Are you tired of clicking away multiple ads while browsing? Well, that’s not the only issue ads bring. Websites filled with ads often take longer to load. Even worse, some ads contain malware and adware that can compromise your security and privacy.
Thankfully, the best ad blocker can stop all kinds of ads from showing up while you browse. Our internet privacy experts have tested several ad blockers and here are the best ones:
- NordVPN’s ad blocker (Threat Protection): The most efficient all-around ad blocker
- AdBlocker Ultimate: The best stand-alone ad blocker
- Surfshark’s CleanWeb: The top ad blocker for smart TVs
- AdBlock: A great ad blocker for Safari
- Total Adblock: A top ad blocker that protects your privacy
- AdBlock Plus: Effective ad blocker, but lets some ads through
- Ghostery: AI-powered ad and tracker blocker
- Privacy Badger: The best tool to block invisible trackers
- AdLock: The top ad blocker app
- uBlock Origin: Wide-spectrum content blocker
- NoScript: Blocks JavaScript and other potentially harmful scripts
- uMatrix: The best ad blocker for advanced users
NordVPN is the overall best ad blocker because it’s ruthless at stopping ads. Barely any ad made it through in our tests. NordVPN’s ad blocker is part of NordVPN’s VPN suite. This means that you get access to the robust NordVPN, which can help you remain anonymous online and unblock geo-restricted services.
Continue reading the article for more information about the best ad blockers.
Many websites are riddled with intrusive ads, often in the form of banners and pop-ups. Sometimes you might have to click away multiple ads before getting to the content you want. This can affect your browsing experience and consume lots of data.
Even more concerning, some ads contain malware and third-party trackers that can compromise your privacy and leave you vulnerable to hackers.
Thankfully, the best ad blockers can stop ads you don’t want and make your browsing experience a lot more pleasant. However, although many popular ad blockers claim to do a good job, only a few make good on their claim. NordVPN’s Threat Protection feature is one of those ad blockers that can effectively stop ads in their tracks.
We’ve tested over 50 ad blockers to arrive at this list of best ad blockers. Keep reading to learn more about them.
What is the Best Ad Blocker of 2024?
Based on our tests, NordVPN’s ad blocker is the best all-around ad blocker, thanks to its effectiveness at stopping ads and affordable pricing. Other handy ad blockers include AdBlocker Ultimate, AdBlock, Total Adblock, Adblock Plus, and Ghostery.
The table below is a summary of the five best ad blockers and some of their key features.
| Ad Blocker | Short Description | Website |
|---|---|---|
 NordVPN’s ad blocker (Threat Protection) | Blocks all kinds of ads Allows you to enable ads on specific websites Intuitive apps on iOS and Android Prevents third-party trackers | Get NordVPN’s ad blocker |
 AdBlocker Ultimate | Affordable pricing plans Available as an app and browser extension Advanced ad blocking Allows you to whitelist sites Combats phishing | Get AdBlocker Ultimate |
 Surfshark CleanWeb | Blocks ads on smart TVs Stops cookies Reduces malware and phishing attacks | Get Surfshark’s CleanWeb |
 AdBlock | Completely free Available as an app and browser extension Whitelist trusted sites and YouTube channels Has malware protection Has a premium VPN service | Get AdBlock |
 Total Adblock | Free and cheap premium plans Available as a browser extension and customizable app Blocks third-party trackers Allows you to whitelist sites Speeds up your browser | Get TotalAdblock |
The Best Ad Blockers
In this section, we’ll dig into each of the best ad blockers, starting with our top choice: NordVPN’s Threat Protection.
1. NordVPN’s ad blocker (Threat Protection): The most efficient all-around ad blocker
| Feature | NordVPN’s ad blocker |
|---|---|
| Price | From $ 2.99 per month |
| Does it have a free plan? | ✖ |
| Supported platforms | Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, and Opera |
| Apps | Mobile apps for iPhone, Android, and iPad |
NordVPN’s Threat Protection is the best ad blocker because it’s ruthless at blocking all kinds of annoying ads, from pop-ups and banners to autoplay videos. We tested it against many websites, notably YouTube. Impressively, NordVPN was able to shut out ads and enable us to stream our favorite videos without interruptions.
NordVPN’s ad blocker is also an excellent choice because it’s bundled with NordVPN’s VPN service, which is the best VPN on the market. A VPN can help you change your IP address to evade detection and keep you safe online.
It also encrypts and anonymizes your internet traffic, which can keep you safe on public Wi-Fi. This makes it the obvious pick if you want a VPN with a built-in ad blocker. Talk of killing two birds with one stone!
What We Liked:
- Allows a seamless browsing experience since it blocks virtually all ads
- Works across multiple devices, including iOS, Windows, Mac, and Android
- Adds a VPN service to hide your identity online and help you access geo-blocked websites
What We Didn't Like:
- You cannot purchase the ad blocker alone
- Doesn't allow whitelisting
2. AdBlocker Ultimate: The best stand-alone ad blocker
| Feature | AdBlocker Ultimate |
|---|---|
| Price | From $4.99 per month for 10 devices (Ideal for a family) |
| Does it have a free plan? | ✔ |
| Supported platforms | Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, and Opera |
| Apps | Mobile apps for iPhone, Android, and iPad |
AdBlocker Ultimate is one of the best ad blockers on the market. We added AdBlocker Ultimate to our Chrome browser, and barely any ads made it through. We like that the free version is just as effective at ad blocking as the premium version. However, for premium support, customizable ad blocking, and advanced anti-tracker features, you must opt for the premium version.
AdBlocker Ultimate also protects you from malware by blocking sites with malicious domains. This means that if you’re visiting websites that you’re not sure about, use AdBlocker Ultimate. AdBlocker Ultimate works on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Opera. It’s also available as an Android, Windows, and iOS app.
What We Liked:
- Seamless browsing experience since it can block virtually any ad
- Malware-free browsing thanks to its malware blocker
- Works on all the major browsers and mobile apps
What We Didn't Like:
- Customization is only available on the paid plans
3. Surfshark CleanWeb: The best ad blocker for smart TVs
| Feature | Surfshark CleanWeb |
|---|---|
| Price | From $ 1.99 per month for 24 months |
| Does it have a free plan? | ✖ |
| Supported platforms | Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox |
| Apps | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
Surfshark’s CleanWeb is a great choice if you want to block ads on apps. Many ad blockers work only at a browser level, but Surfshark’s CleanWeb is built to stop ads when you’re streaming videos on apps on your devices. In our tests, CleanWeb did an excellent job blocking ads on our smart TV.
Like NordVPN, Surfshark’s CleanWeb is not a stand-alone ad blocker. It includes useful extras, including a cookie pop-up blocker, a data breach monitor, and a malware alert feature. You also get access to Surfshark’s VPN service, which we consider to be one of the most affordable VPNs around.
What We Liked:
- An affordable ad blocking option
- Can hep you block ads while watching videos on smart TVs
- Offers lots of extras, including Surfshark VPN and cookie pop-up blocker
What We Didn't Like:
- CleanWeb 2.0 is only available as a browser extension
4. AdBlock: The best ad blocker for Safari
| Feature | AdBlock |
|---|---|
| Price | From $1.99 per month for 24 months |
| Does it have a free plan? | ✔ |
| Supported platforms | Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari |
| Apps | iOS, Android |
In our experience, AdBlock is effective at dealing with annoying online advertisements, especially on Safari. You can customize it to your liking by adding or removing filters. For example, while it automatically blocks pop-ups and pop-unders, you can tweak the settings to allow pop-ups and pop-unders that aren’t ads.
AdBlock’s malware protection filter is active by default, protecting your device from malicious software like adware and cryptocurrency mining malware. You can whitelist particular pages and YouTube channels to allow ads. This way, you can support your favorite content creators who depend on advertising revenue.
What we love most about AdBlock is that you don’t have to provide any personal information to use the service, which makes it one of the best ad blockers for us.
Note:
Don’t confuse AdBlock with AdBlock Plus. Although the names are very similar, they are different. Scroll down to learn more about AdBlock Plus.
What We Liked:
- Useful if you're privacy-focused because it doesn't ask for or record sensititive information about users
- You can use it with all the major browser extensions, including Safari
- Can help you block ads on many video platforms
What We Didn't Like:
- Customization only available on paid plans
5. Total Adblock: A top ad blocker that protects your privacy
| Feature | Total Adblock |
|---|---|
| Price | From $29 per year |
| Does it have a free plan? | ✔ |
| Supported platforms | Chrome, Edge, Opera |
| Apps | Android, iOS |
Total Adblock easily blocks many ads, including pop-up videos and banners. However, from our experience, it works much better when you’re faced with audio ads. With Total Adblock, we didn’t experience any audio ads whatsoever while streaming.
In addition, Total Adblock protects your privacy by restricting third-party trackers from keeping tabs on your activities online. By blocking ads and trackers, Total Adblock inadvertently speeds up your browser.
There are filters on the Total Adblock mobile app that you can turn on and off. You can also whitelist particular websites on the Total Adblock Acceptable Ads section. Simply enter the name of the website to disable ad blocking.
What We Liked:
- Test it risk-free using its seven-day free trial
- You can use it on multiple platforms, including Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Android and iOS
- It allows whitelisting of specific websites
What We Didn't Like:
- Website is not very user-friendly
6. Adblock Plus: Effective, but lets some ads through
| Feature | Adblock Plus |
|---|---|
| Price | Free |
| Does it have a free plan? | ✔ |
| Supported platforms | Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Safari |
| Apps | Android |
Adblock Plus is a free, open-source tool that blocks all types of ads, including banners, pop-ups, and video ads. It also stops trackers and “malvertising.” Adblock Plus has its own browser (available for Android and Apple devices) and an app that works with the Samsung Internet Browser as well as Apple’s Safari browser on iOS.
By default, Adblock Plus allows certain ads without third-party trackers to go through as part of its Acceptable Ads initiative. Companies can get their website on Adblock Plus’ Acceptable Ads list if they meet the requirements and pay a fee. However, this ironically means that this tool, which is supposed to block ads, makes money through ads.
What We Liked:
- You can use it on different browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Internet Explorer, Safari, Yandex Browser, Edge, and Maxthon
- Compatible with the Samsung browser and Apple's Safari on iOS devices
What We Didn't Like:
- It allows certain ads to come through
7. Ghostery: AI-powered ad and tracker blocker
| Feature | Ghostery |
|---|---|
| Price | Free (But you can make a financial donation) |
| Does it have a free plan? | ✔ |
| Supported platforms | Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Safari |
| Apps | Android |
Ghostery is an intuitive ad blocker equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) technology. This means that it’s constantly learning and analyzing patterns to uncover the sneaky techniques of advertisers. It also has a large database of over 2,000 trackers, which means it’s able to easily identify and block all kinds of trackers.
We recommend Ghostery as one of the best ad blockers if you’re looking for a privacy suite of tools that includes an ad blocker. Aside from an ad blocker, Ghostery gives you access to a private browser and a private search engine. A good internet browser is essential for your privacy online.
What We Liked:
- Gets rid of sneaky ads thanks to its AI-based ad blocking technology
- Allows you to browse online without worrying about trackers thanks to its extensive tracker database
What We Didn't Like:
- Doesn't have apps for many major operating systems
8. Privacy Badger: The best tool to block invisible trackers
| Feature | Privacy Badger |
|---|---|
| Price | Free (But you can make a financial donation) |
| Does it have a free plan? | ✔ |
| Supported platforms | Opera, Chrome, Firefox, and Edge |
| Apps | Android |
Privacy Badger is a smart, free ad blocker from the Electronic Frontier Foundation that automatically blocks ads and invisible trackers. Privacy Badger mainly focuses on blocking third-party cookies and browser fingerprinting. It doesn’t block ads unless they come with trackers.
The extension uses “algorithmic methods” to identify trackers. It is an excellent option for people who aren’t tech-savvy or don’t want to go through the hassle of tweaking the settings of an ad blocker. Once the extension is installed, it starts monitoring trackers on every website you visit.
What We Liked:
- Great choice if you're concerned about tracking since it can unblock invisible trackers
- Can help you block cookies to ensure a smooth browsing experience
What We Didn't Like:
- It only blocks ads that have trackers
9. AdLock: The best ad blocker app
| Feature | AdLock |
|---|---|
| Price | $0.81 per month for 5 years |
| Does it have a free plan? | ✔ |
| Supported platforms | Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and Edge |
| Apps | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS |
AdLock does an excellent job of blocking ads, especially on streaming services and social media, making it one of the best ad blockers. We used AdLock on various websites, including YouTube, Crunchyroll, Pinterest, and KissCartoon. The good news is that no ad made it through.
AdLock is designed to protect your privacy, so it blocks spyware and malicious websites. AdLock can help you save data and conserve your device’s battery power by blocking all trackers and third-party scripts. It can also speed up the loading time of your device.
What We Liked:
- Use browser extensions without paying a dime
- Paid plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee
- You can use it on iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows devices
What We Didn't Like:
- Apps are not free
10. uBlock Origin: Wide-spectrum content blocker
| Feature | uBlock Origin |
|---|---|
| Price | Free |
| Does it have a free plan? | ✔ |
| Supported platforms | Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and Edge |
| Apps | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS |
uBlock Origin blocks all types of ads and trackers, coin miners, and malicious URLs. You can customize the tool by adding more filter lists to block other types of content. It’s one of the few ad blockers that can block ads on Twitch.
uBlock Origin is a completely free ad blocker and it’s available for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Opera browsers.
What We Liked:
- Blocks all kinds of ads and trackers
- Offers customization tool
- Free plan
What We Didn't Like:
- May miss some ads occasionally
NOTE:
uBlock Origin is different from uBlock.org, although they have similar names.
11. NoScript: Blocks JavaScript and other potentially harmful scripts
| Feature | NoScript |
|---|---|
| Price | Free |
| Does it have a free plan? | ✔ |
| Supported platforms | Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and Edge |
| Apps | Android |
Our list of the best ad blockers would be incomplete without mentioning NoScript. This is not a typical ad blocker. It is a free, open-source tool that blocks JavaScript and other potentially malicious scripts from running unless they’re from a trusted website.
As a result, it blocks malicious ads, harmful scripts, and other insidious attempts to compromise your device. You can mark certain websites as “safe,” giving them permission to run Java, Flash, and other plugins on your browser. NoScript is available as an add-on security component on the Tor browser.
What We Liked:
- It is compatible with Mozilla Firefox, Seamonkey, and other Mozilla browsers
- You can use it on Chrome, Brave, and Edge, among others
- It's built into the Tor browser, which can help you remain anonymous
What We Didn't Like:
- It requires a bit of a learning curve
12. uMatrix: The best ad blocker for advanced users
| Feature | uMatrix |
|---|---|
| Price | Free |
| Does it have a free plan? | ✔ |
| Supported platforms | Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and Edge |
| Apps | Android |
uMatrix was created by Raymond Hill, who also developed uBlock Origin. This open-source browser extension allows you to block elements on a website, including third-party cookies, advertisements, images, plugins, and scripts.
uMatrix is best suited for advanced users. Instead of working with “blacklists” to block specific websites, uMatrix blocks all third-party scripts by default. You need to whitelist pages and websites to allow them to run on your browser.
What We Liked:
- Useful for blocking a wide range of elements, including ads, frames, and scripts
- It's efficient at blocking all ads and elements
- It allows you to see all remote connections and decide what to do with them
What We Didn't Like:
- Not designed for beginners
How We Picked the Best Ad Blockers
In choosing the ad blockers on this list, we considered many key factors. Chief among them are:
- Efficiency at blocking ads: We made sure that the ad blocker can actually block different ads by testing it against ad-filled sites and platforms. For instance, some ad blockers can stop website banners but cannot block YouTube ads.
- Extensions and supported platforms: We ensured that the ad blocker works on all the major browser extensions, including Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. Moreover, we checked if it was available on major operating systems, including Windows, Android, iOS, and macOS.
- Price: We looked for ad blockers that offered value for money. If you need an ad blocker for casual use, many ad blockers offer free browser extensions.
- Extra features: It’s excellent if your ad blocker comes with extra privacy and security features, such as a VPN, tracker blocker, and private search engine. This way, you can also stay safe on public Wi-Fi.
Why Do You Need an Ad Blocker?
Being inundated with ads each time you browse a website is irritating and can even be dangerous. Thankfully, an ad blocker can save the day. Here’s a summary of the main reasons you need an ad blocker:
- Stop ads: If you don’t want to be interrupted by ads each time you browse online, you can use an ad blocker to prevent ads from showing up altogether. This includes pop-ups, autoplay videos, audio ads, and banners.
- Make pages load faster: Ads can slow down websites, forcing you to wait each time you want to access content. An effective ad blocker will stop ads and, in turn, speed up website load times.
- Ensure your privacy: Some ads, especially personalized ads, can gather data on you. Ad blockers will keep ads at bay to help you avoid sharing your personal information.
- Prevent cyber attacks: Ads can be hotspots for malware and phishing attacks, resulting in your data ending up in the hands of hackers and dubious characters. An ad blocker will stop you from seeing such ads in the first place.
- Reduce data usage and save battery life: Using an ad blocker will reduce the amount of data you use and help you preserve your battery in the long run.
Stay Safe Online With the Best Ad Blockers
By now, you know that NordVPN’s ad blocker is the best ad blocking browser extension on the market. If you want a stand-alone ad blocker with more customization features, opt for Adblocker Ultimate.
However, remember that an ad blocker is just one of the key cybersecurity tools you need to stay safe online. That’s why we recommend NordVPN since its VPN service includes various tools, such as an ad blocker, tracker blocker, malware protection, and a data breach scanner.
You’ll also find useful information about staying safe and anonymous online in these articles below:
- The Best Cybersecurity Tools to Protect Yourself
- How to Create a Secure Password: The Ultimate Guide
- What Is Dark Web Monitoring? How Does It Work? Is It Needed?
Do you have questions about ad blockers? Check out the FAQ section below. If we haven’t answered your question, leave a comment, and we’ll get back to you.
NordVPN’s ad blocker is the best ad blocker. When activated, it will prevent all kinds of ads, including pop-ups and banners, from showing up as you browse. It’s part of NordVPN’s Threat Protection feature, making NordVPN’s ad blocker the best choice if you need a VPN with a built-in ad blocker.
AdBlock is the best free ad blocker. It’s a simple browser extension that you can install in a few minutes, and it will instantly improve your browsing experience. AdBlock is also available as an app, but only for Android devices.
Yes! Having an ad blocker is definitely worth it. They do not only block pop-ups and other annoying ads, but you never have to worry that the ad blocker will make deals with advertisers to allow ads through its filter or sell your data to generate income.
Yes, ad blockers are legal for personal use. Their use could be illegal if a network provider or larger commercial body fiddles with someone else’s ads.
