Pros of hosts

• Larger and more comprehensive blocklist with multiple categories
• More frequent updates and active community contributions
• Offers customizable combinations of blocklists

Cons of hosts

• May be overly aggressive for some users, potentially blocking desired content
• Larger file size may impact performance on some devices

Code comparison

hosts:

0.0.0.0 example.com
0.0.0.0 ads.example.com
0.0.0.0 tracking.example.com

blacklist:

0.0.0.0 example.com
0.0.0.0 ads.example.com

Key differences

• hosts provides a more extensive blocklist with various categories
• blacklist focuses on a curated list of domains for general ad-blocking
• hosts allows for customization by combining different lists
• blacklist is more lightweight and may be suitable for less powerful devices

Use cases

hosts:

• Users seeking comprehensive protection against ads, tracking, and malware
• Those who want customizable blocking options

blacklist:

• Users looking for a simpler, lightweight ad-blocking solution
• Those who prefer a more conservative approach to domain blocking

Both repositories serve the purpose of blocking unwanted domains, but they cater to different user preferences and needs. The choice between them depends on the desired level of protection, customization, and performance considerations.

Pros of AdAway

• Open-source Android app with a user-friendly interface for ad-blocking
• Supports custom host files and whitelist/blacklist management
• Regular updates and active community support

Cons of AdAway

• Requires root access on Android devices
• Limited to Android platform, not suitable for other operating systems
• May interfere with some apps that rely on ads for functionality

Code Comparison

AdAway (Java):

private void applyHostsFile() {
    CommandExecutor.Result result = runScriptAsRoot(Constants.SCRIPT_FILE_PATH);
    if (!result.success) {
        Log.e(Constants.TAG, "Error applying hosts file: " + result.error);
    }
}

blacklist (Shell script):

#!/bin/bash
cat $WHITELIST $BLACKLIST | sort | uniq > $FINAL_BLACKLIST
sed -i '/^$/d' $FINAL_BLACKLIST
sed -i '/^#/d' $FINAL_BLACKLIST

While AdAway provides a full-featured Android app for ad-blocking, blacklist offers a simpler, more flexible approach with shell scripts for managing blocklists across various platforms. AdAway's code focuses on applying hosts files on Android, while blacklist uses basic text processing to create and maintain blocklists.

Pros of GoodbyeAds

• More comprehensive blocklist, including mobile ads and tracking domains
• Regular updates and active maintenance
• Includes specialized lists for specific platforms (e.g., Samsung, Xiaomi)

Cons of GoodbyeAds

• May be overly aggressive, potentially blocking some legitimate content
• Larger file size, which could impact performance on low-end devices
• Less granular control over blocked domains compared to blacklist

Code Comparison

blacklist:

0.0.0.0 ad.doubleclick.net
0.0.0.0 static.doubleclick.net
0.0.0.0 m.doubleclick.net
0.0.0.0 mediavisor.doubleclick.net

GoodbyeAds:

0.0.0.0 ad.doubleclick.net
0.0.0.0 static.doubleclick.net
0.0.0.0 m.doubleclick.net
0.0.0.0 mediavisor.doubleclick.net
0.0.0.0 bid.g.doubleclick.net

Both repositories provide ad-blocking lists, but GoodbyeAds offers a more extensive and frequently updated collection. While this can lead to more effective ad blocking, it may also result in occasional false positives. blacklist, on the other hand, provides a more focused approach with potentially fewer unintended blocks. The code comparison shows that both lists include similar basic entries, but GoodbyeAds tends to have additional, more specific domains listed.

Pros of hosts-blocklists

• More comprehensive blocking list with over 100,000 domains
• Regularly updated with community contributions
• Includes separate lists for different purposes (e.g., tracking, ads, malware)

Cons of hosts-blocklists

• May cause over-blocking and require more fine-tuning
• Larger file size, potentially impacting performance on low-end devices
• More complex structure, which can be harder to maintain or customize

Code Comparison

hosts-blocklists:

0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 # Fix for hosts files with 0.0.0.0
0.0.0.0 tracking.example.com
0.0.0.0 ads.example.com
0.0.0.0 malware.example.com

blacklist:

0.0.0.0 doubleclick.net
0.0.0.0 advertising.com
0.0.0.0 googlesyndication.com
0.0.0.0 googleadservices.com

Both repositories provide hosts file-based blocking lists for ad and tracking domains. hosts-blocklists offers a more extensive and diverse set of blocking rules, while blacklist focuses on a curated list of common advertising and tracking domains. The code structure is similar, but hosts-blocklists includes comments and categorization within the file.

Pros of AdGuardHome

• Comprehensive DNS-level ad blocking and network-wide protection
• User-friendly web interface for easy configuration and management
• Supports various platforms and can be run as a Docker container

Cons of AdGuardHome

• More complex setup and configuration compared to simple blocklists
• Requires dedicated hardware or server to run effectively
• May impact network performance if not properly optimized

Code Comparison

AdGuardHome configuration example:

dns:
  upstream_dns:
    - https://dns.cloudflare.com/dns-query
  bootstrap_dns:
    - 1.1.1.1
  filters:
    - enabled: true
      url: https://adguardteam.github.io/AdGuardSDNSFilter/Filters/filter.txt

blacklist example (hosts file format):

0.0.0.0 ad.doubleclick.net
0.0.0.0 analytics.google.com
0.0.0.0 ads.youtube.com

Summary

AdGuardHome offers a more comprehensive and customizable solution for network-wide ad blocking and DNS management, while blacklist provides a simpler, lightweight approach focused on blocking specific domains. AdGuardHome requires more setup and resources but offers greater flexibility and features, whereas blacklist is easier to implement but may lack advanced functionality.