AdBlock Review

AdBlock Review

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AdBlock is an excellent, free ad-blocking tool. We recommend it to anyone looking to remove intrusive ads from their browsers.

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Advertisements have become a thorn in the internet’s flesh. Many websites rely on ads to fund themselves, and ads don’t pay so much except for publishers with big numbers. This factor has led many publishers to focus too much on advertisements over content and inadvertently ruin users’ experience.

Ask an internet user about their everyday problems, and you’ll likely hear about ads. Excessive ads have made many cherished websites challenging to use, angering users. Fortunately, there’s a proven solution to this problem: an ad blocker.

Ad blockers detect and restrict ads from their source, allowing you to surf the web without encountering obnoxious content. AdBlock is one of the best ad blockers available, and it’s free to use. We’re reviewing AdBlock to help you decide whether it’s worth adopting, covering its features, interface, customer support, and other essential aspects.

AdBlock: Plans and Pricing

AdBlock is a free browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Samsung Internet. It allows you to enjoy ad-free browsing without paying a dime, but there’s a catch. AdBlock is maintained by Eyeo GmbH, a German company that also offers a paid product called AdBlock Plus.

AdBlock Plus offers more advanced features than AdBlock, e.g., a mobile app. One of the main drawbacks we observed when using AdBlock was frequent popups advertising the AdBlock Plus offering. Sure, AdBlock effectively blocks ads, but showing its own ad felt off-putting. However, we could understand that as the small price for enjoying a free ad blocker.

(Image credit: Future / Stefan Ionescu)

AdBlock: Features

Our test began with downloading the AdBlock extension from the Chrome extension store, and the process was smooth. Downloading and adding the extension took less than a minute, and we began our journey to test every nook and cranny of this app.

AdBlock is a free tool, but after downloading it, we noticed a prompt requesting a possible donation to the development team. This donation is optional, so you don’t have to pay any dime, but you’re free to chip in a one-off, monthly, or annual contribution if you’re delighted with the app.

Like most ad blockers, AdBlock scans and checks your browser requests against filtering rules. The app has built-in lists of domains known to serve ads and trackers, and it blocks any request to such domains on your browser. Hence, you’ll see an empty space in those slots where ads usually appear.

AdBlock gives you details about the advertisements it has detected and blocked. For example, we opened Forbes.com, and AdBlock indicated blocking 8 ads from the browser. You’ll see the stats for every website you visit, helping you verify that AdBlock is doing its job.

Of course, you might not want to block all ads entirely. You may have some trusted sites that you want to permit to show ads. AdBlock lets you customize your configurations, allowing ads to be displayed on specific domains. You can exempt as many domains as you want from ad blocking.

We noticed that AdBlock is one of the few ad blockers we’ve reviewed that allows “Acceptable Ads,” i.e., ads the developers deem non-intrusive. Some publishers participate in the Acceptable Ads program, agreeing to adhere to standards that make their ads non-intrusive. Acceptable Ads are enabled by default, but you can head to the settings page and turn them off if you don’t want to see any ads.

We also observed that the AdBlock extension collects some browsing data, which the developers presumably sell to make money. You can also opt out of this default feature. Despite its effectiveness in blocking ads, we consider the Acceptable Ads program and default data collection drawbacks to using this platform, unlike some free and open-source rivals that have no acceptable ads program or collect any browsing data.

AdBlock is free, but valuable features are hidden behind the AdBlock Plus subscription, such as the cookie consent cutter, custom themes, backup & sync, and image swap (swapping ads with pictures of cats, dogs, and nature). Some ad blockers offer these features for free, but that’s not the case with AdBlock.

(Image credit: Future / Stefan Ionescu)

AdBlock: Interface and In-Use

AdBlock has a user-friendly interface you’ll likely enjoy using. We didn’t face any noteworthy difficulties downloading and using the extension. It works smoothly, and the settings app is designed to be easy to understand. We liked that we could see detailed stats about the ads blocked over time and switch between different settings without hassles.

The main drawback we observed in this criterion is that AdBlock lacks a mobile app. Only AdBlock Plus subscribers can access a mobile app to block ads while surfing the web on their smartphone.

(Image credit: Future / Stefan Ionescu)

AdBlock: Customer Support

AdBlock is a free tool, so don’t expect much customer support. There’s no support team to contact as a free user, so you must figure out most issues yourself. However, we appreciate that AdBlock provides a detailed Knowledge Base and FAQ section on its website. The website contains tutorials about AdBlock features and in-depth answers to customers’ common questions. You can always consult it for help if you face any issues with the app.

AdBlock: The Competition

AdBlock has competitors you should know about, such as uBlock Origin and Ghostery. These are two effective ad-blockers you can use free of charge, just like AdBlock. They are suitable alternatives but don’t offer much to make them stand out from AdBlock.

AdBlock: Final Verdict

AdBlock is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a free ad blocker to make your browsing experience more enjoyable. It doesn’t offer much outside ad-blocking (except if you’re on the premium AdBlock Plus subscription). However, it does its job very well and significantly improves your browsing experience.

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The best ad blockers unfortunately very necessary yo survive on the modern internet. It doesn’t matter which sites you browse, there’s the risk of being harassed by pop-ups, tracker cookies, malvertising and countless other digital nasties hell-bent on ruining your online experience.

Thankfully there’s no shortage of apps and browser extensions that can block ads and keep you safer when you’re online. Combined with the best antivirus software and the best VPNs, a good ad-blocker gives you a perfect arsenal of tools to offer as much protection as possible. Even the FBI recommends using an ad-blocker for protection.

The only thing you need to figure out is which ad-blocker is right for what you need. There are so many to choose from, and whether you’re ok with the consequences. Most free sites rely on advertising revenue to survive, including Tom’s Guide. But if you’re happy with the trade-off, we’ve got a thorough list of the best ad blockers and privacy tools — with options for every browser and platform.

The best ad blockers you can get today

Best in-browser ad blockers

1. uBlock Origin (Chrome, Firefox)

(Image credit: Ublock Origin)

Ublock Origin is a browser-based ad blocker that focuses on simple, efficient blocking with a low resource overhead. The extension comes loaded with a number of filter lists for known advertising and malware sources, with extra filter lists available and the option to read and create your own custom filters from hosts files.

Download Ublock Origin: Chrome , Firefox

2. AdBlock Plus (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Safari, Android, iOS)

(Image credit: Eyeo)

AdBlock Plus (ABP) is among the most popular ad blockers, with extensions available for Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Edge and Opera. ABP features a quick setup, loading preset filter lists that allow users to quickly block most ads, as well as the option to filter malware and social media buttons.

Savvy users can chose additional block lists as well as set custom filters or whitelist their favorite sites to keep their ad revenue in the black. AdBlock Plus allows what it calls “non-intrusive advertising” through filters; that may irk some users, though this feature can be disabled in settings.

On Android, the AdBlock Browser provides a Firefox-based browser that blocks incoming advertising, while on iOS, the AdBlock Plus app integrates with the content blocker system to seamlessly block advertising on Safari with minimal setup.

Download AdBlock Plus: Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Opera, Edge

3. AdBlock (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)

(Image credit: GetAdBlock.com)

AdBlock (no relation to AdBlock Plus) is the other best ad-blocking browser extension of note, available for users of Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Safari. AdBlock uses a series of filter lists to automatically block ad content coming from known ad servers and providers. Users can stick with the default block lists, subscribe to additional ones, or even create their own, as well as whitelist their favorite websites.

As one of the most downloaded Chrome and Safari extensions, AdBlock has the trust of many users worldwide.

Download AdBlock: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge

4. Poper Blocker (Chrome)

(Image credit: Poper Blocker)

Rather than be an all-in one blocking solution, Poper Blocker (aka Pop Up Blocker For Chrome), is designed to complement other adblockers.

In this case, Poper Blocker focuses on blocking pop-ups, pop-unders, overlays, timed and scroll pop-ups, and other varieties that might slip past other ad-blocking extensions. Small notifications tell you when pop-ups are blocked. You also can view your blocking stats, but otherwise, you can generally just keep Poper Blocker running in the background with minimal impact alongside other adblocker extensions.

Download Poper Blocker: Chrome

5. Stands Fair AdBlocker (Chrome)

(Image credit: Stands)

For a fast and light ad-blocking plugin, Chrome users can turn to Stands Fair AdBlocker. The extension does precisely what it promises, blocking ads and pop-ups from cluttering up your browser view while also preventing any tracking from going on.

Stand’s Fair AdBlocker gives you control over the type of ads you can block, specifying everything from autoplay video ads, YouTube ads, expanding ads and more. It can even block Facebook ads if you want.

The “Fair” part of AdBlocker comes into play by giving you the ability to allow certain types of ads or even whitelist ad-supported websites you don’t want to shortchange of badly needed revenue. This is one ad blocker that doesn’t take a scorched earth approach to its stated purpose.

Download Stands Fair AdBlocker: Chrome

6. Ghostery (Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari, Edge)

(Image credit: Ghostery)

Like the other extensions on our list of the best ad blockers, Ghostery can remove ads from webpages, so you can focus on content and browse more efficiently. But the real value in Ghostery lies in its privacy protection features. You can use Ghostery to view trackers, which lets you see who’s trying to collect data on you. With Ghostery, you can also stop that tracking from taking place. If you really want to safeguard your privacy, you can turn to Ghostery’s Enhanced Anti Tracking to anonymize your data.

Ghostery’s a free download that offers basic web protection. More advanced protection starts at $4.99 a month and the $11.99 monthly tier comes with a built-in VPN. There are also versions of Ghostery that work with Android and iOS devices.

Download Ghostery: Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari, Edge

7. Adblocker for YouTube (Chrome, Firefox)

(Image credit: Adblocker for YouTube)

YouTube has gotten more aggressive with ads, so the makers of ad-blocking extensions have followed suit. Adblocker for YouTube is a Chrome extension that promises to automatically block YouTube ads, whether we’re talking about the pre-roll ad appearing before your video or any text and banner ads that appear on the video itself.

If you prefer Firefox to Chrome, there’s also an AdBlocker for YouTube extension that works on that browser. Same name, different developer apparently, but the functionality of stripping out video and display ads remains. This version works on Android devices too.

Download Adblocker for YouTube: Chrome, Firefox

Best ad-blocking apps

1. AdGuard (Windows, Mac, Android, iOS)

(Image credit: AdGuard)

Uses looking for a more robust experience can try out the subscription-based AdGuard, which provides desktop and mobile options to reduce the ads you see when surfing online.

AdGuard on Windows and Mac covers popular browsers, with highly configurable options for ads, content, and tracker blocking, as well as a parental controls module for restricting adult content. AdGuard for Android is a no-root ad-blocker that blocks advertising on apps and games, though you’ll have to install it from AdGuard’s site instead of through Google Play. AdGuard for iOS works with Safari to effectively filter ads on the default browser.

Download AdGuard: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS

2. AdLock ($33 per year)

(Image credit: AdLock)

AdLock avoids the browser-based route, instead opting to run as a separate program to be able to block not only browser-based ads, but also advertising in other programs like Skype or games.

The app runs in the background, using filters to block ads, popups, and autoplaying videos, speeding up loading times and applying Safe Browsing features to automatically block sites that are known to be unsafe.

For obvious reasons, the mobile version is unavailable on the Google Play Store, so you’ll need to sideload the app if you want to get AdLock into your Android device. iOS users can download AdLock directly from Apple’s App Store.

Download AdLock: Windows, Chrome, Android, Mac, iOS

3. Wipr (macOS, iOS; $1.99)

(Image credit: Giorgio Calderolla)

If you’re a Safari fan, Wipr may be the best ad blocker for both your Mac and iPhone. The app is available for both iOS and macOS — costing $1.99 from either Apple App Store — and it promises to work with Safari as well as apps that use Safari for displaying web pages.

You’ll find a full array of features with Wipr, which not only blocks apps and trackers, but cryptocurrency miners, EU cookie and GDPR notices and anything else that gets in your way of surfing the web. Its blocklist gets updated twice a week, and there’s little configuration; the idea is that you load Wipr and forget that it’s there while it does its job in the background.

With Wipr, pages should load faster in Safari, which will be particularly welcome if you’re surfing from an iPhone, where ads and trackers can bog down your browser’s speed.

Download Wipr: macOS, iOS

Best ad-blocking mobile apps

1. 1Blocker (iOS)

(Image credit: Salavat Khanov)

1Blocker was one of the first really good ad blockers on iOS when Apple opened up that functionality on iPhones and iPads; the apps has since been optimized for Safari.

The app is designed to make browsing faster and more secure by blocking ads, popups, trackers and other online cruft. Rather than blocking content of a downloaded page, 1Blocker works with Safari’s content blocker API to tell the browser what to block in advance, saving time and resources.

1Blocker features more than 115,000 blocker rules, custom regional adblocking settings, and easy-to-use custom rules settings. The app is a free download, with premium features available as in-app purchases.

Download 1Blocker: iOS

2. Firefox Focus (Android, iOS)

(Image credit: Firefox)

Firefox Focus is another addition to Mozilla’s family of browsers. This one’s a privacy-oriented version of Firefox that bakes in ad-blocking and anti-tracking into a light and functional package. Firefox Focus blocks ads and speeds up browsing, while also working in privacy-friendly features like automatic history and cookie clearing.

Users can selectively block ads, analytics, content and social trackers with easy toggles, turn on a “stealth” mode, and set a default search engine.

Our look at the best Android browsers has more on the various flavors of Firefox.

Download Firefox Focus: Android, iOS

3. AdClear (Android, iOS)

(Image credit: Seven)

AdClear — or AdClear Plus if you’re searching for the iOS version — offers the kind of mobile ad blocking in browsers that similar apps provide. But AdClear takes it one step farther by also blocking ads in apps.

AdClear achieves this through a DNS changer feature that routes traffic through a VPN. AdClear doesn’t catch everything in all apps, and in our experience, some apps ran a little slower. But this free download can put a stop to ads interrupting what you’re trying to do whether in an app or a browser.

Download AdClear: Android, iOS

Other privacy-focused extensions and apps

1. Decentraleyes (Chrome, Firefox)

(Image credit: Thomas Rientjes)

Some times, blocking ads can also prevent websites fromn pulling needed resoruces and libraries from third-party sources, breaking web pages in the process. Decentraleyes tries to stop that from happening by acting as a local content delivery network emulator to serve up the files that websites need. By doing so, this extension can stop websites from sending out requests to the likes of Google Hosted Libraries.

Think of Decentraleyes as a complement to ad blockers. In fact, the extension specifically says it can work with uBlock Origin and AdBlock Plus, both of which we recommend up above.

Download Decentraleyes: Chrome, Firefox

2. Opera (Desktop, Android, iOS)

(Image credit: Opera)

The Opera browser bakes in ad-blocking features into the browser without the need for an extra add-on, while also offering privacy-friendly tools such as an unlimited, built-in VPN service, incognito mode, fraud and malware warnings for suspicious links and pages, and more. In addition, you can further customize Opera’s capabilities with a wide array of extensions.

Mobile users need not fret, as the Android version comes with just about everything the desktop version has but built for touch-screen interfaces. On iOS, the mobile version of Opera is listed in Apple’s App Store as Opera Touch. (Incidentally, we’ve got a guide on how you can use Opera to block ads on the iPhone.)

Download Opera: Mac or Windows, Android, iOS

3. Privacy Badger (Chrome, Firefox, Opera)

(Image credit: EFF.org)

The Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Privacy Badger browser extension was born from the EFF’s concerns about the business models of some privacy tools and ad blockers.

Privacy Badger functions similarly to extensions like AdBlock Plus (on which it was based), observing the various tracking tools that advertisers and other third parties might use to track your online activities and selectively blocking them from executing. Built-in learning algorithms adapt to the sites you visit and take any new tracking tools discovered into account.

While not explicitly an ad blocker, Privacy Badger does also block some advertising, depending on how aggressively the ads track you across websites.

Download Privacy Badger: Chrome, Firefox, Opera

4. Tor Browser (Desktop, Android)

(Image credit: Tor Project)

The Tor network helps anonymize your internet activity by bouncing the data you send and receive through a distributed anonymous network of routers to foil a common online surveillance technique called traffic analysis, which can reveal the sites you visit or who you’re communicating with.

The Tor Browser is an all-in-one package that includes everything you need to surf the net through the Tor network in an easy-to-install portable package. The package includes a modified version of Firefox with privacy aids such as NoScript baked in, and an automatic setup aid that makes it easy to connect to and create new Tor circuits.

On the desktop, you can grab a version of Tor Browser for Windows, macOS or Linux. There’s also a version of Tor Browser for Android, which replaces the previous OrBot + OrFox combination recommended for browsing Tor on Android.

Download Tor Browser: Desktop, Android

5. Onion Browser (iOS)

(Image credit: Onion Browser)

iOS users aren’t left out when it comes to browsing the Tor anonymizer network, with the Onion Browser among the more popular options on Apple’s mobile OS.

Previously a premium app, Onion Browser has since moved to a donation model, opening up access to everyone who wants to download the app, without compromising security or features. The usual caveats apply: Browsing through Tor will slow down the web experience, and some features, like video streams and video files won’t work in order to preserve anonymity.

Download Onion Browser: iOS

How to choose the best ad blocker for you

Many of the best ad blockers are available for free, either as extensions or as standalone apps, though a few, like AdLock, charge a fee. Determine if the free services provide enough ad-blocking to meet your needs or whether a paid app delivers more for your money. You should also figure out if a browser extension will take care of your ad-blocking needs or whether you should consider switching browsers to one with more built-in privacy features.

You can narrow down your choice in ad blockers by deciding specifically what you’re looking to accomplish with such an app or extension. Do you just want to stop annoying pop-up ads from appearing or do you want the full range of services, including privacy features and an end to ad-tracking? Grab the ad blocker that ticks off all the boxes on your wishlist.

Some ad blockers, such as AdBlock Plus include filters and the ability to let in non-obtrusive advertising. Others, like AdBlocker Ultimate, take a more aggressive approach. Find out which one best suits your needs and comfort level.

As we noted at the outset, there’s also an ethical component to ad blockers. Do you feel comfortable keeping ad revenue out of the hands of sites you enjoy and use for free? As good as the best ad blockers are, that’s still a trade-off you need to consider when deciding whether to install one as a browser extension or as a standalone app.

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How to enable AdBlock on YouTube that’s been detected

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Google has just declared war on AdBlocks. We all know how rigorous the tech giant can be when it comes to advertising, but in a recent discovery in the online community, Google is serious about not letting users enable AdBlock on YouTube.

A user on the r/youtube subreddit discovered that YouTube will now slap a 30-60 second timer on the top right corner of the screen, allowing users to disable their ad blocker before they are blocked from watching any more videos.

“Ads allow YouTube to be used by billions worldwide at no charge. You can go ad-free with YouTube Premium, and creators can still get paid from your subscription,” the warning reads.

Not too long ago, YouTube also started cracking down on ad blockers by limiting viewers to just three videos if an ad blocker is detected.

Does this situation apply to you? If so, you’re in good luck. Here’s how you can re-enable Adblock on YouTube, even if it’s been detected.

How to enable AdBlock on YouTube that’s been detected

1. Click on the three-dot on the top right of your browser’s screen. In this case, we’re using Google Chrome

2. Go to Extensions > Visit Chrome Web Store

3. Search “ublock” on the search bar. Hit Add to Chrome

4. Activate the ad blocker, then select the lightning button on the bottom left (element zapper mode)

5. Hover over the pop-up and move your mouse around until only the anti-ad blocker pop-up is grey.

6. If that doesn’t work, after turning the adblocker on, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data

7. Toggle on the Send a “Do Not Track” request with your browsing traffic option.

This way, the ads are still blocked, but YouTube can’t see that they’ve been blocked. Still, it’s not the only problematic video platform – Twitch has issues with AdBlock on Firefox and Chrome.

Not too long ago, YouTube also started working on an AI-generated summary feature for limited users. The summary functionality offers users a brief outline of a video’s content, but it’s currently accessible only to a few beta testers and a limited selection of videos in the English language.

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Click here for quick steps on how to bypass ad blocker detection on YouTube. Summary: How to Bypass YouTube’s Ad Blocker Detection Are you still seeing ads on YouTube despite using AdBlock or other ad blockers? Are you getting the dreaded “Ad blockers are not allowed on YouTube” message? You’re not alone. Many users are reporting similar issues. Thanks to improvements in YouTube’s ad blocker detection techniques and changes to the mechanics of browser extensions, many ad blockers are having a hard time stopping ads on YouTube — and it doesn’t look like this will change anytime soon. Our experts spent hours testing different methods to bypass AdBlock detection on YouTube. We found that the easiest and most effective way to block ads on YouTube is by using a VPN to get YouTube Premium cheaper. Here’s how: Get a VPN. NordVPN is our top choice. This VPN has servers in all the countries with the cheapest YouTube subscription prices. Download and install the NordVPN app on your device. NordVPN has apps for mobile and desktop devices. Log in to NordVPN and connect to a server in a country where YouTube subscription prices are significantly lower, like Turkey, Argentina, or India. Visit YouTube and subscribe to YouTube Premium for as low as $2 per month. Besides helping you score a discount, NordVPN gives you access to geo-restricted YouTube content and can unblock YouTube if it’s inaccessible in your country. You can get this VPN now at 73% off and start watching YouTube ad-free! NordVPN Deal Save big with up to 73% off + 3 months FREE with a two-year subscription! Visit NordVPN Continue reading the article below for more information about how to bypass YouTube’s AdBlock detection.

Picture this: you’re minding your business, watching videos on YouTube, and suddenly, an ad blocker warning appears. This has become increasingly common as YouTube steps up its campaign against ad blockers. It’s more difficult than ever to bypass YouTube’s ad blocker detection.

In some cases, users still see ads or are forced to disable their ad blockers. YouTube has even admitted it’s making loading times slower for people who have an ad blocker enabled. Unfortunately, even popular ad blockers like AdBlock and Adblock Plus are not always effective at blocking ads on YouTube.

We tested different popular ways to bypass YouTube’s AdBlock detection and found that the easiest (and our favorite) way to watch videos ad-free is by using NordVPN to get YouTube Premium at a discount. It’s the only surefire way to remove ads on YouTube.

Why Does YouTube Block AdBlock and Other Ad Blockers?

The widespread use of ad-blocking tools directly affects YouTube’s ability to make money via ads. Advertising is one of the primary sources of income for YouTube. In 2022, YouTube ads accounted for about 11% of Google’s total revenue.

According to its Q1 2023 earnings report, YouTube generated $6.69 billion from ads, representing a drop of 2.6% year-on-year. After its intense battle against ad blockers during the year — which forced a record number of people to uninstall ad blockers — YouTube’s ad revenue rose to $7.952 billion in its Q3 2023 earnings reports.

Simply put, ad blockers are bad for YouTube’s (and, by extension, Google’s) advertising business, and the company will likely continue pushing back against them.