Disclosure: VPNFin is reader-supported. If you buy a VPN through links on this page, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This never affects our ratings — here’s our full disclosure.
AdGuard VPN alternatives make sense if you want an audit, open protocols or a bigger free plan. AdGuard VPN is cheap and simple, but its proprietary protocol and no-logs policy have no outside checks.
The services below fill those gaps, each for a different need. Our AdGuard VPN review covers what you would leave behind.
AdGuard VPN Alternatives for Streaming: NordVPN or Surfshark
AdGuard VPN is decent for Netflix, TechRadar found, but larger networks unblock more reliably. Nord Security runs both. NordVPN leads on audits, with 6 in our table, while Surfshark leads on devices, with no cap at all.
For Audited Privacy and a Free Plan: Proton VPN
AdGuard VPN has no audit and a 3 GB free plan capped at 20 Mbps. With 5 Securitum audits and a free tier without a data cap, Proton VPN is the audited free option, and paid plans start near $2.99 a month.
For many AdGuard free users, Proton’s plan is the natural step: still free, but without the 3 GB ceiling.
For Torrenting: PIA
AdGuard VPN allows torrenting, but its logging policy is unaudited. PIA suits torrent users: port forwarding, no device cap and 3 Deloitte audits in our table, at about $2.03 a month.
For Strict Privacy: Mullvad
If you chose AdGuard for its Cyprus base, Mullvad’s Swedish base comes with far more audits. For the strictest privacy, Mullvad offers 10+ audits in our table and account numbers instead of emails, at a flat rate near $5.40 a month.
For Lower Prices: PureVPN or CyberGhost
AdGuard VPN’s two-year plan is already cheap at $2.99 a month. PureVPN, near $2.15 a month with 4 KPMG audits, and CyberGhost, near $2.19 with 3 Deloitte audits, both keep costs low with outside checks.
For TVs and Routers
AdGuard VPN supports routers, TechRadar notes, but TV apps vary by platform. Smart TVs and consoles need either a TV app, which NordVPN and Surfshark offer, or a VPN router such as ExpressVPN Aircove. Our guide to a VPN for smart TV covers both.
Price Comparison
AdGuard VPN costs $11.99 monthly, $3.99 a month on one year and $2.99 a month on two years, Tom’s Guide reports. The alternatives above run from about $2.03 to $5.40 a month in our price table.
Free or Paid
AdGuard’s free plan gives 3 GB a month at up to 20 Mbps, which runs out quickly with video. If you want to pay nothing, Proton VPN’s free tier has no data cap, and Windscribe’s gives up to 15 GB, our refund table shows. Both are audited.
A Quick Rule
Want a bigger free plan with an audit? Proton VPN. Streaming on a TV? NordVPN or Surfshark. Seeding torrents? PIA. Strict privacy? Mullvad.
Switching Without a Gap
Install the new VPN before cancelling AdGuard VPN, and keep using AdGuard’s ad blocker if you like it, since it works alongside other VPNs. AdGuard offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Several Devices
AdGuard VPN allows 10 devices on paid plans, RTINGS reports. NordVPN matches that, Surfshark and PIA set no limit, and Mullvad allows 5.
Families
If you use AdGuard’s ad blocker for family safety, keep it; it works with other VPNs. Then pick a VPN with apps on every family device.
Keeping Protection Running
Keep AdGuard’s ad blocker or DNS filtering running, since those work independently of the VPN. Set up the new VPN on each device first, then uninstall the old one. Two VPN apps running together often cause dropped connections.
Testing an Alternative
Compare free plans first if cost matters: Proton’s has no data cap. Then test speed and streaming on paid trials, and run a leak test using our guide to checking if a VPN is working.
If you use VPN-blocking networks, such as some hotels, test each candidate there too. AdGuard’s HTTPS-style protocol handled those well.
Ownership
Nord Security owns NordVPN and Surfshark, and Kape owns PIA, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN. Proton VPN and Mullvad are independent companies. AdGuard Software Limited is based in Cyprus.
Knowing the owner helps you judge where your data goes, which is the point of switching in the first place.
What You Give Up
You give up the HTTPS-style protocol that helps on blocked networks, and tight integration with AdGuard’s ad blocker.
Leaving AdGuard VPN
Cancel through your AdGuard account and request any refund within 30 days. The free plan stays available if you only need it occasionally.
Are AdGuard VPN Alternatives Worth the Switch?
If you need verified privacy or more free data, switching is worth it. If you mainly use AdGuard’s ad blocker and light VPN features, the free plan may still serve you.
For more on AdGuard VPN, see AdGuard VPN’s free plan, whether AdGuard VPN is safe and what AdGuard VPN costs.
We also cover similar services: PotatoVPN alternatives and OrionVPN alternatives.
How We Research
This page draws on our AdGuard VPN research, including Tom’s Guide, RTINGS, TechRadar and SafetyDetectives, read on 21 October 2026. The main source for this brand is Tom’s Guide’s AdGuard VPN review. Partner figures come from our audit, price, device and refund tables. We do not run our own tests. Our full approach lives on the About Us page.
AdGuard VPN Alternatives FAQ
Proton VPN for a free audited plan; NordVPN or Surfshark for streaming.
Yes. Proton VPN’s free plan has no data cap.
Yes, the ad blocker works alongside other VPNs.
PIA, with port forwarding and unlimited devices.
The Verdict
The best AdGuard VPN alternatives add proof: Proton VPN for a bigger audited free plan, NordVPN or Surfshark for streaming, PIA for torrents and Mullvad for strict privacy.