When comparing AdAway vs Adguard AdBlocker, the Slant community recommends AdAway for most people. In the question“What are the best ad blockers?” AdAway is ranked 2nd while Adguard AdBlocker is ranked 3rd. The most important reason people chose AdAway is:
Use the hosts files to block ads, so it works for everything.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro System wide blocking
Use the hosts files to block ads, so it works for everything.
Pro Doesn't consume CPU time or memory
The app updates the hosts file periodically but doesn't need to run in the background in order to block ads, which is especially convenient for older phones.
Pro Can use systemless host
Can be used without modifying the system if rooted with magisk.
Pro Can use custom host files
Lots of people and keep their own updated host files used for blocking ads and ad away supports loading them in or even adding their source for autoloading.
Pro Easy to use
Get the paid version which you can try completly free for two weeks.
Pro Easy to use but also provides top notch protection
Not complex. However, the protection makes it seem like it is.
Pro Offers an operating system-level solution in addition to per-browser extensions
While most ad blockers can only help you while viewing web pages and only in one specific browser inside which they're installed, AdGuard offers a Windows application which runs in the background of your system and blocks ads on all browsers and native applications from only a single process.
Pro Stealth mode
offers options to prevent user tracking like
- removing url tracking parameters
- disable browsing api (webrtc, push, location)
- remove/modify identifying browser request headers
Pro Option to allow useful ads
Pro Split VPN Tunneling compatible
You can run AdGuard for your adblocking, and another VPN service at the same time.
Cons
Con Needs root (by design)
Needs root to update the hosts file.
Con Won't block same domain ads
Because the host file can only redirect domains, if the ad and content are on the same domain the ad will be displayed.
Con Unable to use a VPN when using this software concurrently
This is because of how the filtering and blocking process on almost all non-root block options amongst apps work.
The app makes use of the VPN protocol locally to block ads and thus you won't be able to use a VPN at the same time.
Con Slow
Like any browser extension, it slows down your browser.
Con Commercial
It not really nice to route all your sensible data through their servers.
Con Just a browser addon
It is just a browser addon so it will only work with the supported browsers and you have to install it for all browsers separately.
Con Blocks some websites
Occasionally blocks access to some unrelated websites which heavily uses Javascript.