Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
AdGuard vs Aura
What sets them apart
| Compare |  AdGuard |  Aura |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | 10 | from 10 |
| Money-back period | 30 days | 60 daysHigher |
| Features | Split tunnelling, Obfuscation | Screen time, Web filter |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, Android TV, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Safari, Yandex Browser | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Browsers |
| Longest plan (months) | 24 monthsHigher | 12 months |
| Monthly price | Not confirmed | $12 |
| Long-term plan price | Not confirmed | $12 |
| Server countries | Not confirmed | 100 |
| Renewal price | Not confirmed | $120 |
| Jurisdiction | CY | Not confirmed |
| Protocols | Doh, Dot, Doq, Dnscrypt | Not confirmed |
| Streaming services | Not confirmed | Netflix, YouTube |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- AdGuard scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.1.
- Features: only AdGuard offers Split tunnelling, Obfuscation.
- Features: only Aura offers Screen time, Web filter.
- Platforms: only AdGuard offers MacOS, Linux, Android TV.
- Platforms: only Aura offers Mac, Browsers.
- Longest plan (months) is higher at AdGuard: 24 months vs 12 months.
- Support channels: only AdGuard offers Community.
- Support channels: only Aura offers Chat, Phone.
- Money-back period is higher at Aura: 60 days vs 30 days.
- Founded is lower at AdGuard: 2009 vs 2014.
Our verdict on each
AdGuard
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.
Aura
Aura suits households that want identity monitoring, a VPN, a password manager and parental controls under a single subscription. The trade-off is cost: the monthly plan sits at $12 and the family plan at $32, above the site median of €7.89.
Score breakdown
| Area | AdGuard | Aura |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Higher | 8.8Monthly plan price of $12 sits above the site median of €7.89, and first-year price of $120 clears €49.95. |
| Offer | 9.6Higher | 9.5Bundles VPN, password manager and parental controls on one subscription, with a family plan at $32 covering adults, kids and devices. |
| Privacy | 9.4Higher | 8.7 |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | AdGuard | Aura |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 18 of 232 | 33 of 232 |
| Privacy tools | 18 of 280 | 97 of 280 |
| Parental control apps | 7 of 59 | 15 of 59 |
| Free VPNs | 14 of 189 | 28 of 189 |
Where these facts come from
AdGuard
- adguard.com: 6 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- adguard-vpn.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- adguard-dns.io: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Aura
- aura.com: 17 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AdGuard | Aura |
|---|---|---|
| Features | No logs, StreamingCovers more | Streaming |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business |
| Pricing model | Free | Budget |
| Legal entity | ADGUARD SOFTWARE LIMITED | Aura Sub, LLC |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | United States |
| Founded | 2009Lower | 2014 |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre |
Parental controls
| Fact | AdGuard | Aura |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly price | Not confirmed | $120 |
Password managers
| Fact | AdGuard | Aura |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Not confirmed | $15 |
| Free plan | YesHas it | No |
| Family plan | Not confirmed | 5 adults, unlimited kids and unlimited devices |
| Security audit | Not confirmed | ISO 27001 certified and SOC 2 Type II third-party audited |
| Encryption | Not confirmed | 256-AES |
| Open source | Yes | Not confirmed |
Antivirus
| Fact | AdGuard | Aura |
|---|---|---|
| First-year price | Not confirmed | $120 |
| Free version | Not confirmed | No |
| Extras | Not confirmed | VPN, Password manager, Parental controls |
Data removal
| Fact | AdGuard | Aura |
|---|---|---|
| Data brokers covered | Not confirmed | from 425 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AdGuard | Aura | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | Not confirmed | $12above the median | $9 |
| Long-term plan price | Not confirmed | $12highest quarter | $4.50 |
| Devices | 10at the median | from 10at the median | 10 |
| Server countries | Not confirmed | 100highest quarter | 62 |
| Renewal price | Not confirmed | $120highest quarter | $12 |
| Money-back period | 30 daysat the median | 60 dayshighest quarter | 30 days |
Median across 132 listed providers.
Pros and cons
AdGuard
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.
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.
Aura
Pros
- A single subscription covers identity monitoring, a VPN, a password manager and parental controls, with parental tools for screen time and web filtering.
- Monitoring runs across 3 credit bureaus, which matches the 3 site median and the 30 brands ranked on it.
- The family plan covers 5 adults, unlimited kids and unlimited devices at $32 per month.
Cons
- There is no free plan, so you start on a paid subscription with a trial of 14 days.
- The monthly plan price of $12 sits above the site median of €7.89, and the first-year price of $120 is higher still.
- Identity insurance of $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 looks generous, but Aura ranks at 10 of 45 on that measure.
Who each suits
AdGuard
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.
Aura
Who it suits
- Households that want a single subscription covering identity monitoring, a VPN, a password manager and parental controls
- Families covering several adults and unlimited kids who value the family plan of 5 adults, unlimited kids and unlimited devices at $32
- Readers who want a 60 day money back window and a 14 day trial before deciding
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want a free plan or free version to sample, which Aura does not offer
- Buyers who will not stretch past the $12 monthly plan or the $120 first-year price
Current offers
AdGuard
Current offer
Free trial
AdGuard for Windows 14-day trial period: 14 days
Included with the AdGuard for Windows v8.0 download
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
Try Premium free for 7 days in AdGuard for iOS: 7 days
In-app offer before purchasing an iOS subscription; no payment taken during the trial
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
AdGuard DNS Personal plan free for AdGuard VPN customers: Free AdGuard DNS Personal subscription
Requires an active AdGuard VPN subscription; activated from the AdGuard account
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Free AdGuard license for contributors and developers: Free license key
For community contributors (translations, beta testing, filters, knowledge base) and developers requesting a developer license
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Aura
Current offer
Free trial
14-day free trial on all Aura plans: 14 days free
Free trial offer can only be redeemed once per customer; full access to plan features depends on identity verification and credit eligibility
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
60-day money-back guarantee on all annual plans: 60 days
Only for annual plans purchased through Aura websites (excludes Amazon) or via the Customer Support team
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | AdGuard | Aura |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | No | Yes |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
AdGuard
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.
Aura
What does Aura cost per month, and what happens at renewal?+
The monthly plan is $12 and the family plan is $32, covering 5 adults, unlimited kids and unlimited devices. The first-year price is $120 and the renewal price is $120, so the figure after a year stays where it is. A long term plan price of $12 runs 12 months.
Is there a free version of Aura to try first?+
There is no free plan and no free version, so a paid subscription is the only way in. A free trial of 14 days and a money back period of 60 days soften that. Across the site most brands do ship a free version, so Aura is the exception here.
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