AdGuard review

Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026

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Our verdict

AdGuard fits readers who want ad blocking and DNS protection in the same place, with a free plan for the basics and an open source VPN alongside it. A paid AdGuard plan covers 10 devices, and the longest subscription term is 24 with a money back window of 30 days.

Key facts

Best for
A single provider for ad blocking, private DNS and a VPN across Windows, macOS and Linux.
Free plan
Yes (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Free plan limits
Free AdGuard DNS Starter plan by default; AdGuard Content Blocker free but with features limited compared to AdGuard for Android (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Platforms
Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, Android TV, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Safari, Yandex Browser (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Protocols
Doh, Dot, Doq, Dnscrypt (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Logging policy
Traffic filtered locally on device; AdGuard does not know which sites you visit (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Jurisdiction
CY (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Open source
Yes (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Privacy tool type
Ad-blocker, Private-dns (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Legal entity
ADGUARD SOFTWARE LIMITED (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Headquarters
Cyprus (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Founded
2009 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Support channels
Email, Help-centre, Community (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Pricing model
Free
Official website
adguard.com

VPN

Devices
10 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Money-back period
30 days (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Jurisdiction
CY (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Protocols
Doh, Dot, Doq, Dnscrypt (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Features
Split-tunnelling, Obfuscation (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Platforms
Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, Android TV, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Safari, Yandex Browser (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Longest plan (months)
24 months (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Legal entity
ADGUARD SOFTWARE LIMITED (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Headquarters
Cyprus (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Founded
2009 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Support channels
Email, Help-centre, Community (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Features
No logs, Streaming
Pricing model
Free

Parental controls

Devices
10 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Platforms
Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, Android TV, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Safari, Yandex Browser (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Features
Split-tunnelling, Obfuscation (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Money-back period
30 days (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Legal entity
ADGUARD SOFTWARE LIMITED (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Headquarters
Cyprus (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Founded
2009 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Support channels
Email, Help-centre, Community (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Pricing model
Free

Apps and profiles

Get the app
Google Play
Elsewhere
WikidataWikipediaLinkedInXgithub.com

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Traffic is filtered locally on device, so AdGuard does not know which sites you visit, and the software is open source.
  • The free plan is the default and covers DNS blocking, while the free Content Blocker drops features next to the full Android app.
  • Apps and extensions cover Windows, macOS and Linux, keeping one set of rules across phones, desktops and browsers.
  • The VPN plan covers 10 devices, with a money back window of 30 days.

Cons

  • Support runs on email, help centre and community only, so most questions end up in the help centre or the community.
  • The free Content Blocker drops features next to the full Android app, so phone users may end up paying for it.
AdGuard

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Who it suits

  • Readers who want an ad blocker, private DNS and a VPN from a single company.
  • People who want filtering to happen on device on open source software.
  • Households with several devices to cover, since the VPN plan covers 10.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Apple Hide My Email, whose aliases are free with an Apple Account, when the email address is the only thing to hide.
  • EasyOptOuts, which has no free plan, when a free tier to try first matters.

What it does well

AdGuard blocks ads and filters DNS rather than only hiding tracking, and the same account covers a private DNS service. The free plan is the default and covers DNS blocking, while the free Content Blocker drops features next to the full Android app. Coverage spans Windows, macOS and Linux, and encrypted lookups run over doh, dot and doq, so the same filters travel from a browser to a phone.

Who runs it

AdGuard is run by ADGUARD SOFTWARE LIMITED, headquartered in Cyprus and built on network filtering since 2009. Support runs through email, help centre and community, so questions land in the help centre or the community rather than with a person on a phone, which suits readers who search first and write in only when the guides run out.

How AdGuard compares

Frequently asked questions

Is there a free AdGuard plan?+

Yes, and the free plan is the default. It covers DNS blocking, while the free Content Blocker drops features next to the full Android app. The starter apps already run on Windows, macOS and Linux, so you can try blocking on a phone, a desktop or a browser before paying.

What does the paid VPN plan include?+

The paid AdGuard VPN plan covers 10 devices at a time, and the longest subscription term runs 24. Its feature set includes no logs and streaming and split tunnelling and obfuscation, and a money back window of 30 days sits behind the purchase if the fit is wrong.

Which platforms are covered?+

Apps and browser extensions cover Windows, macOS and Linux. The same list runs across the ad blocker, the private DNS service and the VPN, so the platforms you already use sit under one set of rules.

How private is the filtering?+

Traffic is filtered locally on device, and AdGuard does not know which sites you visit. The software is open source, and encrypted DNS runs over doh, dot and doq for readers who want their lookups protected in transit.

Who runs AdGuard and where?+

AdGuard is run by ADGUARD SOFTWARE LIMITED, a company headquartered in Cyprus with jurisdiction in Cyprus, building network filtering tools since 2009. Support runs through email, help centre and community, so most readers land in the help centre first and fall back on the community forum.

Who is AdGuard for?+

It suits readers who want an ad blocker, a private DNS service and a VPN without juggling separate accounts. Filtering happens on device, the software is open source, and the VPN plan covers 10 devices.

How does AdGuard differ from aliasing and opt-out services?+

AdGuard works at the network level as an ad blocker and private DNS service, listed under ad blocker and private dns, rather than hiding an email address. Apple Hide My Email hands out aliases free with an Apple Account, and EasyOptOuts has no free plan, so neither one filters ads for you.

Sources

  • adguard-dns.io/en/license.html checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Free plan, Free plan limits, Pricing model

    “AdGuard DNS Starter is a free plan provided by default.”

  • adguard-dns.io/public-dns.html checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Open source, Protocols

    “Try AdGuard Home, a powerful instrument to block ads and trackers and manage your home network. For more information, visit our GitHub repository.”

  • adguard-vpn.com/welcome.html checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Devices, Features, Features, Longest plan (months), Money-back period

    “The paid AdGuard VPN subscription allows 10 simultaneous device connections, while the free version allows only 2.”

  • adguard.com/en/contacts.html checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Founded, Headquarters, Privacy tool type

    “Adguard Software Limited is a company incorporated on June 1, 2009.”

  • adguard.com/en/license.html checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Platforms, Support channels

    “AdGuard licenses are universal and work on any device (Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS).”

  • adguard.com/en/privacy.html checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Jurisdiction, Legal entity, Logging policy

    “ADGUARD SOFTWARE LIMITED is a company registered in Limassol, Cyprus”

Compiled from 6 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.

Not confirmed yet: Price from.

AdGuard

AdGuard

A single provider for ad blocking, private DNS and a VPN across Windows, macOS and Linux.

9.4/10Visit

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