Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

AdAway VS DEV.to

Compare AdAway VS DEV.to and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

AdAway logo AdAway

An ad blocker that uses the hosts file. For Android, requires root.

DEV.to logo DEV.to

Where software engineers connect, build their resumes, and grow.
  • AdAway Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-25
  • DEV.to Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-13

AdAway features and specs

  • Open Source
    AdAway is an open-source application, which means its code can be reviewed and improved by the community. Users can ensure there are no malicious elements.
  • Free
    The app is completely free to use, providing an accessible solution for ad blocking without any subscription fees.
  • Custom Hosts Files
    Allows users to add custom hosts files or use pre-existing ones, giving flexibility in the sources used for blocking ads.
  • Root Access
    Utilizes root access to modify the device’s host files directly, providing effective ad-blocking at the system level.
  • Battery Efficiency
    Blocks ads at the system level, which may reduce the number of ads loaded and displayed, potentially increasing battery life.

Possible disadvantages of AdAway

  • Requires Root
    AdAway requires root access, which could be a limitation for users who do not have rooted devices or are uncomfortable with rooting their devices.
  • Complex Setup
    The initial setup can be complex for users who are not familiar with rooting or handling system-level modifications.
  • Potential Security Risks
    Rooting a device can expose it to additional security risks. Improper use or configuration might lead to vulnerabilities.
  • Compatibility Issues
    May not work seamlessly with all devices or custom ROMs, leading to potential compatibility issues.
  • Limited Technical Support
    Being a community-driven project, professional technical support is limited compared to commercial ad-blocking solutions.

DEV.to features and specs

  • Community Engagement
    DEV.to offers an active and supportive community of developers where users can share knowledge, seek advice, and collaborate on projects. This fosters a sense of belonging and continuous learning.
  • Ease of Use
    The platform provides a straightforward and user-friendly interface, making it easy for users to publish content, engage with other posts, and navigate through various resources.
  • Content Diversity
    DEV.to features a wide range of topics related to software development, from beginner tutorials to advanced technical articles. This diversity makes it a valuable resource for developers at all skill levels.
  • Open Source and Transparency
    DEV.to is built on open-source software, which promotes transparency and allows users to contribute to the platform’s development. This aligns with the core values of many developers.
  • Cross-Posting Capabilities
    Users can easily cross-post articles from their personal blogs or other platforms, increasing their content’s reach and visibility without significant additional effort.

Possible disadvantages of DEV.to

  • Content Quality Variation
    Given its open nature, the quality of content on DEV.to can be inconsistent. Users may need to sift through a mix of high-quality and less useful posts to find valuable information.
  • Platform-Specific Features
    Some features and optimizations are tailored specifically for the DEV.to platform, which might not translate well if the content is shared elsewhere.
  • Limited Advanced Customization
    While the platform is user-friendly, it offers limited customization options for articles and personal profiles compared to more robust blogging platforms.
  • Visibility Challenges
    With a large user base, it can be challenging for new users or less popular posts to gain traction and visibility unless they are highly engaging or promoted.
  • Distraction Potential
    The platform's social features, such as discussions and notifications, can sometimes be distracting, potentially impacting productivity for users who are easily sidetracked.

Analysis of DEV.to

Overall verdict

  • Yes, DEV.to is considered a good platform for developers looking to connect with peers, stay updated with industry trends, and share their knowledge.

Why this product is good

  • DEV.to is a popular online community for software developers where they can share articles, tutorials, and insights related to programming and technology. It's known for its supportive environment, user-friendly interface, and the diversity of content, making it a good resource for learning and networking.

Recommended for

  • Aspiring software developers seeking learning resources and mentorship.
  • Experienced developers looking to share knowledge and contribute to the community.
  • Individuals interested in keeping up with the latest trends and discussions in technology.

AdAway videos

adaway put to the test, does it really work?

More videos:

  • Review - Adaway review (android application)
  • Review - adaway app review

DEV.to videos

Ben Halpern founder of Dev.To & The Practical Dev

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to AdAway and DEV.to)
Security & Privacy
100 100%
0% 0
CMS
0 0%
100% 100
Ad Blockers
100 100%
0% 0
Blogging
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using AdAway and DEV.to. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare AdAway and DEV.to

AdAway Reviews

22 NextDNS Alternatives
AdAway is an open-source and free ad-blocking app for android mobile operating systems no matter what the model of the phone is. This free ad blocker for Android helps mobile users to enjoy surfing the internet without any annoying ads and blocking malware. Both rooted and non-rooted devices can equally get benefits of AdAway so you don’t have to be worried if you have any...
Best AD Blockers for Android [ 2022 ]
There are a ton of ways to block ads on Android, but knowing, which is the most effective option is tricky. Is it AdAway, Add guard, the next DNS, or maybe another random ad blocker app that you never even heard of.
The best ad blockers in 2020
You will need to allow installing third party apps (or download AdAway through the F-Droid app), as AdAway isn't available in the Google Play store.

DEV.to Reviews

  1. It is a nice mini-blog, it's for free and such but

    As a mini-blog, it is a nice alternative for Medium to publish and share information about programming.

    However, the community and the organization are biased toward social justice (and they are open to it). You can read its Code of Conduct, it is so vague and politically leads (I prefer a term of service because it defines fair rules for everybody). So it alienates developers that we don't care about politics in pro of people that want to talk about any other topic such as sexuality, how women are unprivileged, and such. It even mandates to use inclusive language. Good grief.

    My main complaint is the quality of the community. It is not StackOverflow (so we don't want to ask for an answer here), and most of the top topics are clickbait, such as "how to become a rockstar developer in ... days", "100 tips to become a better programmer" (and it doesn't even talk about programming).

    Technically this "mini blog" site allows us to use markdown, and it is okay. However, the whole experience is really basic. Even the template is ugly.

    Competitors: Medium
    Pros:    Free
    Cons:    Social justice|Basic features|Quality of content

Best Forums for Developers to Join in 2025
The 'dev.to' forum is a great place for developers to find answers, share their knowledge, and learn from others. It's a place for people to talk about their projects, ask questions, and get feedback.
Source: www.notchup.com
Top 10 Developer Communities You Should Explore
One of Dev.to’s unique features is its focus on the human side of coding. Developers often share their personal stories, career journeys, and lessons learned, creating a sense of camaraderie within the community. The platform also encourages content creators by providing a clean and user-friendly interface for writing and sharing articles.
Source: www.qodo.ai

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, DEV.to should be more popular than AdAway. It has been mentiond 674 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

AdAway mentions (73)

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DEV.to mentions (674)

  • Fixing Delicate Cache Mismatches in a Brownfield SPA: A Pragmatic Solution
    On DEV (powered by the open-source Forem codebase), we have a hybrid architecture that blends Rails server rendering, Fastly edge caching, and lightweight client-side navigation (via InstantClick). This setup delivers sub-100ms page transitions, but partial page swaps combined with aggressive edge caching create delicate deployment challenges. - Source: dev.to / 2 days ago
  • Building the flagship (3): a packaged UI library, i18n, and one-command Docker
    Parts 4 and 5 showed the flagship's auth and its live grid. This one is about reuse: the app is built almost entirely from packaged components, and this is how you'd build yours. - Source: dev.to / 6 days ago
  • Claude Code Attempted 752 /proc/*/environ Reads. 256 Succeeded. Codex: 0.
    Per-syscall interception is the layer that closes this gap. Grith sits between the agent process and the kernel, scoring every operation before it executes - not what the agent claims to be doing, but what it actually does. The process census, the credential file opens, the MCP initialisation, the network connections: all of it is visible, all of it is scored, and any of it can be blocked by policy without... - Source: dev.to / 6 days ago
  • Three model calls, and none of them reads a price
    Plinkie is built by Business Data Solutions, a Dutch consulting and training firm that helps organisations put their data to work. This system was built by one person in ten days, runs in two fully separate Google Cloud projects, and costs under $2 per night to operate. The infrastructure is OpenTofu, the services are Python 3.13, and the site is Next.js. - Source: dev.to / 6 days ago
  • Baklava: Generate API Documentation and Type-Safe Clients from Scala Routing Tests
    Path("/users/{userId}")( supports( GET, pathParameters = pLong, summary = "Get user by ID" )( onRequest(pathParameters = 1L) .respondsWithUser .assert { ctx => ctx.performRequest(routes).body.id shouldBe 1L }, onRequest(pathParameters = 999L) .respondsWithErrorResponse .assert { ctx => ctx.performRequest(routes)... - Source: dev.to / 9 days ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing AdAway and DEV.to, you can also consider the following products

Blokada - The best ad blocker for Android. Free and open source.

WordPress - WordPress is web software you can use to create a beautiful website or blog. We like to say that WordPress is both free and priceless at the same time.

Adblock Plus - AdBlock Plus is a browser extension for Firefox, Chrome, Opera, and several other popular browsers that prevents intrusive ads like pop-ups and malicious code from appearing on websites you visit.

Medium - Welcome to Medium, a place to read, write, and interact with the stories that matter most to you.

AdGuard - Surf the Web Ad-Free and Safely. Shield up!

Hashnode - A friendly and inclusive Q&A network for coders