Athena: Firewall DNS AdBlocker vs Rethink: DNS + Firewall + VPN
Side-by-side comparison of two open source alternatives
Athena: Firewall DNS AdBlocker
Athena Firewall combines powerful DNS-based ad blocking with complete network control. Block ads, trackers, and unwanted connections across all apps. Works with Root, Shizuku, or VPN mode - choose what fits your device. ✓ DNS ad & tracker blocking ✓ Custom & pre-made blocklists ✓ Per-app firewall rules ✓ Root, Shizuku & VPN modes ✓ Network monitor & kill switch ✓ Material 3 design 🚫 DNS AD BLOCKING & FILTERING Stop ads and trackers before they load with powerful DNS filtering. Block ads in apps, games, and browsers system-wide. - DNS-based ad & tracker blocking - Pre-made blocklists (AdGuard, Steven Black, more) - Custom blocklists - add your own URLs - Auto-update blocklists daily - Custom DNS servers (Cloudflare, Quad9, AdGuard DNS, custom) - Block specific domains manually - Allow/block by IP address - DNS request logging - See every DNS query in real-time 🔥 FIREWALL - THREE POWERFUL MODES Choose the mode that works for YOUR device: ROOT MODE (Rooted devices) - Direct iptables firewall control - Most powerful option - System-level blocking - Maximum control SHIZUKU MODE (No root needed) - Advanced features without rooting - Enhanced firewall capabilities - Works with Shizuku app - Power user features VPN MODE (Any device) - Works on stock Android - Local VPN only (no external servers) - No root or Shizuku needed - Privacy-focused 🔒 PER-APP NETWORK CONTROL Control exactly which apps can access the internet. Block apps individually or by category. - Block apps from WiFi or mobile data - Separate rules for WiFi/data - Whitelist or blacklist mode - System app control - Show offline apps - Track install source - Real-time connection monitoring - Connection logs per app - See app permissions Perfect for stopping background data usage, preventing tracking, and saving battery. 📊 ADVANCED MONITORING Watch your network activity in real-time with comprehensive logging and monitoring. - Status bar network monitor - Real-time connection logs - DNS query logs - Per-app connection history - See which domains apps contact - Export logs for analysis - Live traffic statistics - Bandwidth usage tracking 📡 NETWORK SECURITY FEATURES - Kill switch block all traffic when firewall stops - Allow local network IPs (for printers, smart home) - Block specific IP addresses - Screen protection bypass - VPN slot functions - Auto-start on boot - Background protection 🎨 MODERN MATERIAL 3 DESIGN - Material You dynamic colors - AMOLED dark theme (true black) - Clean, intuitive interface - Smooth animations - Tablet optimized - Multi-language support 🌐 CUSTOM DNS CONTROL Take full control of your DNS for privacy and speed. - Custom DNS servers (DoH coming soon) - Popular DNS providers built-in: - Custom DNS IPs - DNS leak protection - Encrypted DNS queries (roadmap) - Change DNS per network 🛡️ PRIVACY & OPEN SOURCE - 100% open-source (GPL) - No data collection - No analytics or tracking - No ads anywhere - Community-driven 🔧 POWER USER FEATURES - Import/export blocklists - Backup/restore settings - Root OR non-root operation - Shizuku integration - Detailed logging - Custom filtering rules - Advanced DNS options - Developer options ⚡ LIGHTWEIGHT & EFFICIENT - Minimal battery drain - Low memory footprint - Runs efficiently in background - Optimized for performance - No bloat - focused features 📱 PERFECT FOR: - Blocking ads in apps & games - Stopping trackers & analytics - Reducing mobile data usage - Privacy-conscious users - Parents controlling kid's devices - Developers & security researchers - Users who want DNS control - Anyone wanting network visibility - Rooted AND non-rooted devices 🎯 USE CASES Stop App Tracking: Block analytics and trackers in all apps Save Mobile Data: Block ads = less data used Parent Controls: Block inappropriate domains Gaming: Block ads in free games Privacy:Stop apps phoning home Security Research: Monitor all connections Custom Blocking: Block specific domains/IPs
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 | Athena: Firewall DNS AdBlocker | Rethink: DNS + Firewall + VPN |
|---|---|---|
| License | GPL-3.0-only | Apache-2.0 |
| Install sources | F-DroidGitHub | F-DroidGitHub |
| Categories | Password ManagerFirewallBrowser | Password ManagerVPNFirewallDev ToolsMessagingBrowser |
| Features | Ad-FreeOpen SourceNo Tracking | Ad-FreeOpen SourceNo Tracking |
| Platforms | Android | Android |
| Website | ||
| Source code |