Open Source Portmaster AlternativesFirewalls & Ad Blockers like Portmaster

The best open source alternative to Portmaster is NextDNS. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 25 alternatives to Portmaster and many of them is open source so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to Portmaster are AdGuard, simplewall, Pi-hole and RethinkDNS.

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Portmaster alternatives are mainly Firewalls, but if you're looking for Ad Blockers or Network Monitors you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Open Source. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Portmaster.
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Alternatives list

  1. NextDNS icon
     146 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.

    139 NextDNS alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • 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 is the most popular Web-based, Windows, Android & Mac alternative to Portmaster.

    • NextDNS is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Portmaster.

    • NextDNS is Freemium and Open SourcePortmaster is also Freemium and Open Source
    • NextDNS is Customizable and Security-focusedPortmaster is not according to our users
  2. AdGuard icon
     271 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.

    121 AdGuard alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once or Subscription)
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Vivaldi
    • Google Chrome
    • Safari
    • Yandex Browser
    • Opera
    • Mozilla Firefox
    • Snapcraft
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Android TV
     
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    1
    Comments about AdGuard as an Alternative to Portmaster
    TBayAreaPat
    2

    AdGuard is great, but it's not a firewall/port system.

    Portmaster Icon
    AdGuard icon
    • AdGuard is the most popular Android Tablet alternative to Portmaster.

    • AdGuard is Freemium and Open SourcePortmaster is also Freemium and Open Source
  3. Pi-hole icon
     173 likes
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    Blocks ads for all connected devices at the DNS layer without client setup. Provides web control, in-app ad and tracker blocking, DHCP and API support, regex filtering, privacy modes, audit logs, and long-term query analytics for network management.

    40 Pi-hole alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted
    • CentOS
    • Fedora
    • Ubuntu
    • Debian
    • Raspberry Pi OS
    • Raspberry Pi
     
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    1
    7
    Comments about Pi-hole as an Alternative to Portmaster
    Raphty
    Positive
    1

    Their is a comparison blog on safing.io suggesting when to use what solution https://safing.io/blog/2021/12/09/portmaster-vs-pi-hole/

    Portmaster Icon
    Pi-hole icon
    • Almost everyone thinks Pi-hole is a great Portmaster alternative.

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

    • Pi-hole is Free and Open SourcePortmaster is Freemium and Open Source
  4. RethinkDNS icon
     57 likes
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    An OpenSnitch-inspired firewall and network monitor + a pi-hole-inspired DNS over HTTPS client with blocklists.

    45 RethinkDNS alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid
     
  5. Fort Firewall icon
     34 likes
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    Simple firewall for MS Windows.

    37 Fort Firewall alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
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    1
    Comments about Fort Firewall as an Alternative to Portmaster
    RemovedUser
    Positive
    1

    It's more lightweight than Portmaster. It notifies me every time a new app is in use even background programs. Plus it shows the file path for each app which makes it easier to make sure it isn't malware posing as legitmate software.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Portmaster Icon
    Fort Firewall icon
    • Fort Firewall is Free and Open SourcePortmaster is Freemium and Open Source
  6. OpenSnitch icon
     42 likes
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    OpenSnitch is a GNU/Linux application firewall.

    37 OpenSnitch alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
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    1
    Comments about OpenSnitch as an Alternative to Portmaster
    Alx84
    Positive
    -1

    OpenSnitch is much more superior to any other software, especially astro-turfed Portmaster. Portmaster doesn't detect even a fraction of what is actually happening on your system, whereas OpenSnitch catches it all. It's an application firewall everyone should have! You'll be amazed how many stuff pretending-to-be-FOSS software is phoning home on you.

    Portmaster Icon
    OpenSnitch icon
    • OpenSnitch is Free and Open SourcePortmaster is Freemium and Open Source
  7. InviZible Pro icon
     22 likes
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    InviZible Pro uses DNSCrypt Protocol, Tor and i2pd (I2P Daemon) (PurpleI2P) to achieve maximum security, privacy and comfortable use of the Internet.

    29 InviZible Pro alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Android
    • I2P
    • Tor
     
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    1
    Comments about InviZible Pro as an Alternative to Portmaster
    RemovedUser
    Positive
    0

    Even though the firewall for this is less sophisticated, I still think it's a good alternative because of the dnscrypt protocol and anonymizing proxies. They're both "swiss-army knives" when it comes to privacy, but it's implemented in slightly different ways.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Portmaster Icon
    InviZible Pro icon
    • InviZible Pro is Free and Open SourcePortmaster is Freemium and Open Source
  8. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Minimal Firewall is a portable Windows firewall frontend that alerts users to internet connections without requiring custom kernel modifications or disabling core isolation, striking a balance between TinyWall's security and SimpleWall's functionality.

    35 Minimal Firewall alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  9. Gufw icon
     52 likes
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    Gufw is an easy, intuitive way to manage your Linux firewall. It supports common tasks such as allowing or blocking pre-configured, common p2p, or individual ports port(s), and many others! Gufw is powered by Uncomplicated Firewall (ufw).

    36 Gufw alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Python
     
  10.  26 likes
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    Ufw stands for Uncomplicated Firewall, and is program for managing a netfilter firewall. It provides a command line interface and aims to be uncomplicated and easy to use.

    23 ufw alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
12 of 20 Portmaster alternatives