Report updated Apr 7, 2026
ShadowBlock
v1.0.7Power users, network administrators, and privacy-conscious individuals who need granular control over their iOS device's network traffic and ad-blocking capabilities.
What Is ShadowBlock?
Launched Oct 2, 2017
Updated Sep 2019
What users think iIndependent intel reports to help builders create better apps or enhance existing ones. Still in beta, accuracy and relevancy get better every day. For informational purposes only.
What does it look like?
What are the key features?
Captures and displays HTTP, HTTPS, and TCP traffic from all device applications for network monitoring.
Allows for the inspection and decryption of encrypted HTTPS traffic for advanced debugging and filtering.
Blocks ads and content based on domain matching, keywords, user agents, and CIDR IP ranges.
Modifies incoming or outgoing URL requests on the fly for advanced network manipulation.
What do users think? iIndependent intel reports to help builders create better apps or enhance existing ones. Still in beta, accuracy and relevancy get better every day. For informational purposes only.
“Recent user voice shows a upset sentiment. but report instability.”
Pain Points
1.8 star rating suggests significant technical issues or lack of compatibility with modern iOS versions.
Medium confidence · 11 reviews available
What are the pros and cons?
Pros
- Advanced MITM and HTTPS decryption capabilities
- Low one-time purchase price
- Granular rule-based filtering (CIDR, GeoIP)
Cons
- No updates since September 2019
- Very low user rating (1.8 stars)
- No website or social media presence for support
What is the market outlook?
Growth Opportunities
- Capture users looking for a stable alternative to unmaintained legacy tools
- Simplify the complex UI of advanced network tools for a broader audience
Market Threats
- iOS updates breaking legacy network extensions
- Dominance of Quantumult X in the power-user segment
- Apple's increasing restrictions on traffic interception
Who competes with ShadowBlock?
The Nemesis
Why it's a threat
- +
Users are happier — sentiment 28/100 vs 18
- +
Higher rated at 3.9★ vs 1.8★
Contenders
A long-standing rule-based proxy utility that provides similar custom routing and DNS mapping features.
Smart Routing Rules
HTTP Catcher
MESS LAB LTD
Focuses heavily on the 'Traffic Capture' and 'HTTPS Decryption' features for debugging and content manipulation.
Focuses heavily on the 'Traffic Capture' and 'HTTPS Decryption' features for debugging and content manipulation.
WKRN Weather Authority
LIN Television Corporation
A powerful packet sniffer and traffic analyzer that targets the same technical audience needing deep network inspection.
A powerful packet sniffer and traffic analyzer that targets the same technical audience needing deep network inspection.
AdGuard Pro: Safari Ad Blocker
Adguard Software Limited
Competes on system-wide content blocking and DNS mapping, though with a stronger focus on ad-blocking than traffic analysis.
Competes on system-wide content blocking and DNS mapping, though with a stronger focus on ad-blocking than traffic analysis.
Peers
A modern web debugging tool that overlaps with ShadowBlock's traffic inspection and MITM capabilities.
On-Device Traffic Capture
Charles Proxy
XK72 Limited
The mobile version of the industry-standard web debugging proxy for traffic capture and SSL decryption.
The mobile version of the industry-standard web debugging proxy for traffic capture and SSL decryption.
NextDNS
★4.2 (656)nextdns Inc.
Provides granular DNS-level content blocking and privacy protection without full traffic capture.
Provides granular DNS-level content blocking and privacy protection without full traffic capture.
NDI Camera: Easy Streaming
NewTek
A specialized tool for capturing and analyzing network packets directly on iOS devices.
A specialized tool for capturing and analyzing network packets directly on iOS devices.
New Kids on the Block
LanceX
Chill Information Technology Limited
A newer entry in the rule-based proxy space focusing on high-speed traffic filtering and custom rules.
A newer entry in the rule-based proxy space focusing on high-speed traffic filtering and custom rules.
What are the key takeaways?
ShadowBlock is a upsetting utilities app that is a paid app. With a 1.8/5 rating from 11 reviews, it upsets most users from users.
Best for: Power users, network administrators, and privacy-conscious individuals who need granular control over their iOS device's network traffic and ad-blocking capabilities.
How much does it cost?
Model: paid
The app utilizes a low-cost, one-time purchase model, positioning it as an affordable utility tool rather than a recurring subscription service.
iOS Version
1.0.7
Release Date
Oct 2, 2017
iOS Price
$1.99