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Free Privoxy alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 8, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

5 of the 6 Privoxy alternatives we track can be used for free (free, open source, or with a free plan). uBlock Origin, Pi-hole and AdGuard Home rank highest, with facts last verified Nov 8, 2026.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingVerified priceOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1uBlock Origin logouBlock OriginOpen source—YesBrowser extension, Android5 of 576.8
2Pi-hole logoPi-holeOpen source—YesSelf-hosted, Linux4 of 468.8
3AdGuard Home logoAdGuard HomeOpen source—YesSelf-hosted, Linux, Windows +13 of 364.8
4NextDNS logoNextDNSFree plan + paid—NoWeb, Windows, macOS +34 of 455.9
5Squid logoSquidOpen source—YesLinux, Windows, Self-hosted4 of 451.2
  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

    76.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Privoxy

    Filters inside HTTPS pages without certificate setup and uses maintained lists, for browser-only blocking.

    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 ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.15100
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

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

    Is uBlock Origin a good Privoxy alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    License
    GPLv3
    Checked Nov 8, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Donations
    None sought
    Checked Nov 8, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Chrome Web Store
    Removed 31 August 2026
    Checked Nov 8, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Best browser
    Firefox
    Checked Nov 8, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Default lists
    EasyList, EasyPrivacy and uBO lists
    Checked Nov 8, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Pi-hole logo

    2. Pi-hole

    Best for: Tinkerers who want ad blocking for every device on their home network

    Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Linux

    68.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Privoxy

    Blocks ads for every device on the network at the DNS level, with a web dashboard and no proxy settings to configure.

    Pros

    • Covers every device on the network
    • Huge community, guides and blocklists
    • Runs on cheap hardware like a Raspberry Pi

    Cons

    • Can't block same-domain ads like YouTube's
    • Needs a device running around the clock
    • Occasional allowlisting needed when sites break
    Visit Pi-hole Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

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

    Is Pi-hole a good Privoxy alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Install options
    Docker or supported Linux
    Checked Nov 8, 2026pi-hole.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Hardware
    Raspberry Pi, PC, VM or NAS
    Checked Nov 8, 2026pi-hole.net(opens source in a new tab)
    DHCP server
    Optional
    Checked Nov 8, 2026docs.pi-hole.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Method
    DNS sinkhole
    Checked Nov 8, 2026docs.pi-hole.net(opens source in a new tab)
  3. AdGuard Home logo

    3. AdGuard Home

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

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

    64.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Privoxy

    Network-wide DNS blocking with easy filter-list subscriptions and a friendlier web interface.

    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 ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

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

    Is AdGuard Home a good Privoxy alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Open source
    Yes, free
    Checked Nov 8, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Docker
    Official image
    Checked Nov 8, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Method
    DNS sinkholing
    Checked Nov 8, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. NextDNS logo

    4. 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

    55.9

    score / 100

    Why switch from Privoxy

    Blocks ads and trackers at the DNS level for every device, with no local proxy to run or maintain.

    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 ×0.357
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

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

    Is NextDNS a good Privoxy alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    300,000 queries/month
    Checked Nov 8, 2026nextdns.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Over quota
    Resolves without blocking
    Checked Nov 8, 2026nextdns.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Paid plan
    Unlimited queries
    Checked Nov 8, 2026nextdns.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Payment methods
    Cards, PayPal, crypto
    Checked Nov 8, 2026nextdns.io(opens source in a new tab)
  5. Squid logo

    5. Squid

    Best for: Network admins who need a caching forward proxy with fine-grained access control and logging

    Open sourceSelf-hostableLinux, Windows, Self-hosted

    51.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Privoxy

    A full caching proxy with detailed access control for offices and schools, not just ad filtering.

    Pros

    • Very flexible access control, authentication and logging
    • Works as both a forward proxy and a reverse-proxy accelerator
    • Free software with decades of production use

    Cons

    • Configuration syntax is dense and hard to learn
    • HTTP/1.1 support is described as not quite complete by the project
    • Small volunteer team, so releases and docs can lag
    Visit Squid Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.341
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

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

    Is Squid a good Privoxy alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-2.0
    Checked Oct 30, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Most OSes, including Windows
    Checked Nov 8, 2026squid-cache.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Origin
    Harvest Cache Daemon, early 1990s
    Checked Nov 8, 2026squid-cache.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Reverse proxy
    Yes, as an accelerator
    Checked Nov 8, 2026squid-cache.org(opens source in a new tab)