2y ago

is Adguard Lifetime worth it?

I've been using Adguard Free on Android for about a year now and I like how it works. I discovered it does not block trackers unfortunately. I'm thinking of buying a lifetime subscription. Is it worth it?

It seems like an all-in-one package for all my devices, which would save me a lot of thinkering.

Or would I just go using other providers like Mullvad or Pihole in the future? I mentioned Mullvad because of the VPN service, I think Adguard has that included too. Would that be safe to use for torrents? I live in the EU if that helps.

Thanks in advance!

29 comments

I love the pi hole
- Now, how do you use a pihole on your phone when you aren’t connected to your WiFi?
  
  Solution: Always be connected to your home network via permanent and mandatory VPN uplink.
  
  You can use pivpn and tunnel into it using wireguard when You're not home.
You might want to look into AdAway
It blocks trackers and ads, and functions the same as Adguard in that it uses a local vpn to block ads.
It also allows custom lists.
I've been using it and it works pretty well. It won't block all ads in some apps (like kids games) at least with the default config, but it's saved our devices from gigs worth of ads. I think on my wife's phone it's blocked something like a million ads and I'm sitting at 580,000 blocked on mine after about a year. It's nice that you can put it on multiple devices too.
I think PiHole is good too but only works at home. I also use Firefox with UBlock so I have that whitelisted in AdGuard.
Use NextDNS instead. Custom lists, tracker protection, and can be used for free with full features, but the paid version is very cheap.
Adguard app does block ads and trackers in the free version too, you just need to set up dns filtering and select adguard DNS. You can also create a nextdns account for free and run it through adguard to have more control over what you're blocking.
In general, adblocker for browser > DNS > anything else.
- You can also create a nextdns account for free and run it through adguard to have more control over what you're blocking.
  What would the advantage of doing this over just using NextDNS be? Is it that AdGuard does browser blocking too? I have uBO + NextDNS free. Does AdGuard offer anything better?
  
  In my opinion, adguard is worth in two cases: if you need Firewall+VPN on an unrooted device (every other thing I tried was either Firewall or VPN, no chance of getting them to work at the same time), or if you're installing it on a family member's/acquaintance's device, so that they have an on/off switch if something goes wrong.
  Unless you don't fit in one of those two cases adguard will do little to nothing for you
- Thanks for the explanation! But what is behind 'Tracking protection' and 'browsing security'? Or can that be bypassed by using Nextdns?
  
  It's not a matter of bypassing, it's about achieving the same result by different means.
  I don't know what exactly adguard does once those settings are enabled, but a private DNS (or even adguard's free public dns, if you don't want to put in the commitment and prefer a "set it and forget it" approach) gives you both tracking and malware protection (I strongly suggest watching this video to understand what a private DNS does and how)
  In general, I think DNS blocking is the easiest, quickest and the most effective way to block ads on your devices
I've liked the approach of using pihole for local devices, and then when away using like a local vpn approach to filtering stuff out like personaldnsfilter.
Haven't really looked into paid options.
- You could look into installing PiVPN over your Pi-Hole so you can use it while away from home as well via Wireguard. It is super simple to set up and use it on phones and laptops.
I have two family subscriptions. I find it worth it. It's quite cheap on Stacksocial (even cheaper if you have a discount code).
On top of that, I have one of these routers at home. It comes in-built with Adguard Home. There is a newer, better model coming out soon as well.
What ads are you trying to block? For a browser use Firefox and uBlock origin. For apps choose apps without ads. F-Droid and alternativeto.net are your friends in finding apps. I basically do not have ads.
- The ones in browsers are the ones i see the most i guess. I already have firefox, can we install extensions on android already? Next to that i've got a few games with ads. Also i want something to keep the trackers away.
  
  There have been Firefox Extensions for a long time. Just a limited number. uBlock Origin is one of them. Reason I say Firefox is two reasons. First why would anyone use a browser from an Ad company. Makes no sense to me. Second there is talk that Google will eliminate some of the APIs good Ad blockers need and Mozilla I think has said they will retain.
If you don't need its HTTPS Filtering feature then just use something like rethinkdns
RethinkDNS is good, encrypted DNS and firewall
Adguard home is free
- I'm using this too! I run it in Home Assistant. I just dont have any vpn setup now, i use the Adguard app
I honestly prefer to have Nebulo + TraclerControl combined. I never saw any ad on my mobile. Nebulo is great because it uses privacy-focused DNS server, while TrackerConrrol identifies and blocks any tracker as you want.

29 comments