NetGuard - no-root firewall

Marcel Bokhorst, FairCode BV

In-app purchases

About this app

NetGuard is an internet security app, which offers simple and advanced ways to restrict apps' access to the internet.

Applications and addresses can individually be allowed or denied access to your Wi-Fi and/or mobile connection. Root permissions are not required.

Blocking access to the internet can help:

• reduce your data usage
• save your battery
• increase your privacy

Features:

• Simple to use
• No root required
• 100% open source
• No calling home
• No tracking or analytics
• No advertisements
• Actively developed and supported
• Android 5.1 and later supported
• IPv4/IPv6 TCP/UDP supported
• Tethering supported
• Optionally allow when screen on
• Optionally block when roaming
• Optionally block system applications
• Optionally notify when an application accesses the internet
• Optionally record network usage per application per address
• Material design theme with light and dark theme

PRO features:

• Log all outgoing traffic; search and filter access attempts; export PCAP files to analyze traffic
• Allow/block individual addresses per application
• New application notifications; configure NetGuard directly from the notification
• Display network speed graph in a status bar notification
• Select from five additional themes in both light and dark version

There is no other no-root firewall offering all these features.

If you like to test new features, you can participate in the test program: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/eu.faircode.netguard

All required permissions are described here: https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard/blob/master/FAQ.md#user-content-faq42

NetGuard uses the Android VPNService to route traffic to itself, so it can be filtered on-device instead of on a server. Only one app can use this service at the same time, which is a limitation of Android.

The full source code is available here: https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard

Ratings and reviews

Netgaurd is not only good for privacy, but also useful for saving tons of mobile data, as you can restrict apps to Wi-Fi only. I've done that with all the streaming apps so I can only stream content through Wi-Fi. I like the fact it's also free and there's no ads. It even blocks ads in some apps, because they are denied access to the internet (it only blocks ads in some apps, not all). I wish more people were aware of Netgaurd, I highly recommend it! It's become essential for me

Great app, works well for offline games and other offline apps. Found one glitch in it that's turning people away. When installed for the first time, netguard blocks all mobile data traffic in apps. To fix it, open netguard app and switch blocking off and back on. (Orange dot in top left corner). This needs to be fixed by developer, at least include a text guide, so people know what to do if they encounter it.

a very useful app indeed. These days I wouldn't be without it... ideal for preventing apps from "phoning home" and sending your data to the developer of whatever app is trying to use your connection for unspecified purposes, or to block adverts and/or other traffic on apps that have no valid reason to use your internet/mobile internet connection. Only issue I have is that sometimes it isn't auto-started when I power on the phone, which I do every few days - as required, although I strongly suspect that this behaviour is due to Android itself or Samsung's implementation of Android. Very easy to use and configure and a well-written app by a developer who cares very much about the high quality of his work! Thanks for a great app Marcel!

What’s new

* Reduced number of reloads
* Small improvements
* Updated build tools