Best Ad Blockers That Still Work in Chrome October 2025

Ads have become increasingly aggressive over the years, often making sites next-to unusable or interrupting every YouTube video you try to watch. Finding a reliable ad blocker for Chrome is essential to keep pop-up ads and even trackers from slowing down your browsing. 

To determine which options work best, I conducted hands-on testing with several ad blockers. Each was evaluated on three main criteria: 

1. Ad-blocking effectiveness: Whether it consistently stopped intrusive ads across websites, including on YouTube
2. Privacy protection: Whether it can block trackers and enhance security while browsing
3. Availability for Chrome: Whether it is still available for Chrome and working at its full potential

The following breakdown highlights which tools stood out in these tests and how they compare across usability, performance, and customization. 

The best ad blockers for Chrome October 2025

Total Adblock: Best overall

Total Adblock includes almost everything you'd want from an ad blocker. It's easy to use, works diligently in the background, and keeps track of ads blocked, trackers blocked, and data saved. 

It offers a limited free version, which still has impressive ad-blocking test results, and a worthwhile premium plan with unlimited ad blocking potential — plus you get TotalAV antivirus included at no extra cost.

And the cherry on top is that Total Adblock Premium works great on iOS and Android. The mobile app includes a built-in workaround for blocking ads in the YouTube app. 

What I liked

Ease of use: Total Adblock only took minutes to set up, and it started blocking ads immediately. I didn't have to do anything after installing the extension, but you can adjust your trusted websites and ad preferences manually if you desire. 

Performance: I was impressed by Total Adblock receiving a 100/100 test score from AdBlock Tester, which is designed to test how effectively an ad blocker can prevent pop-ups, banner ads, Facebook ads, and much more. 

It's also a successful YouTube ad blocker, which is handy following YouTube's latest crackdown on ad blockers — even on mobile.

Value: Total Adblock's paid plan is only $1.59/mo (billed annually). The Premium plan blocks all ads, removes browser notifications, and comes with an award-winning antivirus, TotalAV.

What I didn’t like

Limited free plan: As far as free ad blocker extensions go, Total Adblock can be limiting; the free version excludes the top 15,000 most popular websites. This covers essentially most sites you’re likely to visit. 

I also found that some reviewers had trouble canceling their subscriptions, which is worth noting if before choosing the premium plan. I haven't run into this issue myself.

Total Adblock pros and cons

Get Total Adblock | Read Our Total Adblock Review

Test results

Star rating summary

Surfshark CleanWeb: Best for unlimited devices

Surfshark CleanWeb is designed for individuals or households that use multiple devices. Most ad blockers cover only one device, which is a bummer. Surfshark CleanWeb is bundled with the top-rated Surfshark VPN, and one of its best perks is the ability to connect an unlimited number of devices. Surfshark is also great for streaming and browsing, offering broad device compatibility that includes smart TVs. 

What I liked

Usability: The Surfshark cybersecurity suite is super easy to install and use. The interface has a clean, modern look and intuitive navigation. Other ad blocker bundles, like NordVPN Threat Protection, are clunkier to use. Surfshark makes it easy to access all the advanced features.

Performance: Surfshark CleanWeb is versatile. It's an ad and pop-up blocker that includes data breach alerts and malware alerts, ensuring you're safe as you browse the web. I appreciate the malware alert because it lets me know if I am going to access a malicious website. Plus, it seamlessly blocks video ads, making it one of the best ad blockers for streaming. 

Unlimited devices: This is worth mentioning twice since most ad blockers (and even VPN services) don't offer unlimited simultaneous connections. Surfshark lets us connect our desktops, smartphones, gaming consoles, and smart TVs. You can even install Surfshark on your home router for ultimate privacy and security. 

What I didn’t like

No standalone ad blocker: CleanWeb comes bundled with Surfshark VPN as part of the Surfshark One Starter plan. So if you want to purchase the ad blocker by itself, you can't. However, Surfshark remains one of the most affordable security suites, making a VPN with an ad blocker a good deal. 

Low tracking score: I was unimpressed with CleanWeb's Cover Your Tracks score, which measures how good an ad blocker is at blocking trackers and increasing your anonymity online. While this isn't something that you'll notice while browsing normally, I'd still prefer to see this ad blocker do everything it can to protect us online.

Surfshark CleanWeb pros and cons

Get Surfshark CleanWeb | Read Our Surfshark CleanWeb Review

Test results

Star rating summary

Aura Ad Blocker: Best all-in-one online protection

Aura Ad Blocker is best for people who need all-in-one protection. While other ad blocking bundles provide enhanced online protection with a VPN and antivirus software, Aura goes a step further with the inclusion of a password manager. Plus, the Aura Ad Block and Anti-Track extension works seamlessly on Chrome to stop unwanted ads, pop-ups, trackers, and more.

What I liked

All-in-one protection: Like Surfshark CleanWeb, Aura Ad Blocker comes as part of a security bundle that offers a VPN and antivirus software. But unlike other premium ad blockers, Aura includes a password vault that can autofill passwords, generate strong passwords, and alert users of data breaches. 

Plus, Aura's Safe Browsing tools use AI-powered filtering to protect against malicious websites, phishing attempts, and malware. 

Ease of use: Aura packs a punch with the inclusion of advanced online security features, but the clean interface and user-friendly controls make the privacy suite accessible for all skill levels. The ad block and anti-track extension is easy to install on Chrome (as well as Edge or Safari) and provides a clear ad-block counter, so you know that it's working across the web. 

Additionally, Aura Ad Blocker features a widget that provides quick access to the Safe Browsing tools and password manager.

Proven ad blocking performance: During our in-house testing, Aura Ad Blocker effectively stopped various unwanted ads (including pop-ups, banner ads, interstitial ads, video ads, and more) as well as invisible trackers and hidden scripts. We weren't expecting Aura to offer a complete ad blocker and were impressed with how it outperformed other premium ad blockers. 

What I didn’t like

Only partially blocked YouTube ads: Most premium ad blockers can stop YouTube video ads completely. For example, Total Adblock will bypass the ad and go straight to the YouTube video. Unfortunately, Aura Ad Blocker only partially blocks YouTube ads. 

During our in-house testing, Aura successfully blocked autoplay on YouTube, but not the ad from showing or loading. When autoplay was blocked, a timer would appear, counting down to when we could stream our YouTube video. Other times, Aura blocked the YouTube video ad from playing, displaying a static ad screen with a skip option.

Lack of customization: Similarly, premium ad blockers typically offer advanced customization features, such as the ability to whitelist or blacklist websites. Aura Ad Blocker is simplified, making it accessible to most people, and it doesn't offer filter lists, cookie management, acceptable ads, or other advanced features.

Aura Ad Blocker pros and cons

Get Aura Ad Blocker | Read Our Aura Ad Blocker Review

Test results

Star rating summary

NordVPN Threat Protection: Best for blocking malicious ads

As far as virtual private networks go, NordVPN is one of the top providers on the market. What you may not know is that NordVPN comes with features beyond a VPN to enhance your cybersecurity. One of those features is NordVPN Threat Protection, formerly known as Cybersec.

Threat Protection is more than just an ad blocker — it also blocks trackers, malware, and phishing scam attempts to keep your device and personal data safe as you browse online.

What I liked

Web protection: Unlike other ad blockers, Threat Protection can also scan for and block malware, like adware, phishing, and more. It offers real-time protection, so we received alerts for any suspicious activity regardless of whether I was browsing on my desktop or scrolling on my phone.

Threat Protection even passed my tests for malware detection and phishing detection, proving that Nord will reliably detect and block cyberthreats.

Performance: NordVPN proved to be a formidable opponent of ads during my testing. It received a 86/100 score with AdBlock Tester, with only some small misses in the error monitoring category. It also provided strong protection against trackers according to the Cover Your Tracks test. 

Not affected by MV3: The NordVPN Chrome extension will not be affected by the rollout of Manifest V3.^[1] So if you're sold on NordVPN's ad blocker, you won't need to worry about your extension being watered down.

What I didn’t like

Inconsistent YouTube blocking: Though NordVPN Threat Protection has successfully blocked YouTube ads for us in the past, it's been a few months since it's worked.

No standalone ad blocker: Unfortunately, there's no free or standalone version of Threat Protection, and it can only be purchased with NordVPN, which has costs ranging from $3.09–$17.99/mo. This might not be ideal if you're on a budget or if you're only looking for an ad blocker and don't want to install a VPN.

NordVPN Threat Protection pros and cons

Get NordVPN Threat Protection | Read Our NordVPN Threat Protection Review

Test results

Star rating summary

AdGuard: Best lightweight ad blocker

If you pay for an ad blocker, it typically only covers one device. AdGuard stands out for its ability to cover three to nine devices, so you can give your entire household an ad-free experience. 

With AdGuard, I got a cleaner, more enjoyable browsing experience. It dismisses pop-ups and banner ads, leaving plenty of resources for smooth page loading. 

What I liked

Broad compatibility: AdGuard has a wide range of compatibility for several operating systems, mobile devices, and browsers. Beyond Chrome, you can use AdGuard on Firefox, Edge, Safari, Opera, and Yandex. Plus, with AdGuard Personal, I could cover up to three devices. AdGuard Family is the best deal by far, as it covers up to nine devices for only $3.29/mo (billed annually).

Statistics dashboard: I also like that AdGuard provides plenty of details on how well its blockers perform. The extension panel integrates a statistics tab, allowing me to view a simple graph that shows the number of blocked ads on a website.

MV3 beta extension: Finally, AdGuard has developed a Chrome extension that's compliant with Manifest V3. This beta extension still had high performance scores with the AdBlock Tester and Cover Your Tracks tests.^[2]

What I didn’t like

Advanced stats aren't clear: AdGuard may not be the most user-friendly ad blocker. The statistics tab may be overwhelming for users who just want to block ads, but you can just keep AdGuard going in the background if that's the case.

AdGuard Plus pros and cons

Get AdGuard | Read Our AdGuard Review

Test results

Star rating summary

AdLock: Best freemium ad blocker

For a free extension, AdLock proved to be a standout. During our testing, it had a strong AdBlock Tester score of 96/100. Although only the Pro plan is supposed to block all types of ads, it looks like the free version comes pretty close. 

What I liked

Usability: AdLock is another ad blocker we found easy to use. I could easily toggle the app on and off or add exclusions to an "allow list," supporting specific content creators while keeping the rest of my browsing ad-free.

Advanced filters: When testing the paid plan, AdLock’s extension has an integrated spyware filter with rules that stop websites from tracking your activity. AdLock Pro also comes with a social media filter that protects my data from being tracked as I visit Facebook, Instagram, and other social media networks. 

Easy to read data policies: I was also impressed by AdLock's transparent privacy policy. It's written in plain language, making it easy for anyone to read, and it doesn't sell my data, even if I choose the free plan. AdLock only collects data for analytics and usage purposes. 

What I didn’t like

Limited free plan: There's not much to complain about when it comes to AdLock. Some features, like the social media blocker, are only available with paid plans, so that's something to remember when picking your plan.

Limited payment options: I also noticed AdLock only accepts Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal, which is limiting if you're looking to pay with other credit cards, payment processors, or even cryptocurrency. 

No MV3 support: Unfortunately, AdLock doesn't seem to be developing an extension for Manifest V3. Instead, it suggests you opt for its desktop apps, which require a paid subscription.^[3]

AdLock Plus pros and cons

Get AdLock | Read Our AdLock Review

Test results

Star rating summary

How I tested the best ad blockers for Chrome

The top Chrome ad blockers were chosen according to their ability to freely block all kinds of ads on contrasting web platforms. News websites, general content sites, social media sites, and multimedia platforms were tested. 

Free ad blocking ranks equally as high as privacy here, with customization features closely behind.

• The most important consideration was the elimination of intrusive ads.
• This was followed by privacy and tracker stoppage.
• Malicious content belongs here, so no malware code can be run.
• High ad blocking and anti-tracking scores based on our testing.
• Key differences between free versions and subscription models should be made clear.
• Even if it is full of customizable tools, the extension should still be easy to configure.
• With the implementation of Manifest V3, we reviewed how each product plans to handle this transition to the new Google Chrome API.
• Finally, low system overheads go hand-in-hand with the above requirement.

Why isn't uBlock Origin on this list?

uBlock Origin was originally one of our favorite ad blockers for Chrome. It's completely free and open-source, plus endlessly customizable with several filters to block ads, trackers, malware, and other web annoyances. 

Unfortunately, uBlock Origin was affected by Google's Manifest V3 update. Having personally used the ad blocker, I noticed it was turned off by Chrome and listed as no longer supported (as of December 2024). 

Although I asked around and it's still working for some people, it looks like Google will actually be taking down uBlock Origin for all its users slowly but surely. That's why I no longer recommend uBlock Origin for Chrome, but I do recommend it for other browsers.

uBlock Origin did develop an extension that's compliant with Manifest V3, but it's just not as effective as the original version. Click here to read our full review of uBlock Origin Lite.

How did Manifest V3 affect Chrome ad blockers?

Manifest V3 is Google Chrome's latest browser extension framework. This new framework will limit extensions to just 30,000 rules. 

Although this seems like a high number, it's proven to be incredibly limiting to ad blockers. For instance, uBlock Origin used around 300,000 rules so you can block all kinds of ads and trackers. 

Thus, extensions created with Manifest V3 will have a more limited feature set and, by extension, less extensive ad-blocking capabilities. Ad blockers with Chrome extensions will either need to create an extension that's compliant with Manifest V3 or develop desktop apps that won't need to work on Chrome. Alternatively, some ad blockers may encourage their users to switch browsers.

We've researched several ad blockers for Chrome to learn more about their action plans for the Manifest V3 update.

	Manifest V3 update
	TBD
CleanWeb	CleanWeb 2.0 Chrome extension isn't impacted
Ad Blocker	Chrome extension isn't impacted
Threat Protection	Chrome extension isn't impacted
	Created Manifest V3-compliant extension
	Recommends switching browsers or using its desktop app
	Created Manifest V3-compliant extension: uBlock Lite

Manifest-V3 extension test results

I put AdGuard and uBlock Origin's newly compliant extensions to the test. See the results for these extensions below:

	AdGuard (MV3 Beta)	uBlock Origin Lite
AdBlock Tester results	100/100	96/100
Cover Your Tracks results	2.5/3	0/3
Does it block YouTube ads?

AdGuard (MV3 Beta) and uBlock Origin Lite both took some tinkering before they worked at their full potential. Both had AdBlock Tester scores that were about 70/100, but I went into the settings for each and turned on every toggle and checked every filter we could find. 

Then, I retested AdGuard (MV3 Beta) and uBlock Origin Lite. Both still maintained perfect AdBlock Tester scores. I was also pleased that both still blocked YouTube ads as well.

When it came to the Cover Your Tracks tests, only AdGuard still blocked trackers. My browser still had a unique fingerprint, but it successfully blocked tracking ads and invisible trackers.

uBlock Origin Lite failed all three Cover Your Tracks tests. Although I hope the extension improves in the future, AdGuard may be the better option if you're looking to stay anonymous online.

Bottom line

Total Adblock, Surfshark CleanWeb, and Aura Ad Blocker are the best Chrome ad blockers, and there’s good reason for their lofty positions. Beyond offering compatibility with Chrome, they're user-friendly and come with extensive features that allow you to customize your ad-blocking experience and protect yourself from malicious ads.

Ad blocker	Best Overall	CleanWeb	Ad Blocker	Threat Protection
Best for	4.9 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.	4.7 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.	4.7 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.	4.5 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.	4.7 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.	4.4 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.
Best for	YouTube	Unlimited devices	All-in-one online protection	Blocking malicious ads	Lightweight protection	Freemium plans
AdBlock Tester score	100/100	96/100	92/100	86/100	100/100	96/100
Cover Your Tracks score	2/3	0/3	2/3	1/3	2.5/3	1/3
Can You Block It score	3/3	3/3	3/3	3/3	3/3	2.5/3
Blocks YouTube ads?			Partially	Inconsistently
Features	Tracker blocking, whitelisting, malware protection	Tracker blocking, whitelisting, malware blocking, Surfshark VPN, Surfshark Alt ID	Tracker blocking, malware blocking, malware scans, VPN, password manager, antivirus, Safe Browsing	Tracker blocking, whitelisting, malware blocking, malware scans, NordVPN	Tracker blocking, whitelisting, blacklisting, parental controls	Tracker blocking, whitelisting, social media filter, spyware filter
Manifest v3 compliance	Unaffected	Unaffected	Unaffected	Unaffected	Created a new compliant extension	Recommends switching to its desktop app
Learn more	Get Total Adblock Read Total Adblock Review	Get Surfshark CleanWeb Read Surfshark CleanWeb Review	Get Aura Ad Blocker Read Aura Ad Blocker Review	Get NordVPN Threat Protection Read NordVPN Threat Protection Review	Get AdGuard Read AdGuard Review	Get AdLock Read AdLock Review

FAQs