institution. NextDNS is preferable when 300,000 monthly queries, unlimited devices and unlimited configurations are the priority. NxFilter offers freeware for commercial and non-commercial use, with a 7.00 USD-per-month paid option. ClearDNS suits readers willing to pay $5.99 a month for an Essential plan covering five devices per user. OpenDNS Home is a free alternative with a preconfigured Family Shield option that requires no sign-up. See also the Internet Filtering Software list for broader comparisons.

Verdict

OpenBLD is a strong choice for people and small organizations wanting no-install DNS protection across varied devices, and for businesses that need Plus’s policy, analytics and deployment controls. Choose it for flexible transports and the on-premise option; look elsewhere when YouTube coverage, unrestricted cloud use, transparent Plus pricing or a standard DNS SLA is non-negotiable.

Verdict

OpenBLD offers a no-install free DNS option and organizational controls through Plus. Note the public-use limits, stated YouTube exception and absence of an SLA for OpenBLD DNS.

Where Specifiction places it

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