Software Alternatives & Startups

BLOCK THIS! VS Cert Decoder

Compare BLOCK THIS! VS Cert Decoder and see what are their differences

BLOCK THIS! logo BLOCK THIS!

Block This 3.0 is a FREE and Open Source ad blocker for Android that works in all apps and browsers!

Cert Decoder logo Cert Decoder

Decode and verify SSL/TLS certificates online. Extract X.509 details including issuer, validity, SAN, and fingerprint. Fast, secure, and browser-based.
  • BLOCK THIS! Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-26
  • Cert Decoder
    Image date //
    2025-03-22

Cert Decoder is a free online tool that helps you decode X.509 SSL/TLS certificates in PEM format. It instantly shows important information like the issuer, expiry date, SAN entries, and fingerprint. All data is processed locally in your browser, so nothing is ever sent or stored elsewhere.

BLOCK THIS! features and specs

  • Ad Blocking
    BLOCK THIS! effectively blocks ads, providing a smoother and less cluttered browsing experience.
  • Privacy Protection
    The app helps protect user privacy by blocking trackers and other intrusive scripts, which can help keep your personal information secure.
  • Bandwidth Saving
    By blocking ads and trackers, BLOCK THIS! reduces the amount of data loaded on webpages, saving bandwidth and potentially speeding up browsing.
  • Battery Efficiency
    Blocking ads can lead to less resource consumption, potentially extending the battery life of mobile devices.
  • Free to Use
    The app is available for free, making it accessible to a wide range of users without the need for a subscription or purchase.

Possible disadvantages of BLOCK THIS!

  • Compatibility Issues
    BLOCK THIS! may not work smoothly on all devices or with all browsers, which might limit its usability for some users.
  • Potential Content Blocking
    Occasionally, the app may block legitimate content along with ads and trackers, which can disrupt the user experience on some websites.
  • Updates and Support
    The frequency and reliability of updates and ongoing support can be variable, potentially leading to performance issues or lack of new features over time.
  • Root Requirement for Android
    On some Android devices, full functionality may require root access, which is not recommended for all users due to security and warranty concerns.
  • Potential Ethical Concerns
    Blocking ads raises ethical questions regarding the support of content creators who rely on advertising revenue to provide free content.

Cert Decoder features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Cert Decoder is designed with a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy for users to navigate and use the tool without requiring extensive technical knowledge.
  • Comprehensive Analysis
    The tool provides detailed analyses of certificates, including information about validity, issuer, encryption algorithms, and more, helping users understand their security certificates thoroughly.
  • Free to Use
    Cert Decoder offers its services free of charge, making it accessible for individuals and organizations without budget constraints.
  • Quick Processing
    The tool processes certificate information rapidly, providing almost instant results for users, which is crucial for time-sensitive tasks.

Possible disadvantages of Cert Decoder

  • Limited Advanced Features
    Compared to some paid alternatives, Cert Decoder might lack advanced features that are necessary for more complex certificate management and diagnostics.
  • Reliance on Internet Access
    Users need an active internet connection to utilize the tool, which can be a limitation in areas with unreliable internet service.
  • Privacy Concerns
    While using an online service to decode certificates, there can always be privacy concerns regarding sensitive data being uploaded to a third-party server.
  • No Offline Mode
    Cert Decoder does not offer an offline mode, which could be a drawback for users who require functionality without constant internet availability.

Analysis of BLOCK THIS!

Overall verdict

  • BLOCK THIS! is considered a good option for users seeking a lightweight and effective method to block ads and enhance privacy protection. Its DNS-based blocking can be less intrusive compared to other ad-blockers.

Why this product is good

  • BLOCK THIS! is a tool designed to block unwanted ads and protect user privacy while browsing the internet. It uses DNS blocking to stop ads before they even reach the browser, which can improve page load times and reduce data usage. Additionally, it may provide some protection against malicious sites.

Recommended for

  • Users looking to speed up web browsing by reducing ads and other unwanted content.
  • Privacy-conscious users who want to avoid tracking by advertisers.
  • Individuals seeking a DNS-based ad blocking solution that works on multiple devices.

Analysis of Cert Decoder

Overall verdict

  • Cert Decoder appears to be a free online tool for decoding and inspecting SSL/TLS certificates, CSRs, and related cryptographic data, making it useful for quick, no-install certificate analysis, though it should be used with awareness of general web tool privacy considerations when handling sensitive certificate data.

Why this product is good

  • Provides quick, browser-based decoding of certificates without needing to install software
  • Useful for troubleshooting SSL/TLS certificate issues on the fly
  • Simple interface aimed at both technical and semi-technical users
  • No cost to use for basic certificate decoding tasks

Recommended for

  • System administrators needing to quickly verify certificate details
  • Developers debugging SSL/TLS configuration issues
  • IT support staff troubleshooting website certificate errors
  • Students or professionals learning about certificate structure and encoding

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to BLOCK THIS! and Cert Decoder)
Security & Privacy
100 100%
0% 0
Decoding
0 0%
100% 100
Monitoring Tools
93 93%
7% 7
Tool
100 100%
0% 0

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing BLOCK THIS! and Cert Decoder.

What's the story behind your product?

Cert Decoder's answer:

I built certdecoder.com over the weekend for my own needs. Sometimes in my work, I need to verify and check certificate details.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

Cert Decoder's answer:

certdecoder.com was built using just JavaScript and HTML—simple, fast, and with all processing happening locally in your browser, so no certificate data is sent to any server

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

Cert Decoder's answer:

certdecoder.com is primarily built for developers, sysadmins, cybersecurity enthusiasts, and DevOps engineers.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

Cert Decoder's answer:

Simple, fast, and reliable. Some similar tools can’t even decode basic certificates. I rigorously tested my tool with many real-world certificates and covered several edge cases where competitors fall short.

Who are some of the biggest customers of your product?

Cert Decoder's answer:

certdecoder.com is primarily built for developers, sysadmins, cybersecurity enthusiasts, and DevOps engineers.

User comments

Share your experience with using BLOCK THIS! and Cert Decoder. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, BLOCK THIS! seems to be a lot more popular than Cert Decoder. While we know about 22 links to BLOCK THIS!, we've tracked only 1 mention of Cert Decoder. 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.

BLOCK THIS! mentions (22)

  • Blockada 5 alternative?
    Block This 3.1 VPN ad-blocker works just as well as adguard dns for older Android 8.0- OS. Very easy to use. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Nightmare on my kindle fire 8
    Try installing block-this on it and see if it helps. Https://block-this.com. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Are the “Jesus” ads on this site getting more aggressive?
    For android devices block this is an app that can block nearly all mobile ads, both in apps and in browsers. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Appliance makers sad that 50% of customers won’t connect smart appliances
    I think https://block-this.com/ does what you propose. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Is possible to make a universal patch for no ads that work on every apk?
    Maybe check out the canonical page instead: https://block-this.com. Source: over 3 years ago
View more

Cert Decoder mentions (1)

  • Banana.dog back from the dead
    Why? Because I built certdecoder.com and couldn’t find a decent place to submit it. So I said screw it — I’ll build my own. With blackjack and hookers. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing BLOCK THIS! and Cert Decoder, you can also consider the following products

AdShield.ai - AI-powered placement exclusion lists for Google Display campaigns

Ads-Shield - Ads-Shield: Content Blocker is an all-in-one ad-blocking app that stops all kinds of ads in your browser, Facebook, YouTube, and even other third-party apps.

Ad Skipper for YouTube - Ad Skipper for YouTube – Skip and Mute YouTube ads is a powerful Android tool specially designed for YouTube streaming lovers who want to enjoy the high-quality fast streaming experience without any irritation from ads.

Bromite - Bromite is Chromium plus ad blocking and privacy enhancements; take back your browser!

AdClear - AdClear platform provides Tracking, Analysis and Optimization of the online marketing activities.

Adblock Browser - Adblock Browser for Android is a fine tool created and published by Eyeo GmbH.