AppBreakup
Submit an app

AdAway alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave AdAway: not on Google Play; install from F-Droid, and VPN mode blocks using another VPN. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces AdAway, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Blokada currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Blokada logoBlokadaFree plan + paidYesAndroid, iOS4 of 466.5
2Rethink DNS logoRethink DNSOpen sourceYesAndroid, Web3 of 362.6
3TrackerControl logoTrackerControlOpen sourceYesAndroid3 of 359.6
4StevenBlack hosts logoStevenBlack hostsOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +13 of 355.3
  1. Blokada logo

    1. BlokadaTop pick

    Best for: Android users who want free system-wide blocking without root

    Free plan + paidOpen sourceAndroid, iOS

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from AdAway

    Free open-source system-wide blocker with a friendlier interface.

    Pros

    • Free, open-source system-wide blocking on Android
    • No root or jailbreak needed
    • Optional WireGuard VPN and parental-control apps

    Cons

    • Free version is Android only
    • Cloud, VPN and family features are paid
    • Multiple app editions can be confusing
    Visit Blokada Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Blokada a good AdAway alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free version
    Blokada 5, free and open source
    Checked Oct 25, 2026blokada.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Root required
    No
    Checked Oct 25, 2026blokada.org(opens source in a new tab)
    VPN devices
    Up to 5 (Blokada Plus)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026blokada.org(opens source in a new tab)
    VPN protocol
    WireGuard
    Checked Oct 25, 2026blokada.org(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Rethink DNS logo

    2. Rethink DNS

    Best for: Android power users who want encrypted DNS, blocklists and an app firewall in one

    Open sourceAndroid, Web

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from AdAway

    Adds encrypted DNS and a per-app firewall to blocklist filtering.

    Pros

    • Blocklists, encrypted DNS and per-app firewall together
    • Free and open source, no root needed
    • Detailed per-app connection logs

    Cons

    • Many settings to learn
    • Android only for the full app
    • Occupies Android's single VPN slot
    Visit Rethink DNS Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Rethink DNS a good AdAway alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Blocklists
    190+
    Checked Oct 25, 2026rethinkdns.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Encryption
    DNS over HTTPS or TLS
    Checked Oct 25, 2026rethinkdns.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Proxy network
    From $1.75/month (optional)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. TrackerControl logo

    3. TrackerControl

    Best for: Android users who want to see which companies their apps share data with

    Open sourceAndroid

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from AdAway

    Shows and blocks the trackers each app contacts.

    Pros

    • Shows trackers by company and purpose
    • Analysis happens on the device
    • Free, open source and research-backed

    Cons

    • Full version isn't on Google Play
    • Uses Android's VPN slot
    • Not focused on visible ads
    Visit TrackerControl Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is TrackerControl a good AdAway alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    License
    GPLv3
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Distribution
    F-Droid; Slim version on Google Play
    Checked Oct 25, 2026trackercontrol.org(opens source in a new tab)
    iOS
    App tracking reports (website)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026trackercontrol.org(opens source in a new tab)
  4. StevenBlack hosts logo

    4. StevenBlack hosts

    Best for: Technical users who want a no-software blocklist for their OS, router or DNS server

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, Self-hosted

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from AdAway

    Curated unified hosts lists you can add as an AdAway source.

    Pros

    • Merges reputable lists with duplicates removed
    • Many variants for gambling, adult, fake news and social
    • Works with Pi-hole, AdGuard Home, AdAway and routers

    Cons

    • No interface; updating is manual unless scripted
    • Hosts files can't block by wildcard
    • Can occasionally block domains you need
    Visit StevenBlack hosts Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is StevenBlack hosts a good AdAway alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    What it is
    Unified hosts file from several sources
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Variants
    31 hosts file variants
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    License (own list)
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best AdAway alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Blokada logo

Best AdAway alternative for most people

Blokada

Free open-source system-wide blocker with a friendlier interface.

Rethink DNS logo

Best AdAway alternative for a free option

Rethink DNS

Adds encrypted DNS and a per-app firewall to blocklist filtering.

Blokada logo

Best AdAway alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Blokada

Free open-source system-wide blocker with a friendlier interface.

TrackerControl logo

Best AdAway alternative for open source

TrackerControl

Shows and blocks the trackers each app contacts.

AdGuard logo

Best AdAway alternative for Mac

AdGuard

Paid app with HTTPS filtering for more complete blocking.

StevenBlack hosts logo

Best AdAway alternative for Windows

StevenBlack hosts

Curated unified hosts lists you can add as an AdAway source.

AdGuard logo

Best AdAway alternative for Linux

AdGuard

Paid app with HTTPS filtering for more complete blocking.

Blokada logo

Best AdAway alternative for iPhone and Android

Blokada

Free open-source system-wide blocker with a friendlier interface.

Rethink DNS logo

Best AdAway alternative for working in the browser

Rethink DNS

Adds encrypted DNS and a per-app firewall to blocklist filtering.

AdAway alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to AdAway?

Blokada ranks first right now. Free open-source system-wide blocker with a friendlier interface. Rethink DNS and TrackerControl follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to AdAway?

Yes. Blokada (free plan + paid), Rethink DNS (open source), TrackerControl (open source) and StevenBlack hosts (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to AdAway?

Yes: Blokada, Rethink DNS, TrackerControl and StevenBlack hosts.

Which AdAway alternatives work on Linux?

AdGuard and StevenBlack hosts run on Linux.

Why do people switch from AdAway?

The complaints we hear most: not on Google Play; install from F-Droid; VPN mode blocks using another VPN; can't stop ads from the same domain as content.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces AdAway, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.