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
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.
View on Google Play StoreFree or paid:
- Free with in-app purchase
Accessibility and User Comments:
During my testing, I didn't encounter any accessibility issues except for two missing labels that were swiftly added when the issue was brought to the developer's attention.
Using the app to block apps is simple and straightforward. A persistent notification is shown in the notification shade, stating that the rules are enforced with the number of allowed and blocked apps.
Since options for restricting an app's internet access are very limited on my phone, I found the app to be a must after I needed to block internet access for a certain app. However, I noticed that a few kilobytes of data consumption are recorded even after blocking the app's internet access. Note that I cannot comment for now about the pro features' accessibility.
Last Tested App version and Android version:
App version: 2.328, Android 14
Comments