Apple keeps its operating systems very closed compared to Android and Windows. This gives Apple more control over how its devices are used. At the same time, this limits what developers can do. Why is this relevant in this conversation? Because ad blockers don’t work on iOS the way it does on Android, Windows, or even macOS.
If you’ve ever tried installing AdGuard from the Apple App Store, you may have seen two versions of the app. AdGuard and AdGuard Pro. Yes, AdGuard Pro is paid, but not in the sense that buying it would unlock additional features. It will, but AdGuard Pro is a different app altogether.
We’re about to compare the two, but we won’t go into too many details of how AdGuard works. Our AdGuard Review should cover that.
Key Differences at a Glance
| Features | AdGuard (Free) | AdGuard Pro |
| Price | Free | One-time purchase |
| Safari Ad Blocking | Yes | Yes |
| App Ad Blocking | No | Yes, DNS-based |
| Custom DNS Support | No | Yes |
| Upload Custom Filters | No | Yes |
| System-wide Filtering | No | Limited, but yes. |
| Who is it for | Casual users | Power users |
Ad Blocking Capabilities
At first glance, you’d think both AdGuard and AdGuard Pro block ads the same way. And in a very surface-level Safari-only world, that’s kinda true. But when you look under the hood, their actual blocking powers are quite different, not in how powerful they are, but in how flexible they let you be.
AdGuard (Free)
The regular AdGuard app on iOS uses Apple’s Safari Content Blocker API, which means it can only block ads inside Safari, not Chrome, not inside apps, and definitely not inside YouTube or TikTok.
So you’re looking at:
- Static ad blocking in Safari (banner ads, popups, trackers)
- No blocking in apps or other browsers
- No DNS-based blocking or cross-app coverage
It’s good for what it does, but it’s sandboxed. You’re stuck with the built-in filter lists, and while you can toggle them on/off, you can’t upload your own rules or go deeper.
This will do if you just want to clean up your browsing and move on. But if you want to wipe ads across the board? This ain’t it.
AdGuard Pro
This is where things change. AdGuard Pro still uses Safari Content Blockers (so Safari blocking is the same), but on top of that, it adds DNS filtering. Which means it can block requests before they even reach Safari or your apps.
Here, you get:
- Safari ad blocking (just like the free version)
- DNS-level blocking for all apps (including third-party ones)
- AdGuard DNS, NextDNS, Control D, or your own DNS server
- Importing and creating custom rule sets
AdGuard Pro still can’t block encrypted in-app ads. So you’re still going to see ads on YouTube and TikTok apps. But not if you’re using YouTube on Safari.
This is way more powerful. It’s like a mini Pi-hole for your iPhone. It allows you to block ad and tracking domains globally, not just inside Safari. It’s not perfect (thanks to Apple) but it gets you closer to system-wide blocking than the free app ever could.
Privacy & Security
When it comes to privacy, the free AdGuard app doesn’t go the extra mile. Sure, it blocks obvious trackers in Safari, but that’s about it. No control over DNS queries. No visibility into what apps are leaking data. No stealth tools.
AdGuard Pro, on the other hand, actually gives you tools that matter. Thanks to DNS filtering, you can block:
- Tracking domains at the network level (not just in Safari)
- Telemetry and background pings from apps
- Ads that try to mask themselves as content (because you can add your own blocklists)
It also lets you choose privacy-focused DNS providers like NextDNS or AdGuard DNS (with built-in filtering) so your device doesn’t rely on Google or your ISP to resolve every request.
Installation & Setup
Both AdGuard and AdGuard Pro are easy to install. Just grab them from the App Store and you’re done. But the onboarding experience? That’s where they diverge.
AdGuard (Free)
The regular AdGuard app installs in 2 minutes. Open the app, enable the Safari Content Blockers it tells you to (usually four toggles in iOS Settings > Safari > Extensions), and you’re done.
There’s not much to configure beyond enabling or disabling a few filter lists. It’s minimal. Which is great if you just want peace and quiet in Safari, no questions asked.
AdGuard Pro
AdGuard Pro starts the same way, but then asks more of you. Want to use DNS blocking? You’ll need to manually pick your provider (like AdGuard DNS or NextDNS). The app guides you through it, but it’s still a bit more involved than just flipping switches.
And then there’s the fun part: you can upload your own filter lists, manage custom rules, tweak DNS requests, and basically build your own little privacy fortress. That’s cool if you’re into that.
Pricing
Let’s talk money. Because between AdGuard, AdGuard Pro, and AdGuard Premium, it’s easy to get confused about what’s free, what’s paid, and what overlaps. Here’s the real breakdown:
AdGuard (Free)
This is the same free AdGuard experience across platforms. No subscriptions, no upfront cost. You can download it and start blocking ads in Safari on iOS, Chrome on desktop, or apps + browsers on Android. All without spending a dime.
But you only get basic content blocking. There is no DNS filtering, advanced privacy features, or app-level filtering.
Good enough if you just want to clean up Safari or your browser. Not great if you want deeper control.
AdGuard Pro (iOS only)
AdGuard Pro is a $9.99 one-time purchase. This version is exclusive to iOS and iPadOS. It’s only available only via the App Store.
You pay once, and you get:
- DNS-level ad and tracker blocking
- Custom rule support
- Import/export filter lists
- Better control without ongoing costs
It’s ideal if you want advanced features but don’t want to subscribe.
AdGuard Premium (Multi-Platform Subscription)
If you want full, system-wide ad blocking across your devices, AdGuard Premium is the one to get.
- Personal Plan: $2.49/month or $29.88/year or $79.99 for a lifetime license (covers up to 3 devices)
- Family Plan: $5.49/month or $65.88/year or $169.99 lifetime (covers up to 9 devices)
Use code CHECKADBLOCK30 for an extra 30% off any plan
This gives you access to:
- Full-featured AdGuard app on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS
- Stealth Mode privacy tools
- System-wide filtering (especially on Android & desktop)
- Sync across devices, DNS configuration, app filtering, and more
Heads up: If you already have a Premium subscription, you don’t need to buy AdGuard Pro. Just use the regular AdGuard app. Logging in with your Premium account unlocks the same DNS and filter features Pro offers.
And if you want a more detailed comparison between paid and free version of AdGuard, read AdGuard Free vs Paid.
Wrapping Up
Which One Should You Choose?
If you just want to block some annoying banner ads in Safari and move on with your life, the free AdGuard app will do the trick. It’s clean, lightweight and doesn’t ask much of you.
Suppose you want more control, such as DNS-level blocking, privacy-friendly customisations, and the ability to fight trackers before they even load. In that case, AdGuard Pro gives you that, all without a subscription. It’s a one-time investment for power users who don’t mind a bit of setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need both AdGuard Pro if I Already Have AdGuard Premium?
Nope. If you already have AdGuard Premium, just log into the regular AdGuard app. You’ll get the same DNS and filtering features that are included in Pro.
Can AdGuard Pro block YouTube ads?
Not really. DNS blocking isn’t enough to consistently block in-app YouTube ads on iOS. For that you’d need something more aggressive, which iOS doesn’t allow without workarounds.
Will AdGuard Pro work on my Mac or Android?
No. AdGuard Pro is an iOS/iPadOS-only app. For Mac, Android or Windows, you’ll want the regular AdGuard app, ideally with a Premium subscription for full features.
Can I use AdGuard DNS without paying?
Yes! AdGuard DNS has a free tier anyone can use. Just manually configure it in your network settings. But with Premium or Pro you get more advanced features like filtering logs, custom rules and DNS-over-HTTPS.