Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

AFWall+ VS Adblock Plus

Compare AFWall+ VS Adblock Plus and see what are their differences

AFWall+ logo AFWall+

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

Adblock Plus logo 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+ Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-02
  • Adblock Plus Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-18

AFWall+ features and specs

  • Enhanced Privacy
    AFWall+ provides users with the ability to restrict internet access for individual apps, ensuring that no unnecessary data is sent out without the user's consent.
  • User Control
    It allows users to have full control over which apps can access Wi-Fi, mobile data, or both, enhancing overall control over data consumption.
  • Open Source
    Being open-source software, AFWall+ is transparent about its functionality, enabling users and developers to review the code for security and trustworthiness.
  • Customizability
    The app offers extensive customization options, allowing advanced users to tailor their firewall configurations to their specific needs.
  • Battery Saving
    By controlling which apps can use data and when, AFWall+ can contribute to reduced background data usage and improved battery life.

Possible disadvantages of AFWall+

  • Root Requirement
    AFWall+ requires root access on the device, which can discourage non-technical users and potentially void device warranties.
  • Complexity
    The app can be complex for non-technical users to configure properly, potentially leading to misconfigurations that could block essential app functions.
  • Potential for Misconfiguration
    Incorrectly setting app permissions could result in apps losing necessary connectivity, impacting their functionality and user experience.
  • OS Compatibility
    AFWall+ may face compatibility issues with certain Android versions or custom ROMs, limiting its usability for some users.
  • Lack of Mainstream Support
    As a third-party app, it may not receive the same level of support or frequent updates as more mainstream solutions.

Adblock Plus features and specs

  • Blocks Ads
    Effectively blocks a wide variety of ads, including banner ads, video ads, and pop-ups, enhancing the web browsing experience.
  • Improved Speed
    By blocking ads, it can increase the speed at which web pages load, particularly on sites with heavy ad content.
  • Privacy Protection
    Helps to protect user privacy by preventing ad trackers from collecting data on browsing habits.
  • Customizable Filters
    Allows users to create custom filter lists to block specific content or ads from particular websites.
  • Open Source
    The source code is open to the public, allowing for transparency and contributions from the community to improve the product.

Possible disadvantages of Adblock Plus

  • Ad-Blocking Whitelist
    Adblock Plus allows certain 'acceptable ads' to be shown by default, which might not align with user expectations of an ad-free experience.
  • Potential for Website Breakage
    Some websites might not function correctly when ads are blocked, which can disrupt the user experience on those sites.
  • Revenue Impact on Websites
    Websites that rely on ad revenue may experience reduced income, which can affect the quality and availability of free content on the web.
  • Resource Usage
    Running the Adblock Plus extension can consume system resources, potentially impacting browser performance.
  • Complex Configuration
    Customizing filters and settings can be complex for non-technical users, potentially leading to suboptimal use of the tool.

Analysis of Adblock Plus

Overall verdict

  • Adblock Plus is generally considered effective for users who want a simple solution to block unwanted ads without much configuration. However, some critics point out that it participates in an 'acceptable ads' program, allowing certain non-intrusive ads to be displayed by default, which may not align with all users' expectations of an ad blocker.

Why this product is good

  • Adblock Plus is a popular browser extension that blocks intrusive ads, which can enhance user experience by speeding up web page loading times and reducing clutter. It also adds a layer of privacy by preventing tracking scripts from loading, and it can help protect users from malicious ads that might contain malware.

Recommended for

    Adblock Plus is recommended for casual internet users looking for a straightforward and easy-to-install ad-blocking solution. It is also suitable for users concerned with online privacy and who prefer not to be tracked by advertisers.

AFWall+ videos

Optimize Your Android - Control app connectivity with AFWall+

Adblock Plus videos

Adblock Plus: Now Serving You More Ads! - The Know Tech News

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to AFWall+ and Adblock Plus)
Monitoring Tools
30 30%
70% 70
Security & Privacy
7 7%
93% 93
Ad Blockers
0 0%
100% 100
Cyber Security
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare AFWall+ and Adblock Plus

AFWall+ Reviews

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Adblock Plus Reviews

The Best Ad Blockers for YouTube 2024
Adblock Plus: AdBlock is a user-friendly free tool that received solid ad-blocking scores during our testing. It also offers a Premium subscription that can block additional nuisances like site notifications, survey requests, and floating videos.
Best Ad Blockers in 2023: Adblock Plus vs AdGuard vs uBlock Origin and More
Not to be confused with AdBlock Plus, AdBlock is a very simple and straightforward extension that offers ad blocking features, and it works admirably. The user interface is as simple as they come, with the option to pause the extension on the website you’re on — useful if a website won’t let you access it with such an extension enabled.
Best Ad Blockers
Adblock Plus (again, not to be confused with any variations on its name) is a standalone ad blocker that’s been around for quite some time. It is not the premium version of another ad blocker or a special edition. Adblock Plus is its own application.
22 NextDNS Alternatives
AdBlock Plus claims to be one of the most feature-rich and out-of-the-box ad blockers for smartphones, tablets, and PCs. People love having it because of its excellent adblocking mechanism and capabilities. AdBlock Plus extension is available for users who want to have a customized and controlled web experience. You can remove ads and malware from all the online destinations...
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.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Adblock Plus should be more popular than AFWall+. It has been mentiond 65 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.

AFWall+ mentions (7)

  • F-Droid, Keyboard Libraries, and Choosing a Browser
    I considered what many others have done: installing Gboard and using Graphene's settings to deny it network access, potentially even going the extra step of using a root firewall like AFWall (something I plan on looking into later regardless) but I was curious to see if I could do without. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Is it possible to route all traffic through tor on LineageOS?
    AFWall+ can also do that. It needs root though. Source: over 2 years ago
  • AfWall needs new developer. Someone please fork it.
    Https://github.com/ukanth/afwall/ It is a IPtables frontend but it is not updated often, last update was on May 21, 2021. Source: about 3 years ago
  • PrivacyGuides on Afwall+ and rooting.
    "Android Firewall+ (AFWall+) is an advanced iptables editor (GUI) for Android. It provides fine-grained control over which Android apps are Allowed to access the network." https://github.com/ukanth/afwall. Source: over 3 years ago
  • How to block a (local) IP address?
    Can I block using iptables on Android (I'm rooted)? Source: over 3 years ago
View more

Adblock Plus mentions (65)

  • How I stay (more) focused with ADHD
    Tip: I use Adblock Plus on desktop, and AdGuard on iPhone and iPad. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • [Vent] YouTube forcing adblock removal, here's what you can do!
    Adblock plus => I only use this one with Edge because Opera has a default adblocker of its own, but this is also a very welcome extension and something that can (and will) keep you safe! Source: over 1 year ago
  • Why are there differences between the EasyList filter lists mirrors!?
    Why doesn't easylist.to link to its own version of the Fanboy's Annoyance List? Why are the lists (and especially the "EasyList Germany") on the mirror (?) of adblockplus.org more up-to-date than on easylist.to? Source: about 2 years ago
  • Problem with popups
    That can be annoying. Do you see them on Flipboard or when you navigate to the actual website of the article? If that's the case, then it would be up to the website that is hosting the article. I would recommend a good popup/ad blocker like adblock plus. Source: about 2 years ago
  • "He gets us" is taken over my feed
    Try AdBlock Plus, gets rid of a ton of junk. https://adblockplus.org/. Source: about 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing AFWall+ and Adblock Plus, you can also consider the following products

NetGuard - NetGuard

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

NoRoot Firewall - Firewall WITHOUT ROOT.

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

GlassWire - Visualize network activity in detail, get notified when new apps access the network, look out for...

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