How to Block YouTube Ads in 2026 (7 Methods That Still Work)

You can block YouTube ads with a dedicated ad blocker, a browser with built-in blocking, or a YouTube Premium subscription, depending on the device and browser you use. In our testing, Total Adblock and Surfshark CleanWeb have consistently blocked pre-roll, mid-roll, and banner ads without triggering YouTube's anti-ad-block warnings as often as many alternatives.

YouTube's anti-ad blocker updates have made this harder than in past years. Many extensions and apps that used to work now trigger warning screens or let ads slip through.

Below, we break down the tools that reliably block YouTube ads, plus a few alternative methods, so you can get back to watching your favorite creators without interruptions

How to block ads on YouTube in 2026

An ad blocker prevents ads from loading on a webpage. Depending on the tool, it can also block trackers, reduce privacy-invasive scripts, and improve page load times.

However, YouTube frequently updates its system to work around ad blockers. As a result, even effective tools may occasionally stop working for a short period until they adapt. YouTube also displays warnings to some users that ask them to disable ad blockers or subscribe to YouTube Premium before continuing playback.

We've tested the following top ad blockers to make sure they can bypass YouTube's anti-ad blocker efforts.

1. Total Adblock: Best overall YouTube ad blocker

One of the best all-around ad blockers, Total Adblock successfully removed ads while we streamed YouTube videos in our tests. When we searched for the latest Tiny Desk concert with Total Adblock paused, ads appeared immediately

Once we enabled Total Adblock, the video played without interruption. In our test, it skipped the ads immediately and started the NPR concert at the beginning.

One feature we especially like is that Total Adblock clearly shows how many ads and trackers it has blocked, making it easier to see what the tool is doing in real time. The Chrome extension also includes a simple on/off toggle, so you can allow ads for creators you want to support without uninstalling the extension.

We also tested Total Adblock on mobile devices, where it removed YouTube pre-roll and mid-roll ads in our testing. It also blocked pop-ups and banner ads on other sites.

To use it on mobile, open the video through the Total Adblock app. That can provide a smoother viewing experience for both long-form videos and YouTube Shorts.

2. Surfshark CleanWeb: Best all-in-one blocker

Surfshark's virtual private network (VPN) has several useful privacy features, including CleanWeb, which blocks ads, trackers, malware, and cookie pop-ups. CleanWeb 2.0, included with Surfshark’s browser extension, can also block ads on YouTube and other streaming sites.

Without CleanWeb 2.0 enabled, the YouTube video we selected started with ads. After we turned CleanWeb on and refreshed the page, the video played uninterrupted in our test.

3. YouTube Premium subscription: Most reliable method

If you want the most reliable way to watch YouTube without ads, consider a YouTube Premium subscription. As long as you’re signed in, you can watch videos without interruptions on smartphones, desktops, and supported TVs. YouTube Premium removes ads before, during, and after videos, along with many banner and search ads.

A subscription also helps support creators. YouTube shares a portion of Premium revenue with eligible creators, so they can still earn from your views even when you are not watching ads.

Beyond ad-free viewing, YouTube Premium includes several extra features that may justify the cost, including:

• Download videos for offline viewing.
• Play videos in the background, even when you open other apps or when your phone is locked.
• Access YouTube Music Premium.

YouTube Premium plans and prices

YouTube Premium offers several plan options. One is YouTube Premium Lite, a lower-cost tier that removes ads from most non-music videos but may exclude some content types, such as Shorts. It can be a good fit if you mainly watch standard creator videos.

Family plans allow up to five additional household members to use YouTube Premium. For larger households, this can significantly reduce the cost per person.

If you can afford the upfront payment, the annual individual plan usually offers better value than paying month to month.

Here is a quick look at the current YouTube Premium pricing. YouTube offers a one-month free trial on eligible plans.

Plan	Price
Premium Lite	$8.99/mo
Monthly	$15.99/mo
Annual	$159.99/yr
Family (up to 5 members)	$26.99/mo
Student	1-month free trial, $8.99/mo after

4. Brave browser: Best ad-free browser

If you want a simple built-in option, theBrave browser is worth considering. Brave includes its own ad and tracker blocking on both desktop and mobile, so you don't need a separate extension to block many YouTube ads.

On mobile, download the Brave app for iOS or Android and open YouTube in the browser. That makes Brave a convenient alternative if you want ad blocking without extra add-ons or a paid subscription.

5. Ghostery: Best for privacy

Ghostery is primarily designed to block trackers, but it also blocked YouTube ads effectively in our testing. In our tests, Ghostery blocked pre-roll ads and didn't introduce noticeable delays, errors, or playback issues.

Ghostery also gives you more granular control than many alternatives. You can pause ad blocking, tracker blocking, and cookie pop-up blocking separately instead of turning everything off at once.

6. 1Blocker: Best for Safari users

Built specifically for Safari, 1Blocker is a strong option for watching YouTube on a Mac, iPhone, or iPad with fewer interruptions.

In our test, a Tiny Desk concert started with the usual pre-roll and banner ads when 1Blocker was turned off. After enabling it, playback was uninterrupted.

Although 1Blocker’s free plan can block ads effectively, it's more limited than some competitors. Unless you upgrade, you can only toggle one type of blocking at a time, which makes it less flexible than tools that block ads, trackers, and cookie pop-ups together.

7. uBlock Origin: Best for Firefox users

uBlock Origin is no longer available on Google Chrome, but it remains one of our top ad blockers for Mozilla Firefox. In our testing, uBlock Origin blocked pre-roll ads, removed banner ads and page clutter, and allowed YouTube videos to play uninterrupted.

uBlock Origin is also one of the best free YouTube ad blockers if Firefox is your main browser. If you want to stay on Chrome, uBlock Origin Lite may be worth considering, though its capabilities are more limited. In our testing, it still blocked YouTube ads.

Can you block YouTube ads on smart TVs?

Most of the methods above work best on desktop browsers. If you want to watch YouTube with fewer ads on a TV, your options are more limited.

YouTube Premium is the simplest cross-device option, but Surfshark CleanWeb may also work on supported devices such as Fire TV and Apple TV.

Here's how to use Surfshark CleanWeb on your smart TV:

1. Open the homepage of your FireTV or Apple TV and go to the search bar.
2. Search for Surfshark.
3. Once your search results show the Surfshark VPN app, click on it and select Download.
4. After Surfshark is done installing, open the app.
5. Log in to your Surfshark account.
6. Connect to your preferred server from the main screen.
7. Select the Features button from the left-hand side bar.
8. Click the toggle next to CleanWeb to block ads, trackers, and malware while the VPN is connected.

Why shouldn’t you block ads on YouTube?

Ads do more than support YouTube itself. YouTube also shares ad revenue with eligible creators, which helps fund the videos you watch.

If you regularly watch certain creators, blocking ads may reduce one of the ways they earn money. Watching ads can be a simple way to support their work without paying directly.

If you dislike ads but still want to support your favorite YouTubers, consider these alternatives:

• Join the creator’s channel membership or support them on platforms such as Patreon or Twitch if those options are available.
• Buy their merchandise if they sell it.
• Buy or use the products they recommend during sponsored segments.
• Use your ad blocker's whitelisting or allowlist feature to let ads run on specific creators’ videos, or turn the blocker off when you watch them.

Why am I still seeing ads?

If your YouTube ad blocker isn't working, it's usually because YouTube has rolled out anti-ad-block updates. Try these troubleshooting steps:

1. Update your ad blocker browser extension or the ad blocker app to the newest version.
2. Clear your browser cache or reload YouTube with a hard refresh (for example, Ctrl + F5 on Windows or Cmd + Shift + R on Mac) to remove stale files.
3. Disable conflicting extensions (e.g., if you are running multiple ad blockers, VPNs, or script blockers) that might be interfering with each other.
4. Open YouTube in incognito or private mode with only the ad blocker enabled. This can help you identify whether another extension or browser setting is causing the problem.
5. Temporarily test a different ad blocker. Some tools adapt to YouTube’s updates faster than others.

Bottom line

Blocking YouTube ads can be as simple as installing the right browser extension or app. Tools like Total Adblock and Surfshark CleanWeb performed well in our testing. Many of these tools also include extra privacy or security features, such as tracker blocking or VPN access.

As another option, some VPNs include built-in ad blocking and privacy protections that can make online tracking more difficult. A bundled service like Surfshark may offer better overall value if you also want encrypted browsing and broader privacy features.

For more options, check out our list of the best YouTube ad blockers. If supporting creators matters to you, YouTube Premium remains the cleanest compromise because it removes ads while still contributing revenue to eligible channels.

7 best ways to block YouTube ads [tested]

1. Use Total Adblock if you want our top overall pick.
2. Use Surfshark CleanWeb if you want ad blocking bundled with a VPN.
3. Subscribe to YouTube Premium for the most reliable ad-free experience.
4. Try Brave if you prefer a browser with built-in ad blocking.
5. Choose Ghostery if privacy and anti-tracking features are your priority.
6. Use 1Blocker if you primarily watch YouTube in Safari.
7. Install uBlock Origin if Firefox is your main browser.

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