5 best ad blockers for Android in 2025
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As of June 2025, my pick for the best ad blocker for Android is Surfshark CleanWeb. It provides excellent ad-blocking capabilities and effectively blocks malware and trackers for a smoother and safer online experience. It also comes with a VPN, meaning you get increased security and protection online.
Surfshark CleanWeb, Total Adblock, and Proton VPN NetShield, among others, are this year’s top Android ad blockers. Each offers something unique and excels in different areas, but all dominated our in-house ad-block testing. In this article, I will present our test results and take a deeper look at each of the top ad blockers of 2025.
Overall, Surfshark CleanWeb is the best when it comes to blocking different types of ads on Android. Total Adblock, a budget-friendly ad blocker, is a close second. Third on the list is another VPN provider – Proton – whose NetShield proved to be a reliable ad blocker. Notable ad blockers like Avast, NordVPN Threat Protection, and Ghostery also made it to the list for their ability to block Android’s ads. You’ll find their detailed descriptions, pros, and cons below.
Best ad blockers for Android 2025
- Surfshark CleanWeb – overall best Android ad blocker in 2025
- Total Adblock – affordable ad blocker for Android
- Proton VPN NetShield – secure ad blocker for Android with a VPN
- Avast – free secure browser with a built-in ad blocker for Android
- NordVPN Threat Protection - easy-to-use ad blocker for Android
The Cybernews in-house research team and expert writers work together to regularly and thoroughly test ad blockers. We use a variety of testing methods to ensure our recommendations are fact-checked and relevant. Find out how we test and evaluate ad blockers.
Best ad blockers for Android in 2025 – detailed list
There are many great ad blocker tools to choose from, which is why we tested numerous providers ourselves. Here’s our list of the top Android ad blocker providers.
1. Surfshark CleanWeb – best-performing Android ad blocker
| Free version: | Yes (7-day free trial) |
| Features: | Malicious website and ad blocking, YouTube ad blocking (on app and browser) |
| Customer support: | 24/7 live chat, email, guides and articles, FAQs |
| Current deal: | 86% OFF Surfshark CleanWeb 2.0 + 3 months FREE |
Surfshark CleanWeb is the best tool for removing unwanted ads, cookies, and trackers. You would also get the benefit of Surfshark VPNs identity protection and IP address masking. CleanWeb performed very well in our in-house test, blocking 87/100 ads on Firefox via the D3ward test platform.
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
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Test results. Surfshark CleanWeb had very successful tracking blocking and moderately successful ad blocking results. The ad blocking performance varied depending on the testing platform, so, for example, CleanWeb performed significantly better on the D3ward test (89/100 blocked ads on Chrome) than on the Adblocker test (67/100 blocked ads on Chrome). But with the addition of VPN features, it’s fair to say that Surfshark provides reliable protection against tracking and ads.
Compatibility with browsers and devices. As CleanWeb is part of the Surfshark VPN suite, you can expect compatibility with browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, as well as Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows operating systems. Which is better – app or browser extension – depends entirely on your expectations.
If you use the Surfshark app, CleanWeb will block ads and trackers on all websites and apps you visit. That also includes all browsers that you would use. With a browser extension, this feature would only apply to that browser. However, you would get CleanWeb 2.0. This updated version is more effective at blocking cookies and includes malware and data breach alerts. It can also work independently without the use of a VPN. Both options are equally easy to set up and use; it just depends on what you need.
Pricing and subscription plans. Surfshark offers two distinct subscription plans, Starter and One, and an additional expansive plan called One+. These subscriptions are available to purchase and last a month, a year, or two years. All options include a 30-day money-back guarantee and a CleanWeb feature.
Surfshark’s prices start at $2.19/month, which is very affordable for a service that also offers a VPN. It’s a bit more than Total Adblock but cheaper than Proton VPN, while also offering more VPN servers and better ad-blocking results. Besides, there are seasonal deals like Surfshark VPN Black Friday discounts, so you can get it for even less.
Personal experience. While not without flaws, such as a bit average ad blocking performance with Adblock testing platform, I found Surfshark CleanWeb to still be one of the best ad blockers overall. Additional features, such as perfect tracker blocking and VPN more than makes up for sometimes wavering test results. Besides, the extra privacy layer that VPN features provide definitely makes me feel more confident online.
A particularly noteworthy benefit of CleanWeb is the ability to block ads on the web and in other apps. Surfshark's unique GPS spoofing feature is also handy in more than one way. Overall, when it comes to functionality, I find Surfshark to be one of the most user-friendly services.
2. Total Adblock – budget-friendly ad blocker for Android devices
| Free version: | Yes (7-day free trial) |
| Features: | Tracker and ad blocker, filters (Annoyances filter, Tracking Protection filter, Social Media filter), Allow list |
| Customer support: | Knowledge base, video tutorials, blog, email, FAQs |
| Current deal: | Get 80% OFF Total Adblock |
Total Adblock is the second best ad blocker for Android in 2025 based on our research team’s test results and offered features. Especially on Firefox, Total Adblock blocked 100/100 ads – an absolutely perfect score.
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
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Test results. Performing the ad blocking test, Total Adblock managed to score 77/100 on Chrome and 100/100 on Firefox. The D3ward test also showed great results in blocking 80/100 and 81/100 ads on Chrome and Firefox, respectively. Finally, in the CoverYourTracks tracker test, Total Adblock showed strong and reliable protection for both Firefox and Chrome.
Compatibility with browsers and devices. Total Adblock is fit to work with almost all popular browsers and can even be downloaded as an app to your Android and iOS mobile devices. All the same features are available throughout all browser versions of this ad blocker, so you won't get a lesser option just because of your browser choice.
You can download Total Adblock on your Android device through their official website or as Chrome, Firefox, or Edge extensions. It was easy to install, especially the free version. Our team performed tests with Total Adblock on Pixel 9 with Android 14 and Nokia 6.2 with Android 11. It worked very well on both devices. Additionally, the Total Adblock extension was tested on Firefox and Chrome, showing great results on both browsers.
Pricing and subscription plans. Total Adblock has a fully free version; however, it’s quite limited. For the full scope of features and better ad blocking, you can choose either a monthly or yearly subscription. Overall, a year of Total Adblock costs $1.59/month, with up to 80% discount available for new subscribers. A monthly subscription has a slightly lower value, costing $8.25/month with no discount.
Compared to other premium ad blockers, Total Adblock offers excellent protection from ads and trackers at a very affordable price. And if you can’t afford to pay, you can still get limited but still very good features for free.
As for the ad blockers on this list, comparing Total Adblock to free VPNs like Avast, AdLock, and Ghostery shows that Total has better performance and overall features. Meanwhile, comparing it to premium ad blockers like Proton VPN NetShield and Surfshark CleanWeb shows that Total Adblock is cheaper. So, by all metrics, it has the best value for money.
Personal experience. Overall, Total Adblock was one of the easiest ad blockers to use out of the ones I tried. Our research team also pointed out that Total Adblock had the best overall performance, so it objectively deserves its spot. Using my Android device with this ad blocker on was a significantly better experience, as I immediately noticed the lack of banners and pop-up ads on news sites.
While testing showed some poorer performance in Yahoo and Yandex, as well as on social media like TikTok, I personally did not expect Total Adblock to eliminate all ads. In times when people promote brands and products in their own social media posts or videos, it’s impossible for all the world’s ad blockers to identify that sort of promotional content. But when it comes to those really annoying ads, I was satisfied with Total Adblock’s performance.
3. Proton VPN NetShield – secure Android ad blocker with a VPN included
| Free version: | No (only the VPN has a free version) |
| Features: | Malware, ad, and tracker blocker, malware-only blocker |
| Customer support: | Email, knowledge base, FAQs |
| Current deal: | Get up to 70% OFF Proton VPN NetShield |
Proton VPN NetShield is one of the best VPN and ad blocker bundles in the market. With plenty of identity protection features and great ad-blocking abilities, NetShield is a great option for those who want the most out of their service.
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
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Test results. Proton VPN NetShield had moderately successful ad-blocking performance and great tracker-blocking test results. With the Adblock test, NetShield blocked 74/100 ads on Chrome and 68/100 ads on Firefox, struggling with some banners. With the D3ward test, the results were slightly better – NetShield blocked 81/100 ads on Chrome and 77/100 ads on Firefox. Proton VPN NetShield excelled in tracker blocking tests, showing strong protection on both Chrome and Firefox.
Compatibility with browsers and devices. Proton VPN NetShield is available on all Proton browser extensions and apps. Proton VPN can be installed on Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, as well as macOS, Android, iOS, and Windows. On either of these platforms, I had no trouble with the installation process, though it’s worth noting that NetShield is only available with the paid Proton VPN subscription. If you have a free version, you will not receive ad-blocking features.
Pricing and subscription plans. Proton VPN is a bit pricey, especially when compared to Surfshark, which is also a VPN with ad-blocking capabilities but costs less. Proton VPN costs from $2.99/month. There is only one plan with all available Proton VPN features, and the subscription price just depends on the duration – 1 month, 1 year, or 2 years. All subscriptions include a NetShield ad blocker and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Personal experience. Personally, I really like using Proton VPN. It barely takes 5 minutes to install and start using it, and NetShield was pretty much effortless to use. While the actual ad blocking varied in effectiveness, Proton VPN NetShield still performed well, especially for a service that is primarily a VPN. Overall, I would recommend this provider if you want to get more features than a standard ad blocker can provide.
4. Avast Secure Browser – free secure browser with a built-in ad blocker for Android
| Free version: | Yes |
| Features: | Tracker, ad, and website blockers, adjustable ad-blocking modes, encrypted media vault |
| Customer support: | Live chat, phone, email, knowledge base |
| Current deal: | Avast Secure Browser now $4.58/month! |
Avast Secure Browser is a unique ad blocker as it offers its own browser to access websites safely and without annoying ads. Besides, it is completely free, making it one of the most appealing options in the market.
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Test results. Avast Secure Browser had probably the most polarizing results during our tests. For example, it worked better on the Android Nokia testing device than the Android Pixel 9. Then, on the Adblock test platform, it managed to block 91/100 ads – a remarkably good result. However, on the D3ward test platform, it only blocked 4/100 ads. Tracker-blocking tests also didn’t go that great. But, overall, it’s really impossible to state with any sort of confidence that Avast's Secure Browser is anything but effective against ads.
Compatibility with browsers and devices. Avast Secure Browser offers its own secure browser, though it is compatible with other platforms and operating systems. However, during the tests I noticed that different devices with the same operating system might have different ad blocking performance results, so check in advance if it will work with yours. Or you can always just download it, as it doesn’t cost a thing. On the plus side, Avast now also offers a VPN with its paid plan, as well as additional, stronger, ad-blocking features.
Pricing and subscription plans. You can get an Avast Secure Browser without paying a penny. The free version includes an ad blocker, anti-tracking capabilities, an extension guard, secure banking mode, a privacy cleaner, and encrypted syncing for bookmarks and history. The paid PRO version, costing $4.58/month, also has a VPN and supports multiple devices (compared to the free version’s 1).
Personal experience. The reason I ranked Avast Secure Browser so high, despite multiple issues during tests, is because I got to see its full capabilities. At times, when things went well during testing, Avast was perhaps one of the best-functioning and most effective ad blockers out of all that I have tested. Besides, I think that the issue could be more with the free version rather than Avast as an ad blocker in general. This suspicion is mainly confirmed by the fact that the paid PRO version is significantly more effective and pretty much faultless when used.
5. NordVPN Threat Protection - ad blocker with a user-friendly interface
| Free version: | Yes (free 7-day trial) |
| Features: | Malware protection, tracker and ad blocker, VPN for extra security |
| Customer support: | 24/7 live chat, email, blog, FAQs, user guide |
| Current deal: | Get NordVPN Threat Protection, 76% OFF + Amazon gift card |
NordVPN Threat Protection is another great ad blocker when it comes to ad filtering and tracker blocking. During our in-house tests, it showed quite a decent performance, blocking 86/100 on Chrome and 87/100 on Firefox via the Turtlecute test platform.
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
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Test results. Overall, NordVPN Threat Protection demonstrated strong performance, particularly in its ad-blocking capabilities, especially when tested on Turtlecute. However, there is still room for improvement. On the AdBlock Tester platform, it achieved a moderate result, successfully blocking 56/100 ads on Chrome and 57/100 ads on Firefox. In the CoverYourTracks tracker test, NordVPN Threat Protection provided some protection against web tracking on Firefox. Still, it failed to offer any protection on Chrome, highlighting gaps in its tracker-blocking abilities. While its ad-blocking results are solid, there is potential for some enhancements.
Compatibility with browsers and devices. NordVPN Threat Protection is available through the NordVPN app, which you can easily download from Google Play. It is compatible with Android devices, as well as iOS, macOS, and Windows operating systems. Regarding browsers, it works well with Firefox and Chrome, although its web-tracking protection is somewhat limited on the latter.
Pricing and subscription plans. NordVPN provides four different subscription tiers: Basic, Plus, Complete, and Prime. These plans are available for purchase monthly, yearly, or biennial. Each plan has a 30-day money-back guarantee and access to the Threat Protection feature. NordVPN's pricing starts at X, with longer subscription durations offering more affordable rates.
Personal experience. The NordVPN Android app is straightforward to use with its simple and intuitive interface. One improvement I appreciated was the update to the Threat Protection feature. Previously, it was only accessible through Settings, requiring a few extra steps to activate. Now, it's conveniently located in the main navigation bar, allowing me to quickly toggle it on and choose whether it should be active only while connected to the VPN or at all times. This small change has made a big difference in the overall user experience.
6. Ghostery – free Android ad blocker focused on tracker blocking
| Free version: | Yes |
| Features: | Tracker, ad, and pop-up blocker, private browser, private search |
| Customer support: | FAQs, email, GitHub repository, blog |
| Current deal: | Check out all coupons |
Customizable and effective, Ghostery is one of the best ad blockers for Firefox. With its new AI anti-tracking technology, this service provider recently made significant improvements in how it detects and blocks ads.
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Test results. It’s worth noting that Ghostery on Android is only available as a Firefox extension. However, ad blocking test results on Firefox were great – Ghostery blocked 100/100 ads in the Adblock test and 94/100 ads in the D3ward test. Tracker blocking results were also quite good, but not as good as multiple anti-tracker features would lead you to expect. Though, it’s still one of the best tracker blockers.
Compatibility with browsers and devices. While normally supporting more platforms and browsers, Ghostery is only available as a Firefox browser extension for Android devices. However, given how reliable and strong it is with blocking ads on Firefox, including video ones, it might be worth the adjustment. The installation process was very simple, especially for Ghostery’s free version, and the user interface makes the extension very easy to navigate. Most of the time, Ghostery just sorts things out for you; you’d hardly need to open settings to make adjustments.
Pricing and subscription plans. Ghostery is available as a free service. There are no paid plans, and the service itself is open-source. If you like it, you can make a monetary contribution, which would allow more improvements and support the admins. Like pretty much all free ad blockers, Ghostery only covers one device.
Personal experience. I liked using Ghostery, and I think it works very well for what it is – a free open-source ad blocker. Admittedly, Firefox is not my go-to browser, so the fact that Ghostery is only available as a Firefox extension is a bit of a downside for me. However, it’s definitely not a worthy reason not to give it a try, especially since it’s constantly improving.
How we selected and tested these Android ad blockers
To select the best Android ad blockers, we’ve performed thorough research and testing to see how functional and reliable the available options for Android are. Here are the key criteria we focused on:
| Compatibility: | Android app, browser extensions (like Chrome and Firefox) |
| Independent testing: | Positive results from AdBlocker and d3ward tests |
| Types of ads blocked: | Social media ads, banners, pop-ups, etc. |
| Blocking filters: | Fuss-free filtering, allow lists |
| Versatility: | Tracker and malicious sites blocking, additional functionalities, including filters, VPN, antivirus |
| Security: | Strong encryption |
| Privacy: | No-logs |
- Compatibility with Android (20%). We made sure our selected ad blocker tools were compatible with Android devices and functional on apps and browsers, since not all ad blockers support mobile devices.
- Independent testing (20%). We tested each provider using AdBlock Tester and d3ward, both of which measure the strength of the ad blocker and give you results based on the ad-blocking capability.
- Types of ads blocked (15%). Only the best ad blockers for Android can get rid of all sorts of ads, including pop-ups, banners, social media apps, video ads, and other types. We made sure that the tools on this list are versatile and can protect against all kinds of ads.
- Blocking filters (15%). With this feature, you can select which ads you want to avoid and which ones to keep, and configure the settings according to your preferences. Usually, the filters are provided in collections called filter lists.
- Versatility (10%). We looked into each ad blocker feature suite and tested it on Android devices. The best ad blocker will offer you complete protection against different kinds of ads, malware sites, and trackers. As a bonus, they may provide extra protection measures – a VPN, antivirus, secure cloud storage.
- Security (10%). Most ad blocker providers for Android don’t replace anti-malware software and won’t fully protect you from viruses, so we selected the providers with extra security to ensure top-class encryption.
- Privacy (10%). A reliable ad blocker will make sure you are not bombarded with annoying and potentially dangerous ads, but that is not the only privacy feature you should be looking at. For example, you want your ad blocker to follow a no-logs policy – Surfshark and Proton VPN do not track data, and so you can rest assured that the integrated ad-blockers will maintain your privacy too.
Best ad blockers for Android comparison
See how different Android ad blockers compare to each other:
| Android ad blocker | Rating | Price | Types of ads blocked | Ad-blocking score | Cookie removal | Free version available | YouTube ad blocking | Comes with |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surfshark CleanWeb | $2.19/month | Pop-ups, banners, video ads, cookie consent pop-ups, trackers, malware | 89/100 | ✅ Yes (on browser extensions only) | Yes (Free 7-day trial) | ✅ Yes (by using browser extension) | VPN or VPN+ antivirus bundle | |
| Total Adblock | $1.59/month | Pop-ups,banners, video ads, third-party trackers | 100/100 | ❌ No | Yes (Free 7-day trial) | ✅ Yes (through app or browser extension) | Stand alone or antivirus | |
| Proton VPN NetShield | $2.99/month | Trackers, malware | 74/100 | ❌ No | No (Only the VPN has a free version) | ❌ No | VPN | |
| Avast Secure Browser | Free | Pop-ups, banner ads, video ads, social media ads, browser notifications, browser fingerprinting and trackers | 91/100 | ✅ Yes | Yes | ✅ Yes | Private browser | |
| NordVPN Threat Protection | $4.39/month | Pop-ups, banners, video ads, cookie consent pop-ups, malware | 87/100 | ❌ No | Yes (Free 7-day trial) | ❌ No | VPN bundle | |
| Ghostery Ad Blocker | Free | Trackers, pop-ups, cookies | 100/100 | ✅ Yes | Yes | ✅ Yes (through browser extension) | Stand alone or private browser |
Why do you need an ad blocker on your Android device?
Advertisements can be annoying, disruptive, and even dangerous regardless of which device they appear on. However, they are particularly troublesome on mobile devices, such as Android smartphones, where ads can take up a lot of space and may be hard to close with a tap of a finger. Here are some of the main reasons why employing a reliable ad blocker on Android is recommended:
- Remove intrusive ads. Most websites and apps on Android rely on ads to generate income. A trusted ad blocker is the best tool to get rid of them and improve your browsing experience.
- Remove cookie notifications. A reliable ad blocker can hide cookie notifications without allowing or declining permission to use cookies. It lets you avoid cookie pop-ups on every website.
- Avoid phishing scams. Online scams can be planted almost anywhere, even inside harmless-looking ads. A powerful ad blocker will identify, block, and mitigate targeted threats and ransomware on your Android device.
- Secure your Android device. With a fully-fledged ad blocker suite, you are likely to get additional protection via such extra features as a VPN or antivirus, and secure your Android even further.
- Reduce data usage and save battery life. Ads can take up space and data. Hence, using an ad blocker will save your mobile data, improve browsing speeds, and save your Android’s battery life.
What is the best free ad blocker for Android?
Some of the free ad blockers for Android might be safe. However, we don’t recommend them. Free services are limited in supported platforms, features, security, and what they offer to your device overall.
Built-in free browser ad blockers for Android might not block ads and pop-ups or might be designed to block only a certain type of ads. Simply put, it’s limited in its capabilities and can minimally solve the annoying ads.
If you want to have a safe, ad-free browsing experience, investing in a premium option is the way to go. To test a top-class ad blocker risk-free, take advantage of a free trial and use money-back guarantees:
- Surfshark CleanWeb. This VPN provider with a built-in ad blocker blocks all types of adware and phishing attempts. You can try it for free with a 7-day free trial or a 30-day money-back guarantee as well.
- Total Adblock. Block all sorts of adware and prevent pop-ups on your Android device. Try the service for free – use a 30-day money-back guarantee or a 7-day free trial.
Browsers with built-in ad blockers for Android devices
If you’d prefer using a browser with an already built-in ad blocker rather than getting a separate ad blocker app for your Android device or manually configuring it via DNS, there are a few powerful options you can choose.
Google Chrome comes with a built-in ad blocker for the majority of Android devices. It has been updated to block the ads by default. However, it still passes through many of them alongside other intrusive and potentially dangerous malvertising.
Here are some other high-quality browsers with built-in ad blockers:
- Firefox – although Firefox doesn’t have a built-in ad-blocker, the Firefox Add-ons are available to Android users.
- Opera browser – can work with another ad blocker add-on or app.
- Pure Browser – easy-to-use and configure, smooth ad-free browsing experience with improved performance and speeds.
- Dolphin Browser – fast loading times and powerful ad-blocking engine.
- Vivaldi – integrated ad blocker will not only block intrusive ads but also protect your Android devices from trackers.
Video review
If you feel like watching a video instead, check out our video on how to block ads on Android devices. You'll learn all about the top three ad blocker tools and their functionality.
Conclusion
There are many options when it comes to getting an ad blocker for your Android device. The selection ranges from free ad blocker apps to ad blockers built into browsers to fully-fledged ad-proof online protection suites.
You can pin down your choice by deciding what your needs are and how determined you are about preventing notorious adware, ransomware, and malvertising on your Android device.
We recommend Surfshark CleanWeb for the best ad-blocking services. This Android-compatible tool blocks ads, trackers, scripts, and malicious websites. Independent tests by AdBlock Tester and d3ward have shown excellent ad-blocking capabilities, too, and, on top of all that, the tool is budget-friendly.
More Ad blocker guides from Cybernews:
How to bypass adblock detection on any website: easily bypass ad blocker restrictions
How to block ads on Android in 2025: remove online threats from your Android
How to get rid of ads on Instagram in 2025: safely browse Instagram ad-free
Best ad blockers for Chrome in 2025: use Chrome without annoying ads or pop-ups
FAQ
Which ad blocker is the best for Android?
Surfshark CleanWeb is the best ad blocker for Android. It’s designed to remove pop-ups and mute all notifications in your browser and apps. This tool also blocks banners, video ads, and third-party trackers, this way protecting private user data. Also, it comes with a VPN for enhanced protection.
Does Android have built-in ad blocker?
Yes, Google Chrome has a built-in ad blocker to disable annoying and intrussive ads and pop-ups. On Android, you can enable ad-blocking via the Settings menu: Settings > Site settings > Pop-ups and redirects (turn toggle on); and Site settings > Intrusive ads (turn toggle on).
Is there a 100% free ad blocker app for Android?
Yes, Ghostery is a free ad blocker for Android. However, it doesn’t actually have a dedicated ad-blocker app. Instead, it operates as a private browser that offers a private search engine and protects devices from trackers.
How do you activate an ad blocker on Android?
To activate an ad blocker on Android, you will need to manually configure your DNS settings and Chrome browser settings, install an ad blocker on your device, or use an alternative browser with a built-in ad blocker. The configuration will depend on the method you select.
Is there an Android browser that blocks all ads?
Yes, Avast has a browser called Avast Secure Browser that comes with a built-in ad blocker for Android devices. It can block different types of advertisements, notifications, and trackers.
Does Samsung have a built-in ad blocker?
No, Samsung doesn’t have a built-in ad blocker. However, you can ensure clean browsing without ads when using the Samsung Internet web browser. To activate ad-blocking, open the menu from the bottom-right corner (three horizontal bars) and click Ad blockers. Now, Download the chosen ad blocker app.
