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Best for Apple Users
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Works seamlessly on macOS, iOS, and Safari
Offers lots of features, including regional filters, a firewall, custom filters, and more
Free version also proved to be highly effective
Best for Windows and Android Users
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One of the best totally free ad blockers available
Highly customizable, open-source ad blocker that's compatible with multiple browsers
Can block advertising and analytics tools, including banner ads, video ads, and trackers, and can even bypass soft paywalls
Ad blockers like 1Blocker and uBlock Origin provide a cleaner online experience and protection against spam, scams, and identity theft. Many consider uBlock Origin the best content blocker, but we feel it works best on Windows and Android devices since it isn’t compatible with updated forms of Safari.
For Safari users either on macOS or iOS, 1Blocker provides powerful content blocking against ads, trackers, and nuisances, including the ability to automatically deny cookies.
If you aren’t sure about which one is the best choice for you, we’ve compared them side by side below. Check out how each performed in testing as well as compatibility and support options.
Essentially, ad blockers work by not allowing the scripts that show ads to work. 1Blocker and uBlock Origin are both considered extremely powerful content blockers. We found that 1Blocker, which was created exclusively for Apple operating systems, is the better choice for macOS and iOS users.
Comparatively, uBlock Origin, which is browser-specific rather than operating-system-specific, can work on any browser, but Apple users may find it difficult since it doesn’t support anything later than Safari 12.
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| Best for | Apple users | Windows and Android users |
| Price | Free or $1.25–$2.99/mo | Free |
| Ads blocked on Forbes | 10 | 18 |
| Does it block YouTube ads? | ||
| Compatibility | macOS, Safari | Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari (prior to 13), Opera, Chromium |
| Mobile compatibility | iOS | Only as an add-on for Firefox on Android |
| Learn more | Get 1Blocker | Get uBlock Origin |
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Our Pick | |
| Price range | $1.25–$2.99/mo | Free |
| Best value plan | Lifetime plan for $38.99 | Free |
| Free version available | ||
| Money-back guarantee | Yes — Apple’s discretion | N/A |
| Learn more | Get 1Blocker | Get uBlock Origin |
uBlock Origin is always free because it’s open source. It has the advantage of being reviewed by an online community, which means that it’s powerful even though there’s no charge for the product itself.
1Blocker, on the other hand, allows you to use one feature at a time on its free version, but you’ll need to upgrade to use multiple features at once. Even so, the prices for 1Blocker are extremely reasonable. We suggest a Lifetime subscription for anyone planning to use 1Blocker long-term.
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| Whitelisting | ||
| Blacklisting | ||
| Ads blocked counter | ||
| Bypasses paywalls | ||
| Block pop-up ads | ||
| Block tracking | ||
| Block video ads | ||
| Block banner ads | ||
| Block push ads | ||
| Learn more | Get 1Blocker | Get uBlock Origin |
Respectively speaking, these are equally matched. 1Blocker only works on iOS and macOS, while uBlock Origin works on multiple browsers (with the exception of Safari 13 or later). As long as you choose the right content blocker for your browser, you’ll get the same powerful blocking capabilities offered by either of these products.
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If you’re frustrated by either product’s lack of compatibility, remember that the more specific the software, the more likely it is to work well. We love OS or browser-specific products due to their customization and useability. Having an effective ad blocker that’s specific is way more valuable than an ad blocker that just kind of works everywhere.
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Our Pick | |
| AdBlock Tester score | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Cover Your Tracks score | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| Can You Block It score | 2/3 | 3/3 |
| YouTube ads blocked | ||
| Paywalls bypassed | No | |
| Learn more | Get 1Blocker | Get uBlock Origin |
To test ad blocking performance, we used AdBlock Tester, Cover Your Tracks, and Can You Block It.
AdBlock Tester and Can You Block It collectively allow you to see how well your ad blocker works against contextual ads, banner ads, pop-ups, interstitial ads, and more. The Cover My Tracks test, on the other hand, measures the effectiveness of tracker blocking with each of the products. This evaluates how easy it is to build a profile of you across the web.
Both 1Blocker and uBlock Origin are nearly matched as far as blocking capabilities. While both scored perfect 100/100 on AdBlock Tester, uBlock Origin performed better with Can You Block It. 1Blocker was unable to block interstitial ads (ads that display while the webpage loads). But both 1Blocker and uBlock Origin did a fairly good job of hiding you online, although neither was perfect. However, we’re yet to see an ad blocker — free or premium — that's able to totally conceal our digital fingerprint.
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Our Pick | |
| Windows | ||
| macOS | ||
| Android | Only as an add-on for Firefox on Android | |
| iOS | ||
| Linux | ||
| Browser extensions | Yes — Safari | Yes — Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari (prior to 13), Opera, Chromium |
| 24/7 customer support | ||
| Customer support options | Chat, online guides | GitHub wiki, bug and filter reporting, subreddit |
| Learn more | Get 1Blocker | Get uBlock Origin |
uBlock Origin offers more broad compatibility because it works with browsers rather than operating systems, but it doesn’t offer any user-friendly support options, and it flat out won’t work with Safari 13 or later. 1Blocker only works with iOS or macOS, but it does offer a user-friendly interface and legitimate support options.
As far as compatibility is concerned, uBlock Origin works on multiple platforms and is, therefore, better for people actively using those platforms. However, it’s essentially unusable for iOS or macOS users unless you use a compatible browser like Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Opera. This means that compatibility will be specific to your unique situation.
Yes, 1Blocker is definitely worth it. Starting at $2.99/mo, this ad and tracker blocker allows you to customize your experience while using it. We definitely recommend the paid version, though, as it allows you to use all of the features at once.
1Blocker has several different pricing options. The monthly price of $2.99/mo, the yearly price of $14.99/yr (billed annually), and the lifetime price of $38.99 are all reasonable. We suggest a Lifetime subscription; if you use 1Blocker for three years, you’ll have already saved money by purchasing Lifetime. Considering its effectiveness, 1Blocker is definitely worth purchasing if you use Apple products.
uBlock Origin is a powerful and quality content blocker, but it has limitations for macOS and iOS users who rely on a Safari browser. Since uBlock Origin only works on Safari 12 or earlier, anyone running updated versions of the browser will need a product like 1Blocker or Total AdBlock, which will be better than uBlock Origin for their browser setup. However, uBlock Origin is one of the best free ad blockers available.
The number one ad blocker app depends on your operating system, browser, and other unique needs. We believe that 1Blocker is a great ad blocker for macOS and iOS users, while uBlock Origin is phenomenal for Windows and Android users. Total Adblock, NordVPN Threat Protection, and Surfshark CleanWeb round out as some of the best ad blockers we’ve tested because of their compatibility and bundled services.
uBlock Origin edges out 1Blocker because of compatibility. Both content blockers are excellent at blocking ads, trackers, and other nuisances across the web. Depending on what browsers you’re using, however, you may not be able to use uBlock Origin at all. People using the most up-to-date versions of Safari will find 1Blocker is the best option for them.
Whichever one ends up being the best choice for you, you should absolutely use it. The best ad blockers not only clean up your online experience but also block trackers that can lead to increased spam, scams, and even identity theft. Using a quality content blocker keeps you safer.
One of the best totally free ad blockers available
Highly customizable, open-source ad blocker that's compatible with multiple browsers
Can block advertising and analytics tools, including banner ads, video ads, and trackers, and can even bypass soft paywalls
Depending on your needs, 1Blocker and uBlock origin may not be what you’re looking for in a content blocker. If you think you’d like to explore other options, we’ve vetted and tested the following top ad blockers.
| Ad blocker | 
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| Best for | Best for blocking YouTube ads | Best overall | Best for streaming |
| Price | Paid plan costs $1.59/mo (billed annually) | Starts at $3.39/mo (billed every two years) | Paid plans start at $2.19/mo (billed biennially) |
| Blocks YouTube ads | |||
| Learn more | Get Total Adblock | Get NordVPN Threat Protection | Get Surfshark CleanWeb Ad Blocking |
Instantly blocks distracting ads on millions of websites, including YouTube video ads
Blocks third-party trackers to protect your privacy and information
Improves page load times and enables faster browsing
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