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AdAway

Free, open-source Android ad blocker using the hosts file, with or without root.

Open sourceAd and tracker blockers
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About AdAway

AdAway is a veteran open-source ad blocker for Android. It blocks ads and trackers system-wide by redirecting known ad domains in the hosts file, which works on rooted phones (including systemless hosts through Magisk), or through a local VPN mode on phones without root. You can add your own hosts sources, allowlist and blocklist entries, and redirect rules, and a DNS log helps work out which domains an app is using. It is free under the GPLv3 licence and maintained by volunteers. AdAway is not on Google Play, which removed it for policy reasons, so you install it from F-Droid or the project's site. It is lightweight and transparent, but hosts-based blocking cannot remove ads served from the same domain as content, and the local VPN mode prevents using a real VPN at the same time.

Best for: Android users, especially rooted ones, who want a simple, transparent blocker.

Pros and cons

What works

  • Free and open source
  • Works with root or without via local VPN
  • Custom hosts sources and rules

Why people leave

  • Not on Google Play; install from F-Droid
  • VPN mode blocks using another VPN
  • Can't stop ads from the same domain as content

Top AdAway alternatives

See all 5
  1. 1Blokada logo
    Blokada

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

    66.5
  2. 2Rethink DNS logo
    Rethink DNS

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

    62.6
  3. 3TrackerControl logo
    TrackerControl

    Shows and blocks the trackers each app contacts.

    59.6
  4. 4AdGuard logo
    AdGuard

    Paid app with HTTPS filtering for more complete blocking.

    57.2
  5. 5StevenBlack hosts logo
    StevenBlack hosts

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

    55.3

Why people left AdAway

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

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AdAway: common questions

Is AdAway free?

Yes. AdAway is free, open-source software.

Is AdAway open source?

Yes. The source code is on GitHub at AdAway/AdAway.

What platforms does AdAway run on?

AdAway is available for Android.

What are the best alternatives to AdAway?

The highest-ranked AdAway alternatives right now are Blokada, Rethink DNS and TrackerControl. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 5 AdAway alternatives