AdLock Review & Cost for 2024: Are they a Scam, or Safe and Legit?

The internet is supposed to make our lives easier, and browsing should be seamless. But over the last decade, most of the popular websites have been filled with intrusive ads that make web browsing a frustrating experience. It used to be simple banner ads before, but now there are pop-ups, floating video ads, notification ads, third-party trackers and more. On top of that services like YouTube, are pushing their Premium tier, while introducing more and more ads on the free tier, and cracking down on the ad blockers at the same time. 

So if you want to enjoy a distraction-free internet, a reliable ad blocker is a must and that’s where AdLock comes in. In this review, we will be looking into AdLock’s features, performance, usability, quality of service, and more. 

⭐ Rating	8.4 out of 10
💵 Price	$3.50/month, or $34/year
🏷️ Free version	Yes
▶️ Blocks YouTube Ads?	Yes
⛔ Blocks Trackers?	Yes
💻 Compatibility	Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS

Pros and Cons

AdLock brings a lot to the table as a versatile ad-blocking solution. However, like any tool, it has its strengths and a few limitations worth considering.

Pros

• Fast performance
• Cross-platform compatibility
• System-wide ad blocking with the app
• Privacy-focused with anti-tracking and Safe Browsing integration

Cons

• Limited customisation options
• Manifest V3 restrictions
• Android app not available on the Google Play Store

AdLock Features Overview

AdLock doesn’t just slap a “block” sign on every ad it sees. Instead, it understands different kinds of ads and intervenes in the appropriate way. AdLock utilises its advanced ad-filtering smarts, privacy-focused tools, security measures, and extra goodies designed to give you a smooth, secure, and ad-free experience.

AdLock uses complex filters to sift through web traffic and stop ads before they even load on your screen. By working with EasyList filters, which is basically an ad-blocking cheat sheet, AdLock keeps an up-to-date library of rules and filters that evolve to block new ads and trackers as they appear. You can think of these filters as personalised, digital gatekeepers. When a sneaky ad tries to slip through, AdLock’s filters stop it cold. This also means faster page load times since your device isn’t scrambling to pull up all those extra ad elements. And because AdLock’s advanced filtering technology lets you tweak the filtering to your heart’s content, you’re in full control. 

Now, let’s face it, the internet knows you a bit too well these days. Ads aren’t just annoying; they’re often tracking your habits, storing your clicks, and following you around the web. AdLock takes a strong stand with privacy protection here, putting up a virtual “Do Not Disturb” sign against trackers. When you browse with AdLock, it blocks third-party cookies and scripts that advertisers use to build a profile on you. What’s more, AdLock cuts off ad trackers from seeing what you’re up to, giving you a clean slate each time you open your browser. 

Have you ever clicked a link that seemed fine, but it ended up redirecting you to a sketchy page with dozens of pop-ups? AdLock can deal with those, thanks to its Safe Browsing feature. AdLock leverages Google’s Safe Browsing technology, which is basically a massive database of websites flagged for phishing, malware, or other security risks. When you visit a site, AdLock checks the destination page against this database, warning you before you encounter any potential trouble. This feature isn’t just for blocking ads, it’s designed to keep you safe from sites looking to compromise your data or plant malware on your device. 

Ad blockers are supposed to make your browsing easier, but some of them can weigh down your device like a bag of bricks. While browsers like Chrome get a bad reputation for being a memory hog, extensions share some of the blame too. But AdLock is different. It’s designed to work efficiently in the background, keeping things smooth and swift. Instead of taxing your system’s resources, it clears away ads and trackers without taking up much processing power or data. This results in faster loading times and a snappier browsing experience. By stripping out unwanted elements, AdLock lets you surf the web without the annoying slowdown that ads can bring. 

If you’re on Android, AdLock brings you extra control through VPN and DNS-based filtering. Now, don’t worry if those terms sound like tech jargon, they basically mean that AdLock cuts off the ads at the source. And with DNS filtering, AdLock stops ads from loading before they can even reach your browser or app. Moreover, AdLock’s local VPN doesn’t route your data through external servers; instead, it uses its own in-device VPN to prevent trackers and suspicious requests from getting to you. AdLock on Android does more than just give you a clean browsing experience. If you’re encountering lock screen ads on your phone, you know that it’s invasive and annoying. AdLock can get rid of those too. And all those in-game ads that interrupt your quick gaming breaks, you can have those removed as well. 

If you’re someone who likes to know exactly what’s going on behind the scenes, you will like AdLock, as it provides detailed statistics on everything it blocks. You’ll get a full rundown of how much data you’re saving, how many ads you’re dodging, and even insights on how it impacts your browsing speed.

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

We have run AdLock through our checklist of essential features every ad blocker should have, and we found all ten of those features on AdLock. 

Performance Test

AdLock is clearly one of the feature-packed ad blockers out there, but to evaluate it properly, we must run it through our tests and see how it performs.

How We Test Ad Blockers

To evaluate an ad blocker thoroughly, we follow a five-step process. First, we test its compatibility and how easy it is to install across different platforms. Then, we look at usability and customisation options, making sure it’s both user-friendly and gives you control. After that, we dig into the pricing and customer support, gauging whether it offers solid value for your money. Finally, we put it to the test on popular sites like YouTube and Reddit, followed by benchmark tests to measure its performance against industry standards.

Curious about our detailed testing process? Head over to our full article on How We Test Ad Blockers for the complete breakdown.

Testing Websites

YouTube

AdLock handled YouTube’s regular ads impressively, blocking pre-roll, mid-roll, and banner ads, allowing for an uninterrupted viewing experience across most content. However, when it came to YouTube Shorts, AdLock fell short. Ads embedded in Shorts were able to bypass the ad blocker, resulting in brief skippable interruptions. 

• Skippable ads: Blocked
• Non-skippable ads: Blocked
• In-feed video ads: Blocked
• Bumper ads: Blocked
• Masthead ads: Blocked
• YouTube Shorts ads: Allowed

Ad Type Blocking

Ad Type	Status
Video Ads	Blocked
Banner Ads	Blocked
Shorts Ads	Allowed
Score (Out of 10):	8

Yahoo

The Yahoo site acts as a benchmark for a lot of ad blockers. An enormous banner on top, a few on the right, and plenty of small promotional items in the feed. Sometimes it is easy to get confused as you don’t always know whether it is a real piece of news or an ad. While AdLock successfully blocked most display ads on the homepage, it struggled with inline ads in Yahoo Mail. 

• Banner Ads: Blocked
• Floating Videos: Blocked
• Mail Ads: Allowed

Forbes

Forbes has layers of ads on their site, including banners, side ads, notification pop-ups, and more. dLock managed to cut through these distractions, leaving a clean, uninterrupted reading experience. It even blocked newsletter pop-ups and notification prompts, demonstrating robust performance on news-heavy sites. However, just like most ad blockers, it failed to bypass the paywall. 

• Banner Ads: Blocked
• Floating Video Ads: Blocked
• Newsletter Pop-ups: Blocked
• Notification Request: Blocked
• Paywall: Did Not Bypass

New York Times

The New York Times usually bombards users with large banner ads, animated GIFs, and strategically placed ads within articles. With AdLock active, all visible ads were effectively blocked. Unfortunately, similar to Forbes, it could not get rid of the paywall here either. 

• Banner Ads: Blocked
• Paywall: Did Not Bypass

Reddit

Reddit ads often blend seamlessly with regular posts, using the “Promoted” label to indicate paid content. AdLock successfully blocked those ads and cleaned up our feed. 

• Promoted Posts: Blocked

Twitch

Twitch has some self-promotional banners for discounts and sign-ups. And there are some occasional in-stream ads too. AdLock could not block any of the ads on Twitch during our testing.

• Self-promotion Banners: Allowed

X (formerly Twitter)

On X, AdLock succeeded in removing promoted posts, which are interspersed throughout the feed and often resemble regular content. We also did not see any follower ads or trend takeovers.  

• Promoted Posts: Blocked
• Follower Ads: Blocked
• Trend Takeovers: Blocked

Crocs

Crocs, like many e-commerce sites, use a mix of discount pop-ups and newsletter sign-ups to capture user interest. Here, AdLock performed well, effectively blocking all pop-up ads and banners that typically greet visitors on the homepage.

• Pop-ups: Blocked

Category Blocking

Category	Subcategory	Status
Websites	Yahoo	Partial
Websites	Forbes	Blocked
Websites	New York Times	Blocked
Websites	Reddit	Blocked
Websites	Twitch	Allowed
Websites	X	Blocked
Websites	Crocs	Blocked
Score (Out of 10):	7.8

After rounding up the scores AdLock got an 8 out of 10 for YouTube ad blocking and 7.8 out of 10 for other websites.

Third-Party Ad Block Testing

• AdLock scored a perfect 100 on AdBlock Tester, acing every check against contextual ads, analytics tools, banner ads, and error monitoring. It demonstrated impressive coverage here, handling every type of ad and tracker thrown at it.
• On the d3ward ad block test, AdLock earned a strong 87%, successfully blocking 117 out of 135 ads and trackers. This test examined its performance across a variety of scripts, filters, analytics, social trackers, and ads from different sources.
• As for Can You Block It AdLock chose to block access to the site entirely due to its use of malicious ads, so we’re skipping this one.
• Lastly, AdLock did well on Cover Your Tracks, blocking tracking ads and invisible trackers. However, it didn’t manage to protect the browser from fingerprinting, leaving a minor gap in its otherwise solid performance.

AdLock got a score of  8.9 out of 10 in the third-party tests we conducted using independent tools. Here is a breakdown of the scores:

Ad Blocker Test Results

Test Name	Test Score
Adblock Tester	100
d3ward Ad Block Test	8.7
Cover Your Tracks	2/3
Score (Out of 10):	8.9

AdLock Premium, Pricing, Free Tier, and Trial

Here’s a breakdown of AdLock’s pricing, so you can see what you’re getting for the cost and choose a plan that fits your needs. AdLock offers both flexibility and value, giving you options to pay monthly or save more with a longer-term commitment.

For those just looking to try it out or who prefer a shorter commitment, AdLock’s monthly plan is $3.50, giving you full access to the premium features without a long-term lock-in. If you’re all in for the yearly plan, it’s $34, which works out to less than $3 per month. This plan is designed for users who know they’ll need a solid ad-blocking tool over the long haul and want to maximize their savings.

Then there’s the five-year plan, which is really for the dedicated ad blocker enthusiast. At $63, it brings the monthly cost down significantly, making it an ideal choice for those who want set-it-and-forget-it ad-blocking for the foreseeable future. However, we recommend using the ad blocker for a few months to see if it suits you. 

Each AdLock subscription covers up to five devices, so you get full protection across your devices with just one plan. AdLock also comes with a 14-day free trial, so you can take it for a test drive before committing. Plus, if it doesn’t meet your expectations, there’s a 30-day refund window, making it a low-risk choice for new users.

Category Scores

Category	Score
Value for Money	4/5
Free Version Usability	3/5
Score (Out of 10):	7

How Usable is AdLock?

Compatibility

AdLock makes an impressive effort to cover most platforms. Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and even major browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. However, there are a few quirks to note. While the desktop app for Windows works seamlessly, giving you full system-wide ad blocking, the Chrome extension currently struggles with Google’s new Manifest V3 requirements. For many users, this means the Chrome extension has already stopped working, but fortunately, the Windows app does a great job blocking ads on Chrome if you’re using it on a PC.

For mobile users, AdLock offers different experiences depending on your device. Android users can install the AdLock apk directly, as it’s not available on the Google Play Store. The apk route is fairly straightforward and brings you full, comprehensive ad blocking across apps and browsers. For iOS, the AdLock app mainly focuses on Safari, providing ad-free browsing. AdLock on mobile also blocks ads on YouTube, which many other ad blockers cannot do. 

Platform Availability

Platform	Availability
Chromium Extension	Yes
Firefox Add-On	Yes
Safari Extension	Yes
MV3 Compliance (Chrome)	No
Windows App (System-wide)	Yes
macOS App (System-wide)	Yes
Android App (System-wide)	Yes
iOS App (System-wide)	Yes
Score (Out of 10):	8

Installation

Installing AdLock is as user-friendly as it gets for most platforms. The browser extensions are a quick one-click setup, getting you straight to ad-free browsing. For Android, the app installation involves a few more steps but is simple enough, provided you’re comfortable with sideloading apps. In some cases, you may need to install AdLock’s certificates on Android and Windows to optimise ad-blocking performance.

Installation

Installation	Status
Quick Installation	Yes
Beginner Friendly	Yes
Clarity of Instructions	Yes
Score (Out of 10):	10

Ease of Use

AdLock’s ease of use shines, especially with its set-it-and-forget-it approach. Once installed, AdLock automatically takes over ad-blocking duties with minimal setup required. The Chrome extension is as simple as enabling it, and for those using the desktop app, it stays tucked away in the background, quietly blocking ads as you browse. AdLock also keeps things beginner-friendly with a clean, intuitive settings menu where you can make quick adjustments. Automatic updates mean you won’t need to worry about keeping your filters current—AdLock handles that for you, ensuring you always have the latest in ad-blocking protection.

Ease of Use

Ease of Use	Status
One Click Use	Yes
User Friendly Settings	Yes
Automatic Updates	Yes
Score (Out of 10):	10

Customizability

Now, here’s where AdLock is a bit more basic. You can access the filter list, allowing some degree of customisation. However, you won’t find options for custom filters or advanced ad-blocking rules, nor can you manually block specific page elements. So, if you’re someone who likes to micromanage what your ad blocker catches, AdLock may feel limited in this respect. It’s very much a “plug and play” solution, great for users who prefer simplicity but potentially lacking for power users who want more granular control over every ad they encounter. But there is an allow list, and the desktop app lets you choose which apps to filter and which ones to leave as is.

Customizability

Customizability	Status
Accessible Filter List	Yes
Custom Filters	No
Manual Element Blocking	No
Score (Out of 10):	4

Customer Support

AdLock’s customer support gets the basics right but keeps things simple. They don’t offer live chat, so if you need assistance, you’re looking at email or phone. In our test, we sent them a few standard support questions via email, and they got back to us within the day. The response was detailed and included clear steps to fix the issue. Definitely a good experience for anyone who values thorough answers without a long wait.

Customer Support

Customer Support	Description / Score
Availability of Support	Email and Phone
Response Time	2/3
Support Quality	3/3
Score (Out of 10):	7

A small but thoughtful touch is that AdLock sends multiple reminders about your subscription throughout the month. We were using a monthly plan and received several emails notifying us about the recurring payment setup and the upcoming auto-charge at month’s end. It’s a helpful nudge for anyone who’s ever forgotten a subscription renewal, making sure you’re aware before any unexpected charges hit your account.

Top Alternatives for AdLock

If you’re exploring other options, here’s a look at some top alternatives to AdLock that bring their own strengths and unique features to the ad-blocking game.

Wrapping Up

AdLock delivers a solid ad-blocking experience with comprehensive coverage across platforms. It is a reliable choice for users who want an ad-free browsing experience without fuss. And for us, it is an easy recommendation. It ticks many of the boxes that make a good ad blocker. Its ease of use and system-wide ad-blocking on Windows makes it especially appealing for desktop users.

However, there are a few limitations. The lack of Manifest V3 compliance is a big one as it makes it hard to recommend to Chrome users. It also has limited customisation options. But, for straightforward ad-blocking that covers most needs without constant tweaking, AdLock is a strong contender. After tallying up all our test results, we’re giving AdLock an overall score of 8.4 out of 10.

Category Scores

Category	Score	Weight
Features	10	20
YouTube	8	10
Websites	7.8	10
Independent Tests	8.9	15
Pricing	7	15
Compatibility	8	5
Installation	10	5
Ease of Use	10	10
Customizability	4	5
Support	7	5
Final Score:	8.4	100

Frequently Asked Questions

Is AdLock Worth It?

AdLock provides good value for the money. However, the free extension does most of the job of the paid app. And if you are considering a paid solution, there are other ad blockers that will give you a better value. For example, AdGuard can do everything AdLock can do and more at a cheaper yearly price. So, while AdLock is not particularly a bad purchase, you should compare it with other options to see which one provides the best value.

Does AdLock Block Ads in Apps?

Yes, AdLock can remove ads from a wide range of apps. On Android, AdLock can block ads from games, and apps. That includes most AdSense and AdChoice ads for other apps and products. The Windows version of AdLock can also block ads from many Microsoft apps and even third party apps like Discord. 

Related Guides:

Best Adblockers for Edge

Best Ad Blockers for Opera

Best Ad Blocker for Safari