The Best Ad Blockers 2023

Using an ad blocker can greatly enhance your internet browsing experience, but with so many out there, which one should you choose?
We may receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

Best Overall

Learn More
On uBlock Origin's website

View More

Best for Parental Controls

Learn More
On AdGuard Ad Blocker's website

View More

Best for Blocking YouTube Ads

Learn More
On Ghostery's website

View More

Best for Social Media Trackers

Learn More
On AdLock's website

View More

Best for iOS and macOS

Learn More
On 1Blocker's website

View More

Ad blockers work by decluttering and making the internet a better place. Whether your goal is to visit a blog without all the ads or to keep yourself safe from malicious scripts and trackers, a good ad blocker should cover you.

We chose five ad blockers below (plus some bonus ways to block ads) based on features, policies, and strength. uBlock Origin is a powerful, open-source tool that covers you while surfing the web, while 1Blocker is built specifically for macOS and iOS.

In addition to ridding you of YouTube ads and having the ability to block pop-ups, ad blockers can keep you safe by blocking malicious scripts hidden in advertisements. Because why have a product that violates your privacy? Let’s take a deeper look at these ad blockers and the features they offer.

In this article
The best ad blockers 2023
uBlock Origin: Best overall
AdGuard: Best for parental controls
Ghostery: Best for blocking YouTube ads
AdLock: Best for blocking social media trackers
1Blocker: Best for iOS and macOS
5 more ways to block ads
Best ad blockers FAQs
Bottom line: The best ad blockers 2023
How we tested the best ad blockers
Why should you block ads?
How to choose the best ad blocker

The best ad blockers 2023

Top 5 ad blockers compared

Ad blocker
Best Overall

uBlock Origin

AdGuard

Ghostery

AdLock

1Blocker
Compatibility Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Opera Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera, Yandex Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera (limited efficacy on Safari) Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge iOS (iPhone and iPad), macOS, Safari
Ads blocked on Forbes homepage 21 20 7 15 18
Blocks YouTube ads
AdBlock Tester results 96/100 97/100 100/100 97/100 100/100
Cover Your Tracks results 2/3 2/3 3/3 1.5/3 2/3
Learn more Get uBlock Origin Get AdGuard Get Ghostery Get AdLock Get 1Blocker

uBlock Origin: Best overall

The Best Ad Blocker Overall
Learn More
On uBlock Origin's website


uBlock Origin is an open-source ad blocker, which means that the collective hive mind of the internet is always able to improve the code. While your next question may be, “doesn’t that mean someone can install malware into the code?” Technically, yes, they can. But if or when that happens, it’s noticed almost immediately and corrected by someone else.

What we liked

It’s powerful. uBlock Origin was created with the altruistic idea that people should have a free and powerful ad blocker to keep them from accidentally clicking on malicious coding. uBlock Origin is definitely that.

uBlock Origin's Cover Your Tracks test results.

uBlock Origin also passed two out of the three tests on Cover Your Tracks. Cover Your Tracks is a tool that tests how you’re viewed and tracked online. It detects trackers that follow you around the internet, building a profile on you, and your browser fingerprint, which can be used to identify you. And the test results noted that uBlock effectively blocked tracking ads and invisible trackers.

What we didn’t like

It’s pretty technical. If you’re not familiar with some of the features and how to use them, you may not get the most out of it. Also, there’s no compatibility with Safari.

uBlock Origin pros and cons

Pros
  • Blocks almost everything
  • Prevents browser fingerprinting
  • Open-source
Cons
  • No Safari compatibility
  • Might be too technical for some

Get uBlock Origin | Read Our uBlock Origin Review

AdGuard: Best for parental controls

The Best Ad Blocker for Parental Controls
Learn More
On AdGuard Ad Blocker's website


AdGuard has a user-friendly interface and is easy to download and install. It also gives you options like “blocking adult sites” to help with keeping kids off websites they shouldn’t see. While the free product offers all you could want, the individual and family paid plans give you the option to extend your protection to multiple devices.

What we liked

We were impressed with the effectiveness of a free tool that doesn’t sell your data. Having parental controls is a nice option, especially when you’re trying to keep your kids safe online. There’s also a stealth mode that allows you to browse the internet with more security.

The AdGuard interface indicating how many ads, trackers, and threats have been blocked, as well as how much data has been saved.

Its uncluttered user interface is easy to navigate. While that might not be the most important factor in an ad blocker, ease of use makes it more likely that you'll actually use it.

What we didn’t like

The ad-blocking stats aren’t easy to interpret. If you’re looking for solid statistics, AdGuard may leave you wanting. And while Stealth Mode can help with getting rid of trackers and cookies, it doesn’t hide your IP address.

AdGuard pros and cons

Pros
  • Friendly interface
  • Parental controls
  • Doesn’t sell data
Cons
  • Unclear ad-blocking stats
  • Stealth Mode doesn’t hide your IP

Get AdGuard | Read Our AdGuard Review

Ghostery: Best for blocking YouTube ads

The Best Ad Blocker for Blocking YouTube Ads
Learn More
On Ghostery's website


Ghostery is really committed to blocking ads, and it works really well at blocking YouTube ads. In addition, there are a host of features including private browsing and in-depth analytics about the sites you’re visiting.

What we liked

Ghostery is highly rated and award-winning as well as being free. We also love that it automatically declines cookies. You won’t need to worry about reading cookie policies and toggling off unnecessary cookies again when Ghostery is running.

Ghostery was also effective at blocking ads on Firefox.

Ghostery results on Firefox (simple view).

We also like the ability to become a paying contributor and really dig down deep into the analytics side. (Oh, and you can create custom themes as a paid contributor!)

What we didn’t like

While Ghostery shines on Chrome and Firefox, the efficacy and functionality are greatly reduced when installed on Safari. Also, your settings don’t sync across browsers and devices. If you’re an iOS and macOS user with multiple devices, there are better options.

Ghostery pros and cons

Pros
  • Strong and secure
  • Works great with YouTube
  • Offers most features with free version
Cons
  • Doesn’t work well with Safari
  • No synced settings across devices

Get Ghostery | Read Our Ghostery Review

AdLock: Best for blocking social media trackers

The Best Ad Blocker for Blocking Social Media Trackers
Learn More
On AdLock's website


You know those cute little social media buttons you see on blogs and other web pages? Yeah, those are tracking you. Even if you never click one, it’s still building a profile of you and sending it to social media sites. Luckily, AdLock isn’t having it. This ad blocker goes to work on those trackers and shuts them down. No one deserves free reign over your browsing data.

Tired of Facebook watching your every move? Learn how to turn off Facebook tracking in our simple guide.

What we liked

AdLock blocks the videos that pop up or follow you down the page when you’re trying to read a blog. It also adjusts the space on a website so you don’t see big blocks of empty space while you’re reading.

We also liked that you can whitelist sites in case you have favorite creators you’d still like to support by viewing their ads.

The AdLock extension being used on the Forbes homepage.

Blocking social media trackers is our favorite AdLock feature by far. Social media loves to follow you around the internet creating profiles of you. You don’t need that, and AdLock keeps that hassle out of your life.

What we didn’t like

AdLock knows what it’s got and while a lot of features are free, the social media tracking blockers only come with paid tiers.

Also, AdLock only accepts Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal. If you were hoping to rack up some American Express points by paying for your security products, you won’t be able to do that with AdLock. This isn’t a deal breaker, but it would be nice to see more payment options.

AdLock pros and cons

Pros
  • Free plan blocks most ads and trackers
  • Customizable
  • Hides your data
Cons
  • Social media tracker blockers require paid tier
  • Limited payment options

Get AdLock | Read Our AdLock Review

1Blocker: Best for iOS and macOS

The Best Ad Blocker for iOS and macOS
Learn More
On 1Blocker's website


It’s a common misconception that Apple products don’t require additional security features. While these products are more secure than non-Apple products, trackers, ads, spyware, and even malware can find their way into your devices. But 1Blocker was built specifically for iOS and macOS to address these concerns.

What we liked

There are a lot of customization options available on 1Blocker. You decide what types of ads, trackers, widgets, annoyances, and even comments you see when browsing the web.

1Blocker's list of custom filters to use for ad blocking on Safari.

And yes, you read that right, comments can be blocked on websites where they aren’t the main focus. Because it’s built specifically for Safari, 1Blocker doesn’t get “buggy” the way other products do when you’re browsing.

What we didn’t like

The free tier only allows you to toggle on one protection option, if you want all of them you’ll need to purchase a subscription plan. (A yearly plan is $14.99 or you can get a lifetime subscription for $38.99.)

Also, if you’re using 1Blocker on the iOS version of Safari, there’s no convenient way to toggle the ad blocker off. We had to go into the app and toggle everything off and on as we needed it. Not a deal breaker but still annoying.

1Blocker pros and cons

Pros
  • Built exclusively for Safari
  • Lots of customizable options
  • Firewall included
Cons
  • No easy on/off toggle for iOS Safari
  • Only one feature available with free product

Get 1Blocker | Read Our 1Blocker Review

5 more ways to block ads

Ad blockers are built to block ads, but there are other ways to achieve an ad-free browsing experience.

From ad-blocking VPNs to antivirus programs to private browsers, there might be an ad blocker built into a product you already use. And if you’re using the product, you can definitely get more out of it by turning on these services to protect your online privacy.

We wanted to look at some of these alternatives below and explore what’s the best route if you’re not interested in adding an ad blocker to your security stack. Maybe you already have one of these and didn’t know about the ad blocker, or maybe you’re shopping for a different product. Either way, these five options are worth a look.

Top 5 ad blocker alternatives compared


NordVPN Threat Protection

Surfshark Cleanweb

Malwarebytes Browser Guard

Brave Browser

Avast Secure Browser
Price Starts at $3.99/mo Starts at $2.39/mo Free Free Free
Compatibility Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, Edge Chrome, Firefox, Edge Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android iOS, Android, PC
Blocks YouTube ads
AdBlock Tester results 100/100 100/100 71/100 78/100 86/100
Cover Your Tracks results 2/3 2/3 2/3 2/3 0/3
Learn more Get NordVPN Get Surfshark Get Browser Guard Get Brave Get Secure Browser
Prices as of 3/23/2023.

Best ad blockers FAQs


+

What’s the most effective ad blocker?

uBlock Origin is the most effective ad blocker as it blocks everything. It also allows you to create customizable block lists. As an open-source piece of software, uBlock Origin is also open-source, which means it benefits from the collective knowledge of the world adding to its efficacy.


+

Which free ad blocker is best?

uBlock Origin is the best free ad blocker. It also might be the best ad blocker on the internet. The only con of uBlock Origin is its lack of compatibility with Safari.


+

Is there anything better than AdBlock?

uBlock Origin is a free, open-source ad blocker that’s continually updated by the hive mind of the internet as well as being customizable. Because of this, it does make uBlock Origin a stronger and more powerful ad blocker than AdBlock.


+

What’s the difference between AdBlock and Adblock Plus?

AdBlock and Adblock Plus are two separate extensions made by different companies. Adblock Plus was originally created to support Firefox while AdBlock was created to support the then newly released Chrome browser.

Eventually, the Adblock Plus team decided they would also branch out and support other browsers like Chrome. AdBlock continued to branch out to support additional browsers as well. That’s why we have two similarly named products from two different companies.

Bottom line: The best ad blockers 2023

Using an ad blocker enhances your internet browsing experience. Whether you decide to go with a free option like uBlock Origin or a paid service like 1Blocker, you’ll see a difference from before you began using it.

Ads are not only annoying, they can also be malicious and deposit malware onto your computer or mobile device. We chose these five ad blockers for their strength, security, and promise not to sell your data. (Data selling is always a deal breaker for us.) Whichever you choose, we hope you’ve found a new and enjoyable way to browse the internet.

5 best ad blockers reviewed

Best for Compatibility Learn more

uBlock Origin
Best overall Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Opera Get uBlock Origin
Read uBlock Origin Review

AdGuard
Best for parental controls Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera, Yandex Get AdGuard
Read AdGuard Review

Ghostery
Best for blocking YouTube ads Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, and Safari Get Ghostery
Read Ghostery Review

AdLock
Best for blocking social media trackers Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Google Chrome, Safari, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge Get AdLock
Read AdLock Review

1Blocker
Best for iOS and macOS iOS for iPhone and iPad, macOS for Macs, Safari Get 1Blocker
Read 1Blocker Review

How we tested the best ad blockers

We chose these five ad blockers for their strength and usability. From uBlock Origin’s open-source code to 1Blocker's focus on macOS and iOS, each one has strong and unique properties.

When looking at ad blockers, they had to have these features:

  • Blocks ads: Banner ads, video ads, pop-up ads, intrusive ads, and in-page ads had to be blocked.
  • Blocks trackers: Trackers follow you around the internet, building a profile of you. Blocking them keeps them from logging your data.
  • Compatibility: Each ad-blocking extension had to be compatible with several different browsers.
  • Ease of use: We looked for ad blockers with either an app that you can set and forget or a browser plugin that allows for quick access.
  • Blocks YouTube ads: Too many ads hinder your viewing experience, so our ad blockers had to work with YouTube.
  • Doesn’t sell data: A security tool shouldn’t sell your information, so we selected privacy-focused ad blockers.

Why should you block ads?

Granted, ads are annoying. They can make a blog downright unreadable. But the biggest reason for blocking ads is to prevent phishing attempts, malware, spyware, and internet trackers from watching your every move online. Dicey ads can be riddled with infected code just waiting to turn your computer into a botnet soldier of doom.

Using a good ad blocker not only enhances your online experience but also keeps you safe. You can browse and click and wander around the internet without having to worry about stolen data, nosy trackers, or nefarious hackers. It’s secure and useful, and really isn’t that what we all want?

How to choose the best ad blocker

Making sure the ad blocker you choose works for your needs means first understanding your personal priorities. But here are some general rules to follow:

  • All ad blockers should block ads, provide you with lag-free video streaming, and be compatible with the browser or operating system you use.
  • If affordability is important to you, make sure the free ad blocker you choose doesn’t sell your data.
  • If you’re looking for more features, like parental controls, make sure your ad blocker of choice offers them before committing to a subscription.

Whatever you decide on, make sure it’s working for you to keep your personal data safe.

Learn More
On uBlock Origin's website

Author Details
Mary lives in Los Angeles and has been writing about tech for over 5 years. When she's not writing for work or fun, you'll find her in a theatre, at the movies, volunteering, or hiking the gorgeous SoCal landscape.