While both 1Blocker and AdGuard are excellent ad blockers, there’s no mistaking that they’re for entirely different user bases.
1Blocker is made specifically for the Apple ecosystem. Which may suggest that it is somewhat restrictive, but it’s also one of the most polished content blockers for iPhone and Mac users.
But AdGuard might be a more common suggestion if you’re not restricted to a single platform. It supports almost every device that may need an ad blocker. It has a lot of features and can run without any limitations.
If you’re trying to decide between the two, this article should be able to help out.
| 1Blocker | AdGuard | |
| ⭐ Rating | 8 out of 5 | 9.6 out of 10 |
| 💵 Price | $2.99/month or $38.99/lifetime | $29.88/year, or $79.99/lifetime |
| 🏷️ Free version | No | Yes |
| ▶️ Blocks YouTube Ads? | Yes | Yes |
| ⛔ Blocks Trackers? | Yes | Yes |
| 💻 Compatibility | Safari, macOS, iOS, iPadOS | Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS |
| Read 1Blocker Full Review | Read AdGuard Full Review |
Pros and Cons
Pros & Cons of 1Blocker
Pros
- Designed specifically for Apple devices
- Offers extensive customisability with filters and rules.
- Blocks YouTube ads
- Minimal impact on system performance
- Affordable pricing, with a one-time payment option.
- Family Sharing support with no extra cost.
Cons
- Some website functionalities may break when strict blocking is enabled.
- There is no trial period for the premium version.
Pros and Cons of AdGuard
Pros
- Excellent ad blocker with perfect test scores
- It’s free and open-source
- Blocks all scripts, analytics, and trackers
- Allows whitelisting and inverts whitelisting
- Compatible with a ton of devices
- The free plan is enough for a lot of users
Cons
- Limited support
Key Features
Ad Blocking Capabilities
Both AdGuard and 1Blocker are great at removing ads, but they do it differently.
AdGuard
AdGuard is a system-wide ad blocker that works across platforms. So, whether you’re on Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS, it blocks banner ads, pop-ups, video ads (including on YouTube), social widgets, sponsored posts, and search ads. It combines DNS-level filtering and HTTPS filtering backed by manually maintained filter lists and blocklists. You can even block in-app ads, especially on Android, which most browser-based blockers can’t touch. On benchmarks, AdGuard scores 100/100 on AdBlock Tester and a 99% on d3ward, putting itself at the top of the ad-blocking game.
1Blocker
1Blocker is for Apple users only. It integrates directly with Safari using Apple’s native content blocking API. That’s why it’s fast and reliable on macOS and iOS and blocks most ad types: banners, pop-ups, floating ads, video ads, and even cookie notices. It also blocks YouTube ads in Safari, which is great for iOS users. But it doesn’t go beyond Safari, so ads will still get through if you’re using the YouTube app or Chrome on iPhone. Similar to AdGuard, it gets an AdBlock Tester score of 100. But it falls behind on the d3ward score by obtaining only a 74%.
Privacy and Security
Privacy features are an integral part of an ad blocker, as contextual ads are a major privacy hazard. And you also have to make sure that the tools are safe and secure enough for you to use. Both AdGuard and 1Blocker has certain measures in place to ensure that.
AdGuard
AdGuard actively blocks trackers, analytics scripts, spyware domains, and cloaked URLs. Its Stealth Mode gives you fine-grained control over your privacy: you can hide search queries, strip tracking parameters from URLs, block WebRTC leaks, mask your user agent, and even spoof referrers. If you use AdGuard DNS or its full desktop/mobile apps, you can also enable encrypted DNS protocols (like DoH, DoT, and DoQ), which prevent your DNS queries from being visible to ISPs and public networks. Most importantly, AdGuard is transparent about logging. You can turn off logs, anonymise them, or not send anything at all. It’s privacy with user control, not just marketing.
1Blocker
1Blocker is designed to respect privacy by default. Since it uses Apple’s content blocking API, it doesn’t actually “see” what you browse. It just pushes filter rules to Safari, and the browser does the blocking. So it doesn’t process or log your browsing activity at all. The app runs completely on-device, and nothing is sent to their servers. They don’t require an account to use the app. There’s no DNS filtering, no root certificates, and no active inspection. These limitations are great for security and peace of mind, but still, they’re limitations.
Performance and Resource Usage
1Blocker
1Blocker has one big advantage when it comes to resource usage: it’s built around Apple’s native content-blocking system. That means all the filtering happens at the Safari level, not in the background. So it’s super fast and lightweight. Pages load quickly, battery life isn’t affected, and there’s almost no memory or CPU hit. If you’re on an iPhone or Mac, it’s probably the most optimised ad blocker as it was made to work within Apple’s rules. However, you may also want to read our Wipr 2 review as it uses a similar process to block ads, also making it very lightweight.
AdGuard
AdGuard, especially the full desktop or Android app, is more powerful, but that means it does more in the background. It uses DNS filtering, HTTPS inspection, and system-wide filtering that can hit CPU or RAM a bit more than 1Blocker. But AdGuard is well optimised and the resource usage is rarely noticeable unless you’re on an older device. The browser extension version of AdGuard is lighter and compares more to 1Blocker in terms of speed.
Bypass and Anti-Adblock Handling
1Blocker
1Blocker isn’t really designed to fight back against anti-adblock scripts. It blocks ads at the browser level using static rules, but doesn’t use dynamic filtering, custom scripts, or on-the-fly handling. So when you hit a site that blocks you for using an ad blocker, you’re mostly out of luck unless the filter list has an existing workaround.
AdGuard
AdGuard, however, has a special userscript called AdGuard Extra, which is designed to neutralise anti-adblock messages. It automatically detects and disables pop-ups and overlay blocks that try to force you to disable your blocker. It just works silently in the background if you’re using the AdGuard app. But if you’re using the browser extension, you may need to install the AdGuard Extra extension separately.
Usability and Customisability
Installation and Setup
Both AdGuard and 1Blocker are relatively easy to install. However, they’re for different kinds of users, and the setup reflects that.
1Blocker
1Blocker is super easy to get started with on both iOS and macOS. You just download it from the App Store, enable it in Safari’s extensions settings, and you’re done. The app walks you through the process with a clean native UI that feels like part of the OS. There are no profiles, certificates, or technical stuff. Just drag-and-drop is simple.
AdGuard
AdGuard gives you more options and a bit more setup. The browser extension is easy: install it from the Chrome or Safari extension store, and you’re ready. But it’s more involved if you choose the full desktop or mobile app (for system-wide protection). On macOS, you’ll need to install a certificate if you want to enable HTTPS filtering. On iOS, you’ll manage Safari content blockers and optionally set up custom DNS profiles. It’s still easy, but it’s clear AdGuard assumes you might want more control from the start.
Ease of Use
Once installed, both AdGuard and 1Blocker are designed to “just work.” But their user interfaces are quite different in feel and depth.
1Blocker
1Blocker is clean, minimal, and super simple. The app is divided into sections like Ads, Trackers, Annoyances, and Social Widgets. Each section has toggles and summaries to enable or disable what you want blocked quickly. A Safari extension interface also allows you to whitelist sites with one tap. You don’t need to understand filter syntax or dive into settings. It’s all been stripped down to what matters for Apple users. It’s one of the most polished experiences in an ad blocker.
AdGuard
AdGuard is more powerful, and its interface reflects that. The browser extension is simple with a quick access popup, stats, and site-specific toggles. But once you open the full app (especially on desktop), you’ll find more depth: filtering modules, Stealth Mode, filtering logs, custom rules, HTTPS settings, DNS filters, and more. It’s all neatly organised and most settings have built-in explanations. But it’s more technical than 1Blocker.
Customisability
1Blocker is actually a customisable ad blocker according to Apple’s standards. However, AdGuard does have it beat by a long margin.
1Blocker
1Blocker gives you control over what content categories to block ads, trackers, cookie notices, comments, widgets and so on. You can toggle filters, enable region-specific rules, and even write your own custom rules using their visual rule creator. But it’s all within Safari. You can’t filter other browsers or apps, and there’s no system-wide blocking. No DNS level customisation or script injection support. You get fine control over what’s allowed or blocked in Safari, but the sandbox ends there.
AdGuard
AdGuard gives you the full toolkit. You can import custom filter lists, create advanced rules with AdGuard’s syntax, use a built-in element picker, and enable DNS filtering with your own block/allow lists. On desktop, you can also use custom user scripts, control what data is stripped from requests, and tweak filtering per app or per domain. If you want to block a single domain system-wide or even redirect it, you can.
Pricing and Plans
1Blocker
Both 1Blocker and AdGuard offer free versions. However, 1Blocker’s free tier is very limiting as it only allows a single blocklist. You get a taste of what it can do. Block some ads, trackers, and annoyances. But most of the advanced features are behind a paywall. To unlock full functionality (custom rules, regional filters, and iCloud sync), you’ll need to upgrade to 1Blocker Premium.
Premium is $2.99/month, or $14.99/year, or $38.99 lifetime. The lifetime purchase a one-time purchase that covers all Apple devices linked to your account so it’s a good value for long term iOS/macOS users.
AdGuard
AdGuard also has a free tier, as the browser extension is 100% free and works well for basic ad blocking. But if you want the full desktop or mobile app, with DNS-level filtering, in-app ad blocking, Stealth Mode and privacy tools, you’ll need a paid license.
AdGuard Premium is $29.88/year, or $79.99 lifetime for 3 devices. And $65.88/year or $169.99 lifetime for a Family plan (up to 9 devices). If you want additional discounts use CHECKADBLOCK30 for 30% off.
Which One Is a Better Value for Money?
If you’re an Apple user and want something sleek and well-integrated, 1Blocker’s lifetime plan is great value. But if you want cross-platform coverage and system-wide protection, AdGuard’s pricing feels justified, especially with the amount of features it packs in. AdGuard is a better long-term investment for its power and flexibility.
Our recommendation would be to use the ad blockers for some time before you commit to a lifetime license. And if you want to try out more free ad blockers read best free ad blockers of 2025.
Customer Support
Customer support isn’t usually on your mind when choosing an ad blocker, until something breaks or you need help with billing or cancelling. And when it does, the difference between good and bad support becomes very clear.
1Blocker
1Blocker takes a minimalist, app-store-friendly approach to support. If you run into issues, there’s an in-app feedback option to contact the developers directly. You can also email them. They’re generally responsive, especially for a small indie team. They don’t have live chat or a big public-facing help centre, but the team is active on social media and responds to App Store reviews and emails. There’s also a short FAQ on their site. It’s not enterprise-level support, but it’s good enough for most Apple users.
AdGuard
AdGuard has more complete support, especially for paid users. You get:
- A knowledge base with setup guides, troubleshooting, and advanced tips
- A ticket-based support system with real humans
- Active presence on GitHub and Reddit, where you can report bugs or request features
- Priority support for premium customers
Even as a free user, you’ll probably get better response time and more technical help from AdGuard than most ad blockers offer.
Final Verdict
If you’re using an iPhone or Mac and just want something lightweight that works in Safari, 1Blocker is a good choice. It’s nice, easy to use, and plays well in the Apple ecosystem. It gets the job done with minimal hassle for casual users who don’t want to tweak much and don’t mind staying in Safari.
But when you consider the bigger picture, such as ad-blocking strength, privacy features, system-wide control, cross-platform compatibility, and long-term value, AdGuard is the clear winner.
It works everywhere: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and every major browser. It blocks more than just ads in Safari. And whether you want to block in-app ads on Android, bypass anti-adblock popups, or run encrypted DNS, AdGuard can do it. And it does it with great performance and top scores.