AdGuard Review 2024: Is It Good Software for Ad Blocking?

AdGuard works efficiently to block ads without being intrusive. While opening various browser tabs, we noticed the number of blocked items steadily increased. That’s impressive, but we also had a bit of trouble navigating the interface, which we’ll discuss in further detail.

AdGuard is still a good ad blocker, and we tested it thoroughly to see how it performs with our Macbook Air while using two web browsers. Keep reading to learn how this ad blocker works and discover if AdGuard is the right ad-blocking software for your needs.

AdGuard overview

AdGuard pros and cons

AdGuard paid plan

You can get the free version of AdGuard, but it also comes with the option of paid subscriptions. The paid versions allow protection across multiple platforms. With the Personal plan, you get coverage for up to three devices. If you choose the Family option, you get coverage for 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.

AdGuard paid plan prices

AdGuard features

AdGuard has impressive features like browsing security, parental controls, phishing protection, and Stealth Mode. It also comes with an Allowlist, which is AdGuard’s whitelist function. Here you can add specific websites that you don’t want AdGuard to filter. However, the Parent Control feature only works with Windows operating systems, so we weren’t able to test that option.

If you want more than just an ad blocker, AdGuard offers a virtual private network (VPN) and a cloud-based DNS service. These services can also be bundled at a discounted price. The DNS service is also great for parents because you can schedule screen time for your kids and block undesired content.

AdGuard doesn’t display warnings but it does show the number of ads blocked. You can also check a website’s security to ensure you’re on a safe site. That’s a great feature for when you’re using multiple websites and want to be secure.

One of the features that can be a bit confusing is the ad blocking and privacy 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.

Featured AdGuard alternatives to consider

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Best For	Best for blocking YouTube ads	Best overall	Best for blocking streaming ads
Price	Paid plan costs $1.99/mo (billed annually)	Starts at $3.99/mo	Starts at $2.29/mo (billed biennially)
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Learn more	Get Total Adblock	Get NordVPN Threat Protection	Get Surfshark CleanWeb

AdGuard test results

To test AdGuard, we used the AdBlock Tester and Cover Your Tracks. These are websites dedicated to testing browser protection and ad blockers. AdBlock Tester uses advertiser analytics to test the blocker’s effectiveness. Cover Your Tracks shows you an illustrated overview of how visible you are to online trackers. You will see the test scores in the table below.

Initially, AdGuard received a 68/100 score with AdBlock Tester. After we toggled on every filter related to content blocking in the settings, the score increased to 100/100. 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. 

AdGuard also received a 2/3 with Cover Your Tracks, having blocked ads and invisible trackers. Our browser still has a unique fingerprint, but we found that to be a common result among most ad blockers.

AdGuard scores

Does AdGuard block YouTube ads?

If you want to block YouTube ads, you’ll love AdGuard’s blocking capabilities here. We tested numerous channels and videos and were pleasantly surprised when all the ads we normally see were blocked. AdGuard was effective at halting all advertisements while we watched the content of various videos.

We had no ads get through while watching, although we expected a few to slip through the cracks. That didn’t happen with our testing. Using AdGuard also didn’t change our user experience while watching YouTube videos. There were no speed disruptions or slowdowns noted.

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.

Our AdGuard experience

Downloading and installing the ad blocker was no problem. The installation was quick and easy to set up. You may need to update your privacy settings to allow AdGuard access, but that’s simple to do.

In our testing, all the websites functioned properly and we didn’t notice any hiccups along the way. We were especially impressed with how it blocked ads while watching YouTube videos, as this is where tons of ads seem to populate. Having an ad blocker has allowed our internet usage to be more streamlined without the constant worry of trackers and ads getting through.

We downloaded AdGuard for our Mac and installed the AdGuard browser extension. To us, one of the best features is the data it saves. Since installation on our device, AdGuard has saved over 18 MB of data for the day.

As we mentioned, the one feature that can be confusing is the total number under AdGuard’s Ads blocked section. When you click on the Statistics option, you’ll see the number for Ad Blocking and then the number for Privacy. We aren’t sure how these numbers stack up or what they mean together.

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.

You can also activate and remove context-based ads and websites that use self-promotion, which is a huge plus for ridding those internet interruptions. Also, Stealth Mode protects your identity and personal information from online trackers. We like the added bonus of being able to hide search queries, too.

AdGuard compatibility

If you’re looking for an ad blocker that’s compatible with almost any browser, you likely find that in AdGuard. The ad blocker works with the most popular web browsers. It also works on both Android and iOS devices. You can use Windows and macOS and enjoy AdGuard features. These are the browsers and systems that have AdGuard ad-blocking extension capabilities:

• Google Chrome
• Mozilla Firefox
• Opera
• Yandex
• Microsoft Edge
• Safari
• macOS
• Windows
• iOS
• Android
• Android TV

AdGuard alternatives

AdGuard is a standout in the ad blocker realm, but it's the only option available. We've gathered a list of some of the best ad blockers on that market that you can are also worth considering:

• Total Adblock: Total Adblock is a user-friendly and effective ad blocker. It's even consistently thwarted YouTube ads following its crackdown, so you can rest assured that you're using a quality product. 

  Get Total Adblock | Read Our Total Adblock Review

• NordVPN Threat Protection: From the makers of NordVPN, Threat Protection is a VPN feature that can block ads, trackers, and malware. Its real-time protection ensures vigilant monitoring of any cyberthreats on the sites you visit and files you download. 

  Get NordVPN Threat Protection | Read Our NordVPN Threat Protection Review

• AdLock: As far as free extensions go, AdLock is a standout for multiple web browsers. It blocks most ads with just its free plan, and it doesn't sell your data to third parties.

  Get AdLock | Read Our AdLock Review

AdGuard FAQs

Bottom line: Is AdGuard good?

AdGuard is a good ad blocker with plenty of features like phishing, tracking, and browser protection. When testing the product on our Macbook Air running Big Sur 11.3, we loved having multiple webpages open with no interruption in speed performance. Another standout feature is viewing YouTube videos with no ads invading while watching our favorite content creators.

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. It’s also a good product if you don’t want to pay a lot or anything at all for a solid ad blocker that takes care of annoyances in the background while you are web browsing.

If you’re still looking for the best ad blocker for you, check out our Total Adblock review.

5.0

AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Editorial Rating

Learn More

On AdGuard Ad Blocker's website

AdGuard Ad Blocker

• Simple interface
• Doesn’t interfere with device speed
• Ad-blocking statistics can be hard to interpret

Author Details

Patti Croft

About the Author

Patti Croft is a seasoned writer who specializes in all things technology. She holds a B.S. in Computer Science and carries a wealth of hands-on experience thanks to her background as a technical analyst and security specialist.