AdGuard vs. Adblock Plus 2025: One Blocks More Than Just Ads

AdGuard and Adblock Plus both block ads to clean up your browsing experience, but one offers more bang for your buck.

Last updated Oct 8, 2025

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4.7

Editorial Rating

On AdGuard Ad Blocker's website

Ad Blocker

AdGuard Ad Blocker

Save Up to 40%

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

4.7

Editorial Rating

On Adblock Plus's website

Ad Blocker

Adblock Plus

Free product blocks ads, pop-up, trackers, push notifications, social media icons tracking, and even YouTube video ads
Open-source software allows for custom filtering and community-based support
Free version provides no protection against trackers

AdGuard and Adblock Plus are both high performing ad blockers, allowing you to clean up your online experience while also providing protection against malicious ads. But overall, AdGuard gives you the same performance for a lower price tag, giving it the overall win in our books.

We love AdGuard’s evergreen plan, which lets you pay once and use it forever. That means you'll have access to advanced security features for Windows, like parental controls. We also love the prebuilt block lists Adblock Plus provides, which help you filter as much or as little as you want. Adblock Plus is an easy-to-use, set-and-forget ad blocker.

Both give you the option to customize your block-allow lists and provide protection against pop-up ads and YouTube ads.

If you’re looking for the best ad blockers, then you’re in the right place. Check out our comparison below to see which one is the best choice for you.

In this article

Overview comparison
Cost
Features
Test results
Compatibility and customer support
FAQs
AdGuard vs. Adblock Plus: Which is better?

AdGuard vs. Adblock Plus compared

AdGuard: Best for advanced Windows protection
Adblock Plus: Best for set-and-forget ad blocking

	Our Pick
Price	From $1.49/mo	From $3.33/mo
Free version
Ads blocked on Forbes	12	30
Does it block YouTube ads?
Browser compatibility	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Safari	Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Safari
Mobile compatibility	Android, iOS	Android, iOS
Learn more	Get AdGuard Read AdGuard Review	Get Adblock Plus Read Adblock Plus Review

AdGuard pros and cons

AdGuard offers a free ad blocker, as well as a lifetime subscription, which allows you to pay a one-time price and then use it indefinitely. It performed well during our in-house testing and includes advanced security perks with the Windows app, including parental controls.

Pros

User-friendly interface
Doesn’t interfere with device speed
Windows app includes parental controls

Cons

You must install the extension on each browser you use
Ad blocking statistics can be hard to interpret

Adblock Plus pros and cons

On the other hand, Adblock Plus offers pre-built block lists that can be applied immediately. It's a great set-and-forget ad blocker.

Pros

Free product that works great
Allow list for ads to support creators

Cons

Need a paid subscription to block pop-up videos, ignore survey requests, and block site notifications
Fewer features on Safari

AdGuard vs. Adblock Plus: Prices

	Our Pick
Price range	$1.49-$5.49/mo	$3.33-$4.00/mo
Best value plan	Personal Lifetime plan for $55.99	Yearly plan for $3.33/mo
Free version available
Money-back guarantee	Yes — 60 days	Yes — 60 days
Learn more	Get AdGuard Read AdGuard Review	Get Adblock Plus Read Adblock Plus Review

AdGuard plan prices start a little lower, and there are more options than what you get with Adblock Plus. We love an evergreen product, and AdGuard allows users to purchase it once for a low price.

The yearly price for Adblock Plus will save you money, however, because you’ve purchased it in advance.

While we recommend AdGuard’s lifetime plan, you could also purchase the family plan, which allows up to 9 devices to be used simultaneously. For a single purchase, this is a great deal.

Adblock Plus doesn’t offer this much, and the annual price is nearly the same as AdGuard’s evergreen price.

Winner: AdGuard. Its one-time, evergreen price is marginally more than the annual Adblock Plus price, which requires yearly renewal.

AdGuard vs. Adblock Plus: Features

Feature	Our Pick
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 AdGuard Read AdGuard Review	Get Adblock Plus Read Adblock Plus Review

Ad blockers work by blocking the scripts used by ads. You’ll experience a much cleaner internet without video ads that follow you down the page, pop-ups that get in the way of what you’re reading, or a clutter of other ads blocking what you’re trying to view.

It used to be that the one advantage AdGuard has over Adblock Plus is that it also blocks trackers, but recent Adblock Plus tests have shown that it can now block trackers as well. For us, this is pretty important because trackers are the hidden code in websites that help build a profile of you online. This information is used by companies like Google and Meta, which then sell it to advertisers. Trackers can increase the amount of spam and scams you receive, as well as leave you vulnerable to things like identity theft.

AdGuard also includes extra features with the Windows app. App plans include parental controls, browsing security, browser assistant, DNS leak protection, and a VPN.

AdGuard settings open on parental control tab

Winner: AdGuard. The extra features make this a more well-rounded product.

AdGuard vs. Adblock Plus: Test results

Feature	Our Pick
AdBlock Tester score	100/100	100/100
Cover Your Tracks score	2.5/3	2.5/3
Can You Block It score	3/3	3/3
YouTube ads blocked
Paywalls bypassed
Learn more	Get AdGuard Read AdGuard Review	Get Adblock Plus Read Adblock Plus Review

We thoroughly test all the products we review to determine their effectiveness. AdBlock Tester includes a wide range of ad coding on its site to see what your ad blocker does and doesn’t test. AdGuard scored 100/100, and Adblock Plus matched ad blocking capabilities with 100/100.

AdGuard's AdBlock Tester results (100/100)

Cover Your Tracks tests to see how effectively you’re hiding from online trackers. AdGuard scored 2.5/3, and Adblock Plus matched it with a 2.5/3 score.

Adblock Plus's Cover Your Tracks results (2.5/3)

In addition, Can You Block It gives another comprehensive look into the effectiveness of your ad blocker. Previously, Adblock Plus failed to block the banner ads, and it showed us an interstitial ad. During recent testing, it was able to block all three types of ads.

Adblock Plus's Can You Block It test results (3/3)

We also test the ability to block YouTube ads and paywalls, and both of these ad blockers were unable to bypass hard or soft paywalls.

Additionally, both ad blockers were able to block ads on YouTube when YouTube is accessed via a browser. You won’t have luck blocking YouTube ads with either product if you use the YouTube app, but you will if you access it through a compatible browser, such as Safari or Chrome.

The end screen of a YouTube video with the AdGuard extension open

Winner: Tie. Both products performed extremely well on our tests.

AdGuard vs Adblock Plus: Compatibility and customer support


Windows
macOS
Android
iOS
Linux
Browser extensions	Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Opera, Yandex	Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, Edge
24/7 customer support
Customer support options	Email, knowledge base, FAQ, community forum	Forums, online guides, create a ticket
Learn more	Get AdGuard Read AdGuard Review	Get Adblock Plus Read Adblock Plus Review

We had no problems downloading, installing, or using either ad blocker. The settings were easy to find and implement on both, and we saw immediate results after they were installed.

Unfortunately, customer support options for both products aren’t that amazing. You’re mostly left to your own devices to search forums and help centers to find answers to your questions.

One plus is that each offers a method of contact. You can email AdGuard or create a ticket with Adblock Plus.

You’ll likely need to wait, at least a little bit, for a response, but you do have an avenue to reach out.

Winner: Tie. The ease of use and customer service options are comparable between the two products.

FAQs

Is Adblock Plus still good?

Yes. During testing, we had success blocking YouTube ads and annoying ads on other websites. It also was able to block trackers and every type of ad we threw at it during our vigorous hands-on testing.

Does Chrome have a built-in ad blocker?

No, you need to add an ad blocking extension in order to block ads on Chrome. That said, Chrome removes ads that violate its Better Ads Standards policy. If Chrome deems the ads intrusive, it may block them, but it won’t block all ads. Ads that you may find intrusive may not violate Chrome’s policy, so a dedicated Chrome ad blocker is a great way to clean up your entire online experience.

Does AdGuard collect your data?

According to AdGuard’s privacy policy, it collects only the information necessary for its product to work properly, and it will never sell or share your data [1]. This means you can use the service without fear of your data being sold or given to affiliates, partners, or other data collection services.

AdGuard vs Adblock Plus: Which is better?

Though both products performed well in our testing, AdGuard is the superior ad blocker thanks to its more affordable plans, including an evergreen purchase option.

Adblock Plus is an okay ad blocker, but it costs more over the long term without tracker blocking. It didn’t do as well in testing either.

#1 Adblocker — Even Blocks YouTube Video Ads

4.9

Editorial Rating

On Total Adblock's website

Ad Blocker

Total Adblock

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

Author Details

Mary James

About the Author

Mary is a seasoned cybersecurity writer with over seven years of experience. With a B.S. in Liberal Arts from Clarion University and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Point Park University, she educates audiences on scams, antivirus software, and more. Her passion lies in educating audiences on helpful ways to protect their data.

Kate Quinlan

Kate is an Editor at All About Cookies. She has a decade of digital publishing experience and a background in EdTech. As a digital security expert, she leverages her passion for helping people to create authentic, well-researched content on a wide-range of digital privacy and security topics.