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Portmaster alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Portmaster: no macOS version, and can conflict with VPNs and security software. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Portmaster, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. AdGuard currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1uBlock Origin logouBlock OriginOpen sourceYesBrowser extension, Android5 of 557.2
  1. uBlock Origin logo

    1. uBlock OriginTop pick

    Best for: Firefox users who want the most capable, lightweight browser blocker available

    Open sourceBrowser extension, Android

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Portmaster

    Free browser-level blocking if you don't need app-level control.

    Pros

    • Very efficient on CPU and memory
    • Deep controls: custom filters, element picker, dynamic filtering
    • No acceptable-ads programme, no donations sought

    Cons

    • Removed from the Chrome Web Store; Chromium support is ending
    • Advanced mode is easy to misconfigure
    • Browser-only, so it can't block ads inside apps
    Visit uBlock Origin 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 uBlock Origin a good Portmaster alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    License
    GPLv3
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Donations
    None sought
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Chrome Web Store
    Removed 31 August 2026
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Best browser
    Firefox
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Default lists
    EasyList, EasyPrivacy and uBO lists
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Portmaster alternative for…

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

AdGuard logo

Best Portmaster alternative for most people

AdGuard

Paid system-wide ad blocking for Windows and Mac, with less firewall detail.

Pi-hole logo

Best Portmaster alternative for a free option

Pi-hole

Network-wide DNS blocking that covers every device, not just one computer.

NextDNS logo

Best Portmaster alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

NextDNS

Cloud DNS filtering for all devices without a local firewall.

uBlock Origin logo

Best Portmaster alternative for open source

uBlock Origin

Free browser-level blocking if you don't need app-level control.

Pi-hole logo

Best Portmaster alternative for self-hosting

Pi-hole

Network-wide DNS blocking that covers every device, not just one computer.

AdGuard logo

Best Portmaster alternative for Mac

AdGuard

Paid system-wide ad blocking for Windows and Mac, with less firewall detail.

AdGuard logo

Best Portmaster alternative for Windows

AdGuard

Paid system-wide ad blocking for Windows and Mac, with less firewall detail.

AdGuard logo

Best Portmaster alternative for Linux

AdGuard

Paid system-wide ad blocking for Windows and Mac, with less firewall detail.

AdGuard logo

Best Portmaster alternative for iPhone and Android

AdGuard

Paid system-wide ad blocking for Windows and Mac, with less firewall detail.

NextDNS logo

Best Portmaster alternative for working in the browser

NextDNS

Cloud DNS filtering for all devices without a local firewall.

Portmaster alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Portmaster?

AdGuard ranks first right now. Paid system-wide ad blocking for Windows and Mac, with less firewall detail. Pi-hole and NextDNS follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Portmaster?

Yes. Pi-hole (open source), NextDNS (free plan + paid) and uBlock Origin (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Portmaster?

Yes: Pi-hole and uBlock Origin. Pi-hole can also be self-hosted.

Which Portmaster alternatives work on Linux?

AdGuard, Pi-hole and NextDNS run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Portmaster?

The complaints we hear most: no macOS version; can conflict with VPNs and security software; history and SPN features are paid.

How is this list ranked?

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