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Best ad blockers for iPhone and iPad in 2022

If you're tired of all the ads but don't want to use Reader View every time you surf the web, you can add content blockers to your iPhone or iPad, which will put them out of sight and help keep your activities private while you're online.

Ad blockers work in Safari and are only available on devices that support 64-bit architecture. In order to use an ad blocker after you've downloaded it, you'll need to enable it in Settings on your iPhone or iPad.

How to block ads on your iPhone and iPad

Here are the best ad blockers for iPhone and iPad.

• AdBlock Pro

1Blocker is really customizable. You can set different rules for blocking ads, trackers, cookies, website comments, Twitter and Facebook widgets, adult websites, and more. Plus, you can add your favorite sites to the Whitelist ( ahem , iMore) and block specific websites from access at all. You can also customize whether to block or allow cookies and page elements from specific sites.

1Blocker is free to download, but it's really more of a trial version. For a $4.99 in-app purchase, you'll be able to unlock the ability to use more than one feature at a time. If your ad-blocking needs are minimal, you'll have a great experience with the free download and just blocking ads or trackers. But if you're looking at 1Blocker, it's probably because you want the advanced features, like custom rules, a Whitelist extension for Safari, and iCloud syncing so your ad block settings are synced across all your iOS devices.

If you really want to customize your web browsing experience, and like the idea of being able to set up rules for different websites, the full, in-app purchase of 1Blocker is worth it.

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Free with in-app purchases - Download now

AdGuard blocks dozens of different types of ads to speed up your Safari browsing on iPhone and iPad. You can set up rules for specific websites and manually block ads from sites as you visit them using the Share sheet in Safari. You can also use at least two dozen preset filter lists, like EasyList, Malware Domains, and EasyPrivacy, on top of the AdGuard filters. It blocks trackers from social media sites and basically cleans up Safari so your browsing experience is smoother.

With the pro version of AdGuard for $1.99, you can add the ability to use a local DNS proxy to block ads outside of Safari in other web browsers and apps.

Get AdGuard for a clean, fast web browsing experience in Safari.

Free - Download now

If you want a simple ad blocker for iOS Safari, then you should give Wipr a try. This lightweight blocker provides hassle-free blocking just by activating it. Wipr automatically updates itself to make sure that you don't see unwanted ads. However, due to the barebones simplicity that Wipr is known for, you won't find any customizable settings or whitelist options for the sites that you want to support. And best of all, Wipr does not take money in order to let certain ads show up, unlike some other ad blockers that have caused controversy in the past.

Wipr also has an active developer who is always available for support if you have issues.

$2 with in-app purchases - Download now

AdBlock Pro for Safari

If you're serious about blocking ads and want the best feature set, then AdBlock Pro for Safari is what you need. AdBlock will improve your overall Safari experience by blocking all ads, including normal ads and banners, autoplay ads, those pesky fake "x" button ads, scrolling banners, timed popups, redirects to "xxx" sites, YouTube ads in Safari, and no more online tracking. With all of these available ad-blocking options, you will get 2x faster browsing in Safari and over 50 percent lower data usage. AdBlock Pro can even bypass those anti-adblock detectors, sync your settings between devices via iCloud, and much more.

AdBlock Pro is a beefy ad-blocker that gives you a ton of options to improve your online experience. It may have a higher price tag than you would expect, but it's well worth the cost to have a little less annoyance in your online life.

$9 - Download now

Ka-Block! is an open-sourced content blocker for iOS that works with Safari through an extension. With Ka-Block!, you're going to find a fast and curated filter list that will eliminate pretty much all of those annoying ads you'll find on the Internet. The pesky trackers are also blocked with Ka-Block!, so you don't need to worry about those.

With Ka-Block!, you're getting a fast and lightweight content blocker that costs nothing and is constantly updated.

How do you block ads?

Do you have a favorite ad blocker for iPhone and iPad? Which one do you use and why does it stand out? Let us know in the comments.

November 2019: Added Wipr, AdBlock Pro, and Ka-Block! Removed Crystal and Purify due to lack of update.

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The best ad blockers in 2024

Say goodbye to irritating online advertising with the best ad blockers

Best in-browser ad blockers

Best ad-blocking apps, best ad-blocking mobile apps, other privacy-focused extensions and apps.

The best ad blockers are crucial to survive on the modern internet. It often feels like it's impossible to go anywhere online without being harassed by pop-ups, tracker cookies, malvertising and all sort of digital nasties that seem hell-bent on ruining your browsing. The worse part is that these things still plague you if your browsing is above-board — putting you at risk.

Thankfully there's no shortage of apps and browser extensions that can block ads and keep you safer when you're online. Blocking ads and all the other irrelevant stuff that you may encounter. Combined with the best antivirus software and the best VPNs , a good ad-blocker gives you a perfect arsenal of tools to offer as much protection as possible. Even the FBI recommends using an ad-blocker for protection.

The only thing you need to figure out is which ad-blocker is right for you. There are so many to choose from, and whether you are willing to live with the downsides. Most free sites rely on advertising revenue to survive, including Tom's Guide. But if you're happy with the trade-off, we've got a thorough list of the best ad blockers and privacy tools — with options for every browser and platform.

The best ad blockers you can get today

1. adblock plus (chrome, edge, firefox, opera, safari, android, ios).

AdBlock Plus (ABP) is among the most popular ad blockers, with extensions available for Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Edge and Opera. ABP features a quick setup, loading preset filter lists that allow users to quickly block most ads, as well as the option to filter malware and social media buttons. 

Savvy users can chose additional block lists as well as set custom filters or whitelist their favorite sites to keep their ad revenue in the black. AdBlock Plus allows what it calls "non-intrusive advertising" through filters; that may irk some users, though this feature can be disabled in settings. 

On Android, the AdBlock Browser provides a Firefox-based browser that blocks incoming advertising, while on iOS, the AdBlock Plus app integrates with the content blocker system to seamlessly block advertising on Safari with minimal setup.

Download AdBlock Plus: Firefox , Chrome , Safari , Opera , Edge

2. AdBlock (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)

AdBlock (no relation to AdBlock Plus) is the other best ad-blocking browser extension of note, available for users of Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Safari. AdBlock uses a series of filter lists to automatically block ad content coming from known ad servers and providers. Users can stick with the default block lists, subscribe to additional ones, or even create their own, as well as whitelist their favorite websites. 

As one of the most downloaded Chrome and Safari extensions, AdBlock has the trust of many users worldwide.

Download AdBlock: Chrome , Firefox , Safari , Edge

3. uBlock Origin (Chrome, Firefox)

Ublock Origin is a browser-based ad blocker that focuses on simple, efficient blocking with a low resource overhead. The extension comes loaded with a number of filter lists for known advertising and malware sources, with extra filter lists available and the option to read and create your own custom filters from hosts files.

Download Ublock Origin: Chrome , Firefox

4. Poper Blocker (Chrome)

Rather than be an all-in one blocking solution, Poper Blocker (aka Pop Up Blocker For Chrome), is designed to complement other adblockers. 

In this case, Poper Blocker focuses on blocking pop-ups, pop-unders, overlays, timed and scroll pop-ups, and other varieties that might slip past other ad-blocking extensions. Small notifications tell you when pop-ups are blocked. You also can view your blocking stats, but otherwise, you can generally just keep Poper Blocker running in the background with minimal impact alongside other adblocker extensions.

Download Poper Blocker: Chrome

5. Stands Fair AdBlocker (Chrome)

For a fast and light ad-blocking plugin, Chrome users can turn to Stands Fair AdBlocker. The extension does precisely what it promises, blocking ads and pop-ups from cluttering up your browser view while also preventing any tracking from going on. 

Stand's Fair AdBlocker gives you control over the type of ads you can block, specifying everything from autoplay video ads, YouTube ads, expanding ads and more. It can even block Facebook ads if you want.

The "Fair" part of AdBlocker comes into play by giving you the ability to allow certain types of ads or even whitelist ad-supported websites you don't want to shortchange of badly needed revenue. This is one ad blocker that doesn't take a scorched earth approach to its stated purpose.

Download Stands Fair AdBlocker: Chrome

6. Ghostery (Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari, Edge)

Like the other extensions on our list of the best ad blockers, Ghostery can remove ads from webpages, so you can focus on content and browse more efficiently. But the real value in Ghostery lies in its privacy protection features. You can use Ghostery to view trackers, which lets you see who's trying to collect data on you. With Ghostery, you can also stop that tracking from taking place. If you really want to safeguard your privacy, you can turn to Ghostery's Enhanced Anti Tracking to anonymize your data.

Ghostery's a free download that offers basic web protection. More advanced protection starts at $4.99 a month and the $11.99 monthly tier comes with a built-in VPN. There are also versions of Ghostery that work with Android and iOS devices.

Download Ghostery: Chrome , Firefox , Opera , Safari , Edge

7. Adblocker for YouTube (Chrome, Firefox)

YouTube has gotten more aggressive with ads, so the makers of ad-blocking extensions have followed suit. Adblocker for YouTube is a Chrome extension that promises to automatically block YouTube ads, whether we're talking about the pre-roll ad appearing before your video or any text and banner ads that appear on the video itself.

If you prefer Firefox to Chrome, there's also an AdBlocker for YouTube extension that works on that browser. Same name, different developer apparently, but the functionality of stripping out video and display ads remains. This version works on Android devices too.

Download Adblocker for YouTube: Chrome , Firefox

1. AdGuard (Windows, Mac, Android, iOS)

Uses looking for a more robust experience can try out the subscription-based AdGuard, which provides desktop and mobile options to reduce the ads you see when surfing online. 

AdGuard on Windows and Mac covers popular browsers, with highly configurable options for ads, content, and tracker blocking, as well as a parental controls module for restricting adult content. AdGuard for Android is a no-root ad-blocker that blocks advertising on apps and games, though you’ll have to install it from AdGuard’s site instead of through Google Play. AdGuard for iOS works with Safari to effectively filter ads on the default browser.

Download AdGuard: Windows , Mac , Android , iOS

2. AdLock ($33 per year)

AdLock avoids the browser-based route, instead opting to run as a separate program to be able to block not only browser-based ads, but also advertising in other programs like Skype or games. 

The app runs in the background, using filters to block ads, popups, and autoplaying videos, speeding up loading times and applying Safe Browsing features to automatically block sites that are known to be unsafe. 

For obvious reasons, the mobile version is unavailable on the Google Play Store, so you'll need to sideload the app if you want to get AdLock into your Android device. iOS users can download AdLock directly from Apple's App Store.

Download AdLock: Windows , Chrome ,  Android , Mac , iOS

3. Wipr (macOS, iOS; $1.99)

If you’re a Safari fan, Wipr may be the best ad blocker for both your Mac and iPhone. The app is available for both iOS and macOS — costing $1.99 from either Apple App Store — and it promises to work with Safari as well as apps that use Safari for displaying web pages.

You’ll find a full array of features with Wipr, which not only blocks apps and trackers, but cryptocurrency miners, EU cookie and GDPR notices and anything else that gets in your way of surfing the web. Its blocklist gets updated twice a week, and there’s little configuration; the idea is that you load Wipr and forget that it’s there while it does its job in the background.

With Wipr, pages should load faster in Safari, which will be particularly welcome if you’re surfing from an iPhone, where ads and trackers can bog down your browser’s speed.

Download Wipr: macOS , iOS

1. 1Blocker (iOS)

1Blocker was one of the first really good ad blockers on iOS when Apple opened up that functionality on iPhones and iPads; the apps has since been optimized for Safari. 

The app is designed to make browsing faster and more secure by blocking ads, popups, trackers and other online cruft. Rather than blocking content of a downloaded page, 1Blocker works with Safari's content blocker API to tell the browser what to block in advance, saving time and resources. 

1Blocker features more than 115,000 blocker rules, custom regional adblocking settings, and easy-to-use custom rules settings. The app is a free download, with premium features available as in-app purchases.

Download 1Blocker: iOS

2. Firefox Focus (Android, iOS)

Firefox Focus is another addition to Mozilla's family of browsers. This one's a privacy-oriented version of Firefox that bakes in ad-blocking and anti-tracking into a light and functional package. Firefox Focus blocks ads and speeds up browsing, while also working in privacy-friendly features like automatic history and cookie clearing. 

Users can selectively block ads, analytics, content and social trackers with easy toggles, turn on a "stealth" mode, and set a default search engine.

Our look at the best Android browsers has more on the various flavors of Firefox.

Download Firefox Focus: Android , iOS

3. AdClear (Android, iOS)

AdClear — or AdClear Plus if you're searching for the iOS version — offers the kind of mobile ad blocking in browsers that similar apps provide. But AdClear takes it one step farther by also blocking ads in apps. 

AdClear achieves this through a DNS changer feature that routes traffic through a VPN. AdClear doesn't catch everything in all apps, and in our experience, some apps ran a little slower. But this free download can put a stop to ads interrupting what you're trying to do whether in an app or a browser.

Download AdClear: Android , iOS

1. Decentraleyes (Chrome, Firefox)

Some times, blocking ads can also prevent websites fromn pulling needed resoruces and libraries from third-party sources, breaking web pages in the process. Decentraleyes tries to stop that from happening by acting as a local content delivery network emulator to serve up the files that websites need. By doing so, this extension can stop websites from sending out requests to the likes of Google Hosted Libraries.

Think of Decentraleyes as a complement to ad blockers. In fact, the extension specifically says it can work with uBlock Origin and AdBlock Plus, both of which we recommend up above.

Download Decentraleyes: Chrome , Firefox

2. Opera (Desktop, Android, iOS)

The Opera browser bakes in ad-blocking features into the browser without the need for an extra add-on, while also offering privacy-friendly tools such as an unlimited, built-in VPN service, incognito mode, fraud and malware warnings for suspicious links and pages, and more. In addition, you can further customize Opera's capabilities with a wide array of extensions. 

Mobile users need not fret, as the Android version comes with just about everything the desktop version has but built for touch-screen interfaces. On iOS, the mobile version of Opera is listed in Apple's App Store as Opera Touch. (Incidentally, we've got a guide on how you can use Opera to block ads on the iPhone .)

Download Opera: Mac or Windows , Android , iOS

3. Privacy Badger (Chrome, Firefox, Opera)

The Electronic Frontier Foundation's Privacy Badger browser extension was born from the EFF's concerns about the business models of some privacy tools and ad blockers. 

Privacy Badger functions similarly to extensions like AdBlock Plus (on which it was based), observing the various tracking tools that advertisers and other third parties might use to track your online activities and selectively blocking them from executing. Built-in learning algorithms adapt to the sites you visit and take any new tracking tools discovered into account. 

While not explicitly an ad blocker, Privacy Badger does also block some advertising, depending on how aggressively the ads track you across websites.

Download Privacy Badger: Chrome , Firefox , Opera

4. Tor Browser (Desktop, Android)

The Tor network helps anonymize your internet activity by bouncing the data you send and receive through a distributed anonymous network of routers to foil a common online surveillance technique called traffic analysis, which can reveal the sites you visit or who you're communicating with. 

The Tor Browser is an all-in-one package that includes everything you need to surf the net through the Tor network in an easy-to-install portable package. The package includes a modified version of Firefox with privacy aids such as NoScript baked in, and an automatic setup aid that makes it easy to connect to and create new Tor circuits. 

On the desktop, you can grab a version of Tor Browser for Windows, macOS or Linux. There's also a version of Tor Browser for Android, which replaces the previous OrBot + OrFox combination recommended for browsing Tor on Android.

Download Tor Browser: Desktop , Android

5. Onion Browser (iOS)

iOS users aren’t left out when it comes to browsing the Tor anonymizer network, with the Onion Browser among the more popular options on Apple’s mobile OS. 

Previously a premium app, Onion Browser has since moved to a donation model, opening up access to everyone who wants to download the app, without compromising security or features. The usual caveats apply: Browsing through Tor will slow down the web experience, and some features, like video streams and video files won’t work in order to preserve anonymity.

Download Onion Browser: iOS

How to choose the best ad blocker for you

Many of the best ad blockers are available for free, either as extensions or as standalone apps, though a few, like AdLock, charge a fee. Determine if the free services provide enough ad-blocking to meet your needs or whether a paid app delivers more for your money. You should also figure out if a browser extension will take care of your ad-blocking needs or whether you should consider switching browsers to one with more built-in privacy features.

You can narrow down your choice in ad blockers by deciding specifically what you're looking to accomplish with such an app or extension. Do you just want to stop annoying pop-up ads from appearing or do you want the full range of services, including privacy features and an end to ad-tracking? Grab the ad blocker that ticks off all the boxes on your wishlist.

Some ad blockers, such as AdBlock Plus include filters and the ability to let in non-obtrusive advertising. Others, like AdBlocker Ultimate, take a more aggressive approach. Find out which one best suits your needs and comfort level.

As we noted at the outset, there's also an ethical component to ad blockers. Do you feel comfortable keeping ad revenue out of the hands of sites you enjoy and use for free? As good as the best ad blockers are, that's still a trade-off you need to consider when deciding whether to install one as a browser extension or as a standalone app. 

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• kep55 I'm waiting for an ad blocker that will spoof the websites into thinking there is no ad blocker in place. More and more sites are incorporating code that disables the site entirely or many of the features if an adblocker is in use. Reply

kep55 said: I'm waiting for an ad blocker that will spoof the websites into thinking there is no ad blocker in place. More and more sites are incorporating code that disables the site entirely or many of the features if an adblocker is in use.

• View All 2 Comments

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AdGuard for Safari

• Block ads in Safari AdGuard app has filters optimized specifically for Safari, which ensures the best filtering quality. Between AdGuard's own filters and other popular lists, you have more than 50 filters to choose from.
• Saves your traffic More ads blocked means fewer ads loaded. Fewer ads loaded means more traffic saved. Simple math by AdGuard! Download the apk file, install the app and spend your traffic on things you like instead of wasting it on voracious ads.
• Block anything on the page Manually block any element you don't like right from Safari with the help of the built-in action extension. It provides easy access to even more options like allowlisting a page or reporting a missed advertisement.
• Cares about your privacy Protecting your personal data is our top priority. With AdGuard, you and your sensitive data will be safe from any online tracker and analytics system that may attempt to steal your data while surfing the web.

Latest news

Adguard v4.5.3 for ios: improved filtering and dns protection, chatgpt now more accessible, vpns piggyback off porn, google’s vpn demise, and more ads for tiktok, microsoft edge is getting rid of third-party cookies. what about their replacement, how to forward mail: top 10 services.

Mirza Rizwan Zero Ads on Safari. YouTube via Safari feels like YT Premium 🙂

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Dima (dmitriy) The best app for Safari

@lplalitpathak at all well for safari

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Cnaaaaa30 It’s working on Safari well.

Rate AdGuard

Failed to send review, why do i need adguard for safari, how do i install adguard for safari, what if i have questions do you have a support service, adguard for safari or adguard for mac.

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How to Block Ads on Your iPad

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What to Know

• To enable ad blocking in Safari, go to Settings > Safari > Content Blockers , then choose the ad blocker you downloaded.
• The best app for the iPad is 1Blocker .
• A good alternative is AdGuard .

This article explains how to block ads on an iPad. Additional information covers some possible applications to use for ad blocking.

Download an Ad Blocker to Your iPad

Perhaps the hardest part of the equation is actually finding a good ad blocker to download. Many ad blockers are paid apps, which means you will be charged a dollar or two for the blocker. There are also blockers like AdBlock Plus, which claims that unobtrusive ads aren't blocked to "support websites" but actually charges a fee in the form of a cut of ad revenue from some of these websites.

The top of the list is 1Blocker . It is free to download and easy to configure. You can make a list of allowed sites (typically called a whitelist, but the modern term is safelist), which allows ads on the site. 1Blocker is also capable of blocking trackers, social media links, comment sections, and other areas of a website that might slow download speeds. However, you can only block one element at a time in the free version. An in-app purchase blocks several elements, such as both advertisements and tracking widgets.

Adguard is a solid alternative to 1Blocker. It is also free and includes the ability to allow ads from some sites. You can also block different trackers, social media buttons, and "annoying website features" like full page banners in addition to blocking ads.

And if you don't mind paying a couple of bucks, Purify Blocker is easily the best-paid ad blocker on the App Store. It blocks ads, trackers, social media links, and comment sections and can safe list your favorite sites. You can even use Purify to block images on the page, which can really speed up how fast pages load.

Enable the Ad Blocker in Settings

Now that you have downloaded your ad blocker, you will need to enable it. This isn't something you can do in the Safari web browser or in the app you just downloaded. You will need to launch the iPad's Settings app .

In Settings , tap Safari > Content Blockers to open a screen that lists all of the ad blockers and content blockers you have downloaded. Simply flip the switch next to the content blocker you have chosen and the blocker will begin working against ads in Safari.

How to Safe List a Website in Your Ad Blocker

For websites that display a normal amount of unobtrusive ads, especially if it is one of your favorite websites, it can be a good thing to "safelist" the website. This procedure allows the website to display ads as an exception to the rules set up in your ad blocker.

To safelist a website, enable the action within the Safari browser. First, click the Share button . This is the button that looks like a rectangle with an arrow pointing out of it. Scroll through the bottom list and choose the More button.

This new screen includes an action specific to your ad blocker. It may say "Whitelist in 1Blocker" or simply "Adguard"—the language varies based on the solution you installed. Tap the switch beside the action to enable it.

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What is the Best Free Ad Blocker for Safari?

Key points:.

• Online ads can harm your browsing experience, privacy, and security, especially on Safari, which lacks built-in ad blocking.
• Ghostery is one of the best ad blockers for Safari which blocks ads, prevents tracking, rejects cookie consent requests, and works across multiple devices.
• Download Ghostery’s free ad blocker extension for Safari and enjoy a faster, cleaner, and safer browsing experience.

Safari is one of the most popular web browsers in the world. It offers a fast, smooth, and user-friendly interface that makes browsing a pleasure.

But you probably know how annoying and intrusive online ads can be. They can slow down your browsing, distract you from the content you want to see, and even compromise your security and privacy.

That’s why using one of the best ad blockers is essential for enhancing your online experience.

Benefits of Using Safari

Safari is a web browser that offers many privacy and security features:

• Intelligent Tracking Prevention limits third-party cookies and data by default, preventing advertisers from tracking your online activity and collecting your personal information.
• Privacy Reports show you how many trackers Safari has blocked on each site you visit, and which websites are the most common sources of trackers.
• Private Browsing Windows stops Safari from remembering the websites you’ve visited, storing any new usernames, passwords, payments cards, and other information you input, and forgetting any search engine queries you’ve run.
• Security indicators and malware protection warn you if you’re visiting a suspected phishing website or a site that contains malicious content, and display a lock icon next to the URL if the site is secure.
• Control over what information you share online , such as preventing cross-site tracking, hiding your IP address from known trackers.

These features make Safari a safe and reliable web browser that protects your data and enhances your online experience. ( Read more about Safari’s privacy features.)

However, Safari is not immune to the problems caused by online advertising due to Safari’s lack of built-in ad blocking features.

What is an Ad Blocker Extension?

An ad blocker extension is a software program that you can install on your web browser to block or filter out unwanted online ads.

The extension works by scanning the web pages you visit and identifying the elements that are related to advertising. Then, it prevents those elements from loading or displaying on your screen.

The benefits of using an ad blocker extension are numerous. For example, an ad blocker extension can:

• Speed up your browsing by reducing the amount of data and resources used by ads.
• Protect your privacy by preventing advertisers from tracking your online activity and collecting your personal information for later targeting.
• Improve your user experience by eliminating annoying and distracting ads and pup-ups that interfere with the content you want to see.

Why Use an Ad Blocker Extension for Safari?

Safari is a great web browser that offers many advantages to its users. However, it also has some drawbacks when it comes to online advertising.

For instance:

• Safari does not have a built-in ad blocker feature to block ads, unlike some other browsers such as Chrome or Firefox.
• Safari’s underlying technology for ad blocker extensions is limited compared to other browsers that give developers more options and variety to thoroughly block trackers and ads.

These factors make Safari users more vulnerable to the negative effects of online advertising. That’s why ad blockers for Safari is highly recommended if you want to enjoy a better and safer browsing experience.

Ghostery, The Best Free Ad Blocker Extension for Safari

There are many ad blockers for Safari, but not all of them are equally effective or reliable. Some of them may not block all types of ads, slow down your browser performance, and even sell your data to third parties.

However, Ghostery is a trusted and reputable brand that has been providing ad blocking and privacy protection solutions for close to 15 years. Ghostery’s Safari ad blocker extension has several features that make it stand out from the rest:

• Ad Blocking: Blocks ads, including banners, pop-ups, video ads, and social media ads.
• Anti-Tracking: Prevents advertisers from tracking your online activity and collecting your personal information. You can also see who is tracking you on each site and why they’re blocked.
• Never-Consent : Automatically rejects cookie consent requests that pop up on many websites. This way, you don’t have to waste time clicking on them or giving away your consent to unwanted cookies.
• Ghostery Panel: Gives you access to a handy panel that shows you the number of ads and trackers blocked on each site. You can also access Ghostery’s settings and support from the panel.

Ad Blocker for Safari on iPad, iPhone, & Mac

One of the best things about Ghostery’s ad blocker on Safari is that it works across multiple devices and operating systems.

Whether you use Safari on your iPad, iPhone, or Mac, you can enjoy the same level of ad blocking and privacy protection with Ghostery.

How to Install Ghostery's Ad Blocker Extension on Safari

To install Ghostery’s ad blocker extension for Safari on your device:

• Go to our website and click on Get Ghostery .
• Follow the on-screen instructions to add the extension to your browser.
• Enjoy an ad-free browsing experience with Ghostery!

Never installed a browser extension on Safari? No worries. Check out our instructions on how to get started or watch our YouTube video guide .

Once you’re finished, you can start blocking ads on your iPhone on any website you visit.

Final Thoughts

Online advertising can be a nuisance and a threat to your experience. That’s why you need an ad blocker extension for Safari, the web browser that millions of people use every day. And the best ad blocker for Safari for you might be Ghostery.

Block all kinds of online ads (including functioning as a Safari YouTube ad blocker), prevent advertisers from tracking you, and reject cookie consent popups. And you can do all that on any device that runs Safari, whether it’s an iPad, an iPhone, or a Mac.

Get in touch if you have any questions. We’re always happy to help.

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5 Best Ad blockers for iPhone and iPad

If, like me, you’re getting increasingly annoyed by pop-ups appearing on your iPhone and iPad, you’ll be glad to know there’s a simple solution. Quality ad blockers for iOS will run silently on your device, preventing chatboxes, banners, pop ads, and other annoyances from bothering you.

Apple’s app store is full of free ad blocker options for iPhones, but in my experience, these are often less robust. Our recommended ad-blocking apps will intercept websites from spying, cookies from tracking, malicious connections and can even block ads on streaming sites like YouTube – features you’ll rarely find on a free app.

To help you cut through the notice, I’ve sifted through and tested ad blockers on the App Store to find the very best. If you don’t have time to read through the rest of the article, our results are summarized below.

The Best Ad blockers for iPhone and iPad List:

• Total Adblock : My best pick for an iPhone and iPad ad-blocker. Able to stop ads from streaming sites and prevent social media trackers too. 
• Adlock : Best budget adblocker or iPhone and iPad. Comprehensive blocking abilities and plenty of scope for customization. 
• AdGuard : An open-source ad-blocker for iOS. Packed with features and has a wide range of filters to choose from. 
• 1Blocker : One of the original ad-blocking apps for iPhone. One of the first companies to make a decent ad-blocker for iPhones and iPads. Still quality.
• Wipr : An easy-to-use ad-blocker for iPhone users. It will also block cookies and trackers but is easy on the wallet. 

How we picked the best iOS ad-blocking apps

As I was testing the ad-blocking apps on the App Store, I had a very strict criteria for adblockers:

• Value for money
• Blocks ads beyond Safari
• Customization
• Additional safety

If you’re interested in knowing more about our testing methodology I cover it in more depth later in this guide.

The Best iPhone and iPad ad blockers: In-depth analysis

Here’s a list of the best adblockers for iPhone and iPad:

1. TotalAdblock

TotalAdblock is a seemingly simple app that can nevertheless deal with all types of ads, notifications and trackers.  

It removes banners, video ads and pop-ups from Safari by default, and provides custom filters to block web elements that you don’t approve of. These don’t necessarily need to be ads, but anything that you’d rather not be there while you browse.  

TotalAdblock also stops ads from appearing on sites using free-with-ad models, such as YouTube and Crunchyroll.  Cookies and trackers are removed and TotalAdblock also provides a dedicated filter for preventing social media sites from tracking you and placing “like” and “share” buttons on the sites you visit. 

The app can speed up loading times by removing cookie and privacy warnings – though you don’t necessarily want to do this for privacy warnings. Simply removing ads should sufficiently speed up the time it takes for pages to load. 

TotalAdblock can be configured to block websites and webpages known to distribute malware, or whitelist sites that you want left alone.

The basic TotalAdblock app is free, but you’ll need to pay an annual subscription to get access to the features listed above. This will also give you access to TotalAV virus protection and PC Tune-Up software too. 

TotalAdblock is compatible with iPhones running iOS 11.0 or later and iPads running iPadOS or later. 

• Total ad-blocking
• Stops social media tracking
• Enables element blocking
• Stops ads on streaming sites
• Paid plan includes TotalAV antivirus
• Annual subscription only for premium plan

BEST AD-BLOCKER:  app for iPhone and iPad. It offers comprehensive blocking of all types of advert, together with malware and virus protection.

Adlock is a powerful ad-blocker that blocks all pop-ups, auto-play ads, banners and unwanted redirects on both Safari sites and in apps. It also stops video and audio ads on streaming services such as Youtube, Twitch, and Crunchyroll – thanks to being able to evade anti-ad-blocker detection. 

Adlock works by applying a series of advertising filters based on EasyList technology (the most popular list used by ad-blockers). The developers recommend using between three and five filters, though you’re free to test and apply new filters in the app’s settings. Using the filters, you can choose what should be blocked on the web pages you visit – pop-up chat boxes, for example.

Additional features include blocking all forms of online tracking scripts and warnings about malicious websites, viruses, phishing attacks, and other forms of online scam. Adlock also enables you to whitelist particular pages or entire websites as desired.

Adlock is compatible with iPhones running iOS 12.1 or later, and iPad’s running iPadOS or later. 

• Blocks all types of ads, including video
• Bypasses ad-block walls
• Spam and scam links warnings
• Free trial period
• Not the easiest for beginners

BEST BUDGET-FRIENDLY OPTION: ad-blocker that stops unwanted ads on both websites and apps. 

AdGuard is a veteran provider in the world of ad-blocking. The open-source app removes all kinds of ads in Safari, including banners, pop-ups and video ads. You can whitelist your favorite websites or use a manual blocking tool to hide any elements on a page.

There are a selection of filters aimed directly at stopping trackers and web analytics – with around 50 to choose from in total. AdGuard also enables protection against malicious or fraudulent websites. 

The user-rules module lets you create your own rules — anything from simple allow-listing of a website to something more sophisticated.

AdGuard is ostensibly free, though you’ll need to pay a subscription to access many of the features mentioned above. Prices are based on either a year’s subscription, or a lifetime’s subscription. 

All plans come with a 60-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can try AdGuard for free with a 14-day trial. AdGuard is compatible with iPhones running iOS 11.2 or later, and iPads running iPadOS 11.2 or later. 

• Removes all types of ad 
• Supports manual blocking
• Plenty of filters to choose from
• Sixty-day money-back guarantee
• The app can sometimes freeze up
• No monthly subscription option

HIGHLY ADAPTABLE:  with features and provides a robust ad-blocking service for iPhones and iPads.  

4. 1Blocker

1Blocker is a powerful, independently built-and-maintained app specifically designed for the iOS operating system. As it’s a web extension, it won’t block anything outside of the Safari browser.

When you launch the app, it tells Safari what should be blocked in advance, rather than blocking filtered elements of the already-downloaded page. This improves display speeds and preserves battery life. 

Blocking ads, cookies, comments and the like is as simple as checking the right boxes. Frequent rule updates ensure that your choices stay blocked. 

There are two versions of 1Blocker, with the free option offering less functionality. The paid-for version provides system-wide firewall protection from in-app trackers, a whitelist extension, and the option to sync your settings across all iOS devices. 

It also allows you to tailor the app using custom rules. These rules are divided into several categories, including: allow list, block sites, block cookies, hide elements, and make site https-only. The website has all the information you need to get started with creating custom rules. 

The app is compatible with iPhones running iOS 14.2 or later, and iPads running iPadOS 14.2 or later. New customers signing up to the free version can take advantage of a two-week free trial of the app’s premium features. 

• Create custom rules
• Whitelist extension available
• Two-week free trial
• Only works within Safari
• Could confuse some users

PROVEN TRACK RECORD:  for iPhones and iPads, with plenty of scope for customization and a low subscription fee. 

Wipr is a straightforward and effective ad-blocker for Safari that can be set up in seconds. It blocks all ads, trackers , cryptocurrency miners, EU cookies and GDPR notices on web pages opened in Safari. That said, Wipr specifically states that it is not a security tool, so won’t block malicious, scam or phishing sites. 

Wipr can block ads on some apps, but only those that display websites using the Safari View Controller. This is essentially a screen managed by Safari that apps can use without needing to open the actual Safari browser. Apps like Tweetbot and some other social networking sites use it for all web links. 

If you find that opening sites such as YouTube still results in ads, you can try using the Wipr Extra extension. This provides blocking on a few sites where the Content Blocker API isn’t enough. Wipr Extra isn’t enabled by default as it requires full website access, which raises some privacy issues. If you do want to try it, you’ll need to be running at least iOS 15.

Wipr’s block-list is updated twice a week, which ensures few ads slip past it. You don’t need to do anything – the app will check for updates for you. Indeed, this is the beauty of Wipr on the whole – you don’t need to do anything beyond activating it. While this is great for some, it could be frustrating for those who prefer a little more control. 

The app is compatible with iPhones running iOS 12.0 or later, and iPads running iPadOS 12.0 or later. 

• No acceptable ads
• No custom rules
• No whitelist options

GREAT FOR BEGINNERS:  that’s simple to install and offers impressive blocking ability. 

Methodology: How we chose the 5 best ad-block apps for iPhone and iPad

Being able to block ads is all well and good, but it’s something many people have come to expect from free apps. So what might we expect from a paid-for ad-blocker? We considered the following areas:

• No acceptable ads: The whole point of an ad-blocker is to reduce your exposure to adverts. We don’t like those which allow paid adverts across their threshold. However, some do permit search ads, which are deemed helpful to the user. For example, contextual ads if you’re trying to buy something via a search engine. These types of advert are different to acceptable ads in that the ad-blocker isn’t receiving money for them.
• Value for money: There are plenty of free ad-blockers out there, so we ask that paid-for versions can prove their worth. If they charge too much for a so-so service, then we don’t include them.
• Blocks ads beyond Safari: Ad-blockers that can stop ads beyond just those displayed within Safari are preferred. Ideally, they should prevent ads in apps using free-with-ad models too, such as YouTube , Tubi, and Crunchyroll .
• Customization: We like ad-blockers that allow for the creation of custom rules, and also those that let us add sites to a whitelist.
• Additional safety: A good ad-blocker offers additional features, such as protection against malicious websites, viruses, and phishing attacks . 

Can I use a free ad-block for iPhone and iPad?

If you’ve already spent some time looking for an app to block ads, it’s likely you’ve already come across a number of free options. There are some free ad-block apps that do the job to a basic level. However, I found them to be not as robust as their paid counterparts. They were often employing less stringent blocking rules and came with a lot less customization.

If you come across one that seems to be providing a premium-level service without charging, it’s likely they will be generating an income through other means. Namely your data, or by gatekeeping your ad viewing experience. By limiting the ads you do see to only their “acceptable ads”, they can generate money from advertisers directly. But, this defeats the whole purpose of an ad blocker.

How to enable content blockers on iPhone and iPad

• Download your chosen ad blocker to your iPhone.
• Launch the Settings app.
• Scroll down and tap Safari .
• Under General , tap Content Blockers .
• Activate your chosen content blocker by toggling the switch next to it to the green ON position.

Will these ad blockers work on streaming sites?

Yes, but blocking ads on streaming sites like YouTube is a little more complex. However, some of my recommended ad-blocking apps are up to the task. When testing I had the most success with Total Adblock extension for the Chrome browser.

It does require some setup, but we provide a step-by-step guide in our how to block ads on YouTube guide, so head over there for more information.

FAQs: Best ad-block for iPhone and iPad

Does apple allow ad-blockers.

Yes – Apple first announced that ad blockers would begin working on iPhones in 2015. Developers were quick to react, with the result that the App store now has hundreds to choose from. If you haven’t yet decided on a third-party ad-blocker to use, you can make a start by stopping pop-ups using the iOS built-in pop-up-blocker. Follow these instructions:

• Under General , toggling the switch next to Block Pop-ups to the green ON position.

What are ad-blocking filters?

Ad-blocking sites make frequent reference to filters , which are how ad blockers are told to recognise exactly what an advert – or other element to be blocked – looks like. Filtering rules help them to do this. 

A filtering rule is a line of code that can block an element on a website, or prevent ads from loading. Similar rules are combined into a group called a filter. Example filters include those that remove analytics tags, or one that blocks ads in a particular language. 

Do ad-blockers slow websites down?

No – in fact, they almost always speed things up. Adverts fund a great deal of the content we see online. Research suggests that the code used to generate ads – and also to gather analytical data – is responsible for between 50% and 60% of the total loading time of a page.

A decent ad-blocker – such as TotalAdblock – removes all the offending elements that your computer would otherwise waste time downloading. This includes web banners, pictures, pop-up windows and – worst of all – autoplay audio and video ads. This makes pages easier to read, as well as reducing the amount of bandwidth needed to access them. 

Ad-blockers have the additional benefit of improving online privacy by removing the number of cookies and stopping other behavioral tracking code from running. They can also protect you from malicious content, and will ultimately provide a better user experience overall. 

Do iPhones and iPads have a built-in ad-blocker?

Technically yes, IOS devices come with a built-in ad-blocker. So you might be wondering why you would invest in another. The truth is that these built-in solutions do the bare minimum. They might prevent some pop-ups and banners, but some fall through the cracks. There is also a lot less flexibility with the IOS ad-blocker, as you can’t set specific filters and exceptions like you can on a premium product. This is why we still recommend considering external software to protect your IOS device from ads.

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Roundup - best VPNs for iPhone Adblocker

Privacy alert: websites you visit can find out who you are.

The following information is available to any site you visit:

Your IP Address:

Your Location:

Your Internet Provider:

This information can be used to target ads and monitor your internet usage.

Using a VPN will hide these details and protect your privacy.

We recommend using NordVPN - #1 of 72 VPNs in our tests. It offers outstanding privacy features and is currently available at a discounted rate.

Best ad blockers for iPhone and iPad in 2024

Ads are the most annoying part of accessing the internet from your iPhone. I get it! If you are tired of stumbling upon an ad every few seconds, I have curated a list of the best ad blockers for iPhone and iPad. They will not only enhance your surfing experience but also prevent tracking of your online activities. But before you get to the list, let’s learn more about these blockers.

Where can I block ads using ad blockers on iPhone?

You can block ads on iPhone and iPad for Safari browser only. The feature is supported for devices with 64-bit architecture. Here’s how you can block pop-up ads using Safari settings on iPhone and iPad.

• In the Settings app on your iPhone and iPad, locate and tap Safari .
• Now toggle on Block Pop-ups and Fraudulent Website Warning .

Note : The setting, as it says, will only help you block pop-up windows and prevent fraudulent websites. This doesn’t completely block ads from your online journey.

Hence, if you want to block all forms of ads on iPhone and iPad completely, you’d need third-party apps to do so. To help you learn about the same and install them on your device, I have prepared a list of the 5 best iPhone adblocker apps. Let’s have a look.

What are the best ad blockers for iPhone and iPad?

• Ad Blocker: Safari Adblock
• Adblock Plus
• Avast Secure Browser

1. 1Blocker: Privacy & Ad Blocke‪r

The application has proven its expertise in blocking ads, trackers, and other annoying elements on sites you visit. Being a native app, 1Blocker serves you impeccably and getting rid of all of them, and offers a smooth experience while surfing the web. It also delivers a range of customization options to empower your security and privacy further.

While there’s a premium version, as part of its free services, you can use features like enabling anyone blocking category, allowlist sites through Safari extension, and sync devices using iCloud.

Price : Free (In-app purchases starting $1.99)

Compatibility : iOS/iPadOS 13.0 or later

2. AdGuard: adblock&privac‪y

The app allows you to remove all forms of ads from your Safari browser and eventually boost its performance by making it 4x faster. You’ll also experience a significant increase in battery life by blocking banners and ads from your Safari browser and reducing data consumption.

All of this and much more is attained using more than 50 subscriptions, including easylist, easyprivacy, etc., combined with AdGuards in-house robust ad-filters. The app also offers a premium version, which further adds features like custom filters, DNS privacy, security filters, etc.

Price : Free (In-app purchases starting $0.99)

Compatibility : iOS/iPadOS 11.2 or later

3. AdLock: Ads & Adware removal

AdLock is a comprehensive ad-blocker for your iPhone and iPad that prevents all kinds of ads on Safari while being resource-efficient. It’s a breeze to set up and use with minimal effort needed on your part.

You can enjoy a distraction-free reading experience on the web and get rid of annoying video and audio ads on services like Youtube, Twitch, Crunchyroll, etc.

It can even bypass ad-block walls that prevent you from viewing content if using a generic ad-blocking tool. Pretty nifty! 

Further, AdLock keeps you safe from third-party trackers, adware/malware attacks, all forms of online tracking scripts, and bugs run by advertisers like Google, Facebook, and others.

It stops you from visiting malicious websites and protects against viruses, phishing attacks, and scammers. 

What’s more? You can fully customize it to allow ads on specific sites and select which kind of ads to block. All this makes it well worth the small annual price. 

Price : Free (Yearly subscription for $4.99)

Compatibility : iOS/iPadOS 12.1 or later 

4. Ad Blocker: Safari Adblock

AdBlocker lets you enjoy browsing Safari and work efficiently without ads and pop-ups. Also, you can have peace of mind as all web trackers will be blocked, thereby ensuring protection for your data. You can also use the feature on websites in various languages, and not just English. Besides, it boosts web surfing by using minimal device resources and conserves battery life and Wi-Fi/cellular data.

Moreover, parents can use it to prevent teenagers from visiting restricted sites. If you don’t want to block ads on any particular site, you may add that to the white list. Other than blocking ads and trackers, the app bans malicious websites that may affect your device. If you want the advanced features, you may purchase the premium versions.

Price : Free (In-app purchases starts from $1.99)

Compatibility : iOS 13.0 or later

5. Adblock Plus for Safari (ABP‪)

The ad-blocking app for iPhone and iPad is free of cost and has no hidden price with it. However, this doesn’t let it compromise with features and user-privacy. It boasts more than 50 million users worldwide.

Perhaps this is why it offers a custom language setting to block region-specific ads. The app is easy to set up and helps you save battery life by blocking ads and other hindrances in your online experience. Also, you get to take the benefit of its in-built privacy protection using anti-tracking.

Price : Free

Compatibility : iOS/iPadOS 10.0 or later

The app is designed to block trackers, ads, GDPR notices, EU cookies, cryptocurrency miners, and everything else that may compromise your privacy and hinder your online experience. It utilizes an enhanced blocklist to prevent trackers from fetching your data and other activities.

The best part about the app is they allow nothing from anyone (even against money) and follow a strict ‘No ads’ policy. Not just this, the blocklist gets updated every quarter to enhanced protection and privacy in the consistently changing webspace.

Price : $1.99

Compatibility : iOS/iPadOS 12.0 or later

7. Avast Secure Browse‪r

Most of us have heard or used the app at least once. However, we’ve known it for its protection against viruses and malware. This Avast app offers all-around protection, including VPN , ad-blocker, and data encryption. It boasts more than 400 million users and offers features including automatic privacy, faster browsing without ads, robust encryption, built-in VPN, custom browsing modes, private video downloader, cross-platform sync, etc.

Price : Free (In-app purchases starting $1.49)

Most ad blocker apps offer the same features. However, the difference comes with some new features, price, and interface. If I have to name one, I’ll count Avast considering its additional features and vivid price range.

This is one misconception many people have. Ad blockers neither track you nor record your browsing history or fetch your data.

Ad-blockers don’t do it directly. However, they prevent you from viruses and malware that may attack your device through ads.

If you are accessing YouTube through your Safari browser and have an ad blocker installed, you can block the ads. However, for the YouTube app, ad blockers can’t help. To block ads in the YouTube app, you need to subscribe to YouTube Premium.

You can use third-party apps like adblocker to block ads on your iPhone apps. I would suggest you check the app description first, as not all ad-blocking apps offer mobile apps functionality. You may also have to pay an amount to unlock this feature.

Ready for an ad-free experience?

I have tried covering all possible ways you can block ads on iPhone and iPad. It’s important to acknowledge that the new iOS privacy policy refrains apps and websites to track your online activities. It does not stop them from showing ads. For an ultimate experience, you’ll have to install a third-party app. I hope one out of the listed five will match your expectations.

Let me know which worked out for you or if you have any questions in the comments below.

For additional insights:

• Best security apps for iPhone and iPad
• How to Enable Safari Popup Blocker on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

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What Are the Best Ad Blockers for Safari in 2023?

March 12, 2022 November 28, 2022

Ad blockers are tools or software developed to block, remove or hide advertising content on web browsers or applications. Ad blockers can be browser extensions, applications or plugins.

Ad blockers are important in helping users have a better and safe browsing experience by removing unwanted ads, which in turn reduces the possibility of malvertising. The best ad blockers for Safari in 2023 are listed below.

• AdBlock Plus
• Ghostery Lite
• Magic Lasso
• AdBlock Max
• Disconnect Premium
• Unicorn Blocker

Table of Contents

1. AdBlock Plus

AdBlock Plus was founded by Wladimir Palant and is used for blocking ads and filtering content.

The pros of using AdBlock Plus include the browser extension being free and open-source, ease of installation and use, and support for 24 languages. This ad blocker also has a user-friendly interface and prevents malicious tracking and the spread of malware. However, AdBlock Plus whitelists some ads and doesn’t block all advertising content.

AdBlock was developed by Michael Gundlach and is used to block ads and protect users’ privacy while browsing the internet.

Some of the merits of using the AdBlock browser extension include better browsing speed, support of 40 languages, ease of installation and use, and improved online protection. AdBlock is also free and open-source. However, this extension has some downsides, such as the inability to block all YouTube ads and slow browsing speeds when using multiple tabs.

AdBlock blocks pop-ups and video or audio ads on social media platforms and websites so that pages load faster and battery consumption is reduced. AdBlock is reliable and trusted by more than 65 million users worldwide.

3. Ghostery Lite

Ghostery Lite was developed by David Cancel, but the product is owned by Cliqz International GmbH. Ghostery Lite is primarily used for blocking ads and trackers.

Ghostery Lite’s advantages include the use of advanced artificial intelligence technology to block tracking, allowing users to customize what to block or unblock, loading pages faster and being completely open-source. However, one downside of Ghostery Lite is that this ad blocker doesn’t offer a free version.

Ghostery Lite costs $4.99 per month and $39 per year or $3.25 per month billed for 12 months. Ghostery Lite is compatible with Safari, Firefox, Chrome, Edge and Opera.

Ghostery Lite performs excellently in improving users’ privacy by blocking tracking and ads. Ghostery Lite is reliable and trusted by millions of users worldwide.

4. Magic Lasso

Magic Lasso was developed by Matthew Bickham and is used to block ads and tracking. The merits of using the Magic Lasso ad blocker include the availability of a free version, improved privacy, loading pages at faster speeds, and customization of ad or tracking features. Despite these merits, Magic Lasso’s free version doesn’t offer much protection compared to the pro version and is only supported on Safari.

Magic Lasso is free but offers a pro version that costs $29.99 annually. Magic Lasso is compatible with Safari on Mac, iPhone and iPad.

Magic Lasso improves users’ online privacy and loads web pages two times faster. Magic Lasso is reliable and trusted by over 200,000 clients.

5. AdBlock Max

AdBlock Max was developed by Chunxia Li and is used to block trackers and ads, including YouTube ads.

The merits of AdBlock Max are that the ad blocker consumes less data, is easy to set up and use, and loads web pages four times faster. AdBlock Max also doesn’t collect users’ data and blocks ads, social buttons, and cookie banners or prompts. However, one major downside to AdBlock Max is that the tool is only supported on Safari.

6. Disconnect Premium

Disconnect Premium is an ad blocker that was developed by Casey Oppenheim and Brian Kennish to block ads, tracking and other threats to users’ privacy.

Disconnect Premium’s pros include a strict anti-log policy, loading web pages 2.4 times faster, and encryption of users’ network traffic to block tracking. However, Disconnect Premium doesn’t block all ads.

Disconnect Premium costs about $7.60 monthly and $43.40 annually. Disconnect Premium is compatible with Windows, Firefox, and Apple devices.

Disconnect Premium performs excellently, using firewalls, DNS, and Tracker Protection Technology to block tracking and ads. Disconnect Premium is reliable and trusted by 750 million users.

Wipr was developed by Giorgio Calderolla for the primary purpose of blocking ads and trackers.

Some of the merits of using Wipr are that the ad blocker uses content blocking extensions technology that doesn’t slow down web pages. Plus, the tool blocks EU cookies, crypto miners and GDPR notices. Wipr is also fast and easy to set up. However, Wipr is only supported on Apple devices.

Wipr costs $1.99 on the Apple App Store and is compatible with Apple devices alone. Wipr is 100% reliable and effectively blocks tracking and ads.

UBlock was developed by Raymond Hill and is used for content filtering or ad blocking.

UBlock offers advantages such as being free and open-source, availability in 63 languages, compatibility with several different browsers, and improved memory and CPU performance. However, UBlock doesn’t work for Safari version 13 and above.

9. Unicorn Blocker

Unicorn Blocker was developed by Oh Nam Kwon primarily for blocking ads on Safari. The advantages of using Unicorn Blocker include web browsing at a speed three times faster, a 21% increase in battery life and effective blocking of tracking systems. However, Unicorn Blocker only supports three languages and doesn’t work with other browsers.

Unicorn Blocker costs about $1 on the Apple App Store and is compatible with Safari on all Apple devices. Unicorn Blocker is completely reliable and performs well in blocking ads and tracking.

How to Choose the Best Ad Blocker for Safari

To choose the best ad blocker for Safari, users should consider ad blockers that provide optimum security and privacy protection. To do this, users should go for ad blockers that block tracking either by default or customization.

Users should also ensure such ad blockers offer content filtering and block ads, pop-ups, cookie prompts, banners, malicious redirects and fake close buttons. All these features are effective in ensuring users can enjoy smooth browsing without annoying ads and browse privately without being tracked or under surveillance.

Can Ad Block Software Provide Safe Browsing in Safari?

Yes, an ad block software can provide safe browsing in Safari. Ad block software uses different advanced technologies to block tracking systems, ads and sometimes malware to ensure Safari users can browse safely.

Does the Safari Browser Have Ad Blocker Extension Support?

Yes, Safari supports ad blocker extensions. However, Safari also allows users to hide IP addresses from trackers and enable “Privacy Preserving Ad Measurement” via settings. Still, to enjoy the full benefits of an ad blocker, Safari users can install the best Safari extensions for ad blocking.

Are There Any Harms of Using Ad Blockers in Safari?

There are no harms attached to using ad blockers in Safari. Ad blocker browser extensions for Safari are totally safe to use.

Can You Block YouTube Ads in the Safari Browser?

Yes, users can block YouTube ads while using Safari on Mac, iPhone or iPad devices. However, not all ad blockers can block YouTube ads, so users should make sure to install an ad blocker that specifically states the capability to block ads on YouTube. Most ad blockers block YouTube ads by default.

Can You Use a VPN to Block Ads on Safari?

No, VPNs themselves are not ad blockers. However, there are some VPNs for ad blocking . VPNs can only be used to block ads on Safari if such VPNs support ad blocking.

What Other Browsers Have Support for Ad Blockers?

While some ad blockers are strictly developed for Safari, generally, ad blockers do not work for Safari alone.

The best browsers that are compatible with ad blockers are listed below.

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Recommend a Safari Ad-Block for iPhone on iOS 15?

• Thread starter HappyDude20
• Start date Sep 25, 2021
• Sort by reaction score
• iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch
• iOS and iPadOS

HappyDude20

Macrumors 68040.

• Sep 25, 2021

I love iOS 15 but for some reason have been receiving so many extra tabs with pop up ads and it’s annoying. Many of these pop up ads are opening up ical directly to add some fraudulent link I hear extensions are supported for safari and am wondering if there exists some great solution so I’m not longer taken out of safari when using it.  

macrumors regular

• Sep 26, 2021

AdGuard  

macrumors member

Wipr  

macrumors 6502a

I use 1Blocker  

macrumors 6502

This may not help but I use AdBlock pro, don't see ads but sometimes it blocks too much.  

macrumors 65816

• Sep 30, 2021

Wipr is great. Bought it on iOS and MacOS.  

I use Firefox focus  

macrumors 601

Been using AdGuard Pro for years. Works well  

Peter118 said: Wipr Click to expand...

I have been using adguard pro along with FF focus for awhile now. I don't think I ever get Safari ads. Unfortunately, ads within applications still come through though.  

macrumors 68020

I use 1Blocker on my ios devices and Wipr on my Mac. I highly recommend both. Wipr, available for ios and macOS, is somewhat simpler to use - just turn it on, nothing else to do, no other settings. 1Blocker has a lot of customizations available as well as the ability to white list specific sites. Wipr has no white list option, the developer does not feel that is something that should be used so you have to use Safari’s control for turning off content blockers. With 1Blocker I’ve found that when having an issue on a specific site I have to use its “disable blocking“ control and not Safari’s. On certain sites using the Safari web site setting function does not completely disable all the blocking and I’ve still had issues until I pulled up 1Blocker’s controls.  

• Nov 12, 2021

I installed 1Blocker yesterday. And so far I’m impressed. It’s been the best ad blocking app I’ve used on iOS. I wish Ublock Origin was available for Safari on iOS. 1Blocker has blocked every ad in Safari, I usually see a lot of ad’s on MR, but I haven’t seen a single one since installing 1Blocker. Thanks to everyone in this thread who mention 1Blocker.  

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The Best Ad-blockers for Mac

Finding the right ad-blocker for your Mac will make your online life more enjoyable, more private, and much safer. Ads aren’t just annoying – they’re also a security risk and slow down every browser, app, and device that runs them. 

But with so many to choose from, how do you pick the best ad-blocker for you? They all make the same promises, and their names all sound the same. And until you use one, it's difficult to know if it actually works. 

To save you a lot of time and frustration, we’ve tested the best and worst ad-blockers available for Mac computers. We’ve whittled the list down to five providers that do more than just hide ads. Each one offers a suite of privacy tools that will transform your online experience. 

Read on to find out why we picked them and which one is best for you. 

What’s the best ad-blocker for Mac: Our top 5 picks

• Total Adblock - The #1 ad-blocker for Mac. Stops every kind of ad, tracker, and much more. The premium plan includes a complete antivirus package.
• AdLock - The best budget ad-blocker. Offers excellent customization, completely blocks every kind of ad, and even keeps you safe from malware and other threats.
• AdGuard - Easy-to-use, open-source browser extension that monitors and blocks ads, tracking, phishing, malware, and other threats.
• 1Blocker - Beginner-friendly and easy to configure for your needs. Effective against ads, trackers, and other online annoyances.
• Wipr - Goes beyond just ads and trackers, blocking everything from crypto miners to frustrating GDPR pop-ups.

Why are these the best ad-blockers for Mac in 2024? 

Every ad-blocker we recommend for your Mac has passed rigorous tests and met strict criteria. Here’s a sample of what we looked for in each:   

• Compatible with every popular Mac internet browser (Including Safari, Chrome, and Firefox)
• Blocks every kind of ad – banners, pop-ups, pre-roll video ads, and more
• Blocks intrusive tracking scripts and programs
• Low-cost premium subscriptions
• Plenty of customization
• Doesn’t use up too much CPU

Best ad-blockers for Mac: In-depth analysis

Let’s look at each ad-blocker and see why it made this list – beating countless competitors in the process.

1. Total Adblock Editor's Choice | April 2024

Total Adblock is the best ad-blocker for Mac. The free version works against every kind of ad, pop-up, and intrusive tracker – while the premium version provides a complete antivirus and cybersecurity package.

• Premium: Block Unlimited Ads + FREE Total AV: $2.42/mth 70% OFF
• Free: $0/mth
• Blocks every type of ad and tracker
• Stops ads on free streaming sites
• Works with every popular Mac browser
• Easy to use
• Premium plan includes TotalAV antivirus
• Premium plan only available on annual subscription
• Free plan has lots of pop-ups promoting the premium version

We tested Total Adblock’s free and premium plans, and were impressed by both. After installing it on our text Mac, every ad immediately disappeared from Safari. With no ads running, page load times were much faster, and websites were easier (and more pleasant) to navigate. 

Total Adblock also enables you to block websites known for hosting malware , remove cookies and GDPR notices, and customize your ad filters for specific types of ads and individual websites. You can even turn on a filter that stops social media sharing buttons from appearing on websites. Turning on all these features makes your browser even faster, boosts your privacy, and adds a layer of protection. 

The premium plan also includes a free TotalAV antivirus package that protects against malware, phishing, viruses, and other state-of-the-art cybersecurity tools. This makes Total Adblock the most comprehensive ad-blocker on this list. 

BEST AD-BLOCKER FOR MAC: Total Adblock stops every kind of ad and tracking software on your Mac. Upgrade to the premium plan, and you get a free antivirus package. Includes a seven-day trial and 30-day money-back guarantee.

Adlock is a freemium Safari browser extension with the best value paid plans. The basic version will block every kind of ad. The premium plan goes further, blocking tracking, encrypting your data, and much more.

• 60 months: $1.05/mth 70% OFF
• 12 months: $2.28/mth 35% OFF
• 1 month: $3.5/mth
• Works with popular Mac browsers and apps
• Budget-friendly
• Install it on five devices simultaneously
• Lots of customization
• Includes spam and scam filters
• Installation is a bit tricky
• Free browser extension isn’t as effective as apps
• Less features than some competitors

Adlock works well on every kind of website, but we were really impressed by how it performed on social media and streaming sites. Aside from banner ads, it blocks pre-, mid-, and post-roll ads from video streams and newsfeeds. As a result, everything loaded faster, with less buffering in videos and faster refreshing on social media feeds. 

You get a massive amount of configuration and advanced filtering options when using Adlock. It has different ad filtering tiers, depending on how thorough you want them to be (blocking every ad or allowing some). You can also create custom rules for different types of ads and websites. And you can easily switch between preferences within the browser extension. 

Adlock’s premium plan is the best value on this list, packing massive protection and configuration into a low-cost subscription. 

BEST BUDGET OPTION: AdLock’s incredibly low price doesn’t mean you’re sacrificing quality. It blocks every ad, tracker, and piece of spam we tested. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.

AdGuard is an open-source ad-blocker that offers unbeatable customization, beyond just blocking ads and trackers.

• Free extensions: $0/mth
• 1 yr personal license/3 devices: $29.88/mth
• lifetime personal license/3 devices: $59.99/mth
• 1 yr family license/9 devices: $65.88/mth
• lifetime family license/9 devices: $129.99/mth
• The most customizable blocker on this list
• Blocks every kind of ad on browsers and apps
• Lots of manual settings
• Available as a browser extension and standalone apps
• Works against ads on free streaming sites
• Apps are a bit buggy
• Apps only available on paid subscription

AdGuard’s free browser extension effectively blocks every kind of ad and tracking script, making websites faster, more secure, and more enjoyable to use. Its default settings will be sufficient for most people, while advanced users will enjoy the options for customizing filters and manually adding scripts via Adlock’s open-source GitHub repository. 

The premium version includes a wide range of additional tools. You can block ads and tracking on standalone apps (like torrenting platforms ), hide your IP address, encrypt your data, block crypto miners and phishing sites, and much more. 

While we found AdGuard’s apps a little buggy, every setting and feature we tested worked well. We’ll accept a few glitches for the protection it offers. 

SUPER CUSTOMIZABLE: AdGuard is packed with excellent customizable tools to keep you safe, private, and ad-free online. Includes a seven-day free trial and 60-day money-back guarantee.

4. 1Blocker

1Blocker is an ad-blocking extension built exclusively for Safari. It’s custom-built to block every ad on the browser – and much more.

• Free version: $0/mth
• Premium: $2.99/mth
• /year: $14.99/mth
• Blocks 13,000+ types of tracking codes
• Built for Safari
• Block adults sites from a Mac or iOS device
• Easy customization
• Doesn’t block every type of ad
• Best features require a paid subscription
• Doesn’t work with Chrome or Firefox

1Blocker goes much further than blocking ads and tracking programs. You can use 1Blocker to block or disable spam, adult sites, cookies, comment sections on websites, and much more. You can even use it to hide your IP address. It’s an all-round online privacy tool marketed as a simple ad-blocker. 

You can also customize 1Blocker in various ways, so you get the best experience out of the extension for you. This includes individual settings for specific websites or types of ads, allowing some tracking, and even blocking certain types of CSS code from running. 

As a Safari-only extension, 1Blocker does have some limitations. It won’t block ads on any other browser on your Mac, and it doesn’t hide ads or tracking on standalone apps. However, the premium plan is cheap for everything it includes, so if you only use Safari, it's excellent value. 

BUILT FOR SAFARI: 1Blocker is a Safari extension packed with more than just ad-blocking tools. It's easy to use, super customizable, and incredibly effective. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Wipr is another excellent Mac-only ad-blocker. This time, it's a standalone app that also blocks ads on apps and non-Apple browsers (Chrome, Firefox, etc.).

• Dedicated app for iOS and macOS
• Ad blocklist automatically updated twice a week
• Blocks crypto miners and GDPR pop-ups
• Super cheap premium plan
• Not as customizable as other blockers

Wipr is the easiest ad-blocker on this list to set up. It’s built to work “straight out of the box” – so there’s almost no configuration needed when you first download and open the app. It runs reliably in the background, blocking ads (and much more) with minimal impact on your browsers, apps, or computer. 

Aside from ads, Wipr also works against every form of tracking and analytics script we tested, protects your device from crypto mining hijackers, and blocks annoying GDPR pop-ups. You can also block social media widgets and other small annoyances that build up on websites without you noticing. 

Wipr updates its “blocklist” of ads automatically twice a week to ensure nothing new slips through. It also creates cool reports with stats on how many ads and trackers it's blocking at any time. 

EASY SETUP: Wipr works the second you install it, with almost no configuration needed, and automatically updates to ensure no ads ever break through.

How to install an ad-blocker on Mac

Standalone ad-blocker apps.

You can download plenty of excellent Mac ad-blockers as standalone apps. Just follow these simple steps: 

• Download the ad-blocker app from the App Store. We recommend Total Adblock.
• Open the app and configure it for your device. 
• Restart your browser and any apps that are running. 
• Done! Say goodbye to annoying ads.

Ad-blocker browser extensions

Every popular Mac browser allows you to install extensions – including Safari, Chrome, and Firefox. To use an ad-blocker as a browser extension:

• Visit your browser’s extension marketplace and find the ad-blocker (or use a search engine). 
• Install the ad-blocker extension on your browser. We recommend Total Adblock or AdLock.
• Close and restart your browser to ensure the ad-blocker runs correctly.
• Hey, presto – no more ads!

Adblocker VPNs

The best Mac VPNs include built-in ad-blockers as part of their security package. Follow these steps to install one on your Mac:

• Sign up to a VPN with an adblocker included. We recommend NordVPN.
• Install the VPN on your Mac.
• Open the app and turn the ad-blocker on. 
• Connect the VPN’s secure servers for an added layer of security.
• Restart your browser and any apps you had running. 

A VPN-ad-blocker combination won’t just spare you from annoying and malicious ads. You’ll also benefit from state-of-the-art encryption, airtight security protocols, a new IP address that hides your actual location, and much more. 

Ad-blocker antiviruses

Many top Mac antivirus tools include ad-blockers in their cybersecurity package. So, aside from enjoying an ad-free internet, you’ll also be kept safe from malware, phishing, identity theft, and many other serious online threats. 

To get an antivirus-ad-blocker combination, do the following: 

• Sign up to a Mac antivirus that includes an ad-blocker. We recommend Intego. 
• Install the antivirus on your Mac computer.
• Turn on the ad-blocker and other settings. 
• Restart your device, browser, and any apps running with ads. 
• That’s it!

Ad-blockers for Mac FAQs

Does apple allow ad-blockers on its devices.

Yes, Apple has allowed ad-blockers on its devices and the App Store since 2015. You can access ad-blockers for your Apple devices as browser extensions for Safari, Chrome, Firefox, etc., and download them from the App Store.

If you’re using an iOS device, we suggest downloading a standalone ad-blocker app from the App Store, like Total Adblock. This means ads will be blocked on your browser and any apps that usually host them (like YouTube and TikTok). 

If you’re using a MacBook, you can install an ad-blocker as a browser extension. Once again, we recommend Total Adblock or Adlock. 

Does AdGuard sell your data?

No, AdGuard does not sell your data. 

According to its privacy policy, Adguard does not sell or share user data with third-party advertisers, data brokers, or any other third-party companies. It also does not collect any personal data that could be used to identify individual users, such as your name, phone number, or address.

AdGuard does collect some "non-personal data” to improve its ad blocking software and to provide support. This data includes information about your device and browser and some usage data (number of ads blocked, filters used, etc.). However, this data is collected anonymously and not tied to personally identifiable information.

Why does Safari not block ads?

Like most web browsers, Safari allows ads because they are a significant source of revenue for many websites and content creators that display or host them. Without ads, many websites wouldn’t generate enough revenue to operate.

Safari has limited built-in ad blocking tools you can configure to reduce the number of ads you see. Unfortunately, these are focused mostly on spam and malicious ads, and many websites and ad platforms have built tools to bypass them. 

If you want a completely ad-free experience, you need to install an ad-blocker for Safari that stops 100% of ads running on the browser. We recommend Total Adblock – it blocks every kind of ad, tracking programs that collect your data, malware, and much more. 

How to choose the right ad-blocker for your Mac 

You’re probably reading this guide because you’re tired of banner and video ads clogging up every website you visit. But the best ad-blockers for Mac do much more than just remove these annoyances. 

  Here’s what to look for when choosing one: 

• Works with Mac browsers: We’ve only selected ad-blockers that work with Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and other lesser-known Mac browsers. 
• Blocks every type of ad: The top ad-blockers work against banner ads, pop-ups, pre-roll video ads, and much more.
• Stops tracking and analytics: The ad-blockers on this list stop websites and social media apps from harvesting and selling your browser data to advertisers. 
• Good value: We’ve only picked ad-blockers with free plans or trials, simple subscriptions, and generous money-back guarantees. 
• Customization: You’ll have complete control over what kind of ads you see, on which websites, and much more. 
• Extra security tools: As well as blocking ads and trackers, these apps and browser extensions protect you from spam, malware, phishing, and other threats. 
• Lightweight: Every ad-blocker we’ve listed works without impacting your Mac’s battery, CPU, browser speed, and page load times. In fact, they might speed everything up!

Picking the right ad-blocker for your Mac is essential for sparing yourself from annoying (and potentially dangerous) ads – while also making the internet a nicer experience. 

We’ve chosen the five best, based on strict criteria: they’re easy to use, highly customizable, cheap (or even free!), and – of course – block every annoying ad and pop-up. They’ll also boost your privacy by blocking intrusive tracking and keep you safer online by monitoring and blocking malware and other viruses.   

Thanks to generous free plans, trials, and money-back guarantees, you can try them out risk-free, and decide which is right for you. 

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