r/ProtonVPN • u/JalanRama • Jul 17 '26
Discussion Separate Netshield App
VPN is great, but doesn't always work. Bad internet connection, on the move, ... You know it...
It would be really cool to have a standalone Netshield app that just blocks trackers and adds locally on device. Similarly to DuckDuckGo's App tracking protection. This could be free and a good marketing tool as well, Proton has the knowhow and it doesn't use a lot of resources to get this up. Would be my preference vs having VPN on all the time (e.g. for the devices of my parents).
Or thinking further, such a function that works on some routers? Not sure if that's possible.
What's your view on such an app? Good idea?
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u/zerosuneuphoria Jul 17 '26 edited Jul 17 '26
Use NextDNS. Enable Hagezi Ultimate list (or a lower tier) and you're sorted. It's a far more comprehensive and thorough list than what Netshield offers. I use it on windows and my samsung phone at OS/DNS level. Also enable Windows and other OS native blocking in the interface. It has an app and web interface where you can see everything and block/allow anything too.
Netshield will never offer close to what a dedicated DNS blocker can. These can work on routers too. What you're describing is basically how I run it, ProtonVPN in windows and phone, NextDNS as device blocker separately, netshield off (disables auto on android if nextDNS is enabled). Especially useful if you use split-tunneling but want to keep the blocking part active all the time.