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

This is a very nice application. It takes very little space, and it blocks all kinds of Internet traffic. There is so much internet traffic, that both goes out and comes in! This can capture it. Plus, you don't need access to the root directory/folder, or the top level folder, to make this work. It is so nice ( : Suggest getting the registered version. Encourage the developer. This stuff takes a lot of work!! Thank you for this awesome application, Mr. Developer, lol

Does what it's supposed to do. Even system apps. Would like to have a separate new app list for first time attempts like I've seen on others, but it's great otherwise. Update: the app seems to have stopped working. Not sure what's happened, but the same thing occurred on my previous phone and stayed that way until I got this one. I've not changed anything and the app has been updated. It's on and says it's enforcing rules. Update 2: New phone, so far so good. Upping a star.

Take Control of Your Android's Network with Netguard. Netguard offers a sleek, user-friendly way to manage your Android's network activity without root access. Its standout Pro feature is the ability to import host files, effectively sinkholing telemetry and unwanted tracking. It's efficient, easy to set up, and a crucial tool for anyone serious about privacy and security. If you're looking to limit data collection from apps and safeguard your personal information, Netguard is a must-have app.

What's new

* Decoding TLS SNI
* Android 13 and 14 compatibility
* Play store policies compliance
* Updated build tools and libraries
* Updated translations