Best Free App

4.5

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On Total Adblock's website

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Total Adblock

• Remove ads & trackers on YouTube, Facebook, and most websites
• Hands-off ad-blocking experience
• Easy to set up
• Free version excludes top 15,000 websites

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Best for All-in-One Protection

4.5

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On NordVPN Threat Protection's website

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NordVPN Threat Protection

• Threat protection - Block ads, trackers, and malicious downloads
• Works on multiple devices and browsers
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• Lacks a dedicated firewall

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Best Custom Settings

4.0

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On Adblock Plus's website

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Adblock Plus

• Free version covers the essentials
• Can choose to support creators with Acceptable Ads
• Premium plan only works on desktop

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Best Free Extension

5.0

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On Ghostery's website

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Ghostery

• Comprehensive free version
• Intuitive user interface
• Expensive contributor plan

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The best ad blockers for Android are Total Adblock, NordVPN Threat Protection, Adblock Plus, and Ghostery. Total Adblock has an Android app that can help stop ads on any browser and app. NordVPN Threat Protection blocks ads and trackers, scans for malware, and is part of the NordVPN product. Adblock Plus has the most features to customize who gets to show you ads while still effectively blocking ads and trackers. Ghostery is a free ad blocker with all the core functionality included. 

Read on to learn more about why we chose these four ad blockers for Android devices.

The best ad blockers for Android 2023

Choosing an ad blocker for an Android phone isn't easy. For starters, not all web browser extensions work on mobile devices. Neither the Google Chrome nor Microsoft Edge support extensions on Android, and Safari is only for iOS devices. That leaves Mozilla Firefox as the only major browser with add-ons that work on Android. The Google Play Store doesn’t allow systemwide ad-blocker apps, so you can only download apps independently.

Our best ad blockers for Android are a combination of apps and Firefox extensions:

• Total Adblock: Best free app
• NordVPN Threat Protection: Best for all-in-one protection
• Adblock Plus: Best custom settings
• Ghostery: Best free extension

Top 4 ad blockers for Android compared

Ad blocker	Total Adblock	NordVPN Threat Protection	Adblock Plus	Ghostery
Firefox extension
Android app
Features	Tracker blocker, Acceptable Adds, antivirus protection	Tracker blocker, malware blocker, VPN	Tracker blocker, Acceptable Ads, Distraction control, custom whitelist	Tracker blocker, trackers preview, tracker analytics, hides cookie notifications, custom whitelist
Learn more	Get Total Adblock	Get NordVPN Threat Protection	Read Adblock Plus Review	Read Ghostery Review

Total Adblock: Best free app

4.5

Limited-time offer: 80% off

Learn More

On Total Adblock's website

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Total Adblock

• Remove ads & trackers on YouTube, Facebook, and most websites
• Hands-off ad-blocking experience
• Easy to set up
• Free version excludes top 15,000 websites

Total Adblock is one of the few ad blockers on this list with an app that isn't just a privacy browser. This app can help you block unwanted ads, instrusive trackers, and malicious websites. Even as we used Total Adblock Free, it proved to have impressive ad blocking and tracker blocking test scores and it could even block YouTube ads.

What we liked

Total Adblock is a reputable ad blocker with impressive blocking rates. When we tested the free version, it received 100/100 with Adblock Tester, which checks for effectiveness with blocking banner advertising, contextual adertising, analytics tools, and more. 

If you're looking to block ads on the YouTube app, Total Adblock has a fix for that. Just share the video you're starting with Total Adblock and watch it directly from the app to avoid any pre-roll ads — a handy workaround that you can't pull off with just a browser extension. 

The biggest perk of the app is you can use any browser you want, so you don't have to be stuck with Firefox or another privacy-based browser. Additionally, the paid version of Total Adblock blocks unlimited ads everywhere. If you decide to upgrade to Total Adblock Premium, it comes with additional useful tools like TotalAV antivirus protection and PC Tune-Up. 

What we didn’t like

The biggest issue with Total Adblock is you have to download the app outside of Google Play. AdGuard claims this is because Google Play has a policy “...that any app that can block ads across the device is not allowed there….”[1] This means you won't have Play Protect to scan the app and ensure it's not malicious. If you're uncomfortable with having to download the app outside of Google Play, you can choose the Firefox add-on. 

In addition, you have to pay for Total Adblock if you wish to block unlimited ads. Total Adblock Free excludes the top 15,000 ads based on Alexa.com

Total Adblock pros and cons

Get Total Adblock | Read Our Total Adblock Review

NordVPN Threat Protection: Best for all-in-one protection

4.5

NordVPN Threat Protection Ad Blocker

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On NordVPN Threat Protection's website

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NordVPN Threat Protection

• Threat protection - Block ads, trackers, and malicious downloads
• Works on multiple devices and browsers
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• Lacks a dedicated firewall

NordVPN is one of the best virtual private networks (VPNs) on the market, but did you know it also comes with a built-in ad blocker? NordVPN Threat Protection is one of the many features that comes with a NordVPN subscription. It not only blocks ads and trackers, it can also block malicious sites and malware downloads. 

What we liked

NordVPN Threat Protection is adept not only at blocking ads and trackers, but also at detecing malware and phishing. It received a 93/100 Adblock Tester score, and it passed our EICAR tests for malware detection and phishing detection.

On top of having an ad blocker, you'll also have access to NordVPN's other functions on your Android. With a VPN, you can mask your IP address to protect your device while on public Wi-Fi, hide your internet traffic, and even unblock geo-restrictions for worldwide streaming. Nord has proved to be a powerful privacy tool, having passed our tests for DNS leak and WebRTC leak protection. And unlike ad blocker apps, you can download NordVPN directly from the Google Play Store for your Android phone.

What we didn’t like

NordVPN offers plenty of features to protect your devices, but it may not be the most comprehensive option. As far as an antivirus tool, Threat Protection doesn't come with a firewall, so there may be a protection gap there. 

Unfortunately, Threat Protection can't be purchased separately from NordVPN. NordVPN's prices, which range from x, may be steep for someone looking to just block annoying ads on their phone. 

NordVPN Threat Protection pros and cons

Get NordVPN Threat Protection | Read Our NordVPN Threat Protection Review

Adblock Plus: Best for custom settings

If you're looking for a bit more control of your ad-blocking settings without having to pay for it, then Adblock Plus may be the option for you. With Acceptable Ads and a custom whitelist, you have more of a say on where and if you see any ads during your browsing experience.

What we liked

The key feature that separates Adblock Plus from other ad blockers is the Acceptable Ads feature. It's a default setting that permits sites on an Allowlist to show ads without any third–party tracking. Even then, ads must have certain non-intrusive criteria to meet the Acceptable Ads standard. Acceptable Ads allow you to support websites and creators who rely on advertising revenue to run their operations.

There is also a free version of Adblock Plus that has all the essential features you expect from an ad blocker, including anti-tracking. In addition, it offers a privacy browser app called Adblock Browser, which you can use instead of a Firefox add-on.

What we didn’t like

Adblock Plus Premium is useless on Android. Currently, it's only available on desktop versions of Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. So if you are keen on the Distraction Control feature, which blocks site notifications, survey requests, autoplay video ads, and newsletter pop-ups, it won't work on your smartphone.

Adblock Plus pros and cons

Read Our Adblock Plus Review

Ghostery: Best free extension

Ghostery makes our list as the best free ad-blocking extension because its free version is equipped with all of the core features. This includes all types of ad blocking (it even removes pop-up ads), anti-tracking, cookie consent blocker, basic analytics, and settings synchronizing between devices and browsers.

What we liked

Other free ad blockers don't come with such great features. Most notably, Ghostery has its Never-Consent feature, which hides cookie consent pop-up notifications. It does this by automatically opting out of all cookies, which makes it easier than ever to browse the internet and protect your online privacy.

If you do decide to upgrade to a paid plan, you'll get all the features in the free plan and the following:

• Themes to adjust the app to your liking
• Historical stats over the course of your Ghostery use
• Advanced tracker analytics
• No private sponsored links while using the Private Browser and Private Search Engine
• Priority user support

What we didn’t like

Ghostery is a free app exclusively funded by contributions from users. If you want to support its cause, you have to sign up for an expensive subscription. At the time of writing, plans start at $4.99/mo, which is more expensive than AdGuard ($2.49/mo) and Adblock Plus ($1.67/month).

This is largely due to the contributions helping the entire Ghostery product suite. But if you are only looking for ad blocking, it's not the most affordable option.

Ghostery pros and cons

Read Our Ghostery Review

Honorable mentions

There are plenty of ad blockers to choose from if one of our top four picks isn't right for you. Here are three additional recommendations:

• AdGuard: AdGuard is a powerful tool to block ads and trackers. It also has protection from malware and its product suite includes a VPN and a DNS service.

  Read Our AdGuard Review

• uBlock Origin: uBlock Origin is a free open-source software that effectively blocks ads and trackers. Although it does have a Firefox add-on, we found some features to be too technical. Beyond applying content filter lists, there weren't any extra features such as hiding cookie notifications or Acceptable Ads.

  Read Our uBlock Origin Review

• AdLock:Like AdGuard, AdLock has an app available independent of Google Play. It can effectively block ads, and it has a whitelist and custom filters available.

  Read Our AdLock Review

Best ad blockers for Android FAQs

Bottom line: The best ad blockers for Android

We found Adblock Plus to be the best option if you want to customize your ad blocker settings, including whitelists and Acceptable Ads. If you specifically want an app instead of a Firefox add-on, AdGuard could be a good choice for you. Meanwhile, Ghostery is an excellent choice for those looking for a free ad blocker.

4 best ad blockers for Android 2023

How to choose the best Android ad blocker for you

With so many ad blockers to choose from, deciding the best one for your Android device can be overwhelming. Here are some factors to consider when picking an Android ad blocker:

• Determine if you want to spend money on an ad blocker. Most ad blockers have free plans, but they may be limited as far as what types of ads they block. 
• With Android, you can either use a Firefox browser extension or download an app from an independent source. A browser extension only blocks in-browser ads and you'd need to use Firefox, but maybe you feel wary about downloading an app away from the Google Play Store. 
• Mobile ad blockers might not always block in-app ads. This can be frustrating if you're still getting bombarbed on YouTube with pre-roll ads. Ad blockers like Total Adblock allow you to open the video on its app.
• The best ad blockers will keep your device free of ads without draining your battery life. 
• You may be looking for an ad blocker to just set and forget but it's also nice to have an app or extension that's customizable. Look for features like Acceptable Ads and whitelisting so you can determine which sites should get your revenue.

How we tested the best ad blockers for Android

Ad blockers for Android have specific qualifications. Not all browser extensions work on Android, so it was important to find options that would work on a mobile device. Besides compatibility, here are the other factors we considered when we tested ad blockers:

• Blocks ads and trackers: The core functionality of an ad blocker is to effectively block ads and stop trackers from knowing your online activity. We tested the ad blockers to ensure they did their job, including blocking YouTube ads.
• Additional security features: Along with Android security settings, adding an extra layer of security is always nice for protection. So we prioritized ad blockers with premium security tools other ad blockers didn't include.
• Affordability: Cost is an essential factor, so we evaluated whether the price was competitive.
• Ease of use: Add-ons and apps should be fairly intuitive and not difficult to set up or understand.

Ad blockers aren't the only tool you need to protect your Android device. You'll also want to get the best antivirus apps and choose a password manager compatible with Android.

4.5

Limited-time offer: 80% off

Learn More

On Total Adblock's website

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Total Adblock

• Remove ads & trackers on YouTube, Facebook, and most websites
• Hands-off ad-blocking experience
• Easy to set up
• Free version excludes top 15,000 websites

Author Details

Sara J. Nguyen

About the Author

Sara J. Nguyen is a freelance writer specializing in cybersecurity. She aims to help people protect their data while enjoying technology. She has written about online privacy and tech for over 5 years for several organizations. When she's not writing about the latest cybersecurity trends, you can find her on LinkedIn.