adblock plus extension for safari

The best ad blockers in 2024

Say goodbye to irritating online advertising with the best ad blockers

Best in-browser ad blockers

Best ad-blocking apps, best ad-blocking mobile apps, other privacy-focused extensions and apps.

The best ad blockers are crucial to survive on the modern internet. It often feels like it's impossible to go anywhere online without being harassed by pop-ups, tracker cookies, malvertising and all sort of digital nasties that seem hell-bent on ruining your browsing. The worse part is that these things still plague you if your browsing is above-board — putting you at risk.

Thankfully there's no shortage of apps and browser extensions that can block ads and keep you safer when you're online. Blocking ads and all the other irrelevant stuff that you may encounter. Combined with the best antivirus software and the best VPNs , a good ad-blocker gives you a perfect arsenal of tools to offer as much protection as possible. Even the FBI recommends using an ad-blocker for protection.

The only thing you need to figure out is which ad-blocker is right for you. There are so many to choose from, and whether you are willing to live with the downsides. Most free sites rely on advertising revenue to survive, including Tom's Guide. But if you're happy with the trade-off, we've got a thorough list of the best ad blockers and privacy tools — with options for every browser and platform.

The best ad blockers you can get today

1. adblock plus (chrome, edge, firefox, opera, safari, android, ios).

AdBlock Plus (ABP) is among the most popular ad blockers, with extensions available for Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Edge and Opera. ABP features a quick setup, loading preset filter lists that allow users to quickly block most ads, as well as the option to filter malware and social media buttons. 

Savvy users can chose additional block lists as well as set custom filters or whitelist their favorite sites to keep their ad revenue in the black. AdBlock Plus allows what it calls "non-intrusive advertising" through filters; that may irk some users, though this feature can be disabled in settings. 

On Android, the AdBlock Browser provides a Firefox-based browser that blocks incoming advertising, while on iOS, the AdBlock Plus app integrates with the content blocker system to seamlessly block advertising on Safari with minimal setup.

Download AdBlock Plus: Firefox , Chrome , Safari , Opera , Edge

2. AdBlock (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)

AdBlock (no relation to AdBlock Plus) is the other best ad-blocking browser extension of note, available for users of Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Safari. AdBlock uses a series of filter lists to automatically block ad content coming from known ad servers and providers. Users can stick with the default block lists, subscribe to additional ones, or even create their own, as well as whitelist their favorite websites. 

As one of the most downloaded Chrome and Safari extensions, AdBlock has the trust of many users worldwide.

Download AdBlock: Chrome , Firefox , Safari , Edge

3. uBlock Origin (Chrome, Firefox)

Ublock Origin is a browser-based ad blocker that focuses on simple, efficient blocking with a low resource overhead. The extension comes loaded with a number of filter lists for known advertising and malware sources, with extra filter lists available and the option to read and create your own custom filters from hosts files.

Download Ublock Origin: Chrome , Firefox

4. Poper Blocker (Chrome)

Rather than be an all-in one blocking solution, Poper Blocker (aka Pop Up Blocker For Chrome), is designed to complement other adblockers. 

In this case, Poper Blocker focuses on blocking pop-ups, pop-unders, overlays, timed and scroll pop-ups, and other varieties that might slip past other ad-blocking extensions. Small notifications tell you when pop-ups are blocked. You also can view your blocking stats, but otherwise, you can generally just keep Poper Blocker running in the background with minimal impact alongside other adblocker extensions.

Download Poper Blocker: Chrome

5. Stands Fair AdBlocker (Chrome)

For a fast and light ad-blocking plugin, Chrome users can turn to Stands Fair AdBlocker. The extension does precisely what it promises, blocking ads and pop-ups from cluttering up your browser view while also preventing any tracking from going on. 

Stand's Fair AdBlocker gives you control over the type of ads you can block, specifying everything from autoplay video ads, YouTube ads, expanding ads and more. It can even block Facebook ads if you want.

The "Fair" part of AdBlocker comes into play by giving you the ability to allow certain types of ads or even whitelist ad-supported websites you don't want to shortchange of badly needed revenue. This is one ad blocker that doesn't take a scorched earth approach to its stated purpose.

Download Stands Fair AdBlocker: Chrome

6. Ghostery (Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari, Edge)

Like the other extensions on our list of the best ad blockers, Ghostery can remove ads from webpages, so you can focus on content and browse more efficiently. But the real value in Ghostery lies in its privacy protection features. You can use Ghostery to view trackers, which lets you see who's trying to collect data on you. With Ghostery, you can also stop that tracking from taking place. If you really want to safeguard your privacy, you can turn to Ghostery's Enhanced Anti Tracking to anonymize your data.

Ghostery's a free download that offers basic web protection. More advanced protection starts at $4.99 a month and the $11.99 monthly tier comes with a built-in VPN. There are also versions of Ghostery that work with Android and iOS devices.

Download Ghostery: Chrome , Firefox , Opera , Safari , Edge

7. Adblocker for YouTube (Chrome, Firefox)

YouTube has gotten more aggressive with ads, so the makers of ad-blocking extensions have followed suit. Adblocker for YouTube is a Chrome extension that promises to automatically block YouTube ads, whether we're talking about the pre-roll ad appearing before your video or any text and banner ads that appear on the video itself.

If you prefer Firefox to Chrome, there's also an AdBlocker for YouTube extension that works on that browser. Same name, different developer apparently, but the functionality of stripping out video and display ads remains. This version works on Android devices too.

Download Adblocker for YouTube: Chrome , Firefox

1. AdGuard (Windows, Mac, Android, iOS)

Uses looking for a more robust experience can try out the subscription-based AdGuard, which provides desktop and mobile options to reduce the ads you see when surfing online. 

AdGuard on Windows and Mac covers popular browsers, with highly configurable options for ads, content, and tracker blocking, as well as a parental controls module for restricting adult content. AdGuard for Android is a no-root ad-blocker that blocks advertising on apps and games, though you’ll have to install it from AdGuard’s site instead of through Google Play. AdGuard for iOS works with Safari to effectively filter ads on the default browser.

Download AdGuard: Windows , Mac , Android , iOS

2. AdLock ($33 per year)

AdLock avoids the browser-based route, instead opting to run as a separate program to be able to block not only browser-based ads, but also advertising in other programs like Skype or games. 

The app runs in the background, using filters to block ads, popups, and autoplaying videos, speeding up loading times and applying Safe Browsing features to automatically block sites that are known to be unsafe. 

For obvious reasons, the mobile version is unavailable on the Google Play Store, so you'll need to sideload the app if you want to get AdLock into your Android device. iOS users can download AdLock directly from Apple's App Store.

Download AdLock: Windows , Chrome ,  Android , Mac , iOS

3. Wipr (macOS, iOS; $1.99)

If you’re a Safari fan, Wipr may be the best ad blocker for both your Mac and iPhone. The app is available for both iOS and macOS — costing $1.99 from either Apple App Store — and it promises to work with Safari as well as apps that use Safari for displaying web pages.

You’ll find a full array of features with Wipr, which not only blocks apps and trackers, but cryptocurrency miners, EU cookie and GDPR notices and anything else that gets in your way of surfing the web. Its blocklist gets updated twice a week, and there’s little configuration; the idea is that you load Wipr and forget that it’s there while it does its job in the background.

With Wipr, pages should load faster in Safari, which will be particularly welcome if you’re surfing from an iPhone, where ads and trackers can bog down your browser’s speed.

Download Wipr: macOS , iOS

1. 1Blocker (iOS)

1Blocker was one of the first really good ad blockers on iOS when Apple opened up that functionality on iPhones and iPads; the apps has since been optimized for Safari. 

The app is designed to make browsing faster and more secure by blocking ads, popups, trackers and other online cruft. Rather than blocking content of a downloaded page, 1Blocker works with Safari's content blocker API to tell the browser what to block in advance, saving time and resources. 

1Blocker features more than 115,000 blocker rules, custom regional adblocking settings, and easy-to-use custom rules settings. The app is a free download, with premium features available as in-app purchases.

Download 1Blocker: iOS

2. Firefox Focus (Android, iOS)

Firefox Focus is another addition to Mozilla's family of browsers. This one's a privacy-oriented version of Firefox that bakes in ad-blocking and anti-tracking into a light and functional package. Firefox Focus blocks ads and speeds up browsing, while also working in privacy-friendly features like automatic history and cookie clearing. 

Users can selectively block ads, analytics, content and social trackers with easy toggles, turn on a "stealth" mode, and set a default search engine.

Our look at the best Android browsers has more on the various flavors of Firefox.

Download Firefox Focus: Android , iOS

3. AdClear (Android, iOS)

AdClear — or AdClear Plus if you're searching for the iOS version — offers the kind of mobile ad blocking in browsers that similar apps provide. But AdClear takes it one step farther by also blocking ads in apps. 

AdClear achieves this through a DNS changer feature that routes traffic through a VPN. AdClear doesn't catch everything in all apps, and in our experience, some apps ran a little slower. But this free download can put a stop to ads interrupting what you're trying to do whether in an app or a browser.

Download AdClear: Android , iOS

1. Decentraleyes (Chrome, Firefox)

Some times, blocking ads can also prevent websites fromn pulling needed resoruces and libraries from third-party sources, breaking web pages in the process. Decentraleyes tries to stop that from happening by acting as a local content delivery network emulator to serve up the files that websites need. By doing so, this extension can stop websites from sending out requests to the likes of Google Hosted Libraries.

Think of Decentraleyes as a complement to ad blockers. In fact, the extension specifically says it can work with uBlock Origin and AdBlock Plus, both of which we recommend up above.

Download Decentraleyes: Chrome , Firefox

2. Opera (Desktop, Android, iOS)

The Opera browser bakes in ad-blocking features into the browser without the need for an extra add-on, while also offering privacy-friendly tools such as an unlimited, built-in VPN service, incognito mode, fraud and malware warnings for suspicious links and pages, and more. In addition, you can further customize Opera's capabilities with a wide array of extensions. 

Mobile users need not fret, as the Android version comes with just about everything the desktop version has but built for touch-screen interfaces. On iOS, the mobile version of Opera is listed in Apple's App Store as Opera Touch. (Incidentally, we've got a guide on how you can use Opera to block ads on the iPhone .)

Download Opera: Mac or Windows , Android , iOS

3. Privacy Badger (Chrome, Firefox, Opera)

The Electronic Frontier Foundation's Privacy Badger browser extension was born from the EFF's concerns about the business models of some privacy tools and ad blockers. 

Privacy Badger functions similarly to extensions like AdBlock Plus (on which it was based), observing the various tracking tools that advertisers and other third parties might use to track your online activities and selectively blocking them from executing. Built-in learning algorithms adapt to the sites you visit and take any new tracking tools discovered into account. 

While not explicitly an ad blocker, Privacy Badger does also block some advertising, depending on how aggressively the ads track you across websites.

Download Privacy Badger: Chrome , Firefox , Opera

4. Tor Browser (Desktop, Android)

The Tor network helps anonymize your internet activity by bouncing the data you send and receive through a distributed anonymous network of routers to foil a common online surveillance technique called traffic analysis, which can reveal the sites you visit or who you're communicating with. 

The Tor Browser is an all-in-one package that includes everything you need to surf the net through the Tor network in an easy-to-install portable package. The package includes a modified version of Firefox with privacy aids such as NoScript baked in, and an automatic setup aid that makes it easy to connect to and create new Tor circuits. 

On the desktop, you can grab a version of Tor Browser for Windows, macOS or Linux. There's also a version of Tor Browser for Android, which replaces the previous OrBot + OrFox combination recommended for browsing Tor on Android.

Download Tor Browser: Desktop , Android

5. Onion Browser (iOS)

iOS users aren’t left out when it comes to browsing the Tor anonymizer network, with the Onion Browser among the more popular options on Apple’s mobile OS. 

Previously a premium app, Onion Browser has since moved to a donation model, opening up access to everyone who wants to download the app, without compromising security or features. The usual caveats apply: Browsing through Tor will slow down the web experience, and some features, like video streams and video files won’t work in order to preserve anonymity.

Download Onion Browser: iOS

How to choose the best ad blocker for you

Many of the best ad blockers are available for free, either as extensions or as standalone apps, though a few, like AdLock, charge a fee. Determine if the free services provide enough ad-blocking to meet your needs or whether a paid app delivers more for your money. You should also figure out if a browser extension will take care of your ad-blocking needs or whether you should consider switching browsers to one with more built-in privacy features.

You can narrow down your choice in ad blockers by deciding specifically what you're looking to accomplish with such an app or extension. Do you just want to stop annoying pop-up ads from appearing or do you want the full range of services, including privacy features and an end to ad-tracking? Grab the ad blocker that ticks off all the boxes on your wishlist.

Some ad blockers, such as AdBlock Plus include filters and the ability to let in non-obtrusive advertising. Others, like AdBlocker Ultimate, take a more aggressive approach. Find out which one best suits your needs and comfort level.

As we noted at the outset, there's also an ethical component to ad blockers. Do you feel comfortable keeping ad revenue out of the hands of sites you enjoy and use for free? As good as the best ad blockers are, that's still a trade-off you need to consider when deciding whether to install one as a browser extension or as a standalone app. 

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• kep55 I'm waiting for an ad blocker that will spoof the websites into thinking there is no ad blocker in place. More and more sites are incorporating code that disables the site entirely or many of the features if an adblocker is in use. Reply

kep55 said: I'm waiting for an ad blocker that will spoof the websites into thinking there is no ad blocker in place. More and more sites are incorporating code that disables the site entirely or many of the features if an adblocker is in use.

• View All 2 Comments

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• Services & Software

How to install Adblock Plus on Safari

Adblock Plus is finally available for Safari, albeit in beta form. You can install it in just a few clicks.

Ads are part of the Web, and something we are likely to never truly get away from. But that's not going to stop users from trying to rid browsing sessions from the (sometimes) annoying ads.

By installing plug-ins such as Adblock Plus (ABP), users are able to eliminate some of the more distracting ads on sites. Until recently Adblock Plus wasn't available for Apple's Safari browser. That changed earlier this month when Adblock Plus announced it was releasing a Safari extension in beta.

Installing the beta extension is simple and only takes a few seconds of your time.

First you'll need to visit this page on the Adblock Plus site. Not only will you find a link to download the extension here, but you'll also find a list of known issues and bugs. I recommend reading through the list to make sure you are aware of what behaviors to expect from the extension. Click on the big green button at the bottom of the page when you're ready to download the beta.

After the file is downloaded, double-click to install it. A warning prompt will show up asking you to confirm you do indeed want to install the extension. Click Install.

The extension will then be installed and an icon will be placed in your toolbar. Clicking on the icon will reveal stats for ads blocked, as well as link you to the settings section of Adblock Plus.

In the settings you'll find the option to whitelist some sites you don't mind displaying ads, as well as the ability to disable the whitelist Adblock Plus has already created. By charging some advertisers, ABP creates a list of advertisers that will still be visible. To disable this list, go to the first page of the Settings section and uncheck the box next to "Allow some non-intrusive advertising."

Going forward, any updates rolled out to the beta will be automatically applied, making the install process a one-time ordeal. If you find any bugs and want to report them, you can do so here

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AdBlock for Safari 4+

Block ads. browse better‪.‬, adblock inc..

• 4.5 • 18.1K Ratings
• Offers In-App Purchases

Screenshots

Description.

AdBlock has been downloaded more than 350 million times and is used by more than 65 million people worldwide. Now, AdBlock has created a powerful ad blocker that’s available as a Mac app. AdBlock for Safari is a powerful and simple-to-use ad blocker. It stops annoying pop-ups, removes autoplay video ads, and blocks obnoxious audio ads. It also gives you control over which ads you see and what websites you support. You can tell AdBlock to stop working on certain websites, allow ads on sites you want to support, and get easy access to a comprehensive library of customer support information to help you get the most out of your AdBlock app. It’s easy to install and free to use. Give it a try! KEY FEATURES Block ads on the websites you visit, including Facebook, YouTube, and millions of others sites. This protects you from annoying and intrusive ads that distract you from the stories you are trying to read Speed up your browsing by filtering out unwanted content with Apple’s powerful Content Blocking API. Enjoy a modern and easy to use interface with dark mode. Access AdBlock VPN straight from the AdBlock for Safari app when you use both products. CONTROL OVER HOW AND WHERE YOU SEE ADS One-click Pause allows you to stop AdBlock if a website prompts you to turn off your ad blocker. Create custom allow lists to allow ads on specific sites of your choice, giving you more control over your browsing experience. This previously paid-for feature is now free! Allow non-intrusive ads like Google search ads that aren’t annoying and help you find the items you’re looking for. Get access to a library of hundreds of knowledge base articles that help you understand how ad blocking works, how to get the most out of AdBlock, and provides answers to commonly asked questions. Email AdBlock’s help desk to get quick answers to problems you are facing. We value your feedback and look forward to making the AdBlock Mac app the best ad blocker in Apple’s app store. If you have any questions or feedback, please reach out to our team at [email protected] or leave us a review here in the app store.

Version 2.1.5

• Bug fixes & improvements

Ratings and Reviews

18.1K Ratings

Good - but needs status indicator

EDIT: Developer indicated that Apple does not allow the AdBlock icon to change color when Active vs Inactive. That's frustrating but I'm grateful for the Developer's feedback. FYI Apple - a bit more Developer leniency would be helpful in cases like these to enhance the user experience. ORIGINAL REVIEW: Works well for me - but why doesn't the icon gray out when I pause ad blocking? If I forget to turn it back on, the icon just remains blue and I forget that it's still paused. Please fix.

Developer Response ,

Hi, The blue icon is not something we can change -- Apple does not provide the functionality to gray out the icon if a app is active on a particular page. Because AdBlock is allowing ads, according to Apple, that means it's active. We wish we could change the behavior but we can't! Please do provide your feedback to Apple since this is something they can change. --AdBlock Support

Ad Block forever

Ad Block customer (forever). My MacBook and I - as an internet user(s) can never be without Ad Block. My daily 16 hours internet viewing and/or usage would not be as enjoyable, time efficient or educational - if I was constantly distracted with solitations, promotional items and marketing of products sent to me that I never need or will never purchase - I would not own a computer.

Thank you for your kind words! I'm so happy to hear AdBlock has improved your browsing experience. --AdBlock Support

Stopped Working

I've been using this specific adblock for years and although it works on some of the other machines I own it has stopped working as intended recently. Every now and then an ad would slip by which a quick refresh would fix but now ads still pop up but are blacked out with audio still coming from the ads. I don't think this recent behaviour is deserving of anything less than 3 stars but imo is no longer that 5 star product I used to love.

App Privacy

The developer, Adblock Inc. , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Linked to You

The following data may be collected and linked to your identity:

• Identifiers

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

• Contact Info

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Swedish, Traditional Chinese

• AdBlock Gold $4.99
• AdBlock VPN Monthly $3.99
• AdBlock VPN Yearly $34.99
• AdBlock VPN Yearly $49.99
• AdBlock VPN Monthly $5.99
• Developer Website
• App Support
• Privacy Policy

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Best ad-blocks for Safari in 2024: Browse ad-free on Mac & iOS

The web is full to the brim with adverts for all sorts of products and services, so what better piece of kit to invest in than a high-functioning and reliable ad-blocker?

In this article, we've taken a look at the best ad-blockers for Safari. These apps make for a faster, safer, and better browsing experience. 

What is the best ad-block for Safari?

Here's a quick look at the best ad-blockers for Safari. A more detailed analysis can be found further on in this article. 

• Total Adblock - Best adblocker for Safari. A secure ad-blocker Safari extension for iOS devices. Premium plan includes anti-virus protection and an exclusive YouTube ad-blocker.
• CleanWeb - Surfshark’s multi-purpose ad-blocker removes all ads from Safari before the page displays – including video ads. The blocker forms part of the Surfshark CleanWeb service, which comes free with all subscriptions.
• AdLock - A great standalone solution, which works with browsers and apps across all popular platforms.
• AdGuard - The best buy ad-blocker for Safari. Another great choice for blocking ads on this popular browser, with loads of customization.
• Wipr - A beginner-friendly ad-blocker for iOS and macOS. It's a solid service for Safari that's a breeze to set up and even simpler to use.

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Why are these the best ad-blockers for Safari?

If you have looked for an adblocker for Safari before, then you will know that there are hundreds of services out there. We have chosen services with the following properties:

• Great apps and browser extensions
• Works on iOS and Mac
• Secure services

Not all of the services on the list have a free option, however, four of the five services on the list do. 

An in-depth look at the best ad-blockers for Safari

Below we take a closer look at the best ad-block software for Safari. If you still need more information about any of the services in this list, click through to the provider's website. 

1. Total Adblock Editor's Choice | April 2024

Total Adblock is a very secure ad-blocker for Safari browser on iOS devices. If you upgrade to premium, you get full protection with malware and TotalAV (anti-virus) protection.

• Premium: Block Unlimited Ads + FREE Total AV: $2.42/mth 70% OFF
• Free: $0/mth

Total AdBlock is an excellent adblocking solution for Safari on iOS devices. Unfortunately, Safari extension with this ad-blocker is not yet available for Mac devices, however, it efficiently removes all types of annoying ads on iPhones and iPads. But don't worry! If you're a Mac user, you can still use this ad-blocker with all the other popular browsers, including Chrome , Microsoft Edge, Firefox, and Opera.

Total Adblock also takes care of your online privacy by blocking trackers and third-party cookies. So you can surf on Safari (and other browsers) without worrying that some advertisers and third-party companies might snoop on your activities or collect your data. And, with its exclusive features like YouTube ad-blocker, your overall online experience becomes much more pleasant, faster, and safer.

If you're looking to enhance browsing in your whole household, consider subscribing to premium, which allows you to block unlimited ads throughout the year. Plus, you'll get anti-malware and anti-virus protection for free, and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee to try all these out with peace of mind.

2. CleanWeb

CleanWeb is Surfshark’s combined ad-blocker, pop-up blocker, and malware and data breach alert service. It’s free with Surfshark subscriptions and easily enabled within the iOS and macOS apps.

• 1 month: $12.95/mth
• 24 months + 2 months FREE: $2.3/mth 82% OFF
• 12 months: $3.99/mth 69% OFF

Surfshark’s CleanWeb is an ad-blocker and pop-up blocker, as well as a way of finding out about data breaches and occurrences of site-based malware. The service is available as part of every Surfshark VPN subscription, and available for Safari via the iOS and macOS apps.

The ad-blocker removes all adverts from pages you start the process of opening – including the video ads favored by streaming platforms.

The pop-up blocker stops cookie requests from appearing every time you visit a site. The feature acts in the background to reject any that are possible to reject. Of those that can’t be rejected, the blocker only accepts those that are strictly necessary in order to use the site.

The third feature – the data breach alert – lets you know if a site you’re visiting has ever been breached. If so, it provides details of the number of exposed accounts and the date the breach happened.

The malware detector lets you know whether any website you’re visiting has ever been corrupted by malware or a virus.

AdLock will transform your Safari browsing experience with its great filtering and customization. Plus, it's affordable and offers multiple subscription plans.

• 60 months: $1.05/mth 70% OFF
• 12 months: $2.28/mth 35% OFF
• 1 month: $3.5/mth

AdLock is certainly one of the pricier ad-blockers around, but still a steal for what you're getting. For a little over $22 dollars a year, you'll have an ultra-reliable piece of kit that works extremely well with Safari. It's available as both an iPhone app and a Mac app, blocking both adverts and the tracking that goes on when you visit websites.

AdLock does not pander to the acceptable ads policy, meaning it blocks all adverts without compromise. This ad-blocker seems to work with just about every site we visit, from streaming sites to social media, but you can also whitelist sites you'd like to support financially. 

AdLock can be installed on up to 5 devices at the same time, which means you can use it on any device for which Safari is your default browser. It also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can road-test its product and decide for yourself if it does what it says on the tin. Overall, it's easy to use and one of the best additions to your day-to-day browsing experience you could invest in.

AdGuard is the best value-for-money ad-blocker for Safari. A widely used, open-source ad-blocker, with apps for all your devices.

• Free extensions: $0/mth
• 1 yr personal license/3 devices: $29.88/mth
• lifetime personal license/3 devices: $59.99/mth
• 1 yr family license/9 devices: $65.88/mth
• lifetime family license/9 devices: $129.99/mth

AdGuard is an ad-blocker I use regularly. Set up takes a matter of seconds and once you download it, it works brilliantly with Safari. You can choose exactly which kind of adverts and tracking script you'd like to block; it's highly configurable software but the user interface on devices like iPhone are quite easy to navigate.

By blocking tracking scripts, AdGuard will make the pages you open appear quicker simply because they have much less to load. If AdGuard does miss things – a rarity, but something does occasionally happen – there's a feature that allows you to identify certain adverts and remove them. 

The above function is one thing that can be performed with Adguard Assistant, an AdGuard extension that lets you change things up without having to leave the browser. You can add a specific website to a "do not block" list and report the website if it somehow manages to serve you ads, as well as block them as mentioned previously. AdGuard now also operates a VPN service with 44 locations across the globe too and runs a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Wipr is an easy-to-use ad-blocker for iOS and macOS. It's a dedicated ad-blocker for iOS and macOS operating systems.

Wipr is available exclusively on macOS and iOS. It is designed to be set up once and left alone to run on Safari in the background, with its blocklist automatically updating twice a week. Although it isn't a hugely customizable app, it blocks both the adverts and the trackers that become active when you visit websites, as well as also dealing with any cryptocurrency miners and things like EU/GDPR notices that might cause you problems. 

Wipr has an active developer that regularly updates a blog on Wipr's main page, and you can contact him yourself if you have any issues with the app or suggestions you'd like to make. At just $1.99, too, it's a very small price to pay for a significant increase in page loading speed when you use Safari. 

Adblock is the original ad-blocker for iOS.

Adblock is another ad-blocker that works excellently with Safari. It has a local DNS proxy service – which you can enable and disable at will – that will let you see exactly what domains your device is contacting, and you can create your own blocking rules, which Adblock recommends you tie to rules you can find online. You can use it on multiple devices and sync up all your rules with iCloud. 

The vast majority of customers report an excellent experience with Adblock on the App Store too, which is always a good sign, and Adblock's ad-serves update automatically, so once you have it downloaded, there's not much more you need to do!

7. 1Blocker

1Blocker X is the descendant of one of the first blocking apps for Apple and optimised for Safari.

• Free version: $0/mth
• Premium: $2.99/mth
• /year: $14.99/mth

1Blocker X has over 43,000 blocking rules at its disposal to remove ads from the websites you visit, as well as 13,000 known trackers that it can block without breaking a sweat. 1Blocker X makes the lofty but evidenced claim that you can reduce your data usage by 50% by installing its app, which will also stop your browsing time draining your battery too. 

One thing I really like about 1Blocker X is its support section on its website, which takes you through how to create groups of custom rules as well as various troubleshooting methods for different problems you may encounter. There is also a blog that describes in detail updates and new features and they've got a Safari extension that will allow you to block ads straight from your browser.

What is an ad-blocker?

An ad-blocker is an application that will remove or alter adverts on the web pages you visit. When you click on a website, the webpage loads a number of scripts in order to display the content. Some of these scripts are related to adverts on the page. Ad-blockers analyze these scripts whilst webpages load, compare them to a list of known advertising scripts, and block what they recognize (with varying degrees of success). 

Due to the fact that advertisements are necessarily connected to tracking (a lot of adverts you'll see are served to you because of information gathered by trackers from your browsing history and activity on websites), the other crucial thing ad-blockers do is to prevent tracking scripts from running on your device. 

If you're in the market for an ad-blocker, remember that they come in all shapes and sizes, from browser extensions to fully-fledged apps. VPN companies like NordVPN and Surfshark provide ad-blockers as part of their services – which is an excellent way to get ad-blocking that will work on any browser – including Safari.

Safari browser vs Safari app 

When you're using a handheld Apple product like an iPhone or an iPad, you can head over to the App Store to download an ad-blocking app. On a Mac or a Macbook, ad-blockers are available as both Safari extensions or standalone Mac apps . 

However, these are, for the purpose of getting you up and running with an ad-blocker, essentially the same thing. They're just found in slightly different places. 

How to install an ad-blocker on Safari 

Ad-blocker apps.

• Search the app store for your chosen ad-blocker. 
• Download and install the app on your chosen device. 
• Go to your device settings and tap ' Safari '. 
• Scroll down to and click on the menu item entitled ' Content Blockers '. 
• Toggle on the ad-blocker settings you'd like active. 

Ad-blocker browser extensions

Make sure you have the latest macOS update installed and Safari up to date. Extensions are only available on devices with Safari 12 onwards. 

• Click on Safari in the top left-hand corner. 
• Select Safari Extensions from the drop-down menu. 
• Wait for the App Store to automatically open on the extensions page. 
• Search for the ad-blocker you'd like to add. 
• Click Get underneath the ad-blocker extension.
• Sign in with your Apple ID if required and start the download. 
• Click install to get the app up and running.
• Open the extension and follow any subsequent instructions.
• Click on Safari in the top right corner once more.
• Select Preferences from the drop-down menu. 
• Tick the checkbox next to the ad-blocker you downloaded. 

Ad-blocker apps on the Mac App store

• Search for your chosen Ad-blocker on the Mac App Store. 
• Click Get . 
• Select Install to set the ad-blocker up on your device.
• Click Open .
• Enable the app in Safari.
• Check  the relevant boxes in Safari Preferences. 

Can I whitelist certain websites or ads while using an ad-blocker on Safari?

Most ad blockers let you whitelist specific websites and services. This is an important feature as it allows you to support websites that are funded by ads - by allowing them to load on that domain (or subdomain). This also allows you to comply when a website refuses to load until you have turned off your ad-block.

Some ad blockers even give you granular control over which ads you can see. This allows you to allow certain ads to be displayed, while still keeping the ad blocker turned on for that website.

Are ad-blockers legal to use in Safari?

Yes. There is nothing illegal about blocking ads and trackers on Safari. It is your right to use an ad blocker to save data and get better page load times. However, some services may ask you to turn off your ad blocker to continue.

Those services are supported financially by ads, and they cannot afford for users to bypass ads, which are often the only (or a primary) source of revenue. If you choose to support that website and its operations, you may decide to allow ads on that website in order to help support them financially. 

Despite the fact that some services are funded by ads, it is not illegal to block ads, and you will not be prosecuted for using an ad blocker. On the other hand, it may be against the Terms of Services to use an ad block on some websites and services. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis, so be sure to understand the terms before using an ad blocker. This is the case with Twitch, for example.

Under these circumstances, you could potentially have your account or membership canceled for breaking the rules. However, in our experience, it is pretty unheard of for someone to lose an account simply for blocking ads. 

Are free ad blockers for Safari safe?

Free ad blockers for Safari can be safe, but it depends on the specific one and its developers. However, they need access to your data to work, which can raise privacy concerns.

Ad blockers function by identifying and blocking ads on web pages, which requires access to the information on the pages you visit. Some free ad blockers may not block all ads, may break some websites, or may collect or sell your data.

Paid ad blockers often offer more features and better privacy protection, but the choice between free and paid depends on your needs and preferences. Our list of the best ad blockers above and this article will help you make an informed decision.

Final thoughts

If you're a Safari user, investing in an ad-blocker is a no-brainer. To save you scrolling back up, here's a reminder of our top picks for the browser:

From $0.00 /month

Best adblocker for Safari. A secure ad-blocker Safari extension for iOS devices. Premium plan includes anti-virus protection and an exclusive YouTube ad-blocker.

From $2.30 /month

Surfshark’s multi-purpose ad-blocker removes all ads from Safari before the page displays – including video ads. The blocker forms part of the Surfshark CleanWeb service, which comes free with all subscriptions.

From $1.05 /month

A great standalone solution, which works with browsers and apps across all popular platforms.

The best buy ad-blocker for Safari. Another great choice for blocking ads on this popular browser, with loads of customization.

A beginner-friendly ad-blocker for iOS and macOS. It's a solid service for Safari that's a breeze to set up and even simpler to use.

wasn't right for you?

We recommend you check out one of these alternatives:

AdBlock Plus Extension For Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, and Safari 3.25.1

 Tactical Briefings