Best AdGuard Alternatives in 2026
The top AdGuard alternatives are Ghostery, uBlock Origin and AdBlock: 15 ad blockers our editors would look at instead of AdGuard, in our ranking order.
AdGuard: A broad ad and privacy blocker with browser, app, DNS, and parental controls. Where it falls short: personal licensing covers 3 devices.
Switching from AdGuard? For most ad blockers buyers the best AdGuard alternative is Ghostery, built for free privacy-focused blocking across platforms. AdLock offers the most device limit (5 devices).
Why People Look for an AdGuard Alternative
- Personal licensing covers 3 devices
- Advanced traffic filtering is centered on desktop and Android apps
- Free mobile coverage is limited compared with licensed apps
- Device limit: 3 devices — up to 5 devices with AdLock
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallGhostery9.2
Free privacy-focused blocking across platforms
Visit Ghostery - Best free optionGhostery9.2
Has a free plan
Visit Ghostery - Most device limitAdLock8.7
5 devices
Visit AdLock
All 15 AdGuard Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
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Best forFree privacy-focused blocking across platforms
A free, open-source blocker with broad platform coverage and detailed privacy controls.
- Custom filter lists
- Element picker
- Cookie popup blocking
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Ghostery -
Best forPower users wanting free, deep customization
A highly configurable free blocker for users who want control over filtering.
- Custom filter lists
- Element picker
- Cookie popup blocking
9.1/10★★★★★Visit uBlock Origin -
Best forUsers wanting premium extras and VPN
A flexible ad blocker with strong platform coverage and Premium extras, including VPN access.
- Custom filter lists
- Element picker
- Cookie popup blocking
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit AdBlock -
Best forMulti-device users needing app and web blocking
- Better than AdGuard:
- Device limit: 5 devices vs 3 devices
A broad ad and tracker blocker for up to five devices across desktop and mobile.
- Custom filter lists
- Cookie popup blocking
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit AdLock -
Best forFree cross-platform DNS and VPN blocking
A flexible free blocker with cross-platform DNS filtering and an optional VPN layer.
- Custom filter lists
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Blokada -
Best forEstablished free blocker with optional extras
A capable free blocker with custom filters, manual controls, and optional distraction blocking.
- Custom filter lists
- Element picker
- Cookie popup blocking
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Adblock Plus -
Best forUsers prioritizing tracker protection and VPN tools
A privacy-focused blocker with VPN tools, but not a full ad blocker.
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Disconnect -
Best forSafari users wanting advanced open-source controls
A free, customizable Safari blocker for Apple users who want control beyond basic ad filtering.
- Custom filter lists
- Element picker
- Cookie popup blocking
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit wBlock -
Best forSystem-wide blocking across three devices
A broad ad-blocking suite with system-wide desktop filtering and custom rules.
- Custom filter lists
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forApple users wanting broad Safari controls
Broad Safari filtering with Apple ecosystem features and a focused device footprint.
- Custom filter lists
- Element picker
- Cookie popup blocking
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit 1Blocker -
Best forOpen-source MV3 filtering on Apple platforms
Open-source MV3 filtering with flexible rulesets and custom cosmetic filters.
- Custom filter lists
- Element picker
- Cookie popup blocking
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit uBlock Origin -
Best forFree desktop system-wide filtering
A free, open-source desktop proxy for filtering browser and application traffic.
- Custom filter lists
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Zen -
Best forDesktop users needing app-level proxy control
A free, open-source desktop blocker for browser and application traffic.
- Custom filter lists
- Cookie popup blocking
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Irbis -
Best forTechnical desktop users needing proxy filtering
A powerful free proxy filter for technical users who want deep traffic control.
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Privoxy -
Best forOpen-source desktop browser power users
A free, configurable desktop ad blocker for Chromium users who want open-source control.
- Custom filter lists
- Element picker
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit Chroma
AdGuard Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to AdGuard?
Ghostery: #2 in our Ad Blockers ranking, with an editor score of 9.2 out of 10. A free, open-source blocker with broad platform coverage and detailed privacy controls.
Is there a free alternative to AdGuard?
Yes. Ghostery, uBlock Origin, AdBlock, AdLock and Blokada have a free plan or a free tier (15 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
Why do people look for AdGuard alternatives?
Personal licensing covers 3 devices; Advanced traffic filtering is centered on desktop and Android apps; Free mobile coverage is limited compared with licensed apps.
Which AdGuard alternative has the most device limit?
AdLock, with 5 devices.
How do I switch from AdGuard?
Export your data from AdGuard (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel AdGuard.
How to Switch from AdGuard
- Export your data from AdGuard (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel AdGuard.
AdGuard vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Device coverage | Custom filter lists | Element picker | Cookie popup blocking | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AdGuard | Yes | Desktop-and-mobile | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.4 | |
| 1 | Ghostery | Yes | Free | Desktop-and-mobile | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.2 |
| 2 | uBlock Origin | Yes | Free | Desktop-and-mobile | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.1 |
| 3 | AdBlock | Yes | $40/yr | Desktop-and-mobile | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.9 |
| 4 | AdLock | Yes | $15.99/yr | Desktop-and-mobile | Yes | Yes | 8.7 | |
| 5 | Blokada | Yes | Desktop-and-mobile | Yes | No | 8.6 | ||
| 6 | Adblock Plus | Yes | $40/yr | Desktop-and-mobile | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.5 |
| 7 | Disconnect | Yes | Desktop-and-mobile | 8.4 | ||||
| 8 | wBlock | Yes | Free | Desktop-and-mobile | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.3 |
| 9 | AdBlocker Ultimate | Yes | Desktop-and-mobile | Yes | 8.2 | |||
| 10 | 1Blocker | Yes | $14.99/yr | Desktop-and-mobile | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.1 |
| 11 | uBlock Origin Lite | Free | Desktop-and-mobile | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.0 | |
| 12 | Zen | Yes | Free | Desktop | Yes | 7.9 | ||
| 13 | Zen Ad Blocker | Yes | Free | Desktop | Yes | Yes | 7.8 | |
| 14 | Privoxy | Yes | Free | Desktop | 7.7 | |||
| 15 | Chroma Ad-Blocker | Yes | Free | Browser-only | Yes | Yes | 7.6 |
Head-to-Head
- AdGuard vs Ghostery
- AdGuard vs uBlock Origin
- AdGuard vs AdBlock
- AdGuard vs AdLock
- AdGuard vs Blokada
- AdGuard vs Adblock Plus
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update