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Best for Streaming
Best for Customization
Total Adblock is the best 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 Premium reliably blocks YouTube video ads. Its straightforward interface also makes it one of the easiest ad blockers we've used. But we can recommend several Total Adblock alternatives based on price, features, and usability.
Surfshark CleanWeb is one of our favorites for its intuitive interface, unlimited device connections, and ability to block streaming ads alongside a secure VPN. uBlock Origin is a powerful free alternative, especially if you want advanced customization and don't mind a more technical interface. NordVPN Threat Protection Pro offers additional protection against malware, phishing, and other online threats.
AdGuard is worth considering for its broad browser and device compatibility, while Aura Ad Blocker combines easy-to-use ad blocking with antivirus software, a VPN, and a password manager. We'll compare each option with Total Adblock so you can decide whether switching makes sense. You can also see how they rank in our best ad blockers roundup.
Best Total Adblock alternatives compared
Methodology
Surfshark CleanWeb: Best VPN bundle
uBlock Origin: Best free ad blocker extension
NordVPN Threat Protection Pro: Best web protection
AdGuard: Best for cross-platform coverage
Aura Ad Blocker: Best online security
Bottom line
FAQs
The best Total Adblock alternatives
Total Adblock remains our top pick for reliable, easy-to-use ad blocking, but these five alternatives have their own strengths. Whether you want a VPN bundle, a free ad blocker, or more advanced security features, here's where we'd recommend starting.
Best Total Adblock alternatives compared
How do these alternatives stack up against Total Adblock? We compared pricing, device compatibility, YouTube ad blocking, and results from our hands-on tests to help you see where each option stands out.
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Ad Blocker |
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| Best for | Easy, reliable ad blocking | VPN bundle and streaming | Free ad blocker extension | Web protection | Cross-platform coverage | Online security |
| Free version | ||||||
| Compatibility | Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge, Safari, Opera | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Fire TV | Firefox, Opera | Threat Protection Pro: Windows, macOS
Threat Protection: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Edge |
Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Safari | Chrome, Edge, Safari |
| Blocks YouTube ads | Partially | |||||
| AdBlock Tester score | 100/100 | 96/100 | 100/100 | 97/100 | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Can You Block It score | 3/3 | 3/3 | 3/3 | 3/3 | 3/3 | 2.5/3 |
| Starting price | Free or $1.59/mo | As low as $2.49/mo | Free | As low as $3.49/mo | Free | $1.67/mo |
| Learn more | Get Total Adblock | Get Surfshark CleanWeb | Get uBlock Origin | Get NordVPN Threat Protection | Get AdGuard | Get Aura Ad Blocker |
How we test and rate ad blockers
Our team tests every ad blocker hands-on. We evaluate each product across six areas:
- Test results (34%): We run each ad blocker through AdBlock Tester and Can You Block It, recording scores for each. We also browse ad-heavy sites in real-world conditions, including watching YouTube videos and visiting Forbes, to verify day-to-day performance.
- Value (21%): We evaluate each product's cost relative to its blocking performance, factoring in starting price, money-back guarantee length, and the number of devices covered under a single subscription.
- Features (18%): We test each ad blocker against a six-point checklist covering its ability to block pop-up ads, trackers, YouTube ads, banner ads, and push ads, as well as whether it includes whitelisting functionality.
- Editor's score (15%): We use each product ourselves across supported platforms, evaluating how intuitive the interface is and anything else that affects day-to-day use that isn't captured by our other criteria.
- Customer support (7%): We evaluate the support options available, prioritizing human support options like live chat and email.
- Compatibility (5%): We review each ad blocker's compatibility across desktop apps, browser extensions, and mobile apps to determine how broad its device and platform coverage is.
We test all ad blockers at least twice a year, and we retest our Editors' Choice picks every quarter to ensure our recommendations stay current. We test across Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS so our results reflect real-world performance on the devices most readers actually use.
To learn more about how we test, read our full ad blocker methodology here.
Surfshark CleanWeb: Best VPN bundle
How does Surfshark CleanWeb compare to Total Adblock?
We like both ad blockers, but Surfshark CleanWeb is a better fit if you also want a VPN or need to cover a lot of devices. It includes unlimited simultaneous connections and offers ad blocking on compatible streaming devices. CleanWeb 2.0 also blocked YouTube ads in our testing without requiring an active VPN connection. Total Adblock is still our preference if you want a dedicated ad blocker that's easy to manage and consistently delivers excellent results in our repeat tests. Surfshark makes more sense when you'll use the VPN and broader device coverage, too.
Learn more in our comparison of Total Adblock vs. Surfshark.
What we liked
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. Premium plans include Surfshark Antivirus protection, data breach alerts, and more.
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 like that one plan covers all devices in a household. Most competitors cap device coverage.
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
A minor drawback is that we found it 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
Test results
Surfshark CleanWeb performed well across our tests, earning either perfect or high scores and successfully blocking YouTube ads during hands-on use.
| Surfshark CleanWeb | Overall average | |
| AdBlock Tester score | 96.3/100 | 89.20/100 |
| Can You Block It score | 2.9/3 | 2.6/3 |
| YouTube blocking average | Blocked ads on 100% of videos | Blocked ads on 76% of videos |
Star rating summary
Surfshark CleanWeb earned a 4.8 star rating. It blocks ads, banners, pop-ups, trackers, and malicious sites across your browser and apps, starting at just $2.49/mo on a 24-month plan.
Surfshark CleanWeb earned perfect marks in value, test results, compatibility, and customer service. It received a lower score in the features category because it doesn't block push ads.
| Decision factor | Weight | Verdict |
| Our experience | 15% | 5.0 |
| Value | 21% | 5.0 |
| Features | 18% | 4.0 |
| Test results | 34% | 5.0 |
| Compatibility | 5% | 5.0 |
| Customer service | 7% | 5.0 |
uBlock Origin: Best free ad blocker extension
How does uBlock Origin compare to Total Adblock?
The biggest advantage of uBlock Origin is that it's completely free, with powerful filtering capabilities and excellent results in our ad-blocking tests. It's a great choice for people who enjoy customizing their browser experience. However, Total Adblock is much easier for the average person to use, with a more straightforward interface. uBlock Origin also isn't available in its original form on Chrome, where you'll need the more limited uBlock Origin Lite. We'd stick with Total Adblock for convenient, hands-off protection and choose uBlock Origin if free, customizable blocking is your priority.
Learn more in our comparison of Total Adblock vs. uBlock Origin.
What we liked
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 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 or have notable privacy and tracking issues.
The ad-block counter is a good way to know how many ads have been blocked. With uBlock Origin, you can view the number of ads blocked to date.
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 a dedicated app for your Android or iPhone. Many users watch streaming videos and other content from their phones, so this can be a letdown.
Google removed the original uBlock Origin from the Chrome Web Store during its Manifest V3 transition. This means that uBlock Origin no longer works on Chrome in its original form. However, uBlock Origin Lite is a Manifest V3-compatible extension, although it doesn't offer all the capabilities of the original.
uBlock Origin pros and cons
- Totally free, customizable ad-blocking extension
- Works with numerous browsers
- Powerful open-source ad blocker
- Some features are easier if you have technical knowledge
- No dedicated smartphone app
Test results
uBlock Origin performed well in all of our testing. It received a near-perfect AdBlock Tester score and aced all the Can You Block It tests. It can also block ads on YouTube.
| uBlock Origin | Overall average | |
| AdBlock Tester score | 98.40/100 | 89.20/100 |
| Can You Block It score | 3/3 | 2.6/3 |
| YouTube blocking average | Blocked ads on 100% of videos | Blocked ads on 76% of videos |
Star rating summary
uBlock Origin received a high star rating of 4.7. It received 5/5 scores in the value, features, and test results categories. We also liked our experience with uBlock Origin, but we're disappointed that it's no longer available on Google Chrome.
uBlock Origin is only available as a browser extension, which is why it was marked down in the compatibility category. There's also no option to contact customer support, only forums and guides.
| Decision factor | Weight | Verdict |
| Our experience | 15% | 4.5 |
| Value | 21% | 5.0 |
| Features | 18% | 5.0 |
| Test results | 34% | 5.0 |
| Compatibility | 5% | 3.0 |
| Customer service | 7% | 3.0 |
NordVPN Threat Protection Pro: Best web protection
How does NordVPN Threat Protection Pro compare to Total Adblock?
NordVPN Threat Protection Pro offers more advanced security features than a standalone ad blocker, including protection against malicious downloads and phishing attempts. It also comes with NordVPN, so it's a practical choice if you want a VPN and additional web protection in one subscription. However, Total Adblock is our stronger pick for blocking ads, especially on YouTube. NordVPN's results have been inconsistent in our video-ad tests, while Total Adblock has reliably removed YouTube ads without interrupting playback.
Learn more in our comparison of Total Adblock vs. NordVPN Threat Protection.
What we liked
NordVPN Threat Protection Pro is for users who want more than an ad blocker. It's best for those who want to protect their online activity from unauthorized access. 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.
We found the setup of NordVPN Threat Protection Pro 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 Pro 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 Pro and viewing the Web tab.
We've also found that Threat Protection Pro can sometimes block YouTube ads, but sometimes we'll catch pre-roll ads with the function enabled. It may not be the best choice for uninterrupted YouTube viewing.
NordVPN Threat Protection Pro pros and cons
- Cybersecurity suite that includes a secure VPN and malware protection
- Works on multiple systems and covers up to 10 devices
- Includes tracker blocking
- Product features can be difficult to find
- Inconsistently blocks YouTube ads
Test results
NordVPN Threat Protection Pro blocked ads effectively in the AdBlock Tester and Can You Block It tests, but it didn't block YouTube ads in our testing.
| NordVPN Threat Protection Pro | Overall average | |
| AdBlock Tester score | 84.22/100 | 89.20/100 |
| Can You Block It score | 2.6/3 | 2.6/3 |
| YouTube blocking average | Blocked ads on 25% of videos | Blocked ads on 76% of videos |
Star rating summary
NordVPN Threat Protection earned a 4.7 star rating, with 5/5 scores in the experience, test results, compatibility, and customer service categories.
NordVPN Threat Protection requires a NordVPN subscription, which may make it more expensive than most standalone ad blockers on this list.
| Decision factor | Weight | Verdict |
| Our experience | 15% | 5.0 |
| Value | 21% | 4.3 |
| Features | 18% | 4.0 |
| Test results | 34% | 5.0 |
| Compatibility | 5% | 5.0 |
| Customer service | 7% | 5.0 |
AdGuard: Best for cross-platform coverage
How does AdGuard compare to Total Adblock?
AdGuard is a strong Total Adblock alternative if you want ad blocking across more browsers, operating systems, and apps. It offers extensions for major browsers and dedicated apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. It also blocked YouTube ads in our desktop and mobile testing. However, Total Adblock is easier to use right out of the box. AdGuard needed additional filter settings enabled to achieve its highest test scores, while Total Adblock has consistently delivered excellent results in our repeat testing. We'd recommend Total Adblock for simplicity and AdGuard for its wider platform coverage.
Learn more in our comparison of Total Adblock vs. AdGuard.
What we liked
AdGuard offers some of the broadest device and browser compatibility we've seen in an ad blocker. It works as a browser extension on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Opera, with dedicated apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. If you use several different devices or browsers, AdGuard makes it easier to maintain consistent ad-blocking protection.
We were also impressed with its ability to block YouTube ads. During our testing, AdGuard stopped video ads on desktop and mobile without noticeable slowdowns. On mobile, you can share a YouTube video with the AdGuard app to watch it without ads.
AdGuard also includes security-focused filtering options. Its Security filter list can help block phishing and malware sites, while paid plans add features such as parental controls. These extras make AdGuard a versatile option if you want more control over what loads on your devices.
What we didn't like
AdGuard isn't quite as straightforward as Total Adblock. Its statistics dashboard separates blocked items into categories such as Advertising, Trackers, Other, and CDN, but we found the labels confusing and couldn't easily reconcile the counts.
We also needed to manually enable additional content-blocking filters to achieve AdGuard's highest AdBlock Tester score. That extra setup isn't especially difficult, but it does make the experience less hands-off than Total Adblock.
Finally, AdGuard's paid plans can cost more than other premium ad blockers, although its free version is worth considering if you don't need all the extras.
AdGuard pros and cons
- Broad compatibility across browsers, computers, and mobile devices
- Successfully blocked YouTube ads on desktop and mobile
- Includes security filters and optional parental controls
- Requires some filter adjustments for the best test results
- Blocking statistics can be confusing
- Paid plans can be more expensive than competing ad blockers
Test results
In our tests, AdGuard scored 100/100 on AdBlock Tester and 3/3 on Can You Block It. It also blocked ads on YouTube, making it a strong option for Chrome users who want ad blocking across websites and YouTube.
| AdGuard | Overall average | |
| AdBlock Tester score | 99.14/100 | 89.20/100 |
| Can You Block It score | 3/3 | 2.6/3 |
| YouTube blocking average | Blocked ads on 100% of videos | Blocked ads on 76% of videos |
Star rating summary
AdGuard earned a 4.7 star rating, with 5/5 scores for features, test results, and compatibility. It was docked half a point in the experience category because users need to enable all its toggles to get its strongest blocking settings. The required setup may be unclear to some users.
| Decision factor | Weight | Verdict |
| Our experience | 15% | 4.5 |
| Value | 21% | 4.3 |
| Features | 18% | 5.0 |
| Test results | 34% | 5.0 |
| Compatibility | 5% | 5.0 |
| Customer service | 7% | 4.0 |
Aura Ad Blocker: Best online security
How does Aura Ad Blocker compare to Total Adblock?
Aura is a good alternative if you want a user-friendly security suite that combines ad blocking with antivirus software, a VPN, a password manager, and safe browsing tools. We were impressed with its ad-blocking performance, but Total Adblock remains our preferred choice for consistent ad blocking, particularly on YouTube. Aura sometimes left a countdown or static replacement in place of video ads, while Total Adblock provided a smoother experience. Choose Aura if you'll use its additional security tools; otherwise, Total Adblock is our pick for straightforward ad blocking.
Learn more in our comparison of Total Adblock vs. Aura.
What we liked
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 offer additional security features, Aura goes beyond. The base ad blocker plan includes a VPN, antivirus software, and a password manager. Its online safety tools help block malicious websites, phishing attempts, trackers, and unwanted ads.
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 and Can You Block It. In fact, Aura outperformed premium competitors in several 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, you have the option to add Aura Data Removal services.
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 trackers
- Blocks autoplay on YouTube, but not the ad from showing or loading
- Not available on Firefox or Samsung Internet
- Lack of custom ad-blocking features
Test results
Aura Ad Blocker scored 100/100 on AdBlock Tester and 2.5/3 on Can You Block It. It didn't fully block the interstitial ad, which appeared as a white screen.
Aura Ad Blocker blocks some YouTube ads, but it sometimes replaces them with a black screen. Based on our testing, it may not suit users who need reliable YouTube ad blocking.
| Aura Ad Blocker | Overall average | |
| AdBlock Tester score | 94.6/100 | 89.20/100 |
| Can You Block It score | 2.6/3 | 2.6/3 |
| YouTube blocking average | Blocked ads on 25% of videos | Blocked ads on 76% of videos |
Star rating summary
Aura Ad Blocker received a 4.7 star rating, with 5/5 scores for experience, value, features, test results, and customer service. It was docked points in the compatibility category because it doesn't offer any desktop or mobile apps.
| Decision factor | Weight | Verdict |
| Our experience | 15% | 5.0 |
| Value | 21% | 5.0 |
| Features | 18% | 5.0 |
| Test results | 34% | 5.0 |
| Compatibility | 5% | 3.0 |
| Customer service | 7% | 5.0 |
Bottom line
Total Adblock is still our favorite ad blocker overall. It consistently performs well in our repeat testing, reliably blocks YouTube video ads, and has a straightforward interface that makes it easy to use without adjusting complicated settings. Its free version is limited, but upgrading to Premium unlocks more complete ad blocking and additional protection from TotalAV.
If you want a VPN along with your ad blocker, Surfshark CleanWeb is our top Total Adblock alternative. We like its intuitive interface, reliable streaming ad blocking, and unlimited device coverage. NordVPN Threat Protection Pro is another good choice if you're particularly interested in advanced malware and phishing protection.
If you want to avoid paying for ad blocking, uBlock Origin delivers excellent results, although its technical features and Chrome limitations make it less approachable than Total Adblock. AdGuard is worth considering for its broad device support, while Aura Ad Blocker offers an easy-to-use security bundle with a VPN, antivirus, and password manager.
Ultimately, we'd recommend sticking with Total Adblock if you simply want an effective ad blocker that works without much effort. The alternatives are most compelling when you need something specific that Total Adblock doesn't offer.
FAQs
Is Total Adblock the best ad blocker?
Yes, Total Adblock is our favorite overall ad blocker thanks to its consistently excellent test results, easy-to-use interface, and reliable YouTube ad blocking. Its Premium plan also includes TotalAV antivirus protection. However, if you want additional features, Surfshark CleanWeb is a strong alternative that combines effective ad blocking with a VPN and unlimited device connections. See our best ad blockers for more recommendations.
What are good Total Adblock alternatives?
Our favorite Total Adblock alternatives are Surfshark CleanWeb, uBlock Origin, NordVPN Threat Protection Pro, AdGuard, and Aura Ad Blocker. Surfshark is best for a VPN bundle and streaming, uBlock Origin is great for free, customizable ad blocking, and NordVPN offers additional web protection. AdGuard stands out for its broad device compatibility, while Aura includes antivirus software, a VPN, and a password manager. Total Adblock remains our preferred option for straightforward, reliable ad blocking.
Are there any free alternatives to Total Adblock?
Yes, uBlock Origin and AdGuard are two of the best free Total Adblock alternatives. uBlock Origin is completely free and open-source, with powerful filtering tools and excellent ad-blocking performance. However, the original extension no longer works on Chrome, so Chrome users will need uBlock Origin Lite. AdGuard also offers a free version, although some advanced features require a paid subscription. Total Adblock has a free version as well, but its Premium plan offers more complete protection.