Gas Mask for Mac Not Working? The Native Alternative
For years, Gas Mask was the gold standard for managing hosts files on macOS. Its last release, 0.8.6, came out on 29 February 2020, and that build is Intel-only, so Apple silicon Macs run it through Rosetta 2 (release page, checked 17 Oct 2026).
If it still works for you, there's no rush. If you want a native Apple silicon app with built-in blocklists, here's how the options compare. (More options, including the free SwitchHosts: hosts file managers compared.)
If you're looking for a replacement that feels familiar but works on modern Macs, meet SaneHosts.
Gas Mask is free and still downloads. On Apple silicon it runs under Rosetta 2 translation.
- ✓ Free
- ✓ Familiar interface
- ✗ Security: No Touch ID integration
- ✗ Performance: Not native Apple Silicon
- ✗ Last release: February 2020
SaneHosts is the spiritual successor to Gas Mask for the modern era. It's native, fast, and uses the latest Apple security frameworks.
- ✓ Native: Built with Swift/SwiftUI for Apple Silicon
- ✓ Touch ID: Securely switch profiles without typing passwords
- ✓ Current: Supports macOS 14 Sonoma and later, actively maintained
- ✓ Curated: 200+ built-in blocklists (ads, trackers, social)
Compatible with macOS 14 (Sonoma) and later.
Migration is Easy
You don't need to manually export anything. Just copy your host entries from Gas Mask's editor and paste them into a new SaneHosts profile. Or, use SaneHosts' built-in "Remote Import" to fetch your blocklists directly from their URLs.