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AdGuard alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave AdGuard: full apps are paid, and full Android app is installed outside Google Play. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces AdGuard, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. uBlock Origin currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1AdGuard Home logoAdGuard HomeOpen sourceYesSelf-hosted, Linux, Windows +13 of 362.6
2NextDNS logoNextDNSFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +34 of 459.6
3AdLock logoAdLockPaidNoWindows, macOS, Android +13 of 357.2
41Blocker logo1BlockerFree plan + paidNoiOS, macOS4 of 455.3
  1. AdGuard Home logo

    1. AdGuard HomeTop pick

    Best for: Home-lab users who want network-wide blocking with a polished dashboard

    Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Linux, Windows, macOS

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from AdGuard

    AdGuard's free, open-source network-wide blocker you host yourself.

    Pros

    • Covers every device on the network, including smart TVs
    • Encrypted DNS support built in
    • Single binary or Docker image, easy to set up

    Cons

    • Can't block ads served from the same domain as content
    • Needs an always-on device on your network
    • Protection stops when devices leave home unless you expose it
    Visit AdGuard Home 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 AdGuard Home a good AdGuard alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Open source
    Yes, free
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Docker
    Official image
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Method
    DNS sinkholing
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. NextDNS logo

    2. NextDNS

    Best for: People who want Pi-hole-style blocking on all devices without running a server

    Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from AdGuard

    Cloud DNS filtering for all devices without installing a filtering app.

    Pros

    • Works everywhere, including on mobile data
    • All features available on the free plan
    • Very cheap paid plan with unlimited queries

    Cons

    • Free plan stops blocking after 300,000 queries a month
    • DNS queries are handled by a third party
    • Can't remove ads served from the same domain as content
    Visit NextDNS 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 NextDNS a good AdGuard alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    300,000 queries/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026nextdns.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Over quota
    Resolves without blocking
    Checked Oct 25, 2026nextdns.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Paid plan
    Unlimited queries
    Checked Oct 25, 2026nextdns.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Payment methods
    Cards, PayPal, crypto
    Checked Oct 25, 2026nextdns.io(opens source in a new tab)
  3. AdLock logo

    3. AdLock

    Best for: Households wanting a paid blocker for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS under one licence

    PaidWindows, macOS, Android, iOS

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from AdGuard

    Similar paid system-wide blocker for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS.

    Pros

    • Blocks ads in apps and games, not just browsers
    • One licence covers five devices
    • No acceptable-ads allowlisting

    Cons

    • Closed source and paid only
    • Fewer advanced options than AdGuard
    • HTTPS filtering requires trusting the vendor
    Visit AdLock 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 AdLock a good AdGuard alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Devices per licence
    5
    Checked Oct 25, 2026adlock.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
    Checked Oct 25, 2026adlock.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Acceptable ads
    Not supported
    Checked Oct 25, 2026adlock.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. 1Blocker logo

    4. 1Blocker

    Best for: iPhone, iPad and Mac users who mostly browse in Safari

    Free plan + paidiOS, macOS

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from AdGuard

    Native Safari blocker for iPhone, iPad and Mac users.

    Pros

    • Native Safari blocking with no browsing slowdown
    • Filtering happens locally on the device
    • One purchase covers iPhone, iPad and Mac

    Cons

    • Safari only; limited by Apple's content-blocker rules
    • Best features need a paid upgrade
    • Weaker against YouTube ads than script-based blockers
    Visit 1Blocker 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 1Blocker a good AdGuard alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Platforms
    iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro
    Checked Oct 25, 20261blocker.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Built-in rules
    100,000+ ad rules
    Checked Oct 25, 20261blocker.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Processing
    Local, on device
    Checked Oct 25, 20261blocker.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Family Sharing
    Supported
    Checked Oct 25, 20261blocker.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best AdGuard alternative for…

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

uBlock Origin logo

Best AdGuard alternative for most people

uBlock Origin

Free and open source, if you only need blocking in the browser.

AdGuard Home logo

Best AdGuard alternative for a free option

AdGuard Home

AdGuard's free, open-source network-wide blocker you host yourself.

NextDNS logo

Best AdGuard alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

NextDNS

Cloud DNS filtering for all devices without installing a filtering app.

Blokada logo

Best AdGuard alternative for open source

Blokada

Free open-source system-wide blocker for Android.

AdGuard Home logo

Best AdGuard alternative for self-hosting

AdGuard Home

AdGuard's free, open-source network-wide blocker you host yourself.

AdLock logo

Best AdGuard alternative for Mac

AdLock

Similar paid system-wide blocker for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS.

AdGuard Home logo

Best AdGuard alternative for Windows

AdGuard Home

AdGuard's free, open-source network-wide blocker you host yourself.

AdGuard Home logo

Best AdGuard alternative for Linux

AdGuard Home

AdGuard's free, open-source network-wide blocker you host yourself.

NextDNS logo

Best AdGuard alternative for iPhone and Android

NextDNS

Cloud DNS filtering for all devices without installing a filtering app.

NextDNS logo

Best AdGuard alternative for working in the browser

NextDNS

Cloud DNS filtering for all devices without installing a filtering app.

AdGuard alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to AdGuard?

uBlock Origin ranks first right now. Free and open source, if you only need blocking in the browser. AdGuard Home and NextDNS follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to AdGuard?

Yes. uBlock Origin (open source), AdGuard Home (open source), NextDNS (free plan + paid) and 1Blocker (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?

Yes: uBlock Origin, AdGuard Home and Blokada. AdGuard Home can also be self-hosted.

Which AdGuard alternatives work on Linux?

AdGuard Home and NextDNS run on Linux.

Why do people switch from AdGuard?

The complaints we hear most: full apps are paid; full Android app is installed outside Google Play; local HTTPS filtering requires trusting a root certificate.

How is this list ranked?

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