Modern hosts file manager for macOS
⭐ Star this repo if it's useful! · 💰 Buy for $5 · Keeps development alive
SaneHosts is a native macOS app that makes managing your /etc/hosts file simple and intuitive. Choose a protection level, activate it, done. No Terminal. No commands. If something breaks, just deactivate.
Choose from 5 curated protection levels - each bundles the right blocklists for your needs:
| Level | What It Blocks |
|---|---|
| Essentials | Ads, trackers, malware - the basics everyone needs |
| Balanced | Essentials + phishing, fraud, aggressive tracking |
| Strict | Balanced + social media trackers, native telemetry |
| Aggressive | Strict + gambling, piracy, adult content |
| Kitchen Sink | Everything available - maximum blocking |
- Profile Management - Create and manage multiple hosts configurations with color tagging
- 200+ Curated Blocklists - Import from Steven Black, Hagezi, AdGuard, OISD, and 10+ categories. SaneHosts is an officially listed tool in the upstream StevenBlack/hosts repository.
- Guided Setup - Coach mark tutorial walks you through activation on first launch
- Remote Import - Import hosts from any URL or paste custom blocklist URLs
- Merge Profiles - Combine multiple profiles with automatic deduplication
- Automatic DNS Flush - DNS cache cleared when activating profiles
- Menu Bar Access - Quick profile switching from the menu bar
- Crash Resilient - Automatic backups (3 per profile), corrupted profiles recovered automatically
- Native macOS - Built with SwiftUI, follows system conventions
- Privacy-First - All data stored locally, no analytics, no cloud
- Export Profiles - Save profiles as standard
.hostsformat files - Drag to Reorder - Organize profiles by dragging in the sidebar
- Search & Filter - Find entries across large profiles (handles 100K+ entries)
- URL Health Checks - Visual indicators show blocklist source availability
Download from sanehosts.com — $5 one-time purchase, free updates for life. DMGs are hosted on Cloudflare (not attached to GitHub releases).
Building from source? Consider buying the DMG for $5 to support continued development. Open source doesn't mean free labor.
- macOS 14.0 (Sonoma) or later
- Administrator password (for hosts file modifications)
- Choose a Protection Level - Pick from Essentials to Kitchen Sink, or create a custom profile
- Import Blocklists - Use curated presets or import from 200+ sources
- Activate - Apply the profile to your
/etc/hostsfile (password required once) - Switch - Change profiles as needed, DNS cache is flushed automatically
See sanehosts.com for screenshots and demo.
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
⌘N |
New Profile |
⌘I |
Import Blocklist |
⌘A |
Select All Profiles |
⌘D |
Duplicate Profile |
⌘M |
Merge Selected Profiles |
⌘E |
Export Profile |
⌘⇧A |
Activate Profile |
⌘⇧D |
Deactivate All |
⌘⌫ |
Delete Profile |
Delete |
Delete Selected (in list) |
SaneHosts is designed with privacy in mind:
- All data stored locally in
~/Library/Application Support/SaneHosts/ - No analytics, telemetry, or crash reporting
- Network access only when YOU import from a remote URL
See PRIVACY.md for details.
- Hosts file modifications require admin authentication
- Code signed and notarized by Apple
- Hardened runtime enabled
See SECURITY.md for details.
Before opening a PR:
- ⭐ Star the repo (if you haven't already)
- Read CONTRIBUTING.md
- Open an issue first to discuss major changes
⭐ Star the repo if SaneHosts helps you. Stars help others discover quality open source.
Cloning without starring? For real bro? Gimme that star!
GPL v3 — see LICENSE for details.
Made with care by Mr. Sane