Comparison

Ad And Stuff DNS Filter vs Read Forge

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Ad And Stuff DNS Filter

This app filters URLs using a local VPN or DNS server to block ads and adult content. Customize blocked hosts, change DNS providers, and protect against typo-squatting domains. It operates seamlessly across network changes and does not collect user data.

Highlights
  • Local VPN for URL filtering
  • Optional ad and porn blocking
  • Customizable hosts database
  • Selectable DNS providers
  • Typo-squatting domain protection
  • Seamless network switching
Features
Read full description

Ad And Stuff DNS Filter can operate as a local VPN or as a DNS server. It uses the VPN on the device to filter URLs, much like a hosts file, but better. It optionally blocks ads and adult content. Its settings allow you to do the following: -- set an internal IP address for the VPN in case the default one, 10.11.12.13, has a conflict on your LAN, -- restore the default internal IP address, -- optionally block ads and adult content, -- add ad and adult content hosts to be blocked or remove ones in its internal database to keep them from being blocked, -- change the DNS servers from OpenDNS to one of the several wired DNS providers or provide your own DNS servers, -- and restore the default DNS servers. It works by routing DNS calls only through the VPN. The VPN replies with Unknown if the requested host is in the app's internal database. Otherwise, it passes the request to the DNS provider selected for the VPN. The only external calls explicitly made by the app are to the DNS provider - the app does not call home or anywhere else and does not collect any data, personal or otherwise. The VPN also seemless works when changing wifi networks or going mobile. The DNS server uses the same database and like the VPN, optionally blocks ads and adult content. It shares the same settings except that the VPN address does not apply to it. The VPN and DNS server cannot run at the same time, and either of them can be started automatically when the app starts. Due to restrictions iOS apps have running in the background, it cannot be a DNS server for apps running on the device since it goes to sleep when another app comes to the foreground. However, it can put older devices, like iPhone 6's that are running iOS 12, to use as DNS servers that can be used by any other devices running on the same wifi network. To run as DNS servers, the devices must remain on with the DNS app running in the foreground and should be plugged in. The device's IP address is on the screen and is the one that should be used to make it a DNS server for specific devices. They should also be provided a static IP address so other devices using it as a DNS server do not have to be changed. The static IP address to use is the one displayed on the screen. As of version 3.0, it blocks domains for the VPN and DNS server that are one edit away or a single set of transposed characters (for instance appel.com) from hundreds of the most popular domains. A single edit means a single character substituted (aople.com), a single character deleted (aple.com), or a single character inserted (appple.com). In addition to protecting you from the simple mistyping of a URL, it will also protect you from going to links in emails and websites that are purposely crafted in this manner to deceive you. As of version 5.5.0, this app will block domains from these popular domains where an 'm' has been replaced with 'rn', like for instance apple.corn. It can be turned off with the Typo check in the Settings. In addition to protecting you from the simple mistyping of a URL, it will also protect you from going to links in emails and websites that are purposely crafted in this manner to deceive you. As of version 6.4.0, this app will block domains from these popular domains where an 'm' has been replaced with 'rn', like for instance apple.corn. It can be turned off with the Typo check in the Settings. In addition to protecting you from the simple mistyping of a URL, it will also protect you from going to links in emails and websites that are purposely crafted in this manner to deceive you. It can be turned off with the Typo check in the Settings. If by some chance, you encounter a URL you need with one of these characteristics, it can be whitelisted in the Settings. And it does not affect performance - you won't notice the difference in web browsers or other applications.

About

Read Forge

Read full description

Read Forge turns anything you can read into a stream of focused words, so you read faster with less effort. Instead of dragging your eyes across lines of text, Read Forge shows one word at a time in a fixed spot — your eyes stay still, and the text comes to you. GET TEXT IN FROM ANYWHERE • Highlight text in any app — Safari, Mail, Messages, anywhere — and tap Share → Copy to Read Forge • Share a whole article page from your browser and Read Forge extracts the readable text, minus the menus, banners, and clutter • Import books and documents: EPUB, PDF, TXT, and non-DRM MOBI, with chapter navigation • Or just paste READ YOUR WAY • Focus mode: one word at a time, with an optional red anchor letter that holds your eye on the optimal recognition point • Overview mode: a full block of text with a moving highlight, like following a finger across the page • Tempo from a relaxed 120 up to 900 words per minute, with natural pauses at sentence and clause boundaries • Six reading fonts, adjustable size, light and dark appearance YOUR LIBRARY REMEMBERS • Imported books are saved on your device with your reading position • Scrub anywhere in a text, jump back a sentence, or restart a chapter • Time-remaining estimate at your current pace PRIVATE BY DESIGN No accounts, no ads, no analytics, no tracking. Your books, articles, and reading habits never leave your device. Whether it's the morning news, a long read you've been putting off, or an entire novel — Read Forge helps you power through it, one focused word at a time.

Screenshots

Ad And Stuff DNS Filter4 screens
Read Forge4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Read Forge at Free against Ad And Stuff DNS Filter's $0.99. Ad And Stuff DNS Filter's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.6). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Read Forge is free to download; Ad And Stuff DNS Filter costs $0.99 up front. Read Forge sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Ad And Stuff DNS Filter asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
Ad And Stuff DNS Filter versus Read Forge: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAd And Stuff DNS FilterRead Forge
Price$0.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyMonthly—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLPSCI Software IncBen Spears

In-app purchases

None

Ad And Stuff DNS Filter

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Read Forge

One-time1
  • Read Forge Pro$7.99

Questions

Is Ad And Stuff DNS Filter free?
Ad And Stuff DNS Filter costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Read Forge free?
Read Forge is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Ad And Stuff DNS Filter or Read Forge have ads?
Neither Ad And Stuff DNS Filter nor Read Forge shows ads.

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