Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

AdBlock VS NetGuard

Compare AdBlock VS NetGuard and see what are their differences

AdBlock logo AdBlock

Ad blocker for Chrome, Safari and Opera on desktop and Safari for iOS devices.

NetGuard logo NetGuard

NetGuard
  • AdBlock Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-03-26
  • NetGuard Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-27

AdBlock features and specs

  • Improved Browsing Experience
    AdBlock removes intrusive ads, allowing web pages to load faster and users to enjoy a cleaner browsing experience.
  • Enhanced Privacy
    By blocking ads, AdBlock helps reduce tracking by ad networks, thereby enhancing the user's privacy online.
  • Reduced Data Usage
    Since ads often contain large images, videos, or animations, blocking them can significantly reduce data usage, which is beneficial for users with limited bandwidth.
  • Security
    AdBlock can protect users from malicious ads that might contain malware or phishing links.
  • Customization
    AdBlock offers customization options, allowing users to whitelist specific websites and control what types of ads to block.

Possible disadvantages of AdBlock

  • Hurts Content Creators
    Many websites rely on ad revenue to fund their content. By blocking ads, users may inadvertently reduce the income generated by these sites.
  • Potential Website Breakage
    Some websites may not function properly or fully when ads are blocked, leading to a degraded user experience.
  • Ethical Considerations
    Blocking ads raises ethical questions regarding fair compensation for free content and services provided by websites.
  • Circumvention by Publishers
    Some websites have started using anti-adblock measures, restricting access to their content if they detect the use of ad blockers, forcing users to disable the extension.
  • Resource Usage
    Running AdBlock as a browser extension can increase the consumption of system resources, potentially slowing down the browser.

NetGuard features and specs

  • Privacy Enhancement
    NetGuard helps in enhancing user privacy by blocking unwanted internet traffic, preventing personal data from being sent without the user's consent.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The application has a straightforward and intuitive interface, making it easy for users to configure and manage their network settings.
  • No Root Required
    NetGuard does not require root access to function, making it accessible to a broader range of Android users who may not want to root their device.
  • Battery Efficiency
    The app is designed to use minimal battery power, ensuring that it does not significantly impact device battery life.
  • Open Source
    NetGuard is open-source software, which allows users to inspect the code for transparency and potentially contribute to its development.

Possible disadvantages of NetGuard

  • Limited to Android
    NetGuard is currently only available for Android devices, which limits its usefulness for users of other operating systems.
  • Paid Features
    While the basic functionality is free, some advanced features require a purchase, which could be a barrier for some users.
  • Network Performance
    In some cases, users may experience a decrease in network performance due to the filtering process used by NetGuard.
  • Complexity for Novices
    Despite a generally user-friendly interface, users unfamiliar with network configuration may find it challenging to fully utilize the application's capabilities.
  • Limited Customer Support
    As an open-source project, NetGuard might not offer as robust customer support as commercial alternatives, which could be a drawback for some users.

Analysis of AdBlock

Overall verdict

  • AdBlock is generally considered a good and reliable choice for users looking to mitigate the annoyance and privacy concerns associated with online advertising. It is easy to install, widely supported across different browsers, and offers customizable options for allowing certain ads or whitelisting specific websites.

Why this product is good

  • AdBlock (getadblock.com) is effective for users who want to block intrusive advertisements, enhance browsing speed, and increase online privacy. It is designed to remove ads from websites, thus improving the overall user experience on the internet. Additionally, blocking ads can lead to faster loading times and reduced data consumption.

Recommended for

    AdBlock is recommended for individuals who frequently browse the internet and wish to have a cleaner, more streamlined viewing experience without ads. It is particularly useful for those concerned about online privacy and data usage, or for anyone who is frustrated with the distraction caused by excessive advertising on websites.

Analysis of NetGuard

Overall verdict

  • NetGuard is generally considered a good option for users looking for a non-root firewall solution for Android devices.

Why this product is good

  • NetGuard offers an easy-to-use interface that allows users to block internet access for specific apps without needing root access. This can help protect user privacy, reduce data usage, and improve battery life. Additionally, it supports IPv4/IPv6 and TCP/UDP, and offers features like fine-grained filtering based on IP address and host name. Being open-source, it also provides transparency, which is a key factor in trust for privacy-related applications.

Recommended for

  • Android users seeking a non-root firewall solution
  • Individuals concerned about app privacy and data usage
  • Users interested in open-source applications
  • People looking to improve device battery life and performance by controlling network access

AdBlock videos

Dear AdBlock, Kiss My A$$!

NetGuard videos

How to Block Android Apps in connecting to Internet with NetGuard

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to AdBlock and NetGuard)
Security & Privacy
80 80%
20% 20
Monitoring Tools
53 53%
47% 47
Ad Blockers
81 81%
19% 19
Tool
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using AdBlock and NetGuard. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare AdBlock and NetGuard

AdBlock Reviews

  1. Easy to use and makes browsing cleaner

    I've been using AdBlock for a while now, and I really like it. It blocks annoying pop-ups, video ads, making websites load faster and look cleaner. It’s easy to use and works seamlessly in the background.


List of 10 Best Ad Blockers in 2024
In 2024, one of thе best ad blockеrs that continuеs to dominatе thе markеt is AdBlock. With its robust fеaturеs and usеr-friеndly intеrfacе, AdBlock has proven to be a rеliablе choice for blocking unwantеd advеrtisеmеnts across various platforms. It еfficiеntly еliminatеs intrusivе ads, pop-ups, and еvеn vidеo ads, providing a sеamlеss and unintеrruptеd browsing еxpеriеncе.
Best Ad Blockers in 2023: Adblock Plus vs AdGuard vs uBlock Origin and More
Adblock, Adblock Plus and Adblocker for YouTube aren’t the same ad blocking browser extension. They all do an excellent job, though without uBlock Origin’s configurability.
Best Ad Blockers
AdBlock is an incredibly popular extension. It has widespread use across all browsers and has been around for a long time. The extension features a very simple interface without too many frills, but it gets the job done. Don’t get it confused with AdBlock Plus, Adaware AdBlock, or any other interesting name variations — it should have the red hexagon logo and be called...
22 NextDNS Alternatives
AdBlocker Ultimate entirely removes all the ads that are floating over the web, on YouTube, in blogs, and other online destinations to provide an annoying less web surfing experience. This free and improved ad-blocker is capable of removing annoying ads, blocking malware, eliminating whitelisted advertisers, and blocking tracking. You can instantly download the AdBlocker...
8 BEST Ad Blockers For Chrome In 2020 [Free Pop Up Blockers]
Not only is Adblock Plus free, but it also features acceptable ads. Instead of charging you the user, AdBlock Plus charges large companies who want to be a part of its acceptable ads program, thereby saving you money whilst allowing companies who depend on ad-generated revenue to continue offering you free content for years to come.

NetGuard Reviews

We have no reviews of NetGuard yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, NetGuard should be more popular than AdBlock. It has been mentiond 48 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.

AdBlock mentions (24)

  • Are there any good and free ad blocker??
    Https://getadblock.com/en/ This one works fine with me on Opera GX. You can go to your browser's web store, like the Chrome Web Store and download one. If you switch to a browser like Brave or Opera GX, you can have a built-in one, which is easier. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • R.I.P soap2day
    Interesting, I usually don't get pop ups on soap2day or that site(only if I miss click on the play button or something similar sometimes). I use an ad blocker though so maybe thats why. I get WAY more when I use my iphone though. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Help!
    If I were you I would contact official steam support at the Steam Help Page, maybe they'll be able to help you, make sure to use an AD-Block or a VPN to stay safe out here on the internet. Wish you good luck. Source: about 2 years ago
  • 1337x saying I need a VPN?
    This issue just appeared today, I've never seen it before. I'm using NordVPN with kill switch enabled, and I already checked with https://www.iplocation.net/ and http://checkmyip.torrentprivacy.com/ to confirm I'm routing all traffic through the VPN. I tried getting a new IP from Nord, but it still didn't fix it. I'm using this ad block plugin in chrome https://getadblock.com/en/ , so I don't think this is an ad. Source: over 2 years ago
  • With all the talk of blocking the Tbell Pete and, what do you all do for other ads?
    I have an AdBlock extension for my Chrome browser on desktop: https://getadblock.com/en/. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

NetGuard mentions (48)

  • Sniffnet – monitor your Internet traffic
    There is OpenSnitch [0] on Linux, but it us a bit clumsy to setup. I tried it once and didn't get far, but have it again on my todo list. Not aware of something similar on Linux. On Android there is NetGuard [1] which is awesome (not affiliated, just a happy customer). [0] https://github.com/evilsocket/opensnitch. - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Little Snitch: Network Monitor and Application Firewall for macOS
    Netguard if you want to use it on Android https://netguard.me/. - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
  • The Global Surveillance Free-for-All in Mobile Ad Data
    Additionally to an OpenWRT [1] Wi-Fi router or Adguard Home [2] server that you can run for yourself, there's also this excellent project called NetGuard [3]. The developer got kicked out of the Play Store for bogus reasons, and had to continue to develop it as an externally funded effort. Support him, buy a pay what you want license, and give him a couple bucks for it if you value open source software like this.... - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • OpenSnitch is a GNU/Linux interactive application firewall
    There's netguard[1], although most of the convenience features are behind a small payment. [1] https://netguard.me. - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
  • Ash HN: My country is undergoing a coup, which encryption software should I use?
    Use briar. Use LineageOS without gapps (aka without Google Play Services). Obviously don't use Meta or Google apps, because that's where the backdoors are for governments. Use AppWarden to enable/disable/verify the usage of known trackers in your apps. Use NetGuard as an Android firewall. [1] https://briarproject.org/ [2] https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices [3] https://gitlab.com/AuroraOSS/AppWarden [4]... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing AdBlock and NetGuard, you can also consider the following products

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

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

uBlock Origin - Popular and efficient blocker for Chromium, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Safari, Thunderbird.

RethinkDNS - 2B+ Android users deserve access to a safer and open Internet.

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.

AFWall+ - AFWall+ (Android Firewall +) - iptables based firewall for Android