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Best Web Protection
Best Budget-Friendly Bundle
Total Adblock is our #1 favorite ad blocker because it consistently performs well during repeat in-house testing, its premium plan includes TotalAV antivirus protection at a super low starting rate, and Total Adblock always blocks YouTube video ads. But we can recommend a few Total Adblock alternatives based on price, features, and usability.
NordVPN Threat Protection Pro stands out for its strong blocking features, antivirus security, and VPN included in this ad-blocking suite. Surfshark CleanWeb also comes with a secure VPN, but is a bit more affordable and gives you standout ad-blocking coverage for streaming services.
Aura is another affordable security bundle that goes a step beyond with its inclusion of antivirus software, a VPN, safe browsing tools, and a password manager. But if you don’t need advanced security features, uBlock Origin is a free ad-blocking extension that stops unwanted ads and filters out interruptions.
We’ll give you all the details you want to choose the best ad blocker that works for your online browsing needs.
NordVPN Threat Protection Pro: Best web protection
Surfshark CleanWeb: Best budget-friendly bundle
Aura Ad Blocker: Best online security
uBlock Origin: Best free ad blocker extension
Honorable mentions
FAQs
Bottom line
Best Total Adblock alternatives
The best Total Adblock alternatives
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Best for | Hands-off adblocker | Web protection | Budget-friendly bundle | Online security | Free ad blocker extension |
Free version | |||||
Compatibility | Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge, Safari, Opera | Threat Protection: Windows, macOS
Threat Protection Lite: |
Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, FireTV | Chrome, Edge, Safari | Edge, Firefox, Opera |
Blocks YouTube ads | Partially | ||||
AdBlock Tester score | 100/100 | 86/100 | 96/100 | 92/100 | 96/100 |
Cover Your Tracks score | 2/3 | 1/3 | 0/3 | 2/3 | 2/3 |
Can You Block It score | 3/3 | 3/3 | 3/3 | 3/3 | 3/3 |
Starting price | Free or $1.59/mo (billed annually) | As low as $3.09/mo (billed every two years) | As low as $1.99/mo (billed every two years) | $19.99/first yr | Free |
Learn more | Get Total Adblock | Get NordVPN Threat Protection | Get Surfshark CleanWeb | Get Aura Ad Blocker | Get uBlock Origin |
NordVPN Threat Protection Pro: Best web protection
NordVPN Threat Protection is for users who want more than an ad blocker. It’s best for those who want multiple security features to keep unauthorized users from accessing their online activity. It offers solid ad-blocking ability, the secure NordVPN virtual private network service, and the option to add more features, like malware protection and a password manager.
What we liked
We found the setup of NordVPN Threat Protection to be simple, with no hiccups along the way. It’s a user-friendly product that allows anyone to get up and running without needing technical knowledge.
The interface was straightforward, and we had an excellent view of threat detection. The software notified us of potentially harmful files that were removed for our benefit. We also liked the different security features available with this product to keep internet activity safe and private.
What we didn’t like
Although NordVPN Threat Protection doesn’t require technical skills, we found parts of the product confusing, which could cause some users to pause. The whitelisting feature may necessitate some investigation upfront.
When we ran our tests, finding the settings for these features took us longer than expected. After searching, we discovered you can whitelist websites by turning on Threat Protection and viewing the Web tab.
We've also found that Threat Protection can sometimes block YouTube ads, but sometimes we'll catch some pre-roll ads with the function enabled. It may not be the best choice for uninterrupted YouTube viewing.
NordVPN Threat Protection pros and cons
- Cybersecurity suite that includes a secure VPN and malware protection
- Works on multiple systems and covers up to 10 devices
- Includes tracking ability
- Product features can be difficult to find
- Inconsistently blocks YouTube ads
Surfshark CleanWeb: Best budget-friendly bundle
Surfshark CleanWeb is an easy-to-use yet powerful ad blocker that covers unlimited devices. It’s best for users who want a more affordable security suite. The Surfshark Starter bundle offers enhanced privacy and security with the inclusion of CleanWeb and Surfshark VPN, which can encrypt your online traffic and hide your IP address to prevent unauthorized access to data. Premium plans include Surfshark Antivirus protection, data breach alerts, and more.
What we liked
During testing, we found the user interface intuitive, which is good when learning a new product. Even if you aren’t a frequent VPN user, you won’t have any trouble with this design. We also love that we can cover all the devices in our household under one plan. Most competitors cap device coverage.
What we didn’t like
This may seem nitpicky, but it was hard to see when the ad blocker was actually on. Even when testing YouTube ad blocking, we had to check the toggle buttons to show that CleanWeb was running. That isn’t a deal breaker for us, but it’s worth knowing.
CleanWeb hides the VPN settings within the Surfshark app at first, and there’s no signal that lets you know it's up and working. Again, this is not a huge deal to us because the product worked well and did the job of blocking ads.
Surfshark CleanWeb pros and cons
- Budget-friendly security bundle that includes a VPN
- Can be used simultaneously on unlimited devices
- Low cost for high value
- Whitelisting is not available on iOS and macOS
- Didn’t stop tracking ads as well as competitors
Aura Ad Blocker: Best online security
Aura Ad Blocker is a user-friendly security suite that offers online protection not typically included with ad blocker bundles. While NordVPN Threat Protection and Surfshark CleanWeb come with a VPN and fold in antivirus protection against malicious websites and files, Aura goes beyond. The base ad blocker plan includes a VPN, antivirus software, and a password manager. The online safety tools help block malicious websites, phishing attempts, trackers, and unwanted ads.
What we liked
Aura Ad Blocker is a browser extension that works really well, and surprisingly so. We expected the bundled ad blocker to be so-so, but were impressed with its performance during in-house tests, including AdBlock Tester, Cover Your Tracks, and Can You Block It. In fact, Aura outperformed premium competitors in most tests, with the exception of its ability to fully block YouTube video ads.
We also loved that Aura includes a complete suite of online security tools. Most of our top-tested security bundles lack a password manager, and we had a good experience testing Aura Password Manager. We like that all Aura's software is accessible for any skill level (unlike NordVPN Threat Protection), and particularly appreciated how easy to use Aura Antivirus was during testing. Plus, as a bonus, you have the option to add on Aura Data Removal services, which continuously adds more data brokers scanned.
What we didn’t like
Aura offers a good bundle, but its advanced security features aren't as robust as those of standalone providers. For example, the password vault doesn't offer digital legacy or passkey support, which you'd find with most dedicated password managers. Similarly, the real-time antivirus protection doesn't include scheduled scans. During our in-depth comparison, we found TotalAV to be the better antivirus overall.
And while we found Aura Ad Blocker to work surprisingly well during in-house testing, we were disappointed that it only partially blocked YouTube video ads. Either we'd see a "blocked ad" screen in the form of a timer, or the ad would be static but offer the option to "skip." So while Aura did technically block the YouTube ads, our experience wasn't as seamless as when using Total Adblock or CleanWeb.
Aura Ad Blocker pros and cons
- Complete user-friendly security suite
- Bundled with antivirus, VPN, and a password manager
- Performed well during in-house tests against ads and tracker
- Blocks autoplay on YouTube, but not the ad from showing/loading
- Not available on Firefox or Samsung Internet
- Lack of custom ad blocking features
uBlock Origin: Best free ad blocker extension
uBlock Origin is best for people who want a free ad blocker that comes with impressive test scores for blocking capabilities. uBlock Origin is a free, open-source ad blocking extension. It’s also customizable so you can better map out your online experience. It works by filtering out elements on web pages that could interrupt your viewing. You can mark a website as acceptable to use the whitelisting capability, allowing that page to show ads.
We tested the alternative, uBlock Origin Lite, and were impressed, though it doesn't have much protection against trackers.
What we liked
We liked that uBlock Origin was easy to install and effective at blocking ads. A standout feature is that uBlock doesn’t have a default “acceptable ads” list. Instead, uBlock lets you decide what’s acceptable. uBlock Origin also provides warnings if you navigate to websites that are malicious, have spyware, or have notable privacy and tracking issues.
We think the ad blocker counter is a good way to know how many ads have been blocked. With uBlock Origin, you can view the number of ads to date. You’ll also be provided with warnings regarding malicious websites that could have spyware or privacy issues. It’s also one of the best ad blockers for YouTube, which is high praise considering the platform has cracked down on ad blocking software.
What we didn’t like
If you want to create custom filters, you may need some technical skills. It’s still doable if you aren’t a technical guru, but you might need to visit Github or the uBlock subreddit threads to get help from other users.
Since uBlock Origin is a browser extension only, you won’t have an app for your Android or iPhone. Many users watch streaming videos and other content from their phones, so this can be a letdown.
Google recently removed uBlock Origin from the Chrome Web store during its Manifest V3 update. This means that uBlock Origin no longer works on the Chrome browser. However, uBlock Origin Lite is an MV3 compatible ad-blocking browser extension and one of the best uBlock Origin alternatives for Chrome.
uBlock Origin pros and cons
- Totally free, customizable ad blocking extension
- Works with numerous browsers
- The best free open-source ad blocker available
- Some features are easier if you have technical knowledge
- No app available for smartphones
Honorable mentions
Whether you’re looking for a free ad blocker or a paid ad blocker, there are many specs to consider. We’ve tested a lot of ad blocking software to determine the best ad blockers based on price, subscription length, advanced security features, bundled options, protection scores, compatibility, device coverage, and more.
AdGuard, AdLock, and Ghostery didn’t make our top three Total Adblock alternatives list, but these popular ad blockers work well.
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Free version | |||
Compatibility | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Android TV | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android | Browser only |
Browsers | Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera, Yandex | Chrome, Firefox, Safari | Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera |
Blocks YouTube ads | |||
AdBlock Tester score | 100/100 |
96/100 | 99/100 |
Cover Your Tracks score | 2.5/3 | 1/3 | 0.5/3 |
Can You Block It score | 3/3 | 2.5/3 | 3/3 |
Learn more | Get AdGuard | Get AdLock | Get Ghostery |
FAQs
Is Total Adblock the best ad blocker?
The best ad blocker alternative to Total Adblock is Aura Ad Blocker, which offers real-time antivirus software, a secure VPN, a password manager, and even more online safety tools in addition to a solid ad blocker. Aura's suite offers more protection, privacy, and security than typical ad blockers. However, Total Adblock remains one of the best ad blockers for YouTube. See how it compares in our Total Adblock vs. Aura Ad Blocker review.
What are good Total Adblock alternatives?
NordVPN Threat Protection, Surfshark CleanWeb, Aura Ad Blocker, and uBlock Origin are good Total Adblock alternatives. In fact, they’re some of the best ad blockers available. All stop unwanted ads and can help protect you from malicious ads and websites. But only Surfshark CleanWeb can consistently block YouTube video ads like Total Adblock.
Are there any free alternatives to Total Adblock?
There are free alternatives to Total Adblock, like uBlock Origin, AdGuard, and AdLock. uBlock Origin is totally free, whereas AdGuard and AdLock are freemium ad blockers, so you can upgrade to access more advanced ad blocking features.
Bottom line
Total Adblock is one of the best-performing ad blockers we've tested. Although the limited free version doesn’t block YouTube ads or come with all the bells and whistles, you can upgrade to premium, which comes with the award-winning antivirus software TotalAV and unlimited ad blocking.
But if Total Adblock doesn’t offer the protection you need, we’d also recommend these popular ad blockers due to their unique features: NordVPN Threat Protection, Surfshark CleanWeb, or Aura Ad Blocker.
Both NordVPN Threat Protection and Surfshark CleanWeb come bundled with secure VPN services. NordVPN is arguably the best VPN on the market, but Surfshark offers unlimited device coverage with all plans — at super affordable prices. But if you want total online security, we recommend Aura Ad Blocker, which includes a user-friendly VPN, antivirus software, and a password manager on top of its ad block and anti-track extension.
If you just want a standalone ad blocker without advanced malware, phishing, and tracking protection, then you can’t go wrong with uBlock Origin. It’s a free, open-source ad blocker extension that’s customizable for tech-savvy users.
Best Total Adblock alternatives
Starting price | Best for | Learn more | |
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As low as $3.09/mo (billed every two years) | Best web protection | Get NordVPN Threat Protection |
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As low as $1.99/mo (billed every two years) | Best budget-friendly bundle | Get Surfshark CleanWeb |
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$19.99/first yr | Best online security | Get Aura Ad Blocker |
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Free | Best free ad blocker extension | Get uBlock Origin |
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