Top 5 Best Ad Blockers for Microsoft Edge in 2024

Microsoft Edge has come a long way since its early days. While its predecessor, Internet Explorer has gotten a lot of heat over being a slow browser and was the subject of a lot of internet memes, Edge has attempted to clear that name and be its own thing. While Edge stripped all of Internet Explorer codes and built its own propriety engine from the ground up, it wasn’t until 2018 when Edge actually became something we could recommend to others. It’s because that year, Edge turned into a Chromium-based browser. Moreover, as Edge is a first-party Windows browser, it actually improved upon Chromium in terms of speed and memory management. Edge also has some UI elements like vertical tabs, a sidebar, split screen that give the users a unique experience. 

Edge also went heavy on tracking prevention and included a built-in privacy dashboard. However, even with these privacy enhancements, Edge users still encounter a steady stream of ads that disrupt browsing, drain battery life on laptops, and clutter web pages. So, an ad blocker is a must. 

Now, while Edge’s switch to the Chromium platform initially meant, a wide compatibility with Chrome extensions, it also means Edge must comply with Google’s decisions regarding extensions. With Google’s Manifest V3 changes affecting ad-blocking capabilities on Chromium browsers, it’s essential to pick a tool that’s fully optimised for Edge. And we aim to help you with your choice with our list of the top 5 best ad blockers for Edge.

Overview of the Top Contenders

Here’s a quick overview of the key details, including pricing, compatibility, and other essential information about our top 5 picks.

Reliable and Easy-to-Use: Adblock Plus

AdBlock Plus is one of the oldest and most reliable ad blockers out there. It is also one of the first names that pop up when talking about ad blockers. It has been providing an effective solution for ad blocking since 2006. It is very straightforward and easy to use, which we believe most Edge users would appreciate. Moreover, it has a very clean and minimal interface. While ease of use, and clean UI often come at the cost of customisability, it’s not the same here. You can add your own custom rules and filters, and even block elements manually. 

One standout feature of Adblock Plus is its “acceptable ads” program, which allows select non-intrusive ads to display by default. This can be beneficial for those who want to support content creators while still filtering out the more disruptive ads. However, we do not like the fact that it’s enabled by default and there are reports that Adblock Plus has allowed ads from various providers in exchange for money. If you prefer a completely ad-free experience, you can turn off this feature with just a click.

Features

• User-Friendly Interface: Easy to set up and requires minimal configuration.
• Acceptable Ads Program: Allows non-intrusive ads to support sites, but can be disabled.
• Customisable Blocking: Offers basic customisation options, like whitelisting and specific element blocking.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Simple setup and user-friendly
• Reliable
• Free and open-source
• Customisable

Cons

• Not suitable for tech-savvy users
• Acceptable ads feature is turned on by default

Security-Focused: Total Adblock

While Total Adblock is one of the most easy to recommend ad blockers. It is a part of the Total Security suite and comes bundled with the award-winning anti-virus, TotalAV. Total Adblock offers solid ad blocking with near-perfect test scores. But what sets it apart are the security features like malware and phishing protection. Paired with Total AV, Total Adblock provides an all-in-one solution for ad blocking, anti-tracking, privacy, and security. 

Total Adblock is the most easy-to-use ad blocker out there. You just install it and you’re good to go. But this also means Total Adblock lacks a lot of customizability features. No accessible list of filters, custom rules, or element blocker. Just basic click-and-forget ad blocking. 

Features

• All-in-One Ad Blocking: Effective ad blocking paired with robust privacy and security features. Comes packaged with an anti-virus.
• Privacy Protection: With tracker blocking, it keeps your browsing data private, and minimises targeted ads.
• Anti-Malware and Phishing Protection: In addition to blocking ads and trackers, it adds an extra layer of security by preventing access to suspicious sites that may host malware or phishing attempts.
• Cross-Platform Compatibility: Available on Edge, Chrome, Android, and iOS.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Offers robust security features
• Easy to use
• Effective and efficient with high benchmark scores
• System-wide ad blocking on Android

Cons

• Limited customisation for advanced users
• The free version is practically unusable

Jack of All Trades: AdGuard

AdGuard blocks ads, trackers, pop-ups, floating videos, phishing links, malicious sites, cookie consents, self-promotions, cryptojackers, and almost any other annoyance you can think of. While it has near-perfect scores on ads and tracker-blocking benchmarks like Adblock Tester and Cover Your Tracks, its extensive features go beyond the standard ad-blocking capabilities. AdGuard recently released its Manifest V3 compliance update, which means it will keep working on Edge and other Chromium-based browsers. But even without the extension, the AdGuard standalone app can block all ads system-wide. 

One of AdGuard’s most notable features is its DNS-level blocking, which stops ads before they even reach your device. This helps reduce page load times and improve browsing speed. AdGuard has a long list of customisable filters, and the ability to add your own filters, rules, and advanced privacy settings. It does everything an ad blocker should do and more. 

Features

• DNS-Level Blocking: Blocks ads at the network level for smoother, faster browsing.
• Phishing and Malware Protection: Alerts users of potentially harmful sites, adding an extra layer of security to browsing.
• Stealth Mode: Prevents trackers from monitoring your activity and clears cookies automatically.
• Customisable Filters: Allows users to add or modify filter lists for a tailored ad-blocking experience.
• Cross-Platform Compatibility: Available as a browser extension for Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge, and as a system-wide application for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Highly customisable with user-specific filter options.
• Excellent for privacy-focused users with Stealth Mode.
• Effectively blocks all YouTube ads.
• Wide device compatibility.
• Free version packed with features.

Cons

• The desktop app requires a premium subscription.
• Limited customer support availability.

Great for Social Media and Streaming: Stands AdBlocker

Stands AdBlocker, previously known as Fair AdBlocker, is an effective solution for users who spend a lot of time on social media or streaming platforms like YouTube, Facebook and Twitch. It has a clean interface and straightforward approach, Stands AdBlocker doesn’t bombard users with complicated settings. It is ideal for those who want something simple but effective.

Stands Free AdBlocker’s stand-out feature is its “fair ads”. Similar to Adblock Plus and AdBlock’s “acceptable ads” program, participating websites can apply to have their non-intrusive ads white-listed. This helps ad-supported websites a lot. However, if you don’t want these fair ads, don’t worry. It is an opt-in feature. And unlike Adblock Plus, Stands does not enable fair ads by default.

Features

• Social Media Ad Blocking: Effective at removing sponsored posts and ads on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch.
• Fair Ads Program: Allows non-intrusive ads by default, but this can be turned off.
• Tracker Blocking: Provides basic protection against third-party trackers.

Pros

• Straightforward and easy to use.
• Free to use with no hidden costs.
• Can block Facebook ads and sponsored posts.
• User-friendly interface.

Cons

• Limited customisation options.
• Unable to block scripts.

Privacy-Focused: Ghostery

Ghostery is a top choice for users who want an ad blocker focused on privacy. Unlike some ad blockers that prioritise ads alone, Ghostery’s priority is blocking trackers. It’s ideal for users who want transparency and control, with an advanced tracker-blocking database maintained by a dedicated open-source community.

Ghostery also includes a “Never-Consent” feature that automatically rejects cookie pop-ups, helping streamline your browsing experience by minimising interruptions. Ghostery’s interface is designed to be user-friendly.  It offers quick access to privacy settings. You can easily see what Ghostery is blocking in real time, with data displayed in a visual format. For Edge users who want to block ads and maintain their privacy, Ghostery provides a solid, easy-to-use solution.

Features

• Advanced Tracker Blocking: Ghostery uses a community-maintained tracker database to effectively block a wide array of trackers, enhancing user privacy.
• Never-Consent: This feature automatically rejects cookie consent prompts on websites, reducing interruptions from pop-ups.
• Detailed Privacy Reports: With WhoTracks.Me, Ghostery offers users insights into which companies are attempting to track them, giving a clear picture of tracking activity.
• AI-Driven Anti-Tracking: Ghostery uses AI to precisely block ads and trackers, especially helpful on websites with advanced tracking methods.
• Open-Source Transparency: Ghostery’s code is open-source, allowing community review and fostering trust and reliability in its privacy practices.
• Search Engine Redirect Protection: Prevents search engines from redirecting links through their own servers, maintaining a direct connection to the intended website.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Strong privacy protection
• Advanced tracker-blocking database
• Clean, user-friendly interface
• Free and open-source

Cons

• No system-wide ad-blocking options
• Limited customer support

Wrapping Up

Edge has really brought Microsoft back into the browser game. It’s a solid web browser with a lot of AI features and the best part is that it’s memory efficient. It can rival some of the best browsers out there. But at the same time, its built-in privacy features are not the best and a dedicated ad blocker would help a lot with that. 

Each of the ad blockers on our list brings something unique to the table. If you’ve gone through the ad blockers on our list, we hope you can make an educated decision. If you value extensive privacy controls, Ghostery or AdGuard may be ideal. For straightforward ad blocking and ease of use, Adblock Plus and Total Adblock are dependable options. And if social media and streaming ads are your biggest frustration, Stands AdBlocker has you covered. Each of these ad blockers brings a different strength, ensuring there’s an option for every Edge user.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Block YouTube Ads on Microsoft Edge?

To Block YouTube ads on the Microsoft Edge web browser, you need to install an ad blocker that can effectively block YouTube ads. Stand Free AdBlocker, AdGuard, and Ghostery are great options for YouTube ad blocking on Microsoft Edge. You can install them from the Microsoft Edge Add-ons Store. 

How Do I Uninstall an Ad Blocker from Edge?

To uninstall an ad blocker from the Microsoft Edge web browser, paste edge://extensions/ on your address bar and go to the extensions page. There you will find the list of extensions installed on your browser, including the ad blocker you want to remove. You will find the option to remove the ad blocker right below its name.