# RethinkDNS

16 Hacker News commenters recommended RethinkDNS and 3 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 9 of 13 months. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** People recommend it as a free Android app for on-device DNS ad and tracker blocking, with firewall and WireGuard support. Critics say it sometimes stops working and drops connections.

## Why people recommend it

- WireGuard support in firewall (3 comments): "It's nice that RethinkDNS has specifically added wireguard support to its firewall app" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45779735)) "handles WireGuard re-connectivity better across a range of providers" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49195458)) "Fast/private DNS, firewall, logs, VPN (WireGuard) ready to go." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46514615))
- Blocks ads and trackers system-wide (2 comments): "I use Rethink app to block most of the ads and trackers." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47480532)) "it will block ads in other apps" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45846620))
- Works better than other blocklists (2 comments): "RethinkDNS on GrapheneOS works far better than the domain blocklist in /e/ but it's not a strong approach to privacy" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47053881)) "a higher quality implementation" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47052152))
- Per-app firewall blocks internet access (2 comments): "Rethink DNS can block internet access of an app (besides doing DNS-based blocking, etc.)" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47766568)) "Fast/private DNS, firewall, logs, VPN (WireGuard) ready to go." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46514615))

## What people warn about

- Drops connections or stops working (2 comments): "It randomly stops and no app can reach the internet (or me)" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49199520)) "with frequent proxy disconnects, making it a very painful experience" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49186763))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [NextDNS](https://hackerapproved.com/p/nextdns.md): 81 recommend
- [AdGuard DNS](https://hackerapproved.com/p/adguard-dns.md): 26 recommend
- [Control D](https://hackerapproved.com/p/controld.md): 16 recommend
- [Pi-hole](https://hackerapproved.com/p/pihole.md): 5 recommend

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "RethinkDNS", https://hackerapproved.com/p/rethinkdns/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).