
AdGuard VPN for Windows v2.9.6 (1-year license) - Discount 67% Off
Operating System
WindowsDate Published
Sat Aug 15 2026Review AdGuard VPN for Windows v2.9.6 (1-year license) - Discount 67% Off
AdGuard VPN for Windows is a VPN application from the same company behind AdGuard's popular ad-blocking products. It encrypts your Internet traffic and routes it through AdGuard's VPN servers, while offering additional control over which websites and applications use the VPN connection.
The most interesting aspect of AdGuard VPN is its selective routing. Instead of forcing every connection through the VPN, you can configure the service so that only specific websites or traffic use the VPN. This makes it more flexible than a simple system-wide VPN switch.
AdGuard VPN is a separate product from AdGuard Ad Blocker for Windows.
The distinction is important:
AdGuard Ad Blocker filters advertisements, trackers, DNS requests, and web content.
AdGuard VPN encrypts traffic and routes it through a VPN server, hiding your real IP address from the websites you access.
The two products can complement each other, and AdGuard has integrated VPN management into its desktop ecosystem.
AdGuard VPN for Windows can operate at the system level, allowing applications as well as browsers to use the VPN connection.
Key Features of AdGuard VPN for Windows
System-Wide VPN
AdGuard VPN can route traffic from the entire Windows system through the VPN.
This means you are not restricted to a particular browser. Applications that connect to the Internet can also use the VPN connection when system-wide VPN mode is enabled.
This is useful when you want to protect traffic from multiple applications without configuring each one individually.
Selective Routing
Selective routing is one of AdGuard VPN's strongest features.
You can configure the VPN to operate in two basic ways:
Regular mode:
Traffic is sent through the VPN by default, except for websites or destinations placed on the exclusion list.
Selective mode:
Traffic normally bypasses the VPN, and only specified websites or destinations are routed through it.
This is particularly useful if you only need a VPN for certain websites or services while keeping everything else connected normally.
SOCKS5 Proxy Mode
AdGuard VPN also provides a SOCKS5 mode.
Instead of installing a system-level VPN tunnel, the application exposes a local proxy port. Applications configured to use that proxy can then send their traffic through AdGuard VPN.
This gives advanced users another way to control exactly which applications or browser connections use the VPN.
VPN Protocol
AdGuard VPN uses its own VPN protocol designed around WireGuard technology while adding mechanisms intended to make VPN traffic less identifiable.
This is particularly useful for users who want modern VPN performance without relying solely on conventional VPN protocols.
Privacy Protection
The VPN hides your public IP address from websites and replaces it with an address associated with the VPN server.
It also encrypts traffic between your Windows device and the VPN server, helping protect traffic from local network observers, particularly on untrusted Wi-Fi networks.
However, a VPN does not make you completely anonymous. Websites can still identify you through accounts, cookies, browser fingerprinting, and other techniques.
DNS Protection
AdGuard VPN can handle DNS requests through the VPN connection, helping prevent your normal DNS provider from seeing the domains you resolve through the VPN.
For users who also use AdGuard's ad-blocking application, this can form part of a broader privacy setup.
AdGuard Integration
AdGuard has been integrating VPN controls into its desktop applications. Its Windows ad blocker has an AdGuard VPN tab that can open and manage the separate VPN application.
This makes the two products convenient to use together.
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Download AdGuard VPN v2.9.6 - Software Mirrors |
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AdGuard VPN v2.9.6 for Windows |
AdGuard VPN v2.9.6 Source Code |
AdGuard VPN v2.9.6 Release Notes:Disclaimer: AdGuard VPN for Windows is not an open-source project. We use Github as an open bug tracker for users to see what developers are working on.“Dear developers, can we get a bugfix pronto?” Of course you can! Right after the release, we serve you a hotfix with a resolved problem and fine-tuned operation. AdGuard VPN for Windows direct download link: Release channel Beta channel |
Performance and User Experience
AdGuard VPN is designed to be relatively straightforward for ordinary users.
You can connect to a VPN location and let the application handle the underlying network configuration. Advanced users can instead configure selective routing or proxy-based workflows.
The selective routing system is particularly useful for Windows users who need a VPN only for specific services. For example, you could keep normal browsing on your regular connection while routing a particular website through the VPN.
As with any VPN, performance depends on the selected server, distance, network conditions, and VPN protocol. Routing traffic through a distant server can increase latency, while nearby servers will generally provide better performance.
Pros
System-wide VPN support.
Selective VPN routing.
Regular and selective operating modes.
SOCKS5 proxy mode.
Modern VPN technology.
Hides your public IP.
Encrypts traffic between your device and VPN server.
Useful on public Wi-Fi.
Integrates with AdGuard's desktop ecosystem.
Straightforward interface.
More flexible than a simple VPN on/off switch.
Cons
VPN does not provide complete anonymity.
Performance depends on VPN server location and network conditions.
Selective routing requires some configuration knowledge.
SOCKS5 mode requires application-level proxy configuration.
VPN and ad blocking are separate products.
Some advanced privacy features are more useful when combined with AdGuard's other products.
Who Should Use AdGuard VPN for Windows?
AdGuard VPN is a good choice for Windows users who want a straightforward VPN but also value fine-grained control over which traffic uses the VPN.
It is particularly useful if you have a mixed workflow where some websites or applications need a VPN while others should continue using your normal Internet connection.
Advanced users who want SOCKS5 proxy support and flexible routing will also appreciate the additional control.
If your only goal is blocking advertisements, however, AdGuard VPN is not the product you need. AdGuard Ad Blocker for Windows is designed for that purpose.
Final Verdict
AdGuard VPN is an interesting VPN solution because it does more than provide a conventional global VPN switch.
Its system-wide mode is straightforward, but the selective routing and SOCKS5 options give technically inclined users considerably more control over their network traffic.
It also fits naturally into the wider AdGuard ecosystem. AdGuard's Windows applications can combine ad blocking, DNS filtering, privacy protection, and VPN functionality, allowing users to build a fairly comprehensive privacy setup.
Its biggest strength is therefore flexibility rather than simply being another VPN provider.
For users who want a Windows VPN with selective routing and good integration with AdGuard's privacy tools, it is a strong option.
