NetGuard - no-root firewall

29.7K reviews
Content rating
Rated for 3+
10M+
Downloads
Content rating
Rated for 3+
Learn more
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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.48493-case-admin.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
A simple way to block access to the internet per application
Updated on
Aug 17, 2026

Data safety

Safety starts with understanding how developers collect and share your data. Data privacy and security practices may vary based on your use, region, and age. The developer provided this information and may update it over time.
  • No data shared with third parties
    Learn more about how developers declare sharing
  • This app may collect these data types
    App activity
  • Data is encrypted in transit
  • Data can’t be deleted

Ratings and reviews

28.6K reviews
P. Hall
September 13, 2026
UPDATE: NetGuard is the best firewall I've ever used on my Android phone. Using it now for over five years. I won't use any smart phone without it, and I've tried other firewalls. NetGuard even blocks ads that apps force on you. You simply block the app from internet access, but still use the app (unless you need the app to have internet access). NetGuard is a 5 Star firewall. I've even become proficient using the expert mode. NetGuard is truly a brilliant piece of work. For experts or novices.
24 people found this review helpful
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Marcel Bokhorst, FairCode BV
June 27, 2021
This is definitely not caused by an update. Please make sure managing system apps is enabled in the advanced settings and double check your rules. A 3* rating doesn't make me happy and I think this is not what the app deserves. Please check and reconsider. [Edit] Please check the settings in the default settings section.
Lukas V008
July 8, 2026
App for people with brain! Works great. Blocking all (system/user) apps from accessing the internet and let me know who they were trying to reach. This app doesn't show any ads. Doesn't send any data to any server. You can use adblocking feature, you can verify hosts using ping command. This is an application to protect your privacy and for which the developer receives death threats, so it really works!!
110 people found this review helpful
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Jake Marshall
December 12, 2021
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
94 people found this review helpful
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Marcel Bokhorst, FairCode BV
October 20, 2021
Ads are retrieved by Google Play services and not apps themselves. So, you can't block ads by blocking apps. Google designed it this way. Ad blocking apps are not allowed in the Play store either, but you can contact me for an ad blocking solution if you wish.

What’s new

* Updated to SDK 36