I delt with this problem a few years ago, and found at the time there were no options. I suspect that has not changed. One core reason I root my phone is to install adaway. This blocks trackers and many other problem URLs at the DNS level, freeing the vpn for it's core purpose.
this post was submitted on 26 Nov 2025
10 points (100.0% liked)
Privacy
3464 readers
279 users here now
Icon base by Lorc under CC BY 3.0 with modifications to add a gradient
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
Thanks, I will check it out.
Since I also have root access and use Magisk, I haven't tested it. But could it possibly be done without rooting? He could test the whole thing with Shizuku
It needs to update hosts filter lists, which is a root level operation.
That said, my pixel 2xl no longer has root (via magisk) but it still has AdAway. Since it was installed with root privs, it still has them. I will eventually patch the boot partition. I just haven't gotten around to it, and LineageOS for microg updates multiple times per month.
I've checked and on a rooted phone to app directly changes /etc/hosts. Without root it works as a VPN so has the same issue as TC. I'm on GrapheneOS which can't be rooted.
One option I liked was iode OS. It has a build in tool like Tracker Control which doesn't use VPN. I might go back to it.
Many VPNs provide blocking of trackers but you won't be able to see the kinda statistics tracker control gives you.
Alternatively you could self-host something like pi-hole which will give you overall statistics about what is being blocked on a device level, but you still wouldn't get information on a per app basis
The problem is that some apps I've checked offer tracker blocking but it's only available on desktop. To see what's available on mobile you have to install the app and since most of them don't even offer free trials it's a huge pain in the ass. I hoped someone new specific Android VPN apps with tracker blocking. If they have additional features that's even better but I guess that's too much to ask for.
Meanwhile I found rethink dns. It's a DNS based blocking that also use the local VPN similar to tracker control, however you can add any wireguard VPN to use inside rethink dns. This allows one to use any VPN provider that supports wireguard.
The UI is not as good as tracker control for what you want, but it's possible to show logs of blocked request for each app.
Looks interesting, will check it out. Thanks.