How to set up Maza ad blocker on Windows?

Maza only works on Windows via Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), not natively; you must install WSL and run it in a Linux environment.

Maza vs Pi-hole: which is better for home networks?

Maza is local and lightweight, ideal for single machines, while Pi-hole is network-wide and offers more features like a web interface, but requires dedicated hardware.

How to uninstall Maza completely?

Run sudo rm /usr/local/bin/maza && sudo rm -r /root/.config/maza to remove the binary and configuration files, as per the README instructions.

Can Maza block YouTube ads effectively?

It blocks ad domains, but YouTube ads often use same domains as content, so effectiveness is limited compared to browser extensions with script blocking.

How to add custom domains to block in Maza?

Edit the /root/.config/maza/custom-domains file with one domain per line, then run sudo maza update to regenerate the blocklist.

Does Maza slow down internet speed?

Minimal impact as it only blocks DNS resolution, but if using DNSMASQ, local DNS caching might slightly improve performance after initial setup.

maza

Apache-2.0ShellSelf-Hosted

A simple, native, and efficient local ad blocker written entirely in Bash, working across all browsers without extensions.

Visit Website GitHub

1.9k stars71 forks0 contributors

What is maza?

Maza is a local ad blocker that blocks ads at the system level by updating the hosts file with known advertising domains. It functions like a local Pi-hole, preventing ads from loading in any browser or application without requiring browser extensions. The tool is written entirely in Bash and works across multiple operating systems.

Target Audience

System administrators, developers, and privacy-conscious users who want a lightweight, command-line ad blocker that works system-wide without installing browser extensions or complex software.

Value Proposition

Developers choose Maza for its simplicity, transparency, and efficiency—it's a single Bash script with no external dependencies, offers cross-platform compatibility, and provides system-wide ad blocking without the overhead of a full network solution.

Overview

Simple, native and efficient local ad blocker. Only Bash.

Use Cases

Best For

Blocking ads across all browsers without installing extensions
Creating a lightweight local ad blocker on Linux or macOS systems

Related Projects

Community-curated · Updated weekly · 100% open source

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Setting up a personal Pi-hole-like DNS server on a Raspberry Pi or VPS

System administrators needing a scriptable, command-line ad-blocking solution

Privacy-focused users who prefer transparent, open-source ad blocking

Developers looking for a minimal, dependency-free tool to block ads during testing

Not Ideal For

Users needing per-browser or per-site ad blocking rules, as Maza blocks system-wide without granular control
Environments where modifying system files like /etc/hosts is prohibited or poses security risks
Those wanting out-of-the-box wildcard sub-domain blocking without additional DNSMASQ setup
People who prefer a graphical interface for managing ad blocking instead of command-line tools

Pros & Cons

Pros

System-Wide Blocking

Blocks ads in any browser or application by modifying the hosts file, eliminating the need for individual extensions, as shown in the demo.

Cross-Platform Simplicity

Works on macOS, Linux, BSD, and WSL with just Bash and curl, making it lightweight and dependency-free.

Customizable Block Lists

Supports custom domains and alternative sources like Steven Black's hosts, allowing tailored ad blocking via config files.

Transparent Implementation

Pure Bash script is easy to audit and understand, emphasizing open-source transparency without bloat.

Cons

No Native Wildcard Support

The hosts file method cannot block sub-domains without complex DNSMASQ integration, which requires additional setup and configuration.

Requires Root Access

Needs sudo to modify system files, posing potential security risks and incompatibility with locked-down or shared systems.

Manual Update Overhead

Automatic updates rely on cron jobs, with macOS users needing to handle PATH issues, adding maintenance complexity.

Open Source Alternative To

maza is an open-source alternative to the following products:

P

Pi-hole

Frequently Asked Questions

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