This community guide collects recommendations for improving security and privacy on macOS.
The Best USBGuard Alternatives in 2026
Looking for something like USBGuard? Here are 24 alternatives, ranked by how closely they match it on purpose, features and platforms. Of these, 1 are free or have a free plan and 12 are open source.
Set USB device authorization rules with USBGuard, a framework for controlling device access.
Top picks at a glance
Quick comparison
| # | Alternative | Pricing | Open source | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | macOS Privacy Guide | — | Yes | macOS |
| 2 | Santa | — | Yes | macOS |
| 3 | How to Secure a Linux Server | — | Not stated | Linux |
| 4 | Linux Hardening | — | Not stated | Linux, Web |
| 5 | Tracee | — | Not stated | Linux, Web |
| 6 | Qubes | — | Not stated | Web |
| 7 | Surfer Protocol | — | Yes | — |
| 8 | Yubikey Full Disk Encryption | — | Yes | Linux |
| 9 | Howdy | — | Yes | Linux, Windows |
| 10 | Googerteller | — | Yes | Linux |
All USBGuard alternatives
Authorize binary execution and file access on macOS with Santa, a system extension and policy tool.
How to Secure a Linux Server
github.com/imthenachoman/How-To-Secure-A-Linux…Follow this evolving guide for steps and configuration examples to secure a Linux server.
Linux Hardening
vez.mrsk.me/linux-hardening.htmlThis guide collects Linux kernel and userland settings for improving security and usability, targeting Arch Linux and potentially other distributions.
Tracee
aquasecurity.github.io/tracee/latestTracee monitors runtime security events and supports forensic analysis with eBPF instrumentation.
Qubes
qubes-os.orgQubes OS is a free, open-source operating system for personal computers that uses compartmentalization as a security approach.
Export personal data with Surfer Protocol, an open-source framework with a desktop app and Python SDK.
Use a YubiKey challenge-response at system startup to open a LUKS-encrypted disk volume.
Add face-based authentication to Linux using Howdy, which works with built-in infrared emitters and cameras.
Hear when a computer sends requests to Google with Googerteller, which provides audible feedback about browsing activity.
Configure Ubuntu’s Uncomplicated Firewall through Gufw, a graphical firewall interface.
Block ads in Safari on Apple devices with wBlock, an open-source blocker that includes lists, scripts, and styles.
Process macOS and iOS disk images or live machines with mac_apt to extract forensic data and metadata.
Harden Linux servers and deploy LAMP or LEMP stacks with JShielder’s security script.
This curated repository lists security tools related to macOS and iOS, organized by platform and topic.
1Blocker
1blocker.com1Blocker blocks ads, trackers, and unwanted web content in Safari on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, with rules and settings synced over iCloud.
Tunnelblick
tunnelblick.netTunnelblick is free, open-source macOS software for controlling OpenVPN connections, with downloads and support information on its site.
Bubblewrap
github.com/containers/bubblewrapBubblewrap provides low-level, unprivileged sandboxing for Flatpak and similar software projects.
Mistborn provides a self-hosted virtual private cloud with a web interface, firewall, WireGuard VPN, Pi-hole, DNSCrypt, and IP filtering.
Web
github.com/freenet/webThis repository contains the source code for the Freenet website, including its main Hugo-generated site.
Gas Mask
github.com/2ndalpha/gasmaskEdit and switch between hosts files on macOS with Gas Mask, a hosts file manager.
ClashMac
github.com/666OS/ClashMacManage proxy connections on macOS with ClashMac, a native client that includes traffic routing views.
Linux Hardening
madaidans-insecurities.github.io/guides/linux-…Follow this Linux hardening guide for steps to improve the security of a Linux system.
uBlock Origin Lite by Raymond Hill is an App Store content blocker for iPhone, iPad and Mac with declarative filtering.
Alternatives to similar tools
What is the best alternative to USBGuard?
Is there a free alternative to USBGuard?
Are there open-source alternatives to USBGuard?
Alternatives are suggested from the purpose and features described in our listings. Different pages for the same product appear once. Read each description to check whether it fits your task. How we choose alternatives · Suggest an alternative






















