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A Clear Look at the Best Ad Blockers
Ad blockers are more popular than ever and yes, their main job is to block those annoying pop-ups and banners that interrupt your browsing. But modern ad blockers go beyond removing ads. Many also protect you from trackers that follow your online activity, stop malicious scripts from loading, and even speed up page load times by cutting out all the clutter.
We’ve rounded up the best ad blockers you can get today and highlighted the key details you’ll want to know before deciding.
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Blocks intrusive ads, trackers, and pop-ups for faster, safer browsing with privacy protection.
- Blocks online ads, pop-ups, and trackers
- Reduces page load times
- Blocks malicious ads
- Blocks autoplay ads & intrusive notifications
- Whitelist sites in one click
- Basic ad-blocking on free version
NordVPN Threat Protection blocks ads, trackers, and malware, boosting privacy, speed, and security.
- Blocks trackers, ads, & fake websites
- Removes malware from downloaded files
- Prevents access to malicious sites
- Stops harmful ads
- Use on up to 10 devices
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Blocks ads, trackers, and malware on apps and browsers, boosting privacy, speed, and overall online security.
- Blocks ads and pop-ups
- Stops online trackers
- Prevents malware and phishing
- Speeds up browsing
- Built into Surfshark apps
- CleanWeb 2.0 blocks cookie pop-ups
Who Needs an Adblocker?
Sure, the obvious answer is “anyone who hates ads.” But that’s only half the features. The real benefits go way beyond blocking pop-ups.
Adblockers are also for people who don’t want advertisers following them around the web, for those who want to avoid hidden trackers, sneaky scripts, shady redirects, or even malware that can come bundled with ads. In other words, it’s not just for blocking pop-ups and flashy banners, it’s also for protecting your browsing, keeping things fast, clean, and safe.
What else can Adblockers do?
Adblockers aren’t just about silencing ads, they bring a whole set of perks to your browsing:
Protect your privacy
They block trackers that follow you around the internet.
Speed up browsing
With no ads or heavy scripts loading, pages open faster.
Save data
Fewer ads mean less bandwidth wasted, which is especially handy on mobile.
Keep things cleaner
A smoother, distraction-free experience when reading, watching, or shopping.
Add security
By cutting out malicious ads and scripts, you reduce the chances of malware sneaking in.
Battery friendly
On laptops and phones, less background loading means longer battery life.
Free vs. Paid Adblockers
Free adblockers give you the essentials: blocking pop-ups, banners, and most video ads, which instantly makes browsing faster and less distracting. Many of them are open-source or supported by large communities, so they stay updated and reliable without costing you anything. They’re a great fit if your main goal is simply to cut down on clutter and improve page load times.
Paid adblockers, meanwhile, build on those basics with extra layers of protection. They may offer advanced anti-tracking features, filter lists that catch harder-to-block ads, priority updates, or customer support if something breaks. Some also include perks like whitelisting controls, data-saving modes, or malware filtering. For heavy internet users or anyone concerned about privacy and security, those added features can make the browsing experience smoother and safer.
Extra Features
Anti-ransomware
Adds an extra layer of protection by blocking malicious ads and scripts that could deliver ransomware attacks.
Customizable blocking
Lets you choose what to block or allow, from video ads to pop-ups, so you stay in control.
Works across devices
Syncs your preferences on desktop, laptop, and mobile, giving you a consistent ad-free experience everywhere.
Custom filter lists
Go beyond the defaults by adding your own filters to block specific ads, trackers, or even whole domains.
Open-source
Built transparently with code that anyone can review, making it trustworthy and often supported by a strong community.
Wide browser support
Works with all major browsers, so you don’t have to worry about switching tools when you switch browsers.