BlockAds: Clean Internet vs Rethink: DNS + Firewall + VPN
Side-by-side comparison of two open source alternatives
BlockAds: Clean Internet
Tired of intrusive ads slowing down your phone? BlockAds blocks ads across all your apps and browsers with just one tap — no root required.KEY FEATURESSystem-Wide Ad Blocking: Smart DNS-based filtering for every app and browser. No root access required.Privacy Protection: Blocks trackers and spyware. Zero data collection — everything stays locally on your device.App Firewall & Profiles: Block internet access for specific apps (Wi-Fi/Mobile). Switch instantly between Default, Strict, Family, and Gaming profiles.Parental Controls: Enforce SafeSearch (Google/Bing) and YouTube Restricted Mode via Family-safe DNS providers.Detailed Statistics: View real-time blocked ad counters, 24-hour activity charts, and detailed DNS query logs.Fully Customizable: Add custom filter lists via URL (ABPVN, AdGuard, EasyList, etc.), create allow/block rules, and use custom DoH/DoT encrypted DNS.Modern UI: Material 3 design built with Jetpack Compose. Features Dark/Light themes, custom accent colors, Quick Settings tile, and Home screen widgets.Backup & Restore: Export your configuration to JSON and easily import it on a new device.Battery & Data Friendly: Minimal performance impact. Filters only DNS traffic, reducing unnecessary ad data downloads.HOW TO USEOpen BlockAds.Tap the power button and allow the VPN connection.Enjoy an ad-free internet experience! (You can also toggle protection via Quick Settings tile or widget).FAQIs BlockAds safe?Yes. BlockAds only filters DNS queries locally. No personal data is intercepted or transmitted to external servers.Why does it need VPN permission?It creates a local VPN tunnel on your device to route and filter DNS requests on-device. It is not a remote VPN service.Does it work with all apps?Yes, it works system-wide. You can also whitelist specific apps or use the firewall feature to manage access.Is it really free?Yes! BlockAds is 100% free, open-source, and contains no in-app purchases or ads.Will it slow down my internet?No. DNS filtering is extremely lightweight. It actually speeds up your browsing and saves battery by preventing ads from loading.BlockAds is free, open source, and built with privacy in mind. Download now and take back control of your Android experience!
Rethink: DNS + Firewall + VPN
Say hello to a safer, transparent, and secure Android. VPN: Connects to multiple WireGuard VPNs of your choice. Safe: Reveals network activity of installed apps and lets you disable, uninstall, or firewall them. Secure: First line of defense against spyware, ransomware, and malware that steal personal information and takeover accounts. Protects from DNS manipulation typically employed to censor websites, social media, and messaging apps. Fast: DNS Servers deployed to 300+ locations world-wide to ensure your internet is as fast and highly available as it can be. Open: Open source and free of any trackers. ***Features*** Firewall: Prevent apps from connecting to the Internet. Block spyware, malware, ransomware and more. A firewall blocks any app connecting to the Internet over WiFi or Mobile data. Since most forms of surveillance require the data to be sent the network to a server, firewalling them effectively mitigates the threat (File Managers, Alarm Clock, Calculator are few such examples of apps that do not require any Internet access to function). The firewall feature uses Accessibility Service to detect and firewall background applications. Monitoring: Keep tabs on incoming and outgoing Internet traffic. If enabled, the connectivity logs are collected and analyzed. Automated reports flag previously unknown or suspicious connections, and reveal the extent of attempt to steal data by spyware networks. In our tests, around 60% of the traffic is flagged and reported as being initiated by known spyware. Logs generated are made available in near-real time to the user for their own analysis. WireGuard: Secure outgoing Internet traffic. The app uses fast, modern, light-weight, and secure WireGuard protocol to encrypt outgoing connections to any compatible VPN provider of your choice. Anti-censorship: The app encrypts your internet connection to Domain Name System (DNS) server run by Rethink with presence in our 300+ locations world-wide. DNS servers are the address book of the internet: A DNS server provides the exact addresses you need to visit a website or open an app. Data Monitor: Track per-app and per-connection Mobile or WiFi data usage.
| Feature | BlockAds: Clean Internet | Rethink: DNS + Firewall + VPN |
|---|---|---|
| License | GPL-3.0-only | Apache-2.0 |
| Install sources | GitHubIzzyOnDroid | F-DroidGitHub |
| Categories | Password ManagerBrowser | Password ManagerVPNFirewallDev ToolsMessagingBrowser |
| Features | Ad-FreeOpen SourceNo Tracking | Ad-FreeOpen SourceNo Tracking |
| Platforms | Android | Android |
| Website | ||
| Source code |