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Best Overall
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User-friendly ad blocker that offers broad coverage across browsers and devices without compromising device speed
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The free version provides basic extension-only coverage, while the premium plans boast robust app coverage
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App plans include parental controls, browsing security, browser assistant, DNS leak protection, and a VPN
Runner-Up
AdGuard and Adblock Plus both allow you to clean up your online experience while also providing protection against malicious ads. But overall, AdGuard performed better during our vigorous testing, 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.
Cost
Features
Test results
Compatibility and customer support
FAQs
AdGuard vs. Adblock Plus: Which is better?
Premium Ad Blockers for Any Browser or Device
Ad blocker | ![]() |
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Best for | Best for blocking YouTube ads | Best for unlimited devices | Best for identity protection | Best for safe browsing |
Lowest starting price | Starts at $1.59/mo (billed annually) | Starts at $2.89/mo (billed annually) | Starts at $19.99/first yr | Starts at $5.99/mo (billed annually) |
Blocks YouTube ads | ||||
Learn more | Get Total Adblock | Get Surfshark CleanWeb Ad Blocking | Get Aura Ad Blocker | Get NordVPN Threat Protection |
AdGuard vs. Adblock Plus compared
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 better during our in-house testing and stopped more trackers than Adblock Plus. It also includes advanced security perks with the Windows app, including parental controls.
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.
- AdGuard: Best for advanced Windows protection
- Adblock Plus: Best for set-and-forget ad blocking
![]() Our Pick |
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Price | From $2.49/mo (billed annually) | From $3.33/mo (billed annually) |
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
- User-friendly interface
- Doesn’t interfere with device speed
- Windows app includes parental controls
- You must install the extension on each browser you use
- Ad blocking statistics can be hard to interpret
Adblock Plus pros and cons
- Free product that works great
- Allow list for ads to support creators
- Need a paid subscription to block pop-up videos, ignore survey requests, and block site notifications
- Struggles with blocking trackers
- Fewer features on Safari
AdGuard vs. Adblock Plus: prices
![]() Our Pick
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Price range | $2.49-$5.49/mo | $3.33-$4.00/mo |
Best value plan | Personal Lifetime plan for $55.99 (one-time) | Yearly plan for $3.33/mo (billed annually) |
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.
AdGuard vs. Adblock Plus: features
Feature |
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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 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.
The one advantage AdGuard has over Adblock Plus is that it also blocks trackers. 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 vs. Adblock Plus: test results
Feature |
![]() Our Pick
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AdBlock Tester score | 100/100 | 100/100 |
Cover Your Tracks score | 2.5/3 | 0/3 |
Can You Block It score | 3/3 | 1/3 |
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.
Cover Your Tracks tests to see how effectively you’re hiding from online trackers. AdGuard scored 2.5/3, whereas Adblock Plus failed its Cover Your Tracks tests with a goose egg 0/3 score.
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 at least one ad type.
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.
AdGuard vs Adblock Plus: compatibility and customer support
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Windows |
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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.
FAQs
Is Adblock Plus still good?
Not really. During testing, we had success blocking YouTube ads (for now) and annoying ads on other websites. However, it didn't block any trackers, and it failed to work with our Can You Block It test, which assesses how effectively an ad blocker stops banner ads, interstitial ads, and other types of ads. There are plenty of better ad blockers that performed better during our in-house testing.
Does Chrome have a built-in ad blocker?
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?
As our testing has proven, AdGuard is the superior ad blocker. Not only does it offer an evergreen purchase option, but it also blocks more ads and includes tracker blocking.
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.
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