RethinkDNS
Hacker ApprovedShares rank 5 of 7 network ad blockers by recommenders
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.
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.
19 people gave an opinion
- recommend it
- 16
- criticize it
- 3
- approval share
- 84%
Recommended in 9 of 13 months
- November 2025: recommended
- December 2025: not recommended
- January 2026: recommended
- February 2026: recommended
- March 2026: recommended
- April 2026: recommended
- May 2026: not recommended
- June 2026: recommended
- July 2026: not recommended
- August 2026: recommended
- September 2026: recommended
- October 2026: recommended
- November 2026: not recommended (month in progress)
Why it carries the badge
- 16 people recommend itNeeds 10 or more, met.
- 5.3 recommenders for every criticNeeds 2 to 1 or better, met.
- Recommended in 9 of 13 monthsNeeds 4 or more, met.
The same three rules apply to every product, and the badge can’t be bought. How the badge works
What people say about it
The reasons people give, with the number of comments that give each one. Open a reason to read what they said.
Why people recommend it
Each mark is one comment
WireGuard support in firewall
“It's nice that RethinkDNS has specifically added wireguard support to its firewall app”
Comment from 1 Nov 2025 on Hacker News “handles WireGuard re-connectivity better across a range of providers”
Comment from 6 Aug 2026 in “Google Assistant is going away on Mobile Devices” “Fast/private DNS, firewall, logs, VPN (WireGuard) ready to go.”
Comment from 6 Jan 2026 in “Show HN: DoNotNotify – log and intelligently block notifications on Android” Blocks ads and trackers system-wide
“I use Rethink app to block most of the ads and trackers.”
Comment from 22 Mar 2026 in “'Miracle': Europe reconnects with lost spacecraft” “it will block ads in other apps”
Comment from 7 Nov 2025 in “Meta projected 10% of 2024 revenue came from scams” Works better than other blocklists
“RethinkDNS on GrapheneOS works far better than the domain blocklist in /e/ but it's not a strong approach to privacy”
Comment from 17 Feb 2026 in “GrapheneOS – Break Free from Google and Apple” “a higher quality implementation”
Comment from 17 Feb 2026 in “GrapheneOS – Break Free from Google and Apple” Per-app firewall blocks internet access
“Rethink DNS can block internet access of an app (besides doing DNS-based blocking, etc.)”
Comment from 14 Apr 2026 in “Android now stops you sharing your location in photos” “Fast/private DNS, firewall, logs, VPN (WireGuard) ready to go.”
Comment from 6 Jan 2026 in “Show HN: DoNotNotify – log and intelligently block notifications on Android”
What people warn about
Each mark is one comment
Drops connections or stops working
“It randomly stops and no app can reach the internet (or me)”
Comment from 6 Aug 2026 in “On non-rooted Android 17, ADB uninstall of system apps fails” “with frequent proxy disconnects, making it a very painful experience”
Comment from 5 Aug 2026 in “Google Assistant is going away on Mobile Devices”
Other network ad blockers people recommend
The four most recommended other network ad blockers, with the same counts for each, so you can compare like for like. The tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs.
| Product | Recommend | Criticize | Approval | Months | Owned | Badge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pi-hole | 136 | 26 | 84% | 12 | 5 yrs7 owners | Approved |
| NextDNS | 81 | 14 | 85% | 12 | 3 yrs4 owners | Approved |
| AdGuard Home | 48 | 3 | 94% | 13 | — | Approved |
| AdGuard DNS | 26 | 3 | 90% | 11 | — | Approved |
| RethinkDNSThis page | 16 | 3 | 84% | 9 | — | Approved |
What people said
18 of the 23 comments that mention it, newest first. Each links to the original comment.
“I was trying Rethink several times, but WG Tunnel with ad-- and tracker-blocking service works best for me.”
“they block also when I am on mobile data (it is vpn based)”
“use Rethink DNS app like me”
“RethinkDNS does everything for me.”
“It randomly stops and no app can reach the internet (or me)”
“Very handy for blocking constant Chinese phone telemetry pings”
“handles WireGuard re-connectivity better across a range of providers”
“with frequent proxy disconnects, making it a very painful experience”
“There are some apps I can't do without like ReThink DNS”
“Rethink DNS can block internet access of an app (besides doing DNS-based blocking, etc.)”
“we have had no help from a designer”
“I use Rethink app to block most of the ads and trackers.”
“RethinkDNS on GrapheneOS works far better than the domain blocklist in /e/ but it's not a strong approach to privacy”
“a higher quality implementation”
“i don't understand why more tech savvy people don't use on-device DNS blocking like with RethinkDNS”
“Fast/private DNS, firewall, logs, VPN (WireGuard) ready to go.”
“it will block ads in other apps”
“It's nice that RethinkDNS has specifically added wireguard support to its firewall app”
Counts come from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026. How we count. Report a mistake.