Top 5 Best Free Ad Blockers in 2024

The internet is more accessible now than ever because of all the free content, apps, and services. But nothing is truly free. Users enjoying free content often end up paying more by giving up their privacy to various advertisers without even knowing it. And then, of course, the annoyance comes with those ads. Banner ads may seem harmless, but it just keeps getting more intrusive from there.

You’re reading an article, and there’s a video ad floating around. Click on a link, and it opens multiple tabs with ads. Even watching a long-form video on YouTube comes at the cost of numerous pre-rolls, midrolls, and banner ads. Now, apparently, YouTube is trying to integrate more ads on the pause screen. Pop-ups, notifications, cookie consents, phishing links, malware, invisible trackers, and more annoyances exist that become a security concern, slow down your page load times, compromise your privacy, and end up giving you a much worse browsing experience. 

What’s the solution? Ad blockers. But paid ad blockers defeat the purpose of the “free internet”. Lucky for you, there are some excellent free ad blockers that eliminate annoying ads, enhance privacy, and speed up your browsing. And one could argue that some free ones work better than the more popular paid options. We’ve tested and reviewed dozens of ad blockers across various platforms, browsers, and devices and shortlisted the top four best free ad blockers.

Overview of the Top Contenders

Here’s an overview of the key aspects, including pricing, compatibility, and other crucial details, for our top four selections.

Most Powerful: uBlock Origin

uBlock Origin is a powerful, lightweight, free and open-source ad blocker that is maintained independently by a passionate community of developers on GitHub, and it blocks everything. Ads, trackers, pop-ups, malware sites, coin miners, annoying anti-ad blocker elements, and various other annoyances. How does it do all this while still being free? It utilises filters and blocklists that are also open-source and maintained by a community of users who care about the cause. uBlock Origin’s filters are what makes it so unique. EasyList, EasyPrivacy, Peter Lowe’s Ad server list, Online Malicious URL Blocklist, and its own built-in uBlock Origin filter lists are all regularly updated, and they don’t leave out much, except for the actual content, of course. uBlock has more than 50 million active users across browsers. While it has recently encountered some issues with Chrome and its Manifest v3 platform, uBlock still runs great on Firefox and many other Chromium-based browsers like Edge and Opera. 

But uBlock Origin’s features are not all limited to the block lists. Its dynamic filtering capabilities give users a lot of control over the content that gets blocked. Moreover, users can add their own filters, block lists, allow lists, and rules, making it the most customisable ad blocker available. And the best part? It’s incredibly lightweight, ensuring your browser remains fast and efficient without hogging system resources.

uBlock Origin’s open-source nature makes it a trustworthy option for privacy-conscious users. The source code is transparent and publicly accessible, ensuring no hidden agendas or data collection. For casual users, uBlock Origin is easy to install and works seamlessly out of the box. However, advanced users can dive into its wealth of settings to customise filters, block specific elements, and even bypass certain site restrictions.

Features

• Dynamic Filtering: Provides real-time control over scripts and domains, letting users decide what loads on a webpage.
• Comprehensive Ad Blocking: Blocks banner ads, video ads, pop-ups, trackers, social media widgets, and even soft paywalls.
• Lightweight Performance: Ensures minimal CPU and memory usage, keeping your browser fast and responsive.
• Customisable Filters: Includes a vast library of preloaded filters and allows users to add community-maintained or custom ones.
• Privacy Protection: Blocks trackers and prevents advertisers from collecting browsing data.
• Open-Source: Transparent code ensures no hidden data collection or backdoors.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Completely free and open-source
• Highly customisable
• Lightweight
• Can bypass paywalls on some sites

Cons

• Can be overwhelming for non-technical users
• Lacks system-wide or mobile app support
• Compatibility with Safari is restricted to older versions
• No customer support

Most Comprehensive: AdGuard

While AdGuard has a premium plan, the reason it makes it to our list is that its free version is complete and does not lack any essential features. It is the most comprehensive ad blocker that covers all its bases. It works on practically everything: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and even some routers with its DNS-level ad blocking. It is also heavily customisable. But, unlike many other ad blockers, AdGuard doesn’t trade its ease of use for customizability. It balances both really well. 

AdGuard has a lot of the same blocklists and filters as uBlock Origin. As far as ad blocking is concerned, you’re covered. It also prioritises blocking trackers and keeping you anonymous on the internet with its Stealth Mode, but that feature is exclusive to the premium plan. Its phishing and malware protection also protects you from harmful sites, making it more than just an ad blocker.

As previously mentioned. AdGuard is also a DNS resolver. That means it can intercept and block ads at the network level, stopping them before they even reach your browser or device. This makes your page load times insanely fast and keeps your network free from elements that may be hazardous to your privacy and security. 

Features

• System-Wide Ad Blocking: AdGuard’s app blocks ads across browsers and apps, ensuring a seamless, ad-free experience on all devices.
• DNS-Level Blocking: Ads are intercepted at the DNS level, boosting browsing speed and blocking ads before they load.
• Stealth Mode: Protects your privacy by blocking trackers, hiding search activity, and clearing cookies.
• Customisable Filters: Users can enable pre-built filters or create custom rules to tailor their ad-blocking preferences.
• Phishing and Malware Protection: Warns users about harmful websites, adding an extra layer of security.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Comprehensive ad blocking across platforms
• Free tier provides excellent functionality
• DNS-level blocking for faster browsing and robust protection
• Highly customisable for advanced users
• Includes privacy-focused tools like Stealth Mode

Cons

• Requires a premium subscription for system-wide features
• Some users may find the setup process for advanced features complex
• Customer support could be faster

Privacy-Centric: Ghostery

Ghostery is basically the Sherlock Holmes of ad blockers. It doesn’t just block ads; it also gets to the root of who’s tracking you online. Ghostery tackles invisible trackers head-on by combining ad-blocking with tracker protection. As a result, you get a cleaner, faster, and more private browsing experience.

One of Ghostery’s standout features is its community-driven tracker database. This open-source database is regularly updated to block a wide range of trackers, from social media widgets to analytics scripts. Ghostery gives you detailed insights into who’s trying to track you through its WhoTracks.Me service. 

Ghostery also eliminates cookie consent pop-ups with its Never-Consent feature, automatically rejecting those annoying prompts. It uses AI-driven technology to block sophisticated trackers and protect your search engine activity from being redirected through tracking servers. It even allows you to customise filters based on your region or preferences, making it a flexible tool for different browsing habits.

Features

• Comprehensive Tracker Blocking: Blocks a wide range of trackers across categories like analytics, advertising, and social media.
• Never-Consent: Automatically declines cookie prompts on websites, reducing interruptions.
• WhoTracks.Me Reports: Provides insights into trackers, their behaviour, and the companies behind them.
• Search Engine Redirect Protection: Prevents search engines from rerouting links for tracking purposes.
• Custom Filters: Allows for regional and experimental filtering options.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Strong focus on blocking trackers
• User-friendly interface
• Detailed analytics and real-time stats
• Free and open-source
• Automatically rejects cookie consent prompts

Cons

• Limited to browser-based blocking
• Mixed results in independent privacy
• Customer support is limited to email only

Easy-to-Use: Stands Free AdBlocker

Stands Free AdBlocker (formerly Fair AdBlocker) takes an interesting approach to ad blocking by combining effective ad removal with a user-centric approach to fair advertising. It goes beyond the basics by blocking regular ads, pop-ups, trackers, and Facebook ads and sponsored posts – a feature that sets it apart from many others. However, the real highlight is the “fair ads” feature, which allows you to support websites that depend on advertising revenue while not being overwhelmed by intrusive ads. We like the fact that, unlike a few other ad blockers with a similar feature, Stands keeps it turned off by default, so you have complete control over your browsing experience.

AdBlocker works with all major browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, and it is compliant with Chrome’s Manifest V3 extension platform, which is becoming more important for Chrome users. Stands deliver on the core ad-blocking tasks like YouTube ads, banner ads and trackers, but it’s not perfect. It struggles with pop-ups, notifications and some advanced scripts. But if you’re looking for a simple, MV3-compliant ad blocker that’s free and blocks ads on social media and streaming sites, Stands is worth considering.

Another nice feature is the stats it provides. With detailed graphs, you can see how many ads, pop-ups, and trackers Stands has blocked for you. This is great for users who like to keep track of their online experience. However, the lack of advanced customisation options or a robust support system might be a deal breaker for some.

Features

• Ad and Tracker Blocking: Removes banner ads, video ads, pop-ups, and trackers across supported browsers.
• Fair Ads Program: Allows users to enable less intrusive ads to support websites without compromising their experience.
• Social Media Ad Blocking: Blocks Facebook ads, sponsored posts, and ads disguised as regular content on platforms like Reddit and X (formerly Twitter).
• Stat Tracking: Provides detailed graphs and stats on blocked ads, trackers, and other annoyances.
• Ease of Use: Offers simple installation, straightforward controls, and one-click ad blocking.
• MV3 Compliance: Works seamlessly with Chrome’s Manifest V3 platform, ensuring future compatibility.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Effectively blocks YouTube and Facebook ads
• User-friendly interface with easy setup and control
• Free to use

Cons

• Struggles with pop-ups and advanced scripts
• Lacks custom filters and advanced customisation
• Does not block notifications or cookie prompts

Wrapping Up

Ad blockers do much more than just block ads. They are now essential for privacy, speed, and security. So yes, while getting rid of those YouTube mid-rolls, and pop-ups might be nice, the invisible trackers that follow you around the web could do more damage. And a good ad blocker could solve that for you.

If you want power and customisation, uBlock Origin is the way. It blocks everything from banner ads to trackers and malware, all while being lightweight and open-source. For a more comprehensive experience that covers browsers and devices, AdGuard is the way to go with its DNS-level ad blocking and advanced privacy features. If you’re a privacy enthusiast, Ghostery is the way to go. It blocks ads and digs deep into tracking behaviour with its WhoTracks.Me insights. And if you want simplicity and effectiveness on social media and streaming sites, Stands AdBlocker is a solid free option that does the job without overcomplicating things.

Whichever one you choose, these are the best free ones you can find in 2024. Each has pros and cons, so pick the one that fits your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best ad blocker for free?

uBlock Origin takes the crown for being the best free ad blocker. It’s incredibly lightweight, open-source, and highly customizable. With powerful filter lists and a massive community behind it, uBlock Origin blocks ads, trackers, and even malware across all major browsers without breaking a sweat.

Is there a 100% free ad blocker app for Android?

While many Android ad-blocking apps have limitations, AdGuard’s free DNS service is a standout option. The app itself isn’t free, but you can enjoy effective system-wide ad blocking by signing up for its free DNS. The best part? It doesn’t rely on a local VPN, saving your battery and keeping your connection fast.

Is ad blocking legal?

Yes, ad blocking is completely legal in most countries. Your right as a user is to control what appears on your screen and protect your browsing experience. However, some websites may restrict access or limit features if they detect ad blockers. In those cases, you can whitelist the site or use advanced settings to bypass detection.