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The All About Cookies editorial team strives to provide accurate, in-depth information and reviews to help you, our reader, make online privacy decisions with confidence. Here's what you can expect from us:
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User-friendly ad blocker that offers broad coverage across browsers and devices without compromising device speed
The free version provides basic extension-only coverage, while the premium plans boast robust app coverage
App plans include parental controls, browsing security, browser assistant, DNS leak protection, and a VPN
All About Cookies is an independent, advertising-supported website. Some of the offers that appear on this site are from third-party advertisers from which All About Cookies receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear).
All About Cookies does not include all financial or credit offers that might be available to consumers nor do we include all companies or all available products. Information is accurate as of the publishing date and has not been provided or endorsed by the advertiser.
The All About Cookies editorial team strives to provide accurate, in-depth information and reviews to help you, our reader, make online privacy decisions with confidence. Here's what you can expect from us:
AdGuard is a high-performing ad blocker with lots of customization possibilities. You can control filters for ad-blocking, browsing security, privacy protection, parental control, and more.
Plus, AdGuard received high scores on our ad-blocking and tracker blocking tests. We needed to tinker with AdGuard and enable additional filters to achieve these high scores, so it’s not the best option if you want to set it and forget it.
Keep reading to learn how well AdGuard works and discover if it's the best ad-blocking software for your needs.
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
| Ads blocked on Forbes homepage | 12 |
| AdBlock Tester score | 100/100 |
| Can You Block It score | 3/3 |
| Does it block YouTube ads? | Yes |
| Whitelisting available | Yes |
| Blacklisting available | Yes |
| Compatibility | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Safari |
| Paid version | Starts at $2.49/mo |
| Learn more | Get AdGuard |
Each ad blocker we review goes through a standardized test designed to push the limits of what the software is capable of. This includes vigorous third-party testing using websites like adblock-tester.com and canyoublockit.com. We also visit popular websites to test the ad blocker’s day-to-day capabilities, including watching YouTube videos and browsing Forbes.
Once we’ve completed the testing, we calculate our editorial rating by taking into account key features you’d expect from a good product. We score each ad blocker in the following categories and use a weighted average to calculate the final rating out of 5 stars: price, test scores, features, browser support, and editorial score.
To learn more about how we test, read our full ad blocker methodology here.
AdGuard received a high star rating of 4.7 for its 5/5 scores in the features, test results, and compatibility categories.
AdGuard was docked half a point in the experience category because you'll need to enable all of its toggles for the highest blocking potential. This may not be intuitive for the average user.
| Decision factor | Weight | Verdict |
| Our experience | 15% | 4.5 |
| Value | 21% | 4.3 |
| Features | 15% | 5.0 |
| Test results | 37% | 5.0 |
| Compatibility | 5% | 5.0 |
| Customer service | 7% | 4.0 |
We last tested AdGuard on July 7, 2025.
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User-friendly ad blocker that offers broad coverage across browsers and devices without compromising device speed
The free version provides basic extension-only coverage, while the premium plans boast robust app coverage
App plans include parental controls, browsing security, browser assistant, DNS leak protection, and a VPN
Downloading and installing the ad blocker was no problem. We installed the AdGuard browser extension on Google Chrome as well as the Windows app.
During setup, AdGuard walked us through all of its settings for ads, trackers, and other items to be blocked. We could toggle these on and determine the level of protection we'd receive in several categories.
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Almost all the websites we visited functioned properly, and we didn’t notice any hiccups along the way.
One feature that can be confusing is the total number under AdGuard’s Ads blocked section. When you click on Statistics, you’ll see numbers listed next to Advertising, Other, Trackers, and CDN. There's no explanation of these numbers, though you can adjust the time period.
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However, we do like the phishing and malware protection functions that come with AdGuard. It’s a simple matter of turning the protection on, and you’re good to go.
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The mobile app is also highly rated, at least on iOS, and we found that the ratings proved true. We especially liked that AdGuard can block YouTube ads directly from the app. You'll just need to hit share video to find the option.
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AdGuard is available for free or you can buy a paid plan for $2.49-$5.49/mo. The paid versions allow protection across multiple platforms. The Personal plan covers up to three devices and the Family plan covers up to nine devices.
There isn’t a lot of information on the website that shows any other differences in the paid vs. free plan. If you only want coverage for one device, we recommend choosing the free option, but the paid plans are also reasonably priced.
| Free | Personal | Family | |
| Price | Free | Starts at $2.49/mo | Starts at $5.49/mo |
| Max # of covered devices | 1 | 3 | 9 |
| Block ads in browsers | |||
| Block ads in apps and games | |||
| Blocks trackers | |||
| Parental controls | |||
| Learn more | View plan | View plan | View plan |
AdGuard can be expensive compared to other premium ad blocker plans. Total Adblock starts at $1.59/mo and AdLock starts at $1.05/mo.
You can try out all of AdGuard's premium features with its 14-day free trial. It also has a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Beyond blocking ads, AdGuard has an impressive array of features. It has filters to protect you from trackers, malware, phishing, social widgets, and more.
Plus, you can whitelist sites to support your favorite content creators and bundle the service with its virtual private network (VPN).
AdGuard's basic functions are to block ads and trackers. Whenever you visit a webpage, the AdGuard extension or app will get to work and share how many items it's blocked on that page.
Previously, the extension let us know how much data we saved for the day. Now, it only lets us know how many items are being blocked and the total number of items blocked across our usage.
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One feature we found confusing is the Statistics section. You get a total number, but it’s not clear what that means.
Even after thorough reading from AdGuard’s site, we couldn’t find an example that matched our extension window.
With the allowlist, AdGuard’s whitelist function, you can add specific websites that you don’t want AdGuard to filter. That way, you can support your favorite content creators while blocking ads across the other sites you visit.
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AdGuard's parental security features include the ability to conduct safe searches, implement password protection, and block users from downloading files or installing new apps.
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If you want more than just an ad blocker, AdGuard has its own VPN and a cloud-based DNS service. The DNS service is also great for parents because you can schedule screen time for your kids and block undesired content.
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To test AdGuard, we used AdBlock Tester and Can You Block It. These websites are dedicated to testing browser protection and ad blockers.
AdBlock Tester uses advertiser analytics to test the blocker’s effectiveness against contextual advertising, analytics tools, banner advertising, and error monitoring.
When we first tested AdGuard with AdBlock Tester on our laptop, it received 83/100. After we toggled on every filter related to content blocking in the settings, the score increased to 100/100.
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While we're glad that AdGuard is an effective ad blocker, it may not be the best option for someone looking to just set and forget their ad blocker from the moment they download it.
Can You Block It tests for ad blocker warnings, banner ads, and interstitial ads (or those pesky ads that pop up while the webpage loads), and AdGuard passed 3/3. How do we know? Because we didn't see any ads during the browser test.
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| AdBlock Tester | Can You Block It | |
| AdGuard score | 100/100 | 3/3 |
If you want to block YouTube ads, you’ll love AdGuard. We've tested numerous channels and videos, and AdGuard always blocks all the ads we see, including pre-roll ads, ads during the video, and banner ads.
Using AdGuard also didn’t change our user experience while watching YouTube videos. There were no speed disruptions or slowdowns noted.
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We were also relieved to find that AdGuard has persisted against YouTube's recent actions against ad blockers. No need for a YouTube Premium subscription here.
Most ad blockers, free or premium, can't bypass hard paywalls. Paywalled content means that the user is required to subscribe in order to access the "premium" content.
AdGuard can sometimes unblock paywalls, but this time it couldn't on The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and The Atlantic. This is a normal result, but we like to check if ad blockers can access these paywalled pages.
| AdGuard compatibility | |
| Google Chrome | |
| Mozilla Firefox | |
| Safari | |
| Microsoft Edge | |
| Other browsers | Yes — Opera, Yandex |
| Android | |
| iOS | |
| Desktop apps | Yes — Windows, macOS, Linux |
If you’re looking for an ad blocker that’s compatible with almost any browser, you'll likely find that in AdGuard. The ad blocker also has apps for your computer and smart devices to block ads across browsers, apps, and games.
| Support type | AdGuard |
| Email or live chat | Yes — support@adguard.com |
| Phone | |
| Online guides or forums |
If you need to reach out to customer support, then AdGuard has an email you can contact. The rest of the support options are for self-help, including the knowledge base and FAQs.
There's also the AdGuard Community page, which includes links to a subreddit, GitHub, and Telegram group where you can engage with developers and other AdGuard users.
AdGuard is a highly-rated app for iOS, but the Android app has significantly lower ratings. On Android, AdGuard is only available for Samsung Internet and many reviews flag that it doesn't work well anymore. On the other hand, Apple App Store reviewers praise how AdGuard's blocking abilities.
AdGuard also has a high Trustpilot rating, with an overwhelming 86% of ratings being five stars. Positive reviews call out how effective AdGuard is across devices and appreciate its ease of use. Support is also described as prompt and helpful.
The AdGuard extension is easy to install on macOS or Windows. Simply navigate to the website, select download, and allow the extension to install.
Once the fast installation is complete, you can access the extension using the browser icon. For quick access, pin the icon to your toolbar.
To use the more premium features, you'll need to download the AdGuard app. When downloading the extension, AdGuard also prompts you to also download the app for the most comprehensive coverage. You can customize a lot more with the app by navigating to Settings.
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From there, you can access AdGuard's advanced security features — which, comparatively, you won't see in the extension Settings because premium features like parental controls, DNS protection, VPN services, and more are only available with the app.
AdGuard is a standout in the ad blocker realm, but it's not the only option available. We've gathered a list of some of the best ad blockers that we've tested and can recommend as trustworthy alternatives. Plus, all of these top-rated ad blockers stop YouTube video ads.
 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 | 89/100 | 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 |
AdGuard is a great ad blocker with plenty of features to protect against ads, tracking, and phishing. We've tested it on Windows, iOS, and Chrome and have gotten a smooth browsing experience every time.
Another standout feature is viewing YouTube videos with no ads invading while watching our favorite content creators. This worked for us on desktop and mobile.
AdGuard is best for the user who wants to get rid of online ads and likes to delve into all the functionality of the product interface. There are different options you can set up, like custom filters, an allowlist, and user rules. If you want to add your preferred filtering rules, you can do that with this ad blocker.
If you’re still looking for the best ad blocker for you, check out the best ad blockers on the market or see how AdGuard compares to other blockers:
AdGuard is a free download, but there are also paid plans offered that cover multiple platforms and devices.
AdGuard is a safe third-party software, designed to block ads and improve your browsing experience. Since it’s open-source software, users can look at the coding to see if there are any security vulnerabilities.
AdGuard is better at blocking pages before they are loaded into the browser, thereby removing the ad elements. That may be due to AdGuard having an extension and stand-alone application. Since AdBlock is only an extension, it may not remove all the ads.
User-friendly ad blocker that offers broad coverage across browsers and devices without compromising device speed
The free version provides basic extension-only coverage, while the premium plans boast robust app coverage
App plans include parental controls, browsing security, browser assistant, DNS leak protection, and a VPN
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