NetGuard vs Rethink: DNS + Firewall + VPN
Side-by-side comparison of two open source alternatives
NetGuard
NetGuard provides simple and advanced ways to block access to the internet - no root required.Applications and addresses can individually be allowed or denied access to your Wi-Fi and/or mobile connection.Blocking access to the internet can help:reduce your data usagesave your batteryincrease your privacyFeatures:Simple to useNo root required100% open sourceNo calling homeNo tracking or analyticsNo advertisementsActively developed and supportedAndroid 5.1 and later supportedIPv4/IPv6 TCP/UDP supportedTethering supportedOptionally allow when screen onOptionally block when roamingOptionally block system applicationsOptionally notify when an application accesses the internetOptionally record network usage per application per addressMaterial design theme with light and dark themePRO features:Log all outgoing traffic; search and filter access attempts; export PCAP files to analyze trafficAllow/block individual addresses per applicationNew application notifications; configure NetGuard directly from the notificationDisplay network speed graph in a status bar notificationSelect from five additional themes in both light and dark versionThere is no other no-root firewall offering all these features.If you have a question or problem, you can send an e-mail to marcel+netguard@faircode.euIf you like to help people less fluent in English, you can help translate NetGuard in your languageIf you like to test new features, you can participate in the test programAll required permissions are described here
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 | NetGuard | Rethink: DNS + Firewall + VPN |
|---|---|---|
| License | GPL-3.0-only | Apache-2.0 |
| Install sources | F-DroidGitHubIzzyOnDroid | F-DroidGitHub |
| Categories | Password ManagerVPNFirewallDev ToolsBrowser | Password ManagerVPNFirewallDev ToolsMessagingBrowser |
| Features | Ad-FreeOpen SourceNo Tracking | Ad-FreeOpen SourceNo Tracking |
| Platforms | Android | Android |
| Website | ||
| Source code |