AdClear Review 2026: Is This Ad Blocker Too Limited?

AdClear is a user-friendly and effective ad blocker for Android users, but it has some limitations.

Sara J. Nguyen, Author

Kate Quinlan, Editor

Last updated Dec 19, 2025

4.6

Editorial Rating

On AdClear's website

Ad Blocker

AdClear

Free ad blocker extension for Android
Lightweight and easy-to-use with noticeable impact
Limited browser compatibility to Samsung Internet and Yandex

Overview

AdClear is designed for Android devices using the Samsung Internet or Yandex browsers. AdClear can block most online ads, including YouTube video ads. It's also completely free to use and easily accessible. However, it doesn't stop trackers, and the extension offers limited customization features compared to other free ad blockers.

AdClear is a solid free ad blocker for Android users, but it's exclusive to Samsung Internet and Yandex. It has tons of filter lists for advanced users, but you can also let AdClear work on its own as a set-and-forget ad blocker.

If you're intrigued, we'll detail our experience testing AdClear. And if you're still seeking more from your blocker, you can review our recommended ad blockers.

Pros

Completely free ad blocker for Android
Set-and-forget usage
Extensive list of filters for advanced users

Cons

Only works on Samsung Internet and Yandex browsers
No straightforward counter showing ads blocked

In this article

Overview
Our experience
Main features
Test results
Compatibility
How to use
Top alternatives
FAQs
Bottom line: Is AdClear good?

Overview

Ads blocked on Forbes	27
AdBlock Tester score	100/100
Can You Block It score	2.5/3
Does it block YouTube ads?	No
Whitelisting available	No
Blacklisting available	No
Compatibility	Samsung Internet, Yandex
Paid version	N/A
Learn more	Get AdClear

How we test and rate ad blockers

Every ad blocker in this guide is hands-on tested by our team using a consistent process. We evaluate each product across six areas:

Test results (34%): We run each ad blocker through AdBlock Tester and Can You Block It, recording scores for each. We also browse ad-heavy sites in real-world conditions, including watching YouTube videos and visiting Forbes, to verify day-to-day performance.
Value (21%): We evaluate each product's cost relative to its blocking performance, factoring in starting price, money-back guarantee length, and the number of devices covered under a single subscription.
Features (18%): We test each ad blocker against a six-point checklist covering its ability to block pop-up ads, trackers, YouTube ads, banner ads, and push ads, as well as whether it includes whitelisting functionality.
Editor's score (15%): We use each product ourselves across supported platforms, evaluating how intuitive the interface is and anything else that affects day-to-day use that isn't captured by our other criteria.
Customer support (7%): We evaluate the support options available, prioritizing human support options like live chat and email.
Compatibility (5%): We review each ad blocker's compatibility across desktop apps, browser extensions, and mobile apps to determine how broad its device and platform coverage is.

We test all ad blockers at least twice a year to ensure our recommendations stay current. Testing has been carried out across Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS so our results reflect real-world performance on the devices most readers actually use.

To learn more about how we test, read our full ad blocker methodology here.

We last tested AdClear on December 19, 2025.

#1 Adblocker — Even Blocks YouTube Video Ads

5.0

Editorial Rating

On Total Adblock's website

2026 Editors’ Choice

Best Overall Ad Blocker

Ad Blocker

Total Adblock

PROMOTION: Get 80% Off

Instantly blocks distracting ads on millions of websites, including Facebook and YouTube ads
Blocks third-party trackers to protect your privacy and information
Improves page load times and enables faster browsing

Our experience

AdClear proved to be a reliable and effective ad blocker during our latest testing. After installing AdClear, we were prompted to download either Samsung Internet or Yandex browsers. AdClear isn't compatible with other browsers like Chrome, so we had to use Samsung Internet for our testing.

AdClear walked us through the setup process with a button that opened the exact settings page we needed.

Samsung Internet settings for ad blockers

AdClear didn't have any custom filter options in the past, but now there's a whole configuration section where you can apply filters for ads, trackers, malware, and more.

We wish AdClear had an ads blocked counter to give us a better idea of how well it works. Samsung Internet does list how many ads were blocked in a given day and how many were blocked on the previous site we visited, but there's not much clarity beyond that.

AdClear ads blocked counter showing how many ads have been blocked today (266)

AdClear blocked several ads during our testing and seemed to improve our internet speeds. It's also completely free, so it doesn't hurt to use.

Main features

AdClear is easy to use, partly because it doesn't have many features. AdClear lacks whitelisting or blacklisting functionality, but it does have several filters for blocking ads, annoyances, malware, and more.

AdClear automatically enables two types of filters. The first is the Default List, which has the essential ad-blocking rules. The second type is the Mobile Ads Filter. Its function is to block ads on mobile devices.

Additional filters are based on language. Many people consume content in more than one language, which means you could receive ads in multiple languages. Enabling a language filter can help block ads in different languages.

You can choose ad-blocking filters for a variety of languages, including:

Chinese
Dutch
Finnish
French
German
Korean
Russian
Spanish
Turkish
Ukrainian

AdClear’s test results

We tested whether AdClear can block different types of ads with third-party testers AdBlock Tester and Can You Block It. Overall, AdClear earned near-perfect results, which were impressive for a free ad blocker.

AdClear scores

	AdBlock Tester	Can You Block It?
AdClear score	100/100	2.5/3

Test results as of 12/19/2025.

We conducted the first test with AdBlock Tester, which evaluated AdClear's ability to block intrusive ads and analytical tools. Initially, AdClear blocked most ads, including contextual and banner ads. It only failed to block sites from gathering data about our online behavior, so it received a 77/100 score.

AdClear's Adblock Tester test results (77/100).

We decided to dive into the filter lists and enable all of the filters for advertising, annoyances, and privacy. Once those were enabled, we navigated back to AdBlock Tester and AdClear earned a perfect 100/100.

AdClear's Adblock Tester test results (100/100).

Finally, we used the Can You Block It test to see if AdClear could block interstitial ads and banner ads as well as disable ad-block warnings. AdClear successfully blocked all three ad types, which led to a smoother online experience.

The only downside was that the interstitial ads still showed up, appearing as a blank box.

YouTube ad test

We tested AdClear to see if it can block YouTube ads. In the past, any video that had an ad would just show a black screen for several seconds before starting.

This time, AdClear failed to block YouTube ads altogether. We started watching a music video and quickly received a pre-roll ad.

Bypassing paywall test

Paywalls block you from viewing content unless you have a subscription. We tested AdClear by browsing the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and The Atlantic to see if it would bypass the paywalls.

Unsurprisingly, AdClear didn't work, and we were met with a paywall if we wanted to read articles. Most content-blocking apps can’t bypass paywalls, but it was worth testing.

What browsers and software is AdClear compatible with?

AdClear only works on Android devices, specifically on the Samsung Internet and Yandex browsers. It's extremely limited since it doesn't work with more popular options like Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.

How to use AdClear

Install the AdClear app.
Accept the terms and conditions.
Install the Samsung Internet or Yandex browser if you haven't yet.
Go to the browser's settings to enable AdClear. On Samsung Internet, click the three horizontal lines on the bottom right.
Select Ad blockers from the menu, then enable AdClear from the list of ad blockers.
Customize settings in the AdClear app. You can choose to disable default filters or enable language-based ad-blocking filters.
You're all done! You can surf the Samsung Internet or Yandex browser without ads.

Top alternatives

AdClear may not be the best fit for everyone, especially due to its limited compatibility. Luckily, there are many other ad blockers on the market that could be the right fit for you. Based on our extensive testing, we recommend the following alternatives.

	Total Adblock	Aura Ad Block and Anti-Track	Surfshark CleanWeb
Best for	Best for blocking YouTube ads	Best for identity protection	Best for unlimited devices
Lowest starting price	$1.59/mo	$1.67/mo	$1.99/mo
Adblock Tester score	100/100	92/100	96/100
Can You Block It score	3/3	2.5/3	3/3
Blocks YouTube ads?
Compatibility	Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge, Safari	Chrome, Edge, Safari	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Fire TV
Learn more	Get Total Adblock	Get Aura Ad Blocker	Get Surfshark CleanWeb

The Total Adblock browser extension has a perfect score for blocking ads. It's also the most affordable option and is compatible with most popular browsers. Plus, the premium plan includes the award-winning antivirus software, TotalAV.

If you want ad-blocking protection bundled with advanced security features, consider using Surfshark CleanWeb or Aura Ad Blocker. In addition to blocking ads, trackers, and even malware-infected ads, both services include a secure virtual private network (VPN) to help you browse anonymously.

FAQs

What is the AdClear content blocker app?

The AdClear content blocking app is designed to block annoying ads and trackers on Samsung Internet and Yandex. It's completely free to use.

Is AdClear safe?

AdClear is generally a safe app. You can download it from Google Play or the Galaxy Store, which have strict standards for app safety.

Is it safe to use ad blockers?

Ad blockers are generally safe to use. When choosing an ad blocker, choose one that boasts a solid reputation, has good reviews, receives regular updates, and protects your data.

You could also use a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt your online traffic to provide an additional layer of privacy.

Is there a downside to using ad blockers?

Sometimes, ad blockers can break websites and make them difficult to load. However, using a reputable ad blocker can help avoid this issue.

The most significant problem with ad blockers is that they limit site revenue. Many sites and content creators earn an income through ads, and ad blockers can hurt their business. You may want to consider turning off ad blockers to certain sites you want to support.

Bottom line: Is AdClear good?

Overall, AdClear works for Android users who don't want to put too much effort into blocking ads and trackers. It’s easy to use, and you can basically forget about it once it's set up. Plus, AdClear is a great choice for multilingual users who can use the language filters to block ads in different languages.

Even though it’s a decent free ad blocker, AdClear lacks whitelisting, and it has very limited compatibility. It also only works on Android using the Samsung Internet or Yandex browser.

If AdClear doesn't meet your needs, there are plenty of other ad blockers with broad device and browser compatibility.

4.6

Editorial Rating

On AdClear's website

Ad Blocker

AdClear

Free ad blocker extension for Android
Lightweight and easy-to-use with noticeable impact
Limited browser compatibility to Samsung Internet and Yandex

Author Details

Sara J. Nguyen

About the Author

Sara J. Nguyen has spent more than five years covering data privacy, identity theft protection, and online safety. She approaches the beat with a public relations background that gives her a particular eye for the gap between how companies present their products and what those products actually do for users. She has authored more than 140 articles for All About Cookies and has been published in Frontier Communications, Hootsuite, Zapier, and LogRocket.