Comparison

ZeroAds vs TrackShield

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

Head to head
About

ZeroAds

Features
Read full description

ZeroAds changes which DNS resolver iOS uses. That is all it does. Pick a filter list and ZeroAds points your iPhone at the public encrypted-DNS resolver that publishes it. That operator declines to resolve advertising and tracking domains, so those domains never load — in apps and in Safari, not just in the browser. Filtering happens on the operator's servers, using their own published list. EVERY FILTER LIST IS FREE • Ads & Trackers — AdGuard DNS Default. Declines to resolve advertising and tracking domains. • Cloudflare Filtered — Cloudflare 1.1.1.2. Cloudflare's own flagged-domain list. Advertising domains are not on it, so ads still load. • Quad9 Filtered — Quad9 9.9.9.9. A non-profit resolver applying its published block list. Advertising domains are not on it, so ads still load. • Family — AdGuard Family. Advertising and tracking domains plus adult-content domains. Switch lists whenever you like. Changing list is instant, and so is turning filtering on and off. A SAFARI RULE LIST IS INCLUDED ZeroAds ships a content blocker for Safari that you switch on in Settings. It handles what DNS cannot reach: ad slots left behind in the page layout, and cookie-consent banners served by the site itself. You turn it on under Settings › Apps › Safari › Extensions › ZeroAds. NO VPN ZeroAds does not use a VPN or a packet tunnel. There is no VPN icon in your status bar, nothing runs in the background, and there is no battery cost from a tunnel. iOS sends DNS queries straight to the resolver you chose. WHAT ZEROADS DOES NOT DO • It does not scan your device, check it for viruses or malware, or look for security or privacy problems. • It does not inspect your traffic. • It runs no server of its own and never receives your DNS queries. • It shows no count of what was blocked. iOS gives the app no visibility into what the resolver did, so any number here would be invented. HOW iOS HANDLES THIS iOS keeps the choice of DNS resolver with you. When you turn the filter on, iOS may ask you to allow it — tap Allow and you are done. If it does not ask, the choice lives in Settings and ZeroAds walks you there. You can switch back to Automatic at any time under Settings › General › VPN, DNS & Device Management. Filter lists are operated by AdGuard, Cloudflare and Quad9. Each operator's privacy policy is linked inside the app. ——— All four filter lists are free in this version. ZeroAds Pro subscriptions (monthly, yearly) and a one-time Lifetime purchase remain available to supporters. They are not required for any feature. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. A subscription renews automatically unless auto-renew is switched off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours of the end of that period. Manage or cancel subscriptions in Settings › your Apple Account › Subscriptions. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://aifinitysolutions.com/zero-ads-privacy-policy/

About

TrackShield

Features
Read full description

TrackShield – Ads & Tracker Blocker Browse the web with fewer distractions and greater privacy using TrackShield. Designed for Safari on iPhone and iPad, TrackShield blocks intrusive ads, trackers, cookie banners, and malicious domains to help pages load faster while reducing data usage and improving your browsing experience. TrackShield uses Apple's Safari Content Blocker technology to efficiently block unwanted web content without routing your browsing through a VPN. Everything is designed to work seamlessly with Safari while giving you full control over your privacy settings. Features • Block banner ads, pop-ups, video ads, and intrusive website advertising • Stop tracking scripts from advertising networks and analytics providers • Remove many cookie consent banners and annoying website overlays • Speed up page loading by preventing unnecessary resources from downloading • Reduce mobile data usage by blocking ads and tracking requests • Improve battery efficiency with fewer background web requests • Protect against many known phishing, scam, and malicious domains • Choose from multiple filter categories for ads, trackers, privacy, malware, and annoyances • Whitelist your favorite websites with a single tap • Create custom blocking rules for advanced browsing control • Automatically update filter lists to stay protected against new trackers • View detailed statistics including ads blocked, trackers prevented, data saved, and browsing improvements • Home Screen widgets for quick protection status and browsing statistics • Siri Shortcuts support for enabling protection, updating filters, and managing settings Privacy First Your privacy is our priority. TrackShield uses Safari Content Blocker extensions to block unwanted web content efficiently. Your browsing history is not collected or sold, and filtering is performed locally using Apple's supported technologies. Premium Features Upgrade to unlock even more powerful privacy tools: • Automatic filter updates • Advanced tracking protection • Malware and phishing filter lists • Unlimited custom rules • Website privacy reports • Cloud synchronization across devices • Advanced statistics and insights • Premium widgets Why Choose TrackShield? • Fast and lightweight • Easy one-time setup • Native iPhone and iPad experience • Modern SwiftUI interface • Regular filter updates • No complicated configuration • Designed for privacy-conscious users Whether you're reading the news, shopping online, studying, or simply browsing the web, TrackShield helps create a faster, cleaner, and more private Safari experience every day. Talk Results Instantly We currently offer the following auto-renewing subscription option: - $34.99 per year - $7.99 per month By subscribing you get unlimited access to effects and remove advertisement. Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Your subscription will automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period. Subscriptions may be managed and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the Account Settings after purchase. No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period. • Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable Terms of Use: https://tos.atlantismobileapps.com Privacy Policy: https://privacy.atlantismobileapps.com

Screenshots

ZeroAds4 screens
TrackShield2 screens

Verdict

The call

ZeroAds and TrackShield are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters — price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. ZeroAds sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and TrackShield sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
ZeroAds versus TrackShield: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZeroAdsTrackShield
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyMonthly—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAifinity SolutionsNguyen Nam Giang

In-app purchases

3 purchases

ZeroAds

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$1.991 Month
  • Yearly$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$19.99
3 purchases

TrackShield

Subscriptions2
  • Track Shield Premium Monthly$7.991 Month
  • Track Shield Premium Yearly$34.991 Year
One-time1
  • Track Shield Premium Lifetime$49.99

Questions

Is ZeroAds free?
ZeroAds is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TrackShield free?
TrackShield is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do ZeroAds or TrackShield have ads?
Neither ZeroAds nor TrackShield shows ads.

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