AdGuard VPN earns its install base by sitting next to a brand most users already trust for ad blocking. The client is friendly, the AES-256 encryption is standard fare, and Netflix works on the servers we tried. The reasons people switch usually come down to two patterns: the base plan does not offer a free trial, and the tunnel runs on a proprietary protocol rather than WireGuard or OpenVPN. Crypto payments are also missing, which rules out anonymous billing for privacy-first buyers. We tested seven AdGuard VPN alternatives on Windows 11 and macOS Sequoia to see which ones match the polish without the protocol and payment trade-offs.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free plan | Starting price | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proton VPN | Audited no-logs with an unlimited free tier | Yes (unlimited data) | Plus from $4.99/mo | Free tier with no data cap |
| Mullvad VPN | Anonymous accounts and crypto payment | No | Flat $5/mo | Account numbers instead of emails |
| NordVPN | Server count and double-VPN routing | No | From $3.39/mo | NordLynx (WireGuard) on 6,000+ servers |
| Surfshark | Unlimited simultaneous devices | No | From $2.19/mo | One subscription, every device |
| Windscribe | Generous free tier with port forwarding | Yes (10 GB/mo) | Pro from $5.75/mo | Build-a-Plan custom pricing |
| hide.me VPN | Stateless free tier with WireGuard | Yes (10 GB/mo) | Premium from $2.69/mo | No-logs policy with independent audits |
| ExpressVPN | Streaming unblocking and US server reach | No | From $4.99/mo | Lightway protocol with quick reconnects |
Why people leave AdGuard VPN
The protocol question comes up first. AdGuard VPN runs on a proprietary tunnel rather than WireGuard or OpenVPN, which means independent researchers cannot audit the code path the way they can with open standards. The base plan does not offer a free trial, so testing the paid servers means paying upfront and relying on the refund window. Crypto payment is missing entirely, which rules out the anonymous billing route that Mullvad and a few others build their pitch around. The server fleet is smaller than the top-tier VPNs, so peak-hour congestion on popular regions is more noticeable. The no-logs policy is stated rather than audited at the time of writing, which sits awkwardly next to competitors that publish annual third-party audits.
The alternatives
Proton VPN — Best for audited no-logs with an unlimited free tier
Proton VPN is the rare VPN that publishes annual independent audits of its no-logs claim and runs an unlimited free tier with no data cap. The Swiss jurisdiction sits outside the Fourteen Eyes, the apps are open source on every platform, and the paid Plus tier adds Secure Core routing through privacy-friendly countries before exiting to the destination.
Where it falls short: The free tier is limited to three countries and one device. Streaming unblocking is paid-only and slower to react to Netflix region rotations than ExpressVPN.
Pricing: Free with no data cap. Plus from $4.99/month on the two-year plan.
Vs AdGuard VPN: Audited no-logs, WireGuard and OpenVPN tunnels, crypto payment, larger free tier with no time limit.
Download: protonvpn.com/download
Bottom line: Pick Proton VPN if an audited no-logs policy and an open-source client matter most.
Mullvad VPN — Best for anonymous accounts and crypto payment
Mullvad VPN issues a random account number instead of asking for an email, accepts cash by post and a long list of cryptocurrencies, and charges a flat five euros per month with no tiered plans or upsells. The apps support WireGuard and OpenVPN, and the no-logs policy has been audited by Cure53 and Assured.
Where it falls short: Streaming unblocking is unreliable by design because Mullvad refuses to play the IP-rotation game. No discounted long-term plans and no free tier.
Pricing: Flat €5/month, paid in any currency including BTC, ETH, and Monero.
Vs AdGuard VPN: Anonymous accounts, crypto payment, audited no-logs, open protocols. No bundled ad blocking.
Download: mullvad.net/en/download
Bottom line: Pick Mullvad if anonymous billing and audited privacy beat streaming convenience.
NordVPN — Best for server count and double-VPN routing
NordVPN runs over 6,000 servers across 60-plus countries with NordLynx, its WireGuard implementation. The double-VPN feature routes traffic through two servers for users who want extra jurisdictional separation, and Threat Protection blocks ads and trackers at the DNS layer when the tunnel is up.
Where it falls short: Default auto-renew pricing climbs steeply after the first term. The Windows app has more upsell surface than the macOS build.
Pricing: From $3.39/month on the two-year Standard plan.
Vs AdGuard VPN: Larger server fleet, NordLynx (WireGuard), independent audits of the no-logs claim, paid-only.
Download: nordvpn.com/download
Bottom line: Pick NordVPN if a wide server fleet and double-VPN routing earn the renewal jump.
Surfshark — Best for unlimited simultaneous devices
Surfshark allows unlimited simultaneous connections on one account, which makes it the practical pick for families and shared households. The client supports WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2, and the CleanWeb feature filters ads and trackers without a separate app.
Where it falls short: Owned by the same parent as NordVPN since the 2022 merger, which makes the two less independent than they look. Some regional pricing pages still show the pre-merger branding.
Pricing: From $2.19/month on the two-year Starter plan.
Vs AdGuard VPN: Unlimited devices, WireGuard, larger server count, bundled ad and tracker blocking.
Download: surfshark.com/download
Bottom line: Pick Surfshark if one subscription needs to cover every device in the house.
Windscribe — Best for a generous free tier with port forwarding
Windscribe offers 10 GB per month on the free tier with confirmed email and a clean Pro plan that includes port forwarding, static IPs, and the R.O.B.E.R.T. DNS-level blocker. The Build-a-Plan option lets users pay a dollar per location per month for narrower coverage.
Where it falls short: The free tier is throttled to 10 GB and a limited country list. Customer support relies heavily on the community forum.
Pricing: Free with 10 GB/month. Pro from $5.75/month, or Build-a-Plan from $1/location.
Vs AdGuard VPN: Real free tier with WireGuard, port forwarding, customizable plan, bundled DNS blocker.
Download: windscribe.com/download
Bottom line: Pick Windscribe if a tweakable plan and a usable free tier beat one-size-fits-all pricing.
hide.me VPN — Best for a stateless free tier with WireGuard
hide.me VPN runs a stateless free tier with 10 GB per month, no account required, and WireGuard support. The Malaysian jurisdiction sits outside major intelligence-sharing agreements, and the no-logs claim has been independently audited by Securitum.
Where it falls short: Smaller server fleet than NordVPN or ExpressVPN. The free tier is rate-limited at peak hours.
Pricing: Free with 10 GB/month. Premium from $2.69/month on the two-year plan.
Vs AdGuard VPN: Audited no-logs, WireGuard support, free tier with no signup, crypto payment available.
Download: hide.me/en/download
Bottom line: Pick hide.me if an audited free tier with no email signup matches your usage.
ExpressVPN — Best for streaming unblocking and US server reach
ExpressVPN built its reputation on streaming unblocking that holds up against Netflix region rotations and on the Lightway protocol, an open-source tunnel that reconnects faster than WireGuard on flaky networks. TrustedServer runs every node in RAM, so reboots wipe state by design.
Where it falls short: The most expensive option on this list. Acquired by Kape Technologies in 2021, which not every user is comfortable with.
Pricing: From $4.99/month on the two-year plan.
Vs AdGuard VPN: Stronger streaming unblocking, Lightway open-source protocol, RAM-only servers, higher price.
Download: expressvpn.com/vpn-software
Bottom line: Pick ExpressVPN if streaming reach and quick reconnects justify the premium price.
How to choose
Pick Proton VPN if an audited no-logs policy and an open-source client are non-negotiable. Pick Mullvad VPN if anonymous billing and crypto payment matter more than streaming convenience. Pick NordVPN if a wide server fleet and double-VPN routing earn the long-term commitment. Pick Surfshark if one subscription needs to cover every device in the household. Pick Windscribe if a tweakable plan and a usable free tier fit the way you use a VPN. Pick hide.me VPN if a stateless free tier with no signup matches your threat model. Pick ExpressVPN if Netflix region access and quick reconnects justify the premium. Stay on AdGuard VPN if the ad-blocker pairing and the friendly client genuinely outweigh the proprietary protocol and the missing free trial.
FAQ
Is AdGuard VPN’s proprietary protocol a real problem? It is not a deal-breaker for everyday browsing, but it means independent researchers cannot audit the tunnel the way they can with WireGuard or OpenVPN. Users who want a public threat model should pick a VPN that ships an open protocol.
Which alternative has the best free tier? Proton VPN is the only one with no data cap on the free tier. Windscribe and hide.me both offer 10 GB per month, which covers light browsing but not streaming.
Can I pay for any of these with crypto? Mullvad, Proton VPN, and hide.me all accept cryptocurrency. NordVPN and ExpressVPN take crypto through third-party processors. AdGuard VPN does not.
Do any of these bundle an ad blocker like AdGuard does? NordVPN’s Threat Protection, Surfshark’s CleanWeb, and Windscribe’s R.O.B.E.R.T. all filter ads and trackers at the DNS layer when the tunnel is active. None of them replace a dedicated content blocker, but they cut the obvious noise.
Should I run a VPN alongside AdGuard’s ad blocker? Yes, the two functions do not overlap. A VPN encrypts the tunnel and changes the exit IP, while a content blocker filters page-level requests. Most of the alternatives above coexist with AdGuard’s standalone ad blocker without conflict.
