BlockAds

🛡️ BlockAds — System-Wide Ad & Tracker Blocker

BlockAds is a free and open-source Android ad blocker that filters advertising, tracking and malicious domains across the device using local traffic filtering. It can work without root through Android's VPN interface, while rooted devices can use its Root Proxy mode.

🚫 System-Wide Blocking

BlockAds filters DNS requests locally and compares domains against configured blocklists before allowing connections to continue.

It can help block:

• Advertisements • Tracking domains • Malicious domains • Phishing-related domains • Malvertising

Because filtering is performed locally, blocked DNS requests do not need to be sent to a remote blocking service.

📡 Two Routing Modes

BlockAds provides two main ways to handle traffic:

• VPN Mode — system-wide filtering through Android VpnService, with no root required • Root Proxy Mode — traffic redirection using iptables on supported rooted devices

Per-app filtering can also be used to bypass the VPN for selected applications.

🔐 HTTPS Filtering

BlockAds includes an optional HTTPS filtering system using a userspace TCP/IP stack.

Supported capabilities include:

• Per-app HTTPS filtering • Browser-oriented MITM filtering • Cosmetic CSS filtering • JavaScript scriptlets • EasyList-compatible filtering rules • CA certificate installation verification

A curated passthrough list is included to reduce compatibility problems with applications and domains that rely on certificate pinning, including banking, payment and government services.

📋 Filter Lists

Several filter sources are supported, including lists based on projects such as:

• StevenBlack • AdGuard DNS • EasyList • Additional built-in and custom lists

Filter lists can be updated automatically on a configurable schedule, including 6, 12, 24 or 48-hour intervals.

🧰 Custom Rules

Users can create their own blocking and allow rules, maintain whitelists and adjust filtering behavior for individual applications.

🌐 DNS Features

BlockAds provides DNS-over-HTTPS support with multiple providers and includes real-time DNS query logs with search and filtering tools.

It can also warn users when Android Private DNS settings may bypass the application's filtering.

📊 Monitoring & Convenience

Additional features include:

• DNS query logs • Quick Settings tile • Home-screen widget • Automatic reconnection after boot • Settings backup and restore • WireGuard profile import • Trusted Wi-Fi networks • Android TV support • Light, dark and system themes • Material You dynamic colors

🌍 Languages

The project currently lists support for English, Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Thai and Spanish.

🔒 Privacy

BlockAds is designed around local processing. The project states that its filtering data remains on the device and that it does not collect users' network traffic. Optional crash reporting and diagnostic features are separately configurable.

📜 License

BlockAds is released under the GNU General Public License v3.0 (GPL-3.0). Third-party libraries, filter lists and bundled components remain subject to their respective licenses.

⚠️ Important

BlockAds is an ad-blocking and traffic-filtering application, not a VPN service provider. HTTPS filtering requires additional Android certificate configuration and may not work with applications using certificate pinning. Filtering behavior can also vary between apps, networks and DNS configurations.

✨ Block ads, trackers and unwanted domains locally with a flexible Android filtering tool.