Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
AdGuard vs Kaspersky
What sets them apart
| Compare |  AdGuard |  Kaspersky |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, Android TV, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Safari, Yandex BrowserCovers more | Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS |
| Protocols | Doh, Dot, Doq, Dnscrypt | WireGuard |
| Logging policy | Traffic filtered locally on device; AdGuard does not know which sites you visit | VPN claims your online actions are not logged |
| Jurisdiction | CY | CH |
| Privacy tool type | Ad blocker, Private dns | Ad blocker, Browser |
| Free plan limits | Free AdGuard DNS Starter plan by default; AdGuard Content Blocker free but with features limited compared to AdGuard for Android | Not confirmed |
| Open source | Yes | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Free plan (Yes).
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Key differences
- AdGuard scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.1.
- Platforms: only AdGuard offers Linux, Android TV, Chrome.
- Protocols: only AdGuard offers Doh, Dot, Doq.
- Protocols: only Kaspersky offers WireGuard.
- Support channels: only AdGuard offers Email.
- Founded is lower at Kaspersky: 1997 vs 2009.
- Privacy tool type: only AdGuard offers Private dns.
- Privacy tool type: only Kaspersky offers Browser.
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.
Kaspersky
Kaspersky Secure Connection fits households already inside the Kaspersky ecosystem, since one subscription carries the VPN, password manager and parental controls together. Server reach of 93 countries sits above the median VPN, and 10 devices at once covers a couple or a family.
Score breakdown
| Area | AdGuard | Kaspersky |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1 | Not confirmed |
| Offer | 9.6Higher | 8.9The offer pairs a 30 day refund window with a 30 day free trial on the wider Kaspersky suite. |
| Privacy | 9.4 | 9.4 |
Side by side, item by item
| Protocols | AdGuard | Kaspersky |
|---|---|---|
| Doh | Yes | No |
| Dot | Yes | No |
| Doq | Yes | No |
| Dnscrypt | Yes | No |
How they place
| Ranking | AdGuard | Kaspersky |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 18 of 232 | 6 of 232 |
| Privacy tools | 18 of 280 | 5 of 280 |
| Ad blockers and private DNS | 10 of 63 | 5 of 63 |
| Parental control apps | 7 of 59 | 4 of 59 |
| Free VPNs | 14 of 189 | 5 of 189 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AdGuard | Kaspersky |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Legal entity | ADGUARD SOFTWARE LIMITED | AO Kaspersky Lab |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | Switzerland |
| Founded | 2009 | 1997Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre, CommunityCovers more | Help centre, Community |
VPN
| Fact | AdGuard | Kaspersky |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | 10 | 10 |
| Server countries | Not confirmed | 93 |
| Features | No logs, Streaming | No logs, Streaming, TravelCovers more |
| Money-back period | 30 days | 30 days |
| Features | Split tunnelling, Obfuscation | Kill switch, Split tunnelling |
| Streaming services | Not confirmed | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ |
| Longest plan (months) | 24 months | Not confirmed |
Password managers
| Fact | AdGuard | Kaspersky |
|---|---|---|
| Family plan | Not confirmed | One Kaspersky Premium subscription shared with family members via the same account |
| Passkeys | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Encryption | Not confirmed | AES-256 with key derived from the master password via PBKDF2, zero-knowledge architecture |
Antivirus
| Fact | AdGuard | Kaspersky |
|---|---|---|
| Free version | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Extras | Not confirmed | VPN, Password manager, Parental controls |
Identity protection
| Fact | AdGuard | Kaspersky |
|---|---|---|
| Free trial length | Not confirmed | 30 days |
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.
Kaspersky
Pros
- Kaspersky Premium bundles the VPN, password manager and parental controls (vpn, password manager and parental controls) in one subscription a family plan can share
- Device and platform coverage is generous: 10 devices at once, with apps for Windows, macOS and Android on desktop and mobile
- Streaming and travel are stated features, with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ supported and kill switch and split tunnelling built in as standard
Cons
- Support runs on help centre and community only, so quick answers go through documentation or the community rather than live chat
- The protocol list is WireGuard, so readers who want a wider choice of protocols have less room to compare
- The free version that Kaspersky lists sits with antivirus rather than a free VPN, so VPN features start on a paid subscription
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.
Kaspersky
Who it suits
- Households that already pay for Kaspersky security software and want the VPN folded into the same subscription rather than bought separately
- Travellers who want one app for secure connections on Windows, macOS and Android across phones and desktops while abroad
- Families sharing one account, since the family plan passes the same subscription across to other members in the household
Who should look elsewhere
- AVG, if server spread matters most, since its coverage starts at from 100 countries, further than Kaspersky reaches
- Namecheap, if you want the widest server list, since it lists from 100 countries or more across its network
- ESET Brasil, if device counts drive the choice, since its plans scale from 3 to 25 devices under one plan
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
Kaspersky
Current offer
Free trial
7-day free trial of Kaspersky VPN: 7 days free
Free for 7 days, auto-renews to a paid subscription unless cancelled in My Kaspersky; 2 days' reminder before trial end
Source, checked September 26, 2026
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.
Kaspersky
What does Kaspersky Premium include besides the VPN?+
One Kaspersky Premium subscription covers vpn, password manager and parental controls, and the family plan lets the same subscription be shared with family members through one account. That bundle is the main reason to look here rather than a standalone VPN.
How many devices can one Kaspersky subscription cover?+
The plan covers 10 devices at once, which suits a couple or a shared family without straining. Server reach runs to 93 countries, a wider spread than the median VPN listed on the site.
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