Alternatives to Rethink DNS

Android firewall and encrypted DNS client with per-app rules. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as Rethink DNS.

  • Rethink DNS + Firewall

    Control Android network connections with Rethink's local firewall.

    FreeOpen sourceAndroid

    Rethink DNS + Firewall is the Rethink local firewall listing, combining DNS filtering, connection monitoring and WireGuard support under the same Apache-2.0 license.

  • TrackerControl

    Monitor and restrict Android application tracking connections.

    FreeOpen sourceAndroid

    TrackerControl is GPL-3.0 and narrower, monitoring and restricting app tracking connections locally without encrypted DNS or WireGuard support.

  • AdAway

    System-wide Android ad blocker using hosts files or a local VPN.

    FreeOpen sourceAndroid

    AdAway is simpler, blocking ads system-wide through hosts files with root or a local VPN without it, but has no firewall or encrypted DNS.

  • Blokada

    Mobile ad blocker with a local filter and an optional VPN tier.

    FreemiumOpen sourceAndroidiOS

    Blokada works on Android and iOS with free local filtering and a paid VPN and cloud tier, but lacks the per-app firewall and WireGuard.

  • personalDNSfilter

    Lightweight Java DNS filter proxy that blocks ad and malware domains on Android and desktops.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroid

    personalDNSfilter is a lighter DNS filter with DoH and DoT that can work without the VPN slot and runs on desktops, but has no per-app firewall.

  • AdGuard Ad Blocker

    System-wide ad and tracker blocker apps for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS with DNS filtering.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsmacOSAndroidiOS

    AdGuard Ad Blocker is a freemium, closed-source app for Android, iOS, Windows and macOS that filters ads and trackers across apps, with features varying by platform.

  • DNSNet

    An Android app that filters DNS requests through a local VPN to block ad and tracker domains.

    FreeProprietaryAndroid

    DNSNet is a simpler closed-source Android blocker using host blocklists through a local VPN, without a firewall, encrypted DNS or WireGuard support.

Also worth comparing

These listings name Rethink DNS as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.

  • Intra

    An Android app from Jigsaw that encrypts DNS lookups to get around DNS manipulation and blocking.

    FreeOpen sourceAndroid

    Rethink DNS adds a firewall, blocklists and WireGuard support to encrypted DNS on Android, with more configuration than Intra's simple on and off switch.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.