SaneHosts

SaneHosts provides system‑wide blocking of advertisements, trackers and data collectors on macOS by managing the hosts file. It offers a graphical interface that lets users select from several predefined protection levels, each bundling a curated set of blocklists from sources such as Steven Black, Hagezi and AdGuard. The application updates the DNS cache automatically, supports Touch ID locking, and stores all configuration data locally on the Mac.

The tool is aimed at privacy‑conscious Mac users who want to block unwanted network traffic without using the terminal or editing hosts files manually. It works across all applications, not only browsers, and allows custom profiles, import of external blocklists, and bulk enabling or disabling of entries. The free tier includes a basic profile with a limited blocklist, while a one‑time paid upgrade unlocks unlimited profiles and larger blocklist presets.

SaneHosts is open‑source and stable, with on‑device processing that keeps no data in the cloud. It emphasizes transparency, automatic DNS flushing, and a simple one‑click activation flow, making it a straightforward solution for users looking to reduce tracking and ad exposure at the operating‑system level.