AdLock Review 2026: A Truly Free Ad Blocker

The AdLock browser extension is a high-performing option that works well against ads, trackers, and other online nuisances. During our testing, it received near-perfect scores with both Adblock Tester and Can You Block It.

Unfortunately, our tests with the desktop app were less successful, so we recommend sticking with the free extension. It can also struggle with blocking some content like interstitial ads.  

If you want a product that’ll reduce endless YouTube ads, AdLock might be the best ad blocker for you.

Overview

Star rating summary

We last tested AdLock on October 29, 2025.

User-Friendly, Perfect Ad-Blocking Scores, and Comes With Antivirus

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

Get Deal

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

We started our testing with the free AdLock Chrome extension and were pleasantly surprised. We visited sites populated with ads like Forbes and found a much more straightforward browsing experience.

We even tried out the ever-elusive YouTube ad-blocking capabilities and were able to skip over pre-roll ads, as if they weren't even there. This is becoming increasingly rare these days, so we were happy to see it still works like a charm.

We opted to purchase AdLock Premium so we could test its full capabilities, including blocking ads on apps and phishing protection. The Windows app provided an easy setup process, with tips and explanations for some of its features.

While this app has worked in the past, we couldn't get it to work during our most recent tests. All ads were displayed as normal, and the dashboard never updated to track any blocked ads. We'll update this review again next time we test the app.

We were disappointed that AdLock struggled with some types of ads. For instance, it failed to block the interstitial ad during the Can You Block It test. These aren't the results we would expect from a paid product. 

Mobile experience

We also tested AdLock on iOS, which had a similarly thorough setup process. We were also pleased to find that you can block YouTube ads by streaming them directly within the app. 

All you have to do is tap Share on the video you're watching and select Ad-free YouTube with AdLock.

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AdLock plans and prices

AdLock offers a free browser extension or a paid app for $1.05-$3.50/mo. You can purchase a monthly plan, annual plan, or five-year plan. 

• 5 years/5 devices: $1.05/mo
• 1 year/5 devices: $2.80/mo
• 1 month/5 devices: $3.50/mo

Overall, the yearly plan has the most value and is definitely worthwhile considering the extra protection you’re receiving.

The main limitation with the free plan is that it's limited to just your browser, so if you're annoyed by ads in other apps on your device, this won't help. Otherwise, it works well.

The paid plan promises no forced whitelisting, no tracking, a 30-day money-back guarantee, and 24/7 support. All payment options include the same features and differ only by the subscription type (monthly or annually).

Though AdLock states it only accepts Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal, we were able to make a purchase using an American Express card. It has no options for other forms of payment, like cryptocurrency or gift cards.

In order to cancel AdLock, we had to contact customer support via PayPro Global's live chat. All we had to do was give them our order number and email, and they cancelled our renewal right away.

AdLock offers a 14-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee. To receive your refund, you'll need to contact AdLock via email (support@adlock.com).

Main features

Like most ad blockers, AdLock has features to block ads and trackers. It also has unique features like filters for languages and social media widgets. 

We'll break down AdLock's features below.

Ad blocker

AdLock’s browser extension gave us an easy view of what ads were blocked on the individual webpage and how many have been blocked overall. 

But unlike other products, AdLock functions only within your system, which means it isn’t outsourcing your requests. You can easily toggle the ad-blocking software off or on depending on the site you’re visiting. 

If you open the app, AdLock will also list out the number of blocked requests and the amount of saved traffic from using the app. For more details, you can click through the Ads reports tab, which breaks down ads blocked by app and domain, or Adblocking statistics, which provide detailed information on blocked commercial content. 

Protection

On the app, you'll find the Protection tab, which is where you can keep tabs on AdLock's anti-tracking and anti-phishing features. 

AdLock can hide your online presence and personal data from advertisers as well as protect you from phishing, scammers, and malware. All you need to do is toggle the settings on from this tab. 

You can also select Protection statistics for detailed information on blocked trackers, suspicious requests, and intrusion attempts.

Ad filters

If you go to AdLock's settings, you'll find a list of filters for various purposes. There's a spyware filter to help stop websites from tracking your activity, a social media filter to protect you from social media tracking, and an annoyances filter to block site elements like online chats and notifications.

AdLock also provides filters for multiple languages to block ads on international websites. 

Unfortunately, the spyware filter and social media filter are only included with the paid tier.

Allowlist

With allowlist, you can designate favorite sites or sites that should run without an ad blocker. This is also known as whitelisting. 

If you want to make sure your favorite creators get credit for their work, you can easily toggle off the blocker so they receive the ad revenue.

AdLock's test results

A product can tell you all day it’s good, but is it actually good? Third-party sites like AdBlock Tester and Can You Block It put those claims to the test.

AdLock scores

Adblock Tester checks a variety of different ways that ads can be displayed to see how your ad blocker performs. AdLock blocked all the ad types that AdBlock Tester threw at it, achieving a near-perfect score.

Finally, Can You Block It tests ad blockers against self-hosted ads, including banner ads, interstitial ads, and ad blocker detection warnings. AdLock could only block banner ads and ad blocker detection warnings, though.

The interstitial ad appeared, but AdLock blocked its content, leaving only a blank page with text. We're glad AdLock blocked the bulk of the ad, but we were annoyed we still had to deal with it rather than be able to skip it altogether. 

YouTube ad test

AdLock blocked YouTube ads seamlessly and with no lag. We tested this by watching an episode of Chicken Shop Date. 

First, we opened the video with AdLock turned off. We got the usual preroll ads and banner ads lurking in the area. 

Once we turned on the AdLock extension and refreshed the page, the ads were gone. The video never tried to load video ads before or during viewing, and there were no page-loading issues. 

Just remember that channels run ads specifically to pay the creator for their time and effort. If you have favorite content creators, disabling your ad blocker will allow them to receive revenue from ads. A lot of work goes into content creation, so choosing to view a few ads in return for the value you get can be worthwhile.

Bypassing paywalls test

We’re on the hunt for an ad blocker that can tackle paywalls. It can be frustrating when an article grabs your attention, only to be blocked from reading it when you click through.

Unfortunately, AdLock doesn't include bypassing paywalls with its arsenal of features. We checked The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and The Atlantic, but all three sites prompted us to sign up for a subscription.

AdLock compatibility

AdLock has two different types of products. The first is the free version for Chrome, Firefox, and Safari browsers, which block ads when you're using your browser. The second is a paid version for operating systems. 

AdLock customer support

If you need to get in touch with AdLock support, you can send them an email or submit a form on its website, It also has multiple webpages for help, including a user guide, a blog, and FAQs.

There's also a phone number listed for support, but we're not sure of its hours.

AdLock reputation

• Apple App Store rating: 4.4
• Trustpilot rating: 1.6

AdLock has good star ratings on both mobile app stores. But we noticed that all the featured reviews on the Apple App Store are one or two stars due to AdLock breaking Chrome, slowing speeds, and poor customer service. 

On the other hand, AdLock has been labeled bad by Trustpilot's aggregated TrustScore. Half of reviewers rated AdLock one star, while 36% rated it five stars. The most common complaints in the Trustpilot reviews are due to the app not working and repeated charges despite not being subscribed. 

AdLock privacy policy

Reviewing the privacy policy for products you use is important to make sure your data isn't shared or sold. We were pleased that AdLock "doesn't sell or share [usage information] with third parties."

It mentions collecting anonymous usage information, like browser language and number of blocked ad requests, but it's not sold or shared with third parties. All AdLock extension users will receive a unique ID that's assigned anonymously upon installation. It'll be stored on AdLock's servers until you uninstall the extension from your device.

The privacy policy also breaks down how your data is used by third parties for analytics, handling payments, hosting and backend infrastructure, and other uses. Although your email may be used for promotional and informational purposes, you do have the option to opt out.

Overall, we liked how easy to read AdLock's privacy policy is, and we feel good about its data usage. 

How to use AdLock

To set up AdLock, you'll need to decide if you wish to use the AdLock app or browser extension (or both). Once you've selected your preferred software, you can visit the AdLock site to download it. 

AdLock provides a 14-day trial for free users to test AdLock Premium. You can also take advantage of its 30-day money-back guarantee.

Once you've settled on AdLock, here's how to use it:

1. Open the AdLock extension.
2. Turn on the Block ads on this page toggle.
   

   

That's it! For Premium subscriptions with the app, here's what you need to do:

1. Install the AdLock app on your desktop or phone.
2. Select Activation from the left-hand side bar.
3. Enter the nine-digit Activation code provided to you upon purchasing the subscription and tap Submit.
   

   

4. Once your subscription is activated, you can select Ad blocking or any of the other tabs to toggle on AdLock's features.

Top alternatives

AdLock has some handy features and impressive test scores, but it's not the only ad blocker on the market. Here are some of our top picks if you're not sold on AdLock:

	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	$1.78/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

Bottom line: Is AdLock a good ad blocker?

AdLock really is a good ad blocker. Not only does it block out most ads with just the free browser extension, but it also respects your privacy. 

If you want increased protection, such as from data-mining social media sites, AdLock has you covered with its paid tier. While we still got a pop-up or two, AdLock really delivered on its promise.

If you’ve been shopping for a powerful ad blocker that delivers without sacrificing your data, we suggest giving AdLock a try. If you're still not convinced, see how AdLock compares to other blockers: 

• AdLock vs. Total Adblock
• AdLock vs. AdGuard
• AdLock vs. uBlock Origin

FAQs

Blocks 'Acceptable Ads' by Default and Can Stop Social Media Tracking

4.6

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

Get Deal

On AdLock's website

Ad Blocker

AdLock

PROMOTION: 70% Off For the 5-Year Plan

• Offers a free extension that's compatible with major browsers and a premium plan with Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS compatibility
• Effective blocker against follow-along videos, banner ads, YouTube ads, and more
• Doesn't share or sell your data with third parties

Author Details

Mary James

About the Author

Mary James is a cybersecurity writer and hands-on product tester at All About Cookies, specializing in VPNs, antivirus software, password managers, and ad blockers. She has written over 340 articles and has personally tested more than 75 products. Before writing about consumer security, she worked at PC Matic, a U.S. antivirus company, giving her firsthand insight into how security software is built, marketed, and tested. Her work has been featured in MSN and CNBC.