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You’ll need an ad blocker if you want to stream Peacock without interruption, as all Peacock plans come with ads in some form. Even the Premium Plus plan that’s supposed to be ad free has targeted advertisements that are considered “limited exclusions.” If you love the Peacock lineup but aren’t a fan of commercials, we know how you feel.
Reliable ad blockers can remove those irritating ads, giving you a better streaming experience. You’ll need to be cautious, however, as not all ad blockers are created equally. Some may not work well or even at all.
In this expert guide, you’ll learn what ad blockers are, why you need one, and the best ad blockers to watch Peacock.
What is an ad blocker?
What are the best ad blockers to use?
Other ways of blocking ads
FAQs
Bottom line
How to block ads on Peacock
Using an ad blocker is typically a straightforward experience. Once you get it installed, the software takes care of the rest. Here’s how easy it can be.
- Select a reliable ad blocker. For this example, we will use NordVPN Threat Protection Pro.
- Go to the website and choose your plan. Install the ad blocker to your browser.
- Once you install the blocker, be sure it’s enabled. That’s done by opening the app and clicking the shield icon. Then you toggle the blocker on, and you’re all set.
- Open your Peacock app and start streaming your favorite shows.
What is an ad blocker?
Using a program that keeps those commercials at bay will save you time between episodes and make your experience more fun. But, what is an ad blocker?
An ad blocker is a software program that removes unwanted ads from streaming platforms and other websites. When you peruse your favorite sites, the ad blocker blocks things like banners, intrusive advertisements, and those irritating pop-ups.
What do ad blockers do?
Most ad blockers are browser extensions that check the domain names of various elements that try to load on the site. They compare the webpage features against blocklists and, if something gets flagged, it gets blocked.
These products can also be beneficial because they may remove content that consumes lots of data, improving your online streaming experience.
Ad blockers can protect your privacy because they stop tracking scripts in their tracks. These scripts seek to follow your online activity and reducing them can enhance your overall privacy when visiting websites.
You need a product that works and keeps advertisements from popping up everywhere. Here are some benefits of a good ad blocker.
- Uninterrupted streaming: You can enjoy your favorite shows without ad interruptions. They can save you time that could be spent getting to the next episode.
- Data protection: Since ad blockers halt tracking scripts, they can increase your online privacy. Now, those trackers won’t follow your online movements.
- Faster browsing speeds: When you get bombarded with ads, it can drain your device speed. Ad blockers reduce the clutter and stop the consumption of your bandwidth.
- Better battery life: Too many pop-up ads can drain the battery’s efficiency, but what are pop-up ads? Pop-ups are those intrusive advertisements that suddenly appear in a new window when you’re online, and most of us dislike them.
Why you need an ad blocker for Peacock
If you want to watch Peacock TV without the intrusion of commercials, you need an ad blocker. Commercials typically appear at the beginning and in the middle of your viewing content, which can be annoying, especially when you’re getting to the good part of a show.
You may think you can just pay a bit extra for the Premium plan to forgo this issue, but you should reconsider. According to the website, the Premium Plus plan shows no ads but has a limited exclusion clause. This means that even Peacock Premium Plus plans could throw in a commercial break due to streaming rights on a few shows.
What are the best ad blockers to use?
Since choosing an effective ad blocker is crucial for the best entertainment value, we have some recommendations for you. These were chosen by weighing how well they work with streaming services, price points, browser compatibility, and how easy they are to use.
- NordVPN Threat Protection: NordVPN Threat Protection stops intrusive ads before they appear, which increases your browsing speed. It also checks for malware and encrypts your data, making your security a priority.
Get NordVPN Threat Protection | Read Our NordVPN Threat Protection Review
- Surfshark CleanWeb: This ad blocker is compatible with almost any device and browser. It includes a secure VPN to hide your IP address, blocks YouTube ads, and boosts your browsing speeds.
- uBlock Origin: uBlock Origin is a free ad blocker extension that’s customizable and compatible with most browsers. It stops video ads and trackers and can bypass soft paywalls.
Other ways of blocking ads
There are other ways to get around intrusive advertisements, but they aren’t as effective as using a good ad blocker. However, some of these methods work well in conjunction with an ad blocker.
- You can download your streaming shows. If commercials pop up, you can always hit the fast-forward button and go through them, but downloads can take up a lot of data. It's worth noting that this doesn't work with live channels.
- A secure VPN can hide your IP address and location. Since many ads are based on this data, a solid VPN can circumvent them, but it’s not a foolproof plan.
- Ad-free browsers, like Brave, claim to load webpages faster and block ads. If you scroll through the Brave website, you’ll see that it shows having a web with fewer (but not zero) ads, which might mean you won’t get all of them blocked.
- DNS ad blocking is a tool that some people use. It checks the website IP address to see if it belongs to advertising and tracking. If it does, the DNS software blocks it.
FAQs
Is Peacock Premium Plus ad free?
Although Peacock Premium Plus touts being ad free, a closer look shows there is a clause that expresses limited exclusions exist due to streaming rights. This means it depends on whether the content providers want ad breaks or not.
That may mean you won’t be completely ad free after all, especially on live broadcasts, prime-time shows, sports events, and news programs.
How do I block ads on Peacock?
One of the best ways to block ads on Peacock is by using a reputable ad blocker. There are other ways, like using a secure VPN, but that can be hit or miss. Ad blockers are designed to check for advertisements.
Can I get in trouble for blocking ads on Peacock?
You won’t get into trouble for blocking ads as it’s a legal service. The only thing you cannot do is interfere with the content publisher’s right to restrict content blocking. Therefore, if a streaming platform stops your ad blocker, it is legal for the company to do so.
Why is my ad blocker not working on Peacock?
Some devices may not allow ad blocker extensions, and you may need to go another route. That is where adding something else, like a DNS server, may work to remove ads embedded in the content.
Are the ads on Peacock bad?
Ads are not by nature good or bad, but this can be subjective based on your preferences. For example, if you don’t align with certain political parties, seeing them discuss their campaign tactics might not interest you.
It can depend on what is on Peacock at certain times. Some marketers may pay more for popular programming.
Bottom line
Peacock has tons of quality content, but don’t select a plan thinking you won’t see any more ads. No matter which subscription you choose, you may be invaded with advertisements — at least at the beginning and middle of the program.
The most effective way to know which ad blocker is the best for your streaming is to test them. Many offer free trials and money-back guarantees, so you have nothing to lose when you try one.
The best ad blockers will allow your favorite shows to stream without commercials and may even boost your loading speeds, giving you a better overall online experience.