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Best Overall
Best for Blocking YouTube Ads
Best for Streaming
Ad blockers declutter websites and generally make the internet a better place. Whether your goal is to visit a blog without a slew of ads littering your screen or to keep yourself safe from malicious scripts and trackers, a good ad blocker should cover you.
After extensive research and testing, we chose seven of the best ad blockers based on features, policies, and strengths. NordVPN Threat Protection tops our list with its strong blocking capabilities, virtual private network (VPN), and anti-malware protection. Total Adblock is another strong contender that successfully cleared up YouTube ads even after the platform's crackdown on ad blockers. Surfshark CleanWeb standouts for its ability to block ads on streaming services, even from your smart TV.
Ad blockers can rid you of video ads and block pop-ups, and they can keep you safe by blocking malicious scripts hidden in advertisements. Let’s take a deeper look at these ad blockers and their features.
How we tested the best ad blockers
NordVPN Threat Protection: Best overall
Total Adblock: Best for blocking YouTube ads
Surfshark CleanWeb: Best for streaming
uBlock Origin: Best for custom filters
AdGuard: Best for parental controls
Ghostery: Best for Chrome and Firefox
AdLock: Best for blocking social media trackers
Honorable mentions
Why should you block ads?
How to choose the best ad blocker
FAQs
Bottom line: The best ad blockers 2024
The best ad blockers 2024
- NordVPN Threat Protection: Best overall
- Total Adblock: Best for blocking YouTube ads
- Surfshark CleanWeb: Best for streaming
- uBlock Origin: Best for custom filters
- AdGuard: Best for parental controls
- Ghostery: Best for Chrome and Firefox
- AdLock: Best for blocking social media trackers
Top 7 ad blockers compared
Ad blocker | Best Overall Threat Protection |
CleanWeb |
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Price | Starts at $3.59/mo (billed every two years) | Paid plan costs $1.59/mo (billed annually) | Starts at $1.99/mo (billed every two years) | Free | Paid plans cost Free-$5.49/mo | Paid plans cost $1.99-$11.99/mo | Paid plans cost $1.05-$3.50/mo |
Compatibility | Threat Protection: Windows, macOS Threat Protection Lite: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Edge, Firefox |
Chrome, Edge, Opera, Safari, Android, iOS | CleanWeb 2.0: Chrome, Firefox, Edge CleanWeb: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, FireTV |
Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari (prior to 13), Opera, Chromium | Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera, Yandex, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Android TV | Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Safari | Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS |
Blocks YouTube ads | |||||||
AdBlock Tester score | 91/100 | 100/100 | 98/100 | 96/100 | 100/100 |
98/100 | 92/100 |
Cover Your Tracks score | 2/3 | 2/3 | 0.5/3 | 2/3 | 2/3 | 0/3 | 2.5/3 |
Can You Block It score | 2/3 | 3/3 | 3/3 | 2/3 | 3/3 | 3/3 | 2/3 |
Learn more | Get NordVPN Threat Protection
Read Our NordVPN Threat Protection Review |
Get Total Adblock
Read Our Total Adblock Review |
Get Surfshark CleanWeb
Read Our Surfshark CleanWeb Review |
Get uBlock Origin Read Our uBlock Origin Review |
Get AdGuard Read Our AdGuard Review |
Get Ghostery Read Our Ghostery Review |
Get AdLock Read Our AdLock Review |
How we tested the best ad blockers
We chose these seven ad blockers for their strength and usability. From NordVPN Threat Protection's anti-malware and ad-blocking features to Total Adblock's ease of use, each one has strong and unique properties.
We tested most ad blockers using the Google Chrome extension, but some tools required the Apple Safari extension or web app. From there, we tested each ad blocker on YouTube ads. We also tested for pop-ups, banners, and other ads on Forbes.com.
We ran AdBlock Tester and Cover Your Tracks tests to get more detailed information on what types of content each ad blocker removes.
When looking at ad blockers, they had to have these features:
- Blocks ads: Banner ads, video ads, pop-up ads, interstitial 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 web 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 video 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.
NordVPN Threat Protection: Best overall
NordVPN Threat Protection is an online security service that combines anti-malware and ad-blocking features — augmenting the online privacy features and security capabilities of its namesake, NordVPN.
Virtual private networks (VPNs) like NordVPN allow you to access the internet in more secure, private ways by masking your internet protocol (IP) address and traffic. NordVPN is a renowned VPN provider, and Threat Protection extends its security capabilities by scanning files you download — identifying and blocking threats, trackers, ads, and more.
What we liked
Among NordVPN Threat Protection’s features that block malware and other nefarious threats are a few standout ones. Real-time protection monitors online activity from web browsing to emailing to app usage and immediately alerts you if it suspects malicious activity. Threat Protection also offers anti-phishing capabilities that identify and block phishing attempts to neutralize this type of threat.
In addition to these security features, Threat Protection is an effective ad and tracker blocker. The tool blocks trackers and scans for malware during downloads, identifying threats before they can harm your devices. It blocks intrusive ads to give you a more streamlined web experience, and you can leverage all these benefits without having to run a VPN in tandem with Threat Protection.
What we didn’t like
Despite Threat Protection’s many upsides, there are a couple of drawbacks to this powerful service. It doesn’t offer a standalone firewall, which is one of the main distinctions between NordVPN Threat Protection and branded antivirus solutions. You’ll need to purchase a firewall separately (which Threat Protection will complement), so those hoping to get a truly all-in-one online protection experience from Threat Protection might find this irksome.
Additionally, Threat Protection Lite — an option for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Edge, and Firefox — only blocks some intrusive ads, malicious domains, and phishing domains.
NordVPN Threat Protection pros and cons
- Bridges the online protection gap between VPN and antivirus
- Usable without a VPN connection
- Blocks malware, ads, trackers, and phishing attempts
- May fall short as a full-fledged antivirus
- Threat Protection Lite is only usable with a VPN
Get NordVPN Threat Protection | Read Our NordVPN Threat Protection Review
Total Adblock: Best for blocking YouTube ads
Total Adblock is one of the most popular ad blockers. It offers protection from malicious websites and delivers tools like whitelisting and third-party tracker blocking. Its paid version provides unlimited ad blocking and antivirus protection bundled in with TotalAV — an award-winning antivirus solution.
Total Adblock is easy to use and has received perfect scores in ad-blocking testing. Plus, it blocks YouTube video ads.
What we liked
One of the most impressive features of Total Adblock is its ability to block YouTube ads. In testing, we found that Total Adblock successfully blocked all ads for the entire duration of multiple videos that run with multiple ad timestamps.
We even tested it after YouTube's recent push to block ad blockers, and Total Adblock still provided us with a smooth, ad-free experience. If you’re a heavy YouTube user who doesn’t want to pay for YouTube Premium in order to block ads, the paid version of Total Adblock is the next best choice, as we named it one of the best ad blockers for YouTube.
While only the paid version of Total Adblock offers highly-rated antivirus protection from TotalAV and the ability to block browser notifications, it’s notable that both paid and free versions provide tracker-blocking and whitelisting capabilities. Our testing experience found Total Adblock to be super easy to use and hands-off.
What we didn’t like
Anyone seriously interested in blocking ads across their web-surfing experience will find it hard to make a case for Total Adblock’s free version. It excludes 15,000 of the most popular websites — significantly limiting ad-blocking capabilities. The free version also doesn't block browser notifications.
Our testing experience produced some irritation, as Total Adblock relentlessly prompts you with pop-up ads to upgrade to “premium” to block YouTube ads, which is an ironic twist for an ad blocker.
Total Adblock pros and cons
- Very easy set-up and user experience
- Effective ad-blocking in unlimited capacity with the paid version
- Whitelisting allows you to support selected content creators
- Free version excludes the top 15,000 websites
- Pop-up banners promoting the premium version are constant
Get Total Adblock | Read Our Total Adblock Review
Surfshark CleanWeb: Best for streaming
Surfshark CleanWeb is a feature included with Surfshark's desktop apps, mobile apps, and browser extensions. The original CleanWeb can block ads, trackers, and malware.
We were really impressed with CleanWeb 2.0, which is part of the browser extension. It can block pesky video ads on YouTube and streaming services, and it provides alerts for data breaches and malware. This all comes with Surfshark VPN at a budget-friendly price.
What we liked
We love that Surfshark CleanWeb can stand up to ads on streaming services. With more streaming services including ads on their basic plan tiers, this feature becomes invaluable for any streamer who's just looking for uninterrupted Netflix time.
When you use CleanWeb 2.0, you don't even need an active VPN connection. Since you might not always want your VPN on, it's nice that Surfshark allows you to continue blocking ads.
Surfshark is one of the best value VPNs you can buy. Its starting price is only $1.99/mo (billed every two years), and it allows for unlimited simultaneous connections, so you can provide an ad-free experience for every device and family member.
What we didn’t like
CleanWeb 2.0 has lots of extra features we love, but we wish these weren't limited to the browser extension. With its compatibility limited to Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, it leaves Safari, Opera, and other browser users with just the desktop app's capabilities.
Surfshark, as well as Surfshark CleanWeb, can be limited for iOS as well. Split tunneling is unavailable on the iPhone app, so you won't be able to control which websites can bypass the VPN connection or which sites you want to allow ads.
Surfshark CleanWeb pros and cons
- Blocks ads on streaming services well
- CleanWeb 2.0 works without the VPN connection
- Budget-friendly
- CleanWeb 2.0 only available as a browser extension
- Split tunneling isn't offered on iOS app
Get Surfshark CleanWeb | Read Our Surfshark CleanWeb Review
uBlock Origin: Best for custom filters
uBlock Origin is one of the best free ad blockers. It's also an open-source ad blocker that touts its ability to save CPU and memory usage. Also notable, uBlock Origin supports web browsers including Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Opera, Mozilla Firefox, and all Safari releases prior to 13.
More than an ad-blocker, uBlock Origin can filter and block other content, such as coin miners and anti-blockers.
What we liked
uBlock Origin offers a unique feature that tech-savvy users will find useful: the ability to create custom content filters. Creating custom filter lists enables you to set uBlock Origin to block only media with certain qualifiers such as size or cloud storage sync.
The tool also provides preselected filter lists that block ads, trackers, malware sites, and more by default.
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. 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, it's only compatible with Safari up to version 13, which is several versions behind.
uBlock Origin pros and cons
- Blocks almost everything
- Prevents browser fingerprinting
- Open-source software with customization options
- May block other security browser extensions
- Might be too technical for some
AdGuard: Best for parental controls
AdGuard has a user-friendly interface and is easy to download and install. It also gives you options like “blocking adult sites” to help keep kids off websites they shouldn’t see. While the free version offers all you could want for a browser extension, the individual and family paid plans allow you to extend your protection to multiple devices. Plus, the premium version offers parental controls.
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 feature that allows you to browse the internet with more security. Stealth Mode hides your search queries, asks websites not to track you, and strips tracking parameters from URLs.
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
- Easy-to-use interface
- Can upgrade to include parental controls
- Doesn't interfere with device speed
- Unclear ad-blocking stats
- Stealth Mode doesn’t hide your IP
Get AdGuard | Read Our AdGuard Review
Ghostery: Best for Chrome and Firefox
Ghostery is really committed to blocking ads. It also offers a host of features, including private browsing and in-depth analytics about the sites you visit.
What we liked
Ghostery is highly rated, award-winning, and free. We also love that it automatically declines cookies. When Ghostery is running, you won’t need to worry about reading cookie policies and toggling off unnecessary cookies again.
We also like the ability to become a paying contributor and really dig 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, we found that the efficacy and functionality are greatly reduced when installed on Safari during our testing. 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
- Automatically declines cookies
- Works great with Chrome and Firefox
- Offers most features with the free version
- Doesn’t work well with Safari
- No synced settings across devices
AdLock: Best for blocking social media trackers
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 your activity 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.
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.
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 many features are free, the social media tracking and spyware blockers only have 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
- Free plan blocks most ads and trackers
- Customization options
- Doesn't share or sell your data with third parties
- Social media tracker blockers require paid-tier
- Limited payment options
Get AdLock | Read Our AdLock Review
Honorable mentions
We've researched and tested many ad blockers to bring you the best recommendations. Even though they didn't make the cut, these honorable mentions are worthy contenders, each with their own strengths like superior smartphone compatibility, free advanced features, or extra privacy protection. As a bonus, all three are free ad blockers.
Best for | Apple OS and Safari | Free advanced features | Blocking trackers |
Price | Free or starts at $2.99/mo | Free (donations accepted) | Free (donations accepted) |
Compatibility | Safari, iOS, Android | Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Opera, Edge, Vivaldi, Brave, Android | Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera |
Blocks YouTube ads | |||
AdBlock Tester score | 100/100 | 100/100 | 61/100 |
Cover Your Tracks score | 2/3 | 2/3 | 2/3 |
Can You Block It score | 2/3 | 3/3 | 2/3 |
Learn more | Get 1Blocker
Read Our 1Blocker Review |
Get Stands Free Adblocker
Read Our Stands Free Adblocker Review |
Get Privacy Badger
Read Our Privacy Badger Review |
Why should you block ads?
Granted, ads are annoying. They can make a blog downright unreadable. Almost every person using the internet can recall a time their web experience was interrupted by intrusive ads. Using an ad blocker allows you to streamline your browsing experience.
But the biggest reason for blocking ads is to prevent cookies, 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.
Ad blockers also improve page load speeds and facilitate a smoother scrolling experience on pages that would otherwise interrupt you with pop-ups.
Finally, blocking ads and trackers can improve your online privacy. Many websites and advertisers use trackers to gather information about your device, browsing habits, location, and more, then either use the data for creepy personalized ads or sell it to other companies. With an ad blocker, 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. 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.
FAQs
What’s the most effective ad blocker?
NordVPN Threat Protection is the most effective ad blocker, as it blocks everything, including malware and trackers. During our testing, Threat Protection delivered a much more pleasant browsing experience. Plus, Threat Protection comes with NordVPN, another security and privacy tool that hides your location, browsing history, and personal data from anyone and anything — including hackers, your internet service provider (ISP), and advertisers.
Which free ad blocker is best?
uBlock Origin is the best free ad blocker, but it may be overly technical for some and doesn't work with the latest versions of Safari. For a more user-friendly and free ad blocker, we recommend Total Adblock. Both are easy-to-install web browser extensions and are among the most popular ad blocker add-ons available.
Is there anything better than AdBlock?
NordVPN Threat Protection has our vote for the best ad blocker, making it better than AdBlock. This ad blocker not only gets rid of pop-ups, banner ads, and more, but it also blocks trackers and malware for a safer, cleaner online experience. Threat Protection comes with NordVPN, which provides additional security measures by encrypting your Wi-Fi connection.
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.
What’s a DNS ad blocker?
A domain name system (DNS) ad blocker is a tool that prevents access to websites that display unwanted ads or contain malware or trackers. Using a DNS blocker is helpful for blocking access to a whole group of IP addresses, which comes in handy for parents who want to block access to entire categories of online content, for example. DNS ad blockers include AdGuard DNS, NextDNS, and Control D, but there are dozens more. NordVPN Threat Protection also includes a DNS filter that strengthens its ad-blocking capabilities.
Bottom line: The best ad blockers 2024
The best ad blocker overall is NordVPN Threat Protection, thanks to its highly effective combo of anti-malware, tracker, and ad-blocking capabilities. The added functionality of having NordVPN mask your IP address and online activities makes this choice a no-brainer.
Second up was Total Adblock, another effective ad blocker that puts YouTube video ads in their place, even after the crackdown. We like how easy it is to set up Total Adblock, but you'll likely want to upgrade to the paid version for full functionality. Surfshark CleanWeb also impressed us with its ability to block ads from multiple popular streaming services. Plus, its a part of the secure Surfshark VPN plan.
Using an ad blocker enhances your internet browsing experience. Whether you decide to go with a free option or a paid service, 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 seven 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.
7 best ad blockers reviewed
Best for | Compatibility | Learn more | |
Threat Protection |
Best overall | Threat Protection: Windows, macOS Threat Protection Lite: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Edge, Firefox |
Get NordVPN Threat Protection Read NordVPN Threat Protection Review |
Best for blocking YouTube ads | Chrome, Edge, Opera, Safari, Android, iOS | Get Total Adblock Read Total Adblock Review |
|
CleanWeb |
Best for streaming | CleanWeb 2.0: Chrome, Firefox, Edge CleanWeb: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, FireTV |
Get Surfshark CleanWeb Read Surfshark CleanWeb Review |
Best for custom filters | Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari (prior to 13), Opera, Chromium | Get uBlock Origin Read uBlock Origin Review | |
Best for parental controls | Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera, Yandex, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Android TV | Get AdGuard Read AdGuard Review |
|
Best for Chrome and Firefox | Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Safari | Get Ghostery Read Ghostery Review |
|
Best for blocking social media trackers | Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS | Get AdLock Read AdLock Review |