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Best iOS-designed Option
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Can disrupt the appearance/functionality of sites, emails, and apps
Total Adblock is the best ad blocker for iPhone due to its ease of use and high ad and tracker blocking rates. We've also selected 1Blocker for an iOS-only experience, Surfshark CleanWeb for multiple devices, and NordVPN Threat Protection for privacy.
Read on to learn more about why we picked these ad-blocking extensions and apps to keep your iPhone free of annoying ads.
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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
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Works seamlessly on macOS, iOS, and Safari
Offers lots of features, including regional filters, a firewall, custom filters, and more
Free version also proved to be highly effective
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Blocks ads, banners, and pop-ups on your browser and apps, including smart TVs
Enjoy boosted browsing speeds and save money on mobile data with its effective ad-blocking capabilities
Added benefit of a VPN to encrypt your data, hide your IP address, avoid phishing scams, and minimize malware risks
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Stops intrusive ads before they can even load, improving browsing experience and speed
Identifies malware-ridden files and protects against visiting malicious websites
Encrypts your data and blocks third-party trackers for increased security and privacy
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| Best for | Overall | Designed for iOS | Multiple devices | Privacy |
| Star rating | ||||
| iOS app | ||||
| Price | $1.59/mo | $1.25–$2.99/mo | $1.99-$20.65/mo | $2.99–$17.99/mo |
| Adblock Tester score | 100/100 | 100/100 | 96/100 | 86/100 |
| Does it work on YouTube? | ||||
| Compatibility | iOS, Android, Chrome, Safari, Edge, Opera | iOS, macOS, Safari | iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, FireTV | iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux. Chrome, Firefox, Edge |
| Learn more | Get Total Adblock | Get 1Blocker | Get Surfshark CleanWeb | Get NordVPN Threat Protection |
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
From the makers of TotalAV antivirus, Total Adblock offers an effective ad blocker for iOS. It received top-notch ad-blocking scores during our testing, and it can block YouTube ads if you view them within the Total Adblock app.
Ease of use: Total Adblock is easy to install on your iPhone, and the app makes it simple to turn ad blockers on and off. With the free plan, you can customize filters for ad blocking, privacy, social widgets, annoyances, security, and other miscellaneous factors. You can also create an Acceptable Ads list in case there are any content creators whose ads you want to support.
Blocks YouTube ads on mobile: It may seem difficult to block in-app ads on YouTube, but Total Adblock has a workaround for that. All you need to do is open the video you wish to watch, select Share, and then find Total Adblock on the list of sharing options. Your YouTube video will then open in the Total Adblock app, away from video ad interruptions.
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Premium includes TotalAV software: If you opt for Total Adblock Premium, there'll be no limits to the types of ads you can block and filters you can customize. You'll also unlock bonus features like TotalAV antivirus protection and PC Tune-Up.
Limited free ad blocker: You may need to upgrade to Total Adblock Premium for the best iOS experience. The free version doesn't block ads on Safari and excludes the top 15,000 websites listed on Alexa.com.
Total Adblock is our top recommended ad blocker because it has some of the best test scores across the board. It received perfect test scores with AdBlock Tester and Can You Block It. And according to Cover Your Tracks, Total Adblock provides strong protection against online trackers.
Total Adblock also consistently blocks YouTube ads on both desktop and mobile, so you'll be able to stream YouTube ad-free on your Android.
| AdBlock Tester results | 100/100 |
| Cover Your Tracks results | 2/3 |
| Can You Block It results | 3/3 |
| Can Total Adblock block ads on YouTube? | Yes |
Total Adblock's near-perfect star rating of 4.9 was achieved due to its 5/5 scores in the experience, value, features, and customer service categories.
Total Adblock didn't achieve a 5/5 in the test results category due to its 1/3 Cover Your Tracks score, but most ad blockers we've tested have earned this same score. It was also docked one point in its compatibility score because it doesn't offer apps for desktop.
| Decision factor | Weight | Total Adblock verdict |
| Our experience | 15% | 5.0 |
| Value | 21% | 5.0 |
| Features | 15% | 5.0 |
| Test results | 37% | 4.67 |
| Compatibility | 5% | 4.0 |
| Customer service | 7% | 5.0 |
Works seamlessly on macOS, iOS, and Safari
Offers lots of features, including regional filters, a firewall, custom filters, and more
Free version also proved to be highly effective
While 1Blocker touts itself as the ad blocker built for Safari, it also blocks ads on your iOS device. With 1Blocker’s free version, you can select whether to block ads, web trackers, annoyances, widgets, comments, or adult sites. It's easy to switch between the categories in the app.
1Blocker is one of the only apps that work on your iPhone software as well as Safari. You can get a two-week free trial of 1Blocker to try out the premium features or use the limited free version. 1Blocker offers a lifetime premium membership for $39.99, a yearly subscription for $1.25/mo (billed annually), or a monthly rate of $2.99/mo.
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Compatible with Safari: If you’re a heavy Apple user, 1Blocker is a great solution. It’s specifically designed for Safari and works effectively for blocking ads on Macs, iPads, and iPhones. Additionally, 1Blocker is easy to use, allowing you to toggle blockers on and off directly within the app.
Good for multiple Apple devices: With a premium membership, you can use 1Blocker on an unlimited number of Apple devices that are part of the same Apple account. You can purchase a yearly, monthly, or lifetime premium membership. The premium membership allows you to turn on multiple filters simultaneously, block trackers in apps, and also enables advanced customization to create your own filters.
Content and ad blocker: While 1Blocker was created to block unwanted content in apps on your iPhone's Safari, it also blocks ads. Additionally, 1Blocker offers a firewall feature that allows you to block more trackers running in the background of your apps. This firewall can enhance your phone's privacy.
Lack of transparency: It’s difficult to get details about the ad blocker on 1Blocker’s website. You can’t find information about premium pricing or other features without downloading the app or finding answers through the help center.
Limited free plan: While it’s great that 1Blocker offers a free plan, it does have limited functionality. You can enable only one filter at a time when blocking web trackers, and a premium account is required to block more than one type of content simultaneously.
1Blocker proved to be an efficient ad blocker during our testing. It earned top marks with AdBlock Tester, almost bested all three Can You Block It tests, and it can block ads on YouTube.
According to Cover Your Tracks, 1Blocker provides some protection against web tracking but it also has some gaps.
| AdBlock Tester results | 100/100 |
| Cover Your Tracks results | 1.5/3 |
| Can You Block It results | 2.5/3 |
| Can 1Blocker block ads on YouTube? | Yes |
1Blocker's near-perfect star rating of 4.8 was achieved due to its 5/5 scores in the experience, features, compatibility, and customer service categories.
1Blocker has a lower score in the value category because it only has a 14-day money-back guarantee. It also has a lower score in the test results category because it was docked points in the Cover Your Tracks and Can You Block It tests.
| Decision factor | Weight | 1Blocker verdict |
| Our experience | 15% | 5.0 |
| Value | 21% | 3.67 |
| Features | 15% | 5.0 |
| Test results | 37% | 4.67 |
| Compatibility | 5% | 5.0 |
| Customer service | 7% | 5.0 |
Blocks ads, banners, and pop-ups on your browser and apps, including smart TVs
Enjoy boosted browsing speeds and save money on mobile data with its effective ad-blocking capabilities
Added benefit of a VPN to encrypt your data, hide your IP address, avoid phishing scams, and minimize malware risks
Surfshark is one of the newer VPNs on the market, but it's proven to be a standout for many reasons, including its extensive features. One of those features is Surfshark CleanWeb, which blocks ads, trackers, and malware.
Surfshark provides great value for money, combining a VPN and ad blocker (among other features) along with an allowance for unlimited simultaneous connections.
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Good ad blocking capabilities: We appreciate that Surfshark CleanWeb doesn't appear to be an afterthought in the Surfshark Starter plan. It demonstrated a strong performance against many different ad types during our in-house testing. You can even use CleanWeb without having your VPN connected.
Blocks YouTube ads: We were also impressed by CleanWeb's ability to block video ads, which includes not just YouTube but also ads on streaming services.
Excellent value: Surfshark offers some of the most bang for your buck with its subscriptions. The starting price of $1.99/mo (billed every two years) for a two-year plan comes with a secure VPN, ad blocker, cookie pop-up blocker, personal detail generator, and a masked email generator. Plus, all Surfshark plans cover unlimited devices simultaneously,
Can't use on Safari: Unfortunately, CleanWeb 2.0 lacks compatibility with Safari, so you'll need to use Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or the Surfshark iOS app.
No standalone ad blocker: Also, although you can use CleanWeb without a VPN connection, it's not available as a standalone ad blocker. So, if you already have a VPN subscription or are just looking for a free ad blocker, it may not be the best option.
Surfshark CleanWeb is a high-performing ad blocker, but it has some protection gaps. It failed to block online and invisible trackers, and it couldn't obscure our digital fingerprint at all.
But Surfshark CleanWeb does block ads efficiently. It achieved high scores on AdBlock Tester and Can You Block It, and it successfully blocked ads on YouTube.
| AdBlock Tester results | 96/100 |
| Cover Your Tracks results | 0/3 |
| Can You Block It results | 3/3 |
| Can Surfshark CleanWeb block ads on YouTube? | Yes |
Surfshark CleanWeb received a high star rating of 4.7 due to its 5/5 scores in the experience, value, compatibility, and customer service categories.
Surfshark CleanWeb was marked down in the test results category largely because it completely failed the Cover Your Tracks test. It also received a lower score in the features category because it doesn't block push ads.
| Decision factor | Weight | Surfshark CleanWeb verdict |
| Our experience | 15% | 5.0 |
| Value | 21% | 5.0 |
| Features | 15% | 4.5 |
| Test results | 37% | 3.67 |
| Compatibility | 5% | 5.0 |
| Customer service | 7% | 5.0 |
Stops intrusive ads before they can even load, improving browsing experience and speed
Identifies malware-ridden files and protects against visiting malicious websites
Encrypts your data and blocks third-party trackers for increased security and privacy
NordVPN is widely regarded as one of the best VPNs. On top of encrypting your internet traffic, Nord also comes with NordVPN Threat Protection, which is a built-in ad blocker. NordVPN can block trackers and change your IP address, making it a great choice if you're looking for the utmost privacy on your iPhone.
NordVPN Threat Protection is more than just an ad blocker. It can also detect and block malware and phishing attempts that could threaten your iPhone, thanks to its real-time protection.
Good tracking protection: Threat Protection also blocks web trackers and tracking URLs so you can stay anonymous online. The dashboard lists the number of attempts blocked so you can rest assured that Threat Protection is working.
Bundled with NordVPN: By opting for a VPN to block your iPhone ads, you can enhance your online privacy. NordVPN has a strict no-logs policy that's been independently audited, and it's based in Panama, which is outside of the Eyes alliances. It passed our DNS and WebRTC leak protection tests, ensuring your data remains safe. It comes with plenty of specialty server options, including multi-hop, Onion over VPN, and obfuscated servers.
No stand alone ad blocker: NordVPN Threat Protection can't be purchased alone, you'll need to sign up for NordVPN to access this feature. If you're looking to purchase NordVPN, it can cost anywhere from $2.99–$17.99/mo depending on how long you plan to commit to a subscription and which tier you wish to purchase. This might be pricey for some, especially if you're just looking for a free way to block those pesky ads.
NordVPN Threat Protection is a decent ad blocker, but it's not the most efficient. For one, it can't block YouTube ads at all, which is disappointing if you're looking to block ads on YouTube.
It also struggled with the analytics tools and error monitoring categories in AdBlock Tester. But NordVPN Threat Protection provides some protection against web tracking and it blocked all three Can You Block It tests.
| AdBlock Tester results | 86/100 |
| Cover Your Tracks results | 1/3 |
| Can You Block It results | 3/3 |
| Can NordVPN Threat Protection block ads on YouTube? | No |
NordVPN Threat Protection received a solid star rating of 4.5 due to its 5/5 scores in the experience, compatibility, and customer service categories.
NordVPN Threat Protection is more expensive than most of the ad blockers on this list because it's only available with a NordVPN subscription. It also lacks features like blocking YouTube ads and received lower scores with AdBlock Tester and Cover Your Tracks.
| Decision factor | Weight | NordVPN Threat Protection verdict |
| Our experience | 15% | 5.0 |
| Value | 21% | 4.33 |
| Features | 15% | 4.0 |
| Test results | 37% | 4.0 |
| Compatibility | 5% | 5.0 |
| Customer service | 7% | 5.0 |
There were several criteria we considered when selecting the best ad blockers for iPhone. We narrowed down our list of ad blockers to those with compatibility for iPhone and high star ratings on the Apple App Store. We also considered the following criteria:
There are several different ad blockers available for iPhone users, and while they all effectively block ads in Safari, a few stand out for their additional features. From our testing, if you’re looking for an ad blocker that works with Apple devices, Total Adblock was the standout. Not only does it work with Safari, but it also blocks ads and other content on other apps throughout your phone.
1Blocker and Total AdBlock offer free ad-blocking plans that work adequately for basic ad blocking. However, each of these gets even better with a premium subscription. If you’re serious about removing ads, trackers, and other unwanted content, the premium subscriptions make the ad blockers more effective.
NordVPN Threat Protection and Surfshark CleanWeb both come with a VPN subscription if you're seeking a comprehensive solution.
Yes, Apple does allow ad blockers. There are several options available in Apple’s App Store, including our top four: 1Blocker, Total Adblock, NordVPN Threat Protection, and Surfshark CleanWeb.
Apple also provides some built-in capabilities for blocking pop-up ads in Safari. From the Settings app, you would just need to tap Safari and then toggle the switch on for Block Pop-ups.
Yes, ad blockers do work on iPhones. There are several apps available that you can download to block ads in Safari and on other apps on your iPhone.
1Blocker is a great free ad blocker for iPhone. 1Blocker is designed specifically for Safari, so if you’re using a different browser, you’ll want an ad blocker with more browser compatibility.
To install an ad blocker on an iPhone, you’ll first want to download the ad blocker app that you’d like to use. After downloading the app, you’ll have to give the ad blocker access to Safari through your phone’s settings. The ad blocker you select will walk you through this.
First, head to settings on your iPhone, navigate to Safari, and then select extensions inside of the Safari tab. Toggle the ad blocker on, and it’ll start blocking ads on your iPhone.
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
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