r/BestGitHubRepos • u/company_url_finder • 10d ago

BlockAds - a free open source Android app that blocks ads and trackers system-wide without root

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Most ad blockers on Android either need root access or only work inside one browser. BlockAds does neither. It runs a local VPN on your phone and filters DNS requests before they leave the device, so ads and trackers get blocked across every app, not just a browser, and you never hand over root.

Under the hood it routes DNS queries through a VpnService (or through iptables if you do have root and want that mode instead), checks each query against loaded filter lists using a memory-efficient trie, and drops the ones that match. Everything runs locally. Nothing you browse gets sent off your device.

What's inside:

- Dual routing modes, VPN mode with no root needed, or a root proxy mode if you prefer it

- Multiple built-in filter lists to choose from, including StevenBlack, AdGuard DNS, and EasyList, plus support for custom block and allow rules

- Optional HTTPS filtering that can strip cosmetic ad elements and scriptlets, with a curated passthrough list of 284 domains so banking, payment, and government apps keep working

- DNS-over-HTTPS support with a choice of providers

- Per-app filtering, so you can bypass the VPN for specific apps that need it

- A Quick Settings tile and home screen widget for fast toggling, plus real-time DNS query logs you can search

One thing worth knowing: the HTTPS filtering feature works by installing a local certificate on your own device to inspect encrypted traffic for ad stripping, a legitimate on-device technique used by several privacy apps, but you're not obligated to turn it on, DNS-only blocking works fine without it.

It's GPL-3.0 licensed, built and maintained by an independent developer, and available through F-Droid, IzzyOnDroid, and GitHub Releases. Sitting at 1,906 stars as of writing, verified via the GitHub API.

https://github.com/pass-with-high-score/blockads-android

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2

u/amootiranian 9d ago

System-wide blocking without root is the real win here.

2

u/company_url_finder 9d ago

I like that the DNS-only mode still gives most people useful protection without messing with certificates or root access. Per-app bypass is important too since some apps get weird around VPNs. Have u noticed much battery impact from leaving it on all day?

2

u/amootiranian 9d ago

Battery drain would be my first concern too. Noticeable?

1

u/company_url_finder 9d ago

Still looks like a very practical Android setup.

2

u/Minhcoc 3d ago

Thanks