You’re trying to read a news article, but before you can even start, there’s a giant banner ad. By the time you finish the first paragraph and scroll down, you notice the video ad that was on the top right, is now floating at the bottom of your screen. Then another banner ad, mid-article. This sound familiar? These distractions are exactly why millions of people have turned to ad blockers. And AdBlock has been a popular choice for over a decade. But is it still a reliable option in 2024?
Originally created in 2009 as a simple Chrome extension, AdBlock has grown into a tool used by tens of millions of people worldwide. It promises a distraction-free browsing experience, blocking everything from pop-ups to those annoying video ads. But with so many free, open-source, premium, and freemium ad blockers available now, it is worth asking if AdBlock is still up to the task.
In this review, we’ll have a look into AdBlock’s features, performance, and whether it’s worth upgrading to their premium plan. So, is AdBlock still the right choice for 2024, or should you be considering other options. Let’s find out.
⭐ Rating | 8.2 out of 5 |
💵 Price | $2/month |
🏷️ Free version | Yes |
▶️ Blocks YouTube Ads? | Yes |
⛔ Blocks Trackers? | Yes |
💻 Compatibility | Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, and iOS |
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Includes cryptomining protection filters
- Affordable Premium Pricing
- Good Customer Support
- Protects against malware
Cons
- Acceptable Ads Enabled by Default
- Cluttered Settings
- Inconsistent performance in third-party tests
AdBlock Features Overview
An ad blocker needs to offer more than just blocking ads. Because while ads are one of the most visible annoyances, there’s a lot that may be going on behind the scenes that may leave you and your data vulnerable. For example, trackers are a prime example, while they are not visible annoyances, they are responsible for those targeted ads of leather bags you often see on your social media feed, right after you search for them on a shopping site. AdBlock blocks trackers, helping you limit these intrusions of privacy. The tracker–blocking capabilities of AdBlock include third-party trackers along with ads, so you should be protected from both invasive advertisements and the tracking that often comes with them.
AdBlock also offers preventive measures against malware. While it is recommended that you pair it with antivirus software, AdBlock can be your first defence against malware. The extension has several filters that block various ads, and that includes malicious ads as well. So by using AdBlock you can dodge viruses without even knowing. However, it is important to note that an ad blocker cannot provide full protection against viruses, so always use a good antivirus.
Pop-ups are generally considered one of the most aggressive forms of online advertising as it interrupts your browsing, and forces you to close it. Repeated interactions with pop-ups can be very annoying. And the fact that there are different kinds of pop-ups doesn’t help much either. AdBlock deals with these pop-ups, pop-unders, floating videos and more so that you can have a more relaxed browsing experience and actually save time.
And last but not least, AdBlock has a cryptomining protection filter. What does it do exactly? So you may have heard of cryptomining. It’s the process of earning cryptocurrency using your computer’s resources to solve complex mathematical equations. Now, it’s perfectly fine if you are doing it yourself. But there are websites that inject cryptojackers into your computer. That way, you can use your resources to earn money. As a result, your computer may slow down. And AdBlock’s filter can prevent that from happening.
Ad Blocker Features
Features | Status |
---|---|
Blocks Banner Ads? | Yes |
Blocks Video Ads? | Yes |
Blocks Pop-ups? | Yes |
Blocks Social Media Widgets? | Yes |
Blocks Sponsored Posts? | Yes |
Blocks Floating/Overlay Ads? | Yes |
Blocks Trackers? | Yes |
Blocks Malicious Sites? | Yes |
Blocks Notification Requests? | Yes |
Hides Cookie Prompts? | Yes |
Score (Out of 10): | 10 |
Performance Test
To understand how well AdBlock performs in real-world scenarios, we must run it through a series of tests on popular websites. Our focus is on ad-blocking efficiency, handling of trackers, pop-ups, and the ability to block other annoyances.
How Do We Test Ad Blockers?
To evaluate an ad blocker, we use a five-stage testing process. We first check its compatibility and ease of installation across various platforms. Then, we dive into ease of use and customisation options, ensuring both simplicity and control. Next, we assess pricing and customer support to see if the ad blocker delivers value for money. Finally, we put it through real-world testing on popular websites like YouTube and Reddit, followed by benchmark tests to validate its performance against industry standards.
Want to learn more about our comprehensive testing process? Check out the full article How We Test Ad Blockers.
Testing Websites
AdBlock was tested across a range of popular websites to evaluate its real-world performance. We wanted to see how it handled different types of ads, pop-ups, and other annoyances like trackers and notification requests. Here’s how it fared on each site:
YouTube
YouTube has been a bit too aggressive with their ad placements lately. In addition to the banner ads on the homepage, bumper ads at the bottom of the video screen, skippable and non-skippable ads during videos, they are also testing ads from the paused screen. We browsed several popular channels and scrolled through about 25 YouTube Shorts, and are happy to report that AdBlock passed with flying colours. All video ads, whether pre-roll or mid-roll, were completely blocked. Banner ads on the homepage and in-feed video ads also disappeared without a trace. It basically felt like using YouTube Premium, but for free.
- Skippable ads: Blocked
- Non-skippable ads: Blocked
- In-feed video ads: Blocked
- Bumper ads: Blocked
- Masthead ads: Blocked
- YouTube Shorts ads: Blocked
Ad Blocker Performance
Ad Type | Status |
---|---|
Video Ads | Blocked |
Banner Ads | Blocked |
Shorts Ads | Blocked |
Score (Out of 10): | 10 |
Yahoo
Yahoo is another ad-heavy site, especially on their news and mail platforms. AdBlock managed to block all display ads, including the large, persistent banners on the homepage. Even the often hard-to-block floating video ads on Yahoo News were successfully removed. However, similar to other blockers, AdBlock couldn’t block ads in Yahoo Mail.
- Banner Ads: Blocked
- Floating Videos: Blocked
- Mail Ads: Allowed
Forbes
Forbes has a cluttered interface filled with ads, pop-ups, and floating videos. AdBlock did a great job here as well, wiping out all banners, side ads, and even the floating video ads that follow you as you scroll. It blocked everything except the paywall, which still appeared after reading a few free articles. But on the bright side, newsletter prompts and annoying notification requests were effectively handled.
- Homepage: Blocked 16 ads and trackers
- Banner Ads: Blocked
- Floating Video Ads: Blocked
- Newsletter Pop-ups: Blocked
- Paywall: Could not bypass
The New York Times
On The New York Times, we typically see large banners, embedded ads in articles, and animated ads. With AdBlock enabled, all of these were blocked without fail. Much like Forbes, the paywall still appeared after a few articles, but the overall ad-free browsing experience made up for it. Cookie prompts and newsletter pop-ups were also cleared from view.
- Homepage: Blocked 17 ads and trackers
- Banner Ads: Blocked
- Paywall: Could not bypass
Reddit’s “Promoted” posts, which are often disguised as regular posts, can be tricky for some blockers, but not for AdBlock. We scrolled through the homepage and various subreddits, and all promoted posts were successfully blocked.
- Homepage: Blocked 5 ad or tracker
- Promoted Posts: Blocked
Twitch
We mainly test Twitch for its self-promotion banners. AdBlock was able to block all of those banners. However, it didn’t block sponsored content embedded by streamers themselves (which isn’t considered an “ad” in the traditional sense), all the standard advertisements were successfully removed.
- Homepage: Blocked 7 ad or tracker
- Self-promotion Banners: Blocked
X (formerly Twitter)
On X, AdBlock did a great job of cleaning up the feed. All promoted tweets and in-feed sponsored posts were blocked, giving us a streamlined experience. No interruptions from ads, pop-ups, or cookie consent requests were encountered during our testing.
- Promoted Posts: Blocked
Crocs
Even on a less ad-heavy site like Crocs, AdBlock performed perfectly. We tested to see if AdBlock could get rid of the pop-up that shows up after a few seconds, and it did.
- Homepage: Blocked 42 ads and trackers
- Pop-ups: Blocked
Website Blocking Performance
Category | Subcategory | Status |
---|---|---|
Websites | Yahoo | Partial |
Websites | Forbes | Blocked |
Websites | New York Times | Blocked |
Websites | Blocked | |
Websites | Twitch | Allowed |
Websites | X | Blocked |
Websites | Crocs | Blocked |
Score (Out of 10): | 9.3 |
Third-Party Ad Block Testing
- AdBlock Tester: AdBlock scored a perfect 100/100, passing all 22 checks, effectively blocking various ad types like contextual advertising, analytics tools, and banner ads.
- d3ward Ad Block Test: AdBlock achieved 68%, missing 43 out of 135 elements, showing that while it blocks standard ads, it struggles with more advanced elements.
- Can You Block It: AdBlock failed the advanced test, as it was easily detected by anti-ad-blocking mechanisms on certain websites.
- Cover Your Tracks: AdBlock failed to protect against tracking ads and invisible trackers, and a nearly unique browser fingerprint was detected, compromising privacy.
Ad Blocker Test Results
Test Name | Test Score |
---|---|
Adblock Tester | 100 |
d3ward Ad Block Test | 68 |
Cover Your Tracks | 0/3 |
Can You Block It | 2/3 |
Score (Out of 10): | 6.7 |
AdBlock Plans, Pricing, Free Tier, and Trial
With AdBlock Premium, you get access to premium filters, the ability to block newsletter pop-ups, floating videos, site notifications, and survey requests through its “Distraction Control” feature. Additionally, it hides most cookie warnings on popular sites. Now there are a few more perks that come with Premium, but they’re not necessarily essential to ad blocking. You get the ability to add custom themes for the pop-up menu and the options page, swap ads with images of your choosing, and backup the settings.
Keep in mind that AdBlock is owned by eyeo GmbH, the same company behind Adblock Plus. As a result, AdBlock Premium and Adblock Plus Premium offer nearly identical features. However, a key point of consideration is that many other ad blockers we’ve tested include these features for free. This makes the free version of AdBlock feel somewhat limited.
Where AdBlock does stand out is in its pricing. AdBlock Premium is offered at a lower cost than Adblock Plus Premium, priced at just $2 per month or $20 per year, making it one of the more affordable premium options on the market. For $4 a month or $40 per year, you can opt for a bundle that includes a VPN. However, the VPN isn’t particularly remarkable, so the cheaper tier at $2 per month offers better value for most users.
Ad Blocker Usability and Value
Category | Score |
---|---|
Value for Money | 4/5 |
Free Version Usability | 4/5 |
Score (Out of 10): | 8 |
How Usable is AdBlock?
Compatibility
AdBlock was initially developed for Google Chrome back in 2009. Over the years, it has expanded its compatibility to include all Chromium-based browsers such as Microsoft Edge, Opera, and Brave. Thanks to its compliance with Manifest V3, AdBlock is future-proof on these platforms. In addition to Chromium browsers, AdBlock also supports Firefox, Safari, and iOS. For Android users, AdBlock isn’t available as a standalone app, but it can be used through a dedicated browser or as an extension on Firefox for Android.
Platform Availability
Platform | Availability |
---|---|
Chromium Extension | Yes |
Firefox Add-On | Yes |
Safari Extension | Yes |
MV3 Compliance (Chrome) | Yes |
Windows App (System-wide) | No |
macOS App (System-wide) | No |
Android App (System-wide) | No |
iOS App (System-wide) | Yes |
Score (Out of 10): | 7 |
Installation
Installing AdBlock is as simple as visiting your browser’s extension store. Alternatively, you can just visit the AdBlock website, which automatically redirects you to the correct store depending on the browser you’re using. Once installed, AdBlock starts blocking ads right away. However, while it technically “works” out of the box, the extension isn’t perfectly usable from the get-go.
Installation
Installation | Status |
---|---|
Quick Installation | Yes |
Beginner Friendly | Yes |
Clarity of Instructions | Yes |
Score (Out of 10): | 10 |
Ease of Use
So, why isn’t AdBlock fully usable right after installation? Well, by default, AdBlock keeps the “Acceptable Ads” program enabled, a feature managed by its parent company, eyeo GmbH, which also runs Adblock Plus. This means that certain “non-intrusive” ads are allowed unless you manually turn off the feature. In fact, there are two settings related to acceptable ads: “Allow some non-intrusive advertising” and “Only allow ads without third-party tracking.” To have a truly ad-free experience, you’ll need to go into the settings and disable both options.
It’s worth noting that this setup feels a bit more aggressive than what we saw in Adblock Plus. The acceptable ads feature isn’t just in the general options; it’s also found in the filters list, which adds to the confusion. We did not appreciate them enabling acceptable ads by default on Adblock Plus review, and we feel the same way here. The default setting is frustrating, and the extra steps required to disable it seem unnecessary.
Additionally, the settings menu in AdBlock can feel a bit cluttered and repetitive. Features often appear on multiple pages, which can make navigation confusing. For example, options for enabling the premium features appear on their dedicated section, but also on the regular filter list.
However, once you get past these hurdles, AdBlock offers some ease of use, The extension’s pop-up menu allows you to quickly pause ad blocking on a particular site, toggle premium features like cookie consent blocking and distraction control, or enable/disable specific elements of a webpage. In the “more ad blocking options” section, you can go even deeper by selectively allowing ads on certain parts of a website or hiding specific elements, which is a great feature for fine-tuning your browsing experience. It’s also easy to access support directly from the extension menu, which adds convenience when troubleshooting.
Ease of Use
Ease of Use | Status |
---|---|
One Click Use | No |
User Friendly Settings | Yes |
Automatic Filter Updates | No |
Score (Out of 10): | 4 |
Customizability
While AdBlock’s usability might leave room for improvement, customizability is its strong suit. One of the standout features is its element blocker, which allows you to hide specific parts of a webpage. Any elements you block are conveniently stored in the “Customize” section of the settings, where you can manually edit or remove them as needed. This level of control is perfect for users who want to tailor their ad-blocking experience to their specific preferences.
AdBlock also makes it easy to add custom rules and filters. You can block ads by their URL, hide webpage sections using CSS, and create your own filter lists. There’s both an allow list and an inverse allow list, that are named more conveniently for ease as “show ads on a web page or domain” and “show ads everywhere except for these domains.” These customisation options offer flexibility for users who want to allow ads on certain trusted websites while keeping the rest of the web ad-free.
The number of included filter lists is somewhat limited, but they are open-source and maintained by a community of contributors, which ensures they stay up-to-date. You have control over which filters are enabled, and if you’re looking for more, you can easily add your own filter lists.
Customizability
Customizability | Status |
---|---|
Accessible Filter List | Yes |
Custom Filters | Yes |
Manual Element Blocking | Yes |
Score (Out of 10): | 10 |
Customer Support
AdBlock doesn’t offer live chat or phone assistance, which might be disappointing for users who prefer real-time help. However, AdBlock makes up for this with a detailed Help Center and Knowledge Base that covers a wide range of topics, from installation issues to troubleshooting common problems. These resources are designed to help users resolve most issues on their own, providing step-by-step guides and FAQs that are easy to follow.
For more specific inquiries or problems, AdBlock offers a ticket submission system through its website. We tested this by submitting a general support query, and while we received an automated acknowledgment initially, the team followed up within 24 hours with helpful and actionable suggestions. This response time is commendable, especially for a free tool with no dedicated live support.
Additionally, users can report bugs and send feedback directly from the app. This provides a simple way to notify the team of any issues or suggest improvements without leaving the extension.
Customer Support
Customer Support | Description / Score |
---|---|
Availability of Support | Email, Help Center |
Response Time | 3/3 |
Support Quality | 3/3 |
Score (Out of 10): | 7 |
Top Alternatives for AdBlock
While AdBlock is a solid choice for many users, it’s not the only option available. Depending on your needs, there are other ad blockers that might be a better fit. Here are some top alternatives to consider.
AdBlock | Adblock Plus | AdGuard | uBlock Origin | |
Our Rating | 8.2 | 7.8 | 9.6 | 9.4 |
Best For | Features and Customisation | YouTube ad blocking | System-wide ad blocking | Customizability |
Adblock Tester Score | 100 | 100 | 95 | 96 |
Cover Your Tracks | 0/3 | 0/3 | 2/3 | 2/3 |
Compatibility | Browsers, iOS | Browsers | Browsers, Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS | Browsers |
MV3 Compliance | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Open-Source | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Support | Email, Help Center | Email, Help Center | Email, Knowledge Base | Community |
Starts At | $2/month | $4/month | $29.88/year | Free |
Verdict
AdBlock has been one of the popular ad blocker for years. And while it’s straight forward name may have a lot to do with it, in our testing, we found out that it still holds up. It’s easy to install, checks all our boxes in the features section, flawlessly blocks YouTube ads, and offers elaborate customisation options. Moreover, the premium plan is very affordable.
However, we don’t like that the “Acceptable Ads” are turned on my default. And a visit to the settings page, got us a bit confused because of how cluttered it is. And in our tests, we also found out that it performs poorly against advanced trackers. AdBlock definitely gets the job done, but if you value privacy, it may not be the best option for you.
Now let’s round-up the scores:
Category Scores and Weighting
Category | Score | Weight |
---|---|---|
Features | 10 | 20 |
YouTube | 10 | 10 |
Websites | 9.3 | 10 |
Independent Tests | 6.7 | 15 |
Pricing | 8 | 15 |
Compatibility | 7 | 5 |
Installation | 10 | 5 |
Ease of Use | 4 | 10 |
Customizability | 10 | 5 |
Support | 7 | 5 |
Final Score: | 8.2 | 100 |
Frequently Asked Questions about AdBlock
Is AdBlock Safe?
Yes, AdBlock is safe to install and use. Their recently updated privacy policy clearly states that they only collect the bare minimum data, which is required to provide the service. Moreover, that data is anonymised every six months for extra security. While the extension may collect some additional data to provide you with your ad blocking statistics, you may choose to opt out of it. AdBlock also uses trusted payment services provider to handle donations and purchase of the premium plans.Now, it should be noted that your data is passed through various channels here, and while AdBlock tries their best to ensure its safety, and promise not to sell it, no online service can guarantee 100% safety. So always be aware of the information being shared.
What Are The Differences Between AdBlock and Adblock Plus?
While owned by the same company (eyeo GmbH), AdBlock and Adblock Plus are two different ad blocking products. Adblock Plus came first in 2006 as a Firefox extension, and AdBlock was launched in 2009 as a chrome extension. AdBlock was acquired by eyeo GmbH in 2021. While both the products have many similarities, AdBlock is cheaper, and offers better performance in real-world tests. Moreover, AdBlock also offers more customization features. Adblock Plus, however, excels in customer support, and ease of use.