AdAway AlternativesTop Ad Blockers & Privacy Tools like AdAway

AdAway is described as 'An ad blocker that uses the hosts file. The hosts file contains a list of mappings between hostnames and IP addresses. When an app requests an ad, that request is directed to 127.0.0.1 which does nothing' and is a very popular Ad Blocker in the web browsers category. There are more than 50 alternatives to AdAway for a variety of platforms, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Mac, Android and iPhone apps. The best AdAway alternative is uBlock Origin, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like AdAway are Adblock Plus, AdGuard, NextDNS and SponsorBlock.

filter to find the best alternatives

AdAway alternatives are mainly Ad Blockers but may also be Privacy Tools or Firewalls.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of AdAway.
AdAway iconAdAway
  133
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An ad blocker that uses the hosts file. The hosts file contains a list of mappings between hostnames and IP addresses. When an app requests an ad, that request is directed to 127.0.0.1 which does nothing.

More about AdAway
More about AdAway
AdAway alternatives page was last updated Sep 18, 2024
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  1. uBlock Origin icon
    uBlock Origin icon

    uBlock Origin

     1716 likes
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    This efficient and lightweight browser add-on, developed by Raymond Hill, functions as a wide-spectrum blocker, not just for ads but also trackers and malware. Compatible with Chromium and Firefox, it uses multiple filter lists like EasyList and customizable options, ensuring thorough protection.

    113 uBlock Origin alternatives
    uBlock Origin screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Microsoft Edge
    • Vivaldi
    • Google Chrome
    • Pale Moon
    • Thunderbird
    • Opera
    • Node.JS
    • Chromium
    • Mozilla Firefox
    uBlock Origin screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Configurable
    3.  Customizable
    4.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Element blocker
    2.  Custom filters
    3.  Browser extension
    4.  Block Trackers
    5.  No Tracking
    6.  Disable JavaScript
    7.  Website whitelisting
    8.  Low CPU usage
    9.  3rd-party filters
    10.  Content blocker
    11.  Ad-free
    12.  No registration required
    uBlock Origin iconAdAway Icon

    uBlock Origin VS AdAway

    Is uBlock Origin a good alternative to AdAway?
     
    Comments about uBlock Origin as an Alternative to AdAway
     
    Douze

    uBlock Origin is not a system-wide ad blocker and only works as ane web-browser extension

    Negative comment •Nov 24, 2021
    0
    AdAway Icon
    uBlock Origin icon

    • Most users think uBlock Origin is a great AdAway alternative.

    • uBlock Origin is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to AdAway.

    • uBlock Origin is Free and Open SourceAdAway is also Free and Open Source
    • uBlock Origin is Lightweight, Customizable and Privacy focusedAdAway is not according to our users
  2. Adblock Plus icon
    Adblock Plus icon

    Adblock Plus

     1739 likes
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    Adblock Plus is a free extension that allows you to - among other things - block annoying ads, disable tracking and block domains known to spread malware.

    123 Adblock Plus alternatives
    Adding a filter

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • iPad
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Internet Explorer
    • Vivaldi Browser
    • Google Chrome
    • Safari
    • Yandex.Browser
    • Opera
    • Firefox
    List of blockable items
    Blocking an image ad
    +3
    Adding a filter subscription

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Browser extension
    2.  Microsoft Edge extension
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Block Trackers
    5.  No Tracking
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  No registration required
    8. Google Drive icon  Google Drive integration
    9.  Element blocker
    10.  Safari extension
    11.  Pop up blocker
    12.  Internet Explorer extension
    Adblock Plus iconAdAway Icon

    Adblock Plus VS AdAway

    Is Adblock Plus a good alternative to AdAway?
     
    Comments about Adblock Plus as an Alternative to AdAway
     
    Douze

    Adblock is not a system-wide ad blocker and only works as a web-browser extension

    Negative comment •Nov 24, 2021
    0
    AdAway Icon
    Adblock Plus icon

    • Most users think Adblock Plus is a great AdAway alternative.

    • Adblock Plus is the most popular iPhone & iPad alternative to AdAway.

    • Adblock Plus is Free and Open SourceAdAway is also Free and Open Source
    • Adblock Plus is Privacy focused and LightweightAdAway is not according to our users
  4. AdGuard icon
    AdGuard icon

    AdGuard

     249 likes
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    Ad-blocking solution eliminating intrusive ads and preventing tracking, with malware protection. Filters pop-ups, banners, and more for clean browsing. Works in the background for ad-free surfing, protects data privacy with Spyware filter, and controls ad display in apps.

    124 AdGuard alternatives
    AdGuard screenshot 1

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Vivaldi
    • Google Chrome
    • Safari
    • Yandex Browser
    • Opera
    • Mozilla Firefox
    Very good app for blocking ads. Use it!
    AdGuard screenshot 2
    +4
    AdGuard screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Built-in Ad-blocker
    2.  DNS over HTTPS
    3.  Pop up blocker
    4.  DNS-over-TLS
    5.  Custom DNS
    6.  Block Trackers
    7.  Dark Mode
    8.  No Logs
    9.  No Tracking
    10.  Ad-free
    11.  No registration required
    12.  Anonymous Proxy
    AdGuard iconAdAway Icon

    AdGuard VS AdAway

    Is AdGuard a good alternative to AdAway?
     
    Comments about AdGuard as an Alternative to AdAway
     
    Guest

    In my opinion, Adguard ad blocker for Windows and Android offers more features than just blocking ads with certain filters, custom DNS and protocol DNS-over-QUIC filtering, which is fast and less hackable.

    Positive comment •Sep 18, 2024
    0
    Guest

    Customization and Price. Adaway's primary feature is that it's free. Then it has the ability to accept custom host lists which let you block ads while not breaking sites.

    Negative comment •Apr 30, 2024
    0
    AdAway Icon
    AdGuard icon

    • Most users think AdGuard is a great AdAway alternative.

    • AdGuard is the most popular Windows, Android, Mac & Android Tablet alternative to AdAway.

    • AdGuard is Freemium and Open SourceAdAway is Free and Open Source
    • AdGuard is Privacy focused and LightweightAdAway is not according to our users
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    AdGuard icon

    AdGuard

    Ad-blocking solution eliminating intrusive ads and preventing tracking, with malware protection. Filters pop-ups, banners, and more for clean browsing. Works in the background for ad-free surfing, protects data privacy with Spywa...

    https://adguard.com
    Learn More
  6. NextDNS icon
    NextDNS icon

    NextDNS

     108 likes
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    NextDNS protects you from all kinds of security threats, blocks ads and trackers on websites and in apps and provides a safe and supervised Internet for kids — on all devices and on all networks.

    141 NextDNS alternatives
    NextDNS screenshot 1

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • BSD
    • iPad
    • UC Browser
    • Vivaldi
    • Google Chrome
    • UniFi Network
    • Safari
    • Yandex Browser
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • OpenWrt
    • Opera
    • Alpine Linux
    • pfSense
    • Mozilla Firefox
    • DD-WRT
    NextDNS screenshot 1
    NextDNS screenshot 2
    +9
    NextDNS screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Customizable
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  DNS Resolver
    2.  DNS Server
    3.  DNS over HTTPS
    4.  DNS-over-TLS
    5.  Parental Control
    6.  Real-time analytics
    7.  Data analytics
    8.  DNSSEC
    9.  Dns
    10.  Block Trackers
    11.  Ad-free
    12.  Malware Analysis
    NextDNS iconAdAway Icon

    NextDNS VS AdAway

    Is NextDNS a good alternative to AdAway?
     
    Comments about NextDNS as an Alternative to AdAway
     
    bLue

    Most comprehensive protection you can get and the best is it's free.

    Positive comment •Jan 16, 2024
    1
    AdAway Icon
    NextDNS icon

    • NextDNS is the most popular Web-based, Linux & SaaS alternative to AdAway.

    • NextDNS is Freemium and Open SourceAdAway is Free and Open Source
    • NextDNS is Customizable and Privacy focusedAdAway is not according to our users
  7. SponsorBlock icon
    SponsorBlock icon

    SponsorBlock

     89 likes
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    SponsorBlock is a browser extension and open API via crowdsource for skipping sponsor segments in YouTube videos. It's open-source. Users submit when a sponsor happens from the extension, and the extension automatically skips sponsors it knows about using a privacy...

    84 SponsorBlock alternatives
    SponsorBlock screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Google Chrome
    • Safari
    • Opera
    • Firefox
    SponsorBlock screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1. YouTube icon  Youtube integration
    2.  Community-based
    3.  Browser extension
    4.  No registration required
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Block Trackers
    8.  No Tracking
    SponsorBlock iconAdAway Icon

    SponsorBlock VS AdAway

    Is SponsorBlock a good alternative to AdAway?
     
    Comments about SponsorBlock as an Alternative to AdAway
     
    Guest

    It is far from similar as it does a different function

    Negative comment •Nov 6, 2022
    0
    AdAway Icon
    SponsorBlock icon
    • SponsorBlock is Free and Open SourceAdAway is also Free and Open Source
    • SponsorBlock is Privacy focused and LightweightAdAway is not according to our users
  8. Pi-hole icon
    Pi-hole icon

    Pi-hole

     144 likes
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    Block ads for all your devices without the need to install client-side software. The Pi-hole blocks ads at the DNS-level, so all your devices are protected.

    41 Pi-hole alternatives
    The Web interface shows how many ads were blocked, a query log, and more.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted
    • CentOS
    • Fedora
    • Ubuntu
    • Debian
    • Raspberry Pi OS
    • Raspberry Pi
    Domains can be whitelisted and blacklisted using either the web interface or the command line.
    The settings page lets you control and configure your Pi-hole.
    +1
    Pi-hole ships with a built-in DHCP server. This allows you to let your network devices use Pi-hole as their DNS server if your router does not let you adjust the DHCP options.

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Network-wide blocking
    2.  Adblocking via DNS
    3.  DNS Server
    4.  Self-hosted
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Dockerized
    8.  DNS Proxy
    9.  Custom DNS
    Pi-hole iconAdAway Icon

    Pi-hole VS AdAway

    Is Pi-hole a good alternative to AdAway?
     

    • Pi-hole is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to AdAway.

    • Pi-hole is Free and Open SourceAdAway is also Free and Open Source
    • Pi-hole is Privacy focused and LightweightAdAway is not according to our users
  10. Blokada icon
    Blokada icon

    Blokada

     104 likes
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    Blokada is the popular ad blocker and privacy app for Android and iOS. It's being supported and actively developed by the amazing open source community.

    95 Blokada alternatives
    Blokada screenshot 1
    Blokada screenshot 2
    +2
    Blokada screenshot 3

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  No Root Required
    2.  Switch DNS servers
    3.  Custom DNS
    4.  Block Trackers
    5.  No registration required
    6.  No Tracking
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Dark Mode
    Blokada iconAdAway Icon

    Blokada VS AdAway

    Is Blokada a good alternative to AdAway?
     
  11. RethinkDNS icon
    RethinkDNS icon

    RethinkDNS

     37 likes
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    An OpenSnitch-inspired firewall and network monitor + a pi-hole-inspired DNS over HTTPS client with blocklists.

    43 RethinkDNS alternatives
    RethinkDNS screenshot 1
    RethinkDNS screenshot 2
    +5
    RethinkDNS screenshot 3

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  No Root Required
    2.  Block Trackers
    3.  DNS over HTTPS
    4.  Firewall
    5.  Dns
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Bypass Censorship
    8.  Dark Mode
    9.  No registration required
    10.  No Tracking
    11.  No Logs
    RethinkDNS iconAdAway Icon

    RethinkDNS VS AdAway

    Is RethinkDNS a good alternative to AdAway?
     
  12. uMatrix icon
    uMatrix icon

    uMatrix

     173 likes
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    Point & click to forbid/allow any class of requests made by your browser. Use it to block scripts, iframes, ads, facebook, etc.

    84 uMatrix alternatives
    uMatrix screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Google Chrome
    • Opera
    • Brave
    • Firefox
    uMatrix screenshot 1
    uMatrix screenshot 2
    +5
    uMatrix screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Granular control
    2.  Request filter
    3.  Block Trackers
    4.  Browser extension
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  No Tracking
    8.  Opera extension
    9.  Browser-based
    10.  Outbound firewall
    11.  Using public domain lists
    Discontinued

    The repository has been archived and the development has been stopped. https://github.com/uBlockOrigin/uMatrix-issues/issues/291

    uMatrix iconAdAway Icon

    uMatrix VS AdAway

    Is uMatrix a good alternative to AdAway?
     
  13. ClearURLs icon
    ClearURLs icon

    ClearURLs

     51 likes
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    This extension will automatically remove tracking elements from URLs to help protect your privacy when browse through the Internet.

    29 ClearURLs alternatives
    ClearURLs screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Google Chrome
    • Mozilla Firefox
    • Microsoft Edge

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Block Trackers
    2.  Simple installation
    ClearURLs screenshot 1
    ClearURLs screenshot 2
    +1
    ClearURLs screenshot 3
    ClearURLs iconAdAway Icon

    ClearURLs VS AdAway

    Is ClearURLs a good alternative to AdAway?
     
  14. AdBlock icon
    AdBlock icon

    AdBlock

     306 likes
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    We built AdBlock to provide a worry-free and distraction-free Internet experience for everyone. It is used by tens of millions of users worldwide on all major browsers in more than 30 languages. Created by Michael Gundlach in 2009, AdBlock is now one of the most popular browser...

    104 AdBlock alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Google Chrome
    • Safari
    • Firefox

    AdBlock Features

    1.  Block Trackers
    2.  Browser extension
    3.  Safari extension
    4.  Opera extension
    5.  Microsoft Edge extension
    AdBlock iconAdAway Icon

    AdBlock VS AdAway

    Is AdBlock a good alternative to AdAway?
     
  15. NetGuard icon
    NetGuard icon

    NetGuard

     33 likes
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    NetGuard provides simple and advanced ways to block access to the internet - no root required.

    34 NetGuard alternatives
    NetGuard screenshot 1
    NetGuard screenshot 2
    +4
    NetGuard screenshot 3

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  No Root Required
    2.  Website blocking
    3.  Dark Mode
    4.  No registration required
    5.  No Tracking
    6.  Ad-free
    NetGuard iconAdAway Icon

    NetGuard VS AdAway

    Is NetGuard a good alternative to AdAway?
     
12 of 98 AdAway alternatives