The Best Ad Blockers for Mac and Safari December 2024

We've determined that the best ad blockers for Mac and Safari are Total Adblock, Surfshark CleanWeb, NordVPN Threat Protection, 1Blocker, and AdLock. The five we’ve chosen are some of the best ad blockers we've tested. Not only do they work on Apple products, but they also provide advanced security features.

Although Apple products tend to get shorted when it comes to security, there are content blockers for macOS and Safari that can help block ads, stop trackers, and even protect your device from malicious websites. Here's why these five are the best.

The best ad blockers for Mac and Safari December 2024

• Total Adblock: Best for ease of use
• Surfshark CleanWeb: Best for multiple devices
• NordVPN Threat Protection: Best for for all-in-one-protection
• AdLock: Best for iOS
• 1Blocker: Best for Apple compatibility

Top 5 ad blockers for Mac and Safari compared

Ad blocker	Total Adblock	Surfshark CleanWeb	NordVPN Threat Protection	AdLock	1Blocker
macOS app
Safari extension
Learn more	Get Total Adblock Read Total Adblock Review	Get Surfshark CleanWeb Read Surfshark CleanWeb Review	Get NordVPN Threat Protection Read NordVPN Threat Protection Review	Get AdLock Read AdLock Review	Get 1Blocker Read 1Blocker Review

How we tested the best ad blockers for Mac and Safari

Security and ad blockers for Apple products are notoriously lacking. Some of the products we looked at, such as uBlock Origin, didn’t support Safari and didn’t offer an iOS app. We looked at security, features, compatibility, and how well the products worked to decide what blockers to include here.

Features we decided were relevant:

• Compatibility: It had to work on macOS and iOS as well as Safari.
• Actual ad blocking: It had to successfully block various ad types, including pop-ups, tracking ads, banner ads, interstitial ads, and video ads. We test all ad blockers against AdBlock Tester, Cover Your Tracks, and Can You Block It. 
• Security: Were there additional security features, such as virtual private network services, antivirus software, malware and phishing protection, etc.?
• Extras: Did the product include extra features such as allowlisting, blacklisting, acceptable ads, etc.?

If you want to learn more, check out our full ad blocker testing methodology.

Total Adblock: Best for ease of use

Total Adblock is an ad-blocking solution from the makers of TotalAV antivirus. Similar to TotalAV, Total Adblock is a product that's easy to install, set up, and use, as it silently works in the background to provide you with an enhanced web browsing experience. 

What we liked

Our testing proved that Total Adblock is an easy-to-use and reliable ad blocker. As soon as we installed the extension, Total Adblock started working right away and setup took only a few minutes. If you're curious about how well Total Adblock is working, you can click on the extension to view the number of ads and trackers blocked, as well as the data you've saved from using the ad blocker. 

We also liked that Total Adblock had stellar test scores for ad and tracker blocking. With the free version, Total Adblock had a perfect score of 100/100 ads blocked, and it passed 2/3 of the tracker blocking tests. If you do wish to pay for Total Adblock, the bundle comes with TotalAV antivirus software, so you can protect your devices from malware threats, too. 

What we didn’t like

Total Adblock Free excludes the top 15,000 websites listed on Alexa.com, which can make your ad-blocking experience pretty limited. You'll have to pay for Total Adblock to work its magic on all ads.

While testing, we received a lot of Total Adblock pop-up banners on the bottom of some websites urging us to upgrade to premium. It's ironic that Total Adblock would be the source of the ads we're receiving, and we can see how this would be annoying for some users.

Total Adblock pros and cons

Get Total Adblock | Read Our Total Adblock Review

Surfshark CleanWeb: Best for multiple devices

Although you may not immediately think of a virtual private network (VPN) as being a good ad blocker, Surfshark VPN boasts a built-in ad blocker known as Surfshark CleanWeb. One of the reasons we love Surfshark is its allowance for unlimited simultaneous connections. Combined with CleanWeb's extensive compatibility, you'll be able to block ads and trackers across devices.

What we liked

On top of a VPN to remain anonymous online, the Surfshark One Starter plan comes with CleanWeb, which can block ads, trackers, and malicious websites. During our testing, CleanWeb got a near-perfect ad-blocking score of 98/100. Not bad for a VPN feature.

Surfshark One is one of the best cybersecurity bundles available due to its combination of security and affordability. A two-year plan with Surfshark averages $2.49/mo (billed every two years). It allows for unlimited simultaneous connections so you can protect every device in your home and then some. 

CleanWeb 2.0, its updated feature, is available as a browser extension, while the standard CleanWeb can be used on multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. 

What we didn’t like

CleanWeb 2.0 is available for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, but it lacks an ad blocker extension for Safari. You can enable CleanWeb on your Surfshark app for Mac, but it won't be able to block ads on streaming platforms or provide malware alerts. 

CleanWeb isn't a standalone ad blocker, either. You need to buy a Surfshark subscription to use it. This could be frustrating if you already have a preferred VPN or were only looking for an ad blocker. 

Surfshark CleanWeb pros and cons

Get Surfshark CleanWeb | Read Our Surfshark CleanWeb Review

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

Similar to Surfshark, NordVPN also boasts a built-in ad blocker known as NordVPN Threat Protection. This means you’ll get the ad blocker you’re looking for, plus the added security of a VPN. It can also scan for malware, protect you from phishing, and alert you of any real-time threats.

What we liked

NordVPN is one of the best VPNs on the market, and one reason for that is its premium features. One of those features is NordVPN Threat Protection, which blocks ads, trackers, and malware. You can even scan downloaded files for malware. For Nord users, all you need to do is visit the settings section of the NordVPN app and turn on the toggle for Threat Protection. 

Just because Threat Protection tackles several cyberthreats, doesn't mean it's slacking on any of them. Threat Protection received impressive test scores: a 91/100 on AdBlock Tester, 2/3 on Cover Your Tracks, and it passed its malware detection and phishing detection tests. 

What we didn’t like

NordVPN may not be the best substitute for an antivirus, considering that Threat Protection doesn't have its own dedicated firewall. Nord could also be an expensive option if all you need is an ad blocker. Plans start at $3.59/mo (billed every two years), which is much more than any of the featured ad blockers on this list. CleanWeb's also got it beat when it comes to price.

NordVPN Threat Protection pros and cons

Get NordVPN Threat Protection | Read Our NordVPN Threat Protection Review

AdLock: Best for iOS

AdLock is a freemium ad-blocker browser extension for Safari (with paid tiers) and a paid app on iOS products. Although the ratings on the app store hover around 2.5 out of 5 stars for the Safari extension, the iOS product works well at blocking ads and boasts a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars. It was built by cybersecurity experts and prioritizes privacy while also providing filtering options.

What we liked

AdLock’s privacy policy is impeccable. Not only does it not sell your data, but it also works on an internalized system to make sure your requests aren’t being sent to an outside server. Most free products harvest and sell your data, but this one is transparent about what it logs, who uses your data, and for what purpose. The privacy policy is truly impressive.

Additionally, AdLock blocks banner and pop-up ads and can even block follow-along video ads like the ones you’d find on blogs. It scored 97/100 on AdBlock Tester. 

What we didn’t like

AdLock isn't fancy and isn’t great on macOS. AdLock will block ads with some language filters and has the option for allowlisting on the iOS app, but you’ll have to pay for the social media and spyware filters. These come free on the Safari extension, so we’re not sure why the iOS app would be different.

AdLock pros and cons

Get AdLock | Read Our AdLock Review

1Blocker: Best for Apple compatibility

1Blocker has 6,300+ ratings on the app store, with an overall score of 4.5 out of 5 stars. It also touts itself as a “set and forget” product. According to one reviewer, 1Blocker was the only ad blocker that worked with their school’s mandatory enterprise security software.

What we liked

We are 100% on board with products that want to make the Mac user experience easy, and that’s what 1Blocker came to do. We’re also excited about the reports from reviewers that customer service was a breeze. Its compatibility with stronger security software, the “set and forget” ease of use, the fact that it’s free, and it doesn’t sell your data all make this a strong contender.

Like Total Adblock, 1Blocker scored a perfect 100/100 on AdBlock Tester. Plus, if you want to upgrade to a premium plan and have unlimited category blocking, 1Blocker offers a unique Lifetime plan. 

What we didn’t like

The free iOS app only allows you to have one filter at a time. This means we have to choose between webpage ads and web trackers. Also, the app required a little more setup than just plug-and-play. We had to configure the ad-blocking extension settings manually after installation.

1Blocker pros and cons

Read Our 1Blocker Review 

Honorable mentions

There are plenty of ad blockers on the market, but they aren't all suited for macOS and Safari. Here are some alternatives we've tested and explain why they didn't make the cut.

• Adblock Plus: This ad blocker is pretty easy to use, and it does a good job of blocking annoying and malicious ads. It’s not fancy, but it’s clean and transparent. However, you have to pay to get better ad-blocking features and there aren't as many features for Safari as there are for other browsers.

  Read Our Adblock Plus Review

• Brave Browser: Brave is an open-source web browser extension that blocks ads, trackers, cookies, and fingerprinting. It also helps to keep you safe from malware and phishing attempts. However, with Brave, you'd have to learn a new browser, which isn't ideal if you want to stick to Safari.

How to choose the best ad blocker for Mac and Safari

There are plenty of products out there claiming to block ads. When you’re looking for a product, many of the features and services depend on what’s important to you. However, there are some non-negotiable features you should consider in all ad blockers.

• Removes most or all ads: Free products should remove most, if not all ads, whereas paid products should remove all ads.
• Lag-free video streaming: It shouldn’t slow down your video.
• Compatibility: It has to work with your operating system.
• Privacy: It can't sell your data.
• Price: There are good free products out there, and the paid ones should be even better.
• Security: A good ad blocker will keep you safe from tracking ads and other malicious scripts or executables.

FAQs

Bottom line: The best ad blockers for Mac and Safari

Security products are usually glitchy, laggy, and lack features when installed on Apple devices. This is because Apple’s proprietary security is so strong that it historically hasn’t needed security products. Unfortunately, cyber threats have evolved. That’s where these ad blockers come into play.

We think Total Adblock offers the best overall protection based on price point, features, and usability. 

We also recommend Surfshark CleanWeb, NordVPN Threat Protection, 1Blocker, and AdLock because they not only work with Apple products but also provide helpful features such as ad blocking and malware protection. We were even impressed to find a product like 1Blocker that was built exclusively for macOS and iOS. Apple products may not be infallible, but at least we know there are products committed to keeping them safe.

Still unsure of which ad blocking solution may work best for you? Check out how our top recs compare to Total Adblock in our comprehensive reviews:

• Total Adblock vs.Surfshark CleanWeb
• Total Adblock vs. NordVPN Threat Protection
• Total Adblock vs. 1Blocker
• Total Adblock vs. AdLock

5 best ad blockers for Mac and Safari 2024

	Best for	Compatibility	Learn more
Total Adblock	Ease of use	Chrome, Edge, Opera, Safari, Android, iOS	Get Total Adblock Read Total Adblock Review
Surfshark CleanWeb	Multiple devices	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, FireTV, Chrome, Firefox, Edge	Get Surfshark CleanWeb Read Surfshark CleanWeb Review
NordVPN Threat Protection	All-in-one protection	Threat Protection: Windows, macOS Threat Protection Lite: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Edge	Get NordVPN Threat Protection Read NordVPN Threat Protection Review
AdLock	iOS	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Safari	Get AdLock Read AdLock Review
1Blocker	Apple compatibility	macOS, iOS, Safari	Get 1Blocker Read 1Blocker Review