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AdGuard VPN alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave AdGuard VPN: free allowance is small, and proprietary protocol rather than WireGuard. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces AdGuard VPN, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Windscribe currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Windscribe logoWindscribeFree plan + paidYesWindows, macOS, Linux +35 of 566.5
2Proton VPN logoProton VPNFree plan + paidYesWindows, macOS, Linux +35 of 562.6
3Surfshark logoSurfsharkPaidNoWindows, macOS, Linux +34 of 459.6
4TunnelBear logoTunnelBearFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, iOS +23 of 357.2
  1. Windscribe logo

    1. WindscribeTop pick

    Best for: Budget users who want a decent free plan or to pay only for the locations they use

    Free plan + paidOpen sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from AdGuard VPN

    Larger free allowance and a customisable ad and tracker blocker.

    Pros

    • Free plan with a monthly data allowance
    • Build-a-plan pricing per location
    • Customisable ad and tracker blocking

    Cons

    • Free plan has limited data and locations
    • Smaller network than the biggest providers
    • Interface style can feel cluttered
    Visit Windscribe 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 Windscribe a good AdGuard VPN alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Pro monthly price
    $9/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026windscribe.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro yearly price
    $69/year
    Checked Oct 25, 2026windscribe.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Build A Plan
    $1 per location per month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026windscribe.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Server countries
    69+
    Checked Oct 25, 2026windscribe.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Desktop app licence
    GPL-2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Proton VPN logo

    2. Proton VPN

    Best for: Privacy-focused users, and anyone who needs a free VPN they can trust

    Free plan + paidOpen sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from AdGuard VPN

    Free tier with no data cap, plus an ad blocker on paid plans.

    Pros

    • Free plan with no data cap and no ads
    • Open-source, audited apps on every platform
    • Secure Core multi-hop routing on paid plans

    Cons

    • Free plan allows only one device and fewer locations
    • Full price is high without a long commitment
    • Some streaming and P2P features are paid only
    Visit Proton VPN 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 Proton VPN a good AdGuard VPN alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    Yes, $0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026protonvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free plan limits
    1 device, no data cap, no ads
    Checked Oct 25, 2026protonvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Devices on VPN Plus
    10
    Checked Oct 25, 2026protonvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Money-back guarantee
    30 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026protonvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source
    Yes, apps open source and audited
    Checked Oct 25, 2026protonvpn.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Surfshark logo

    3. Surfshark

    Best for: Households that want to cover lots of devices on one cheap subscription

    PaidWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from AdGuard VPN

    Built-in ad blocking with unlimited devices.

    Pros

    • No cap on simultaneous devices
    • Low price on long plans
    • Built-in ad and malware blocking

    Cons

    • Best prices need a multi-year commitment
    • Speeds vary more between locations than top rivals
    • Bundles push extra security products
    Visit Surfshark 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 Surfshark a good AdGuard VPN alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Devices per account
    Unlimited
    Checked Oct 25, 2026surfshark.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Money-back guarantee
    30 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026surfshark.com(opens source in a new tab)
    RAM-only servers
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026surfshark.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, TVs, browsers
    Checked Oct 25, 2026surfshark.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. TunnelBear logo

    4. TunnelBear

    Best for: Beginners and occasional users who want a simple, friendly VPN

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, iOS, Android, Browser extension

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from AdGuard VPN

    Simple beginner app with a small free tier.

    Pros

    • Very easy to use
    • Free plan to try it
    • Long record of published security audits

    Cons

    • Free plan's data allowance is small
    • No official Linux app
    • Smaller network and weak streaming support
    Visit TunnelBear Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    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 TunnelBear a good AdGuard VPN alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Free plan
    Yes, 2GB
    Checked Oct 25, 2026tunnelbear.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Unlimited plan
    Unlimited data and devices
    Checked Oct 25, 2026tunnelbear.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac, Windows, browser
    Checked Oct 25, 2026tunnelbear.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best AdGuard VPN alternative for…

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

Windscribe logo

Best AdGuard VPN alternative for most people

Windscribe

Larger free allowance and a customisable ad and tracker blocker.

Proton VPN logo

Best AdGuard VPN alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Proton VPN

Free tier with no data cap, plus an ad blocker on paid plans.

Windscribe logo

Best AdGuard VPN alternative for open source

Windscribe

Larger free allowance and a customisable ad and tracker blocker.

Surfshark logo

Best AdGuard VPN alternative for Mac

Surfshark

Built-in ad blocking with unlimited devices.

TunnelBear logo

Best AdGuard VPN alternative for Windows

TunnelBear

Simple beginner app with a small free tier.

Windscribe logo

Best AdGuard VPN alternative for Linux

Windscribe

Larger free allowance and a customisable ad and tracker blocker.

Windscribe logo

Best AdGuard VPN alternative for iPhone and Android

Windscribe

Larger free allowance and a customisable ad and tracker blocker.

AdGuard VPN alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to AdGuard VPN?

Windscribe ranks first right now. Larger free allowance and a customisable ad and tracker blocker. Proton VPN and Surfshark follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to AdGuard VPN?

Yes. Windscribe (free plan + paid), Proton VPN (free plan + paid) and TunnelBear (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to AdGuard VPN?

Yes: Windscribe and Proton VPN.

Which AdGuard VPN alternatives work on Linux?

Windscribe, Proton VPN and Surfshark run on Linux.

Why do people switch from AdGuard VPN?

The complaints we hear most: free allowance is small; proprietary protocol rather than WireGuard; smaller server network.

How is this list ranked?

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