Best Ad Blockers for Firefox in 2023

There are many benefits to using an ad blocker for Firefox. After all, it's not just about saving yourself from annoying ads – ad blockers protect your privacy, security and personal data.

While advertisements are a big part of the internet, they affect your browsing experience. When you prevent ads from displaying, you save mobile data on your phone and stop potential cyber threats.

A good ad blocker will be able to block content like pop-ups, videos, animations, banners, and more. Most of them are also capable of muting cookie consent and newsletter notifications. Some can even offer a VPN to hide your browsing traffic!

To ensure the best possible browsing experience, we tested dozens of Firefox ad blockers and compiled a list of the top 5. Continue reading to see our lineup!

Top 5 best Firefox ad blockers for 2023

1. NordVPN Threat Protection – overall best FireFox ad blocker
2. Total Adblock – great for blocking Firefox ads on mobile devices
3. Surfshark Cleanweb – well-performing Firefox extension
4. Atlas VPN SafeBrowse – budget-friendly Firefox ad blocker
5. Proton VPN NetShield – good ad blocker and fast VPN duo

What to look for in the best ad blocker for Firefox?

The ad blocker market offers a lot of variety, but not all software is made equal. To help you pick the best ad blocker for Firefox, we suggest looking at these factors:

• Blocking quality. Ads may not be the only things you want to get rid of. There are also pop-ups, cookie consent notifications, and trackers that may interrupt your time online. Thus it's important to look at what kind of ads the provider can block.
• Malware protection. It's no secret that some ads may be hiding malware. You can protect yourself by choosing a provider that offers malware detection.
• User experience. Good ad block providers make it easy to switch between settings and features. However, bad ones may be even more annoying to navigate than the ads themselves. The best providers will offer you free trials and money-back guarantees, so you can test and get to know the product better.
• Trustworthiness. Some ad blockers, especially free ones, are known for being shady. If you don’t want an ad blocker to steal your private data or infect your device with malware, pick a provider with a spotless reputation. There shouldn't be any recent data breaches and leaks.
• Price. When compared to free ad blockers, paid ones typically deliver more features and protection. However, they shouldn't cost a fortune. Determine a price range that works for you and ensure that you’re getting all the features you want.

The best Firefox ad blockers – our detailed list:

Every provider in this list offers a top-notch service. They remove all sorts of unwanted content while mitigating common privacy concerns and providing a great online experience.

1. NordVPN Threat Protection – overall best Firefox ad blocker

Free version:	Yes (Free 7-day trial)
Supported platforms:	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Brave, Opera, and Edge
Customer support:	24/7 live chat, email, guides and articles, FAQs
Current deal:	🔥Get NordVPN Threat Protection, now 50% OFF!🔥

Visit NordVPN Threat Protection

NordVPN won the first spot on our list for its highly efficient and reliable Firefox ad blocker, Threat Protection. The software handles all kinds of adware with ease. Whether it's third-party cookies, malicious banners, pop-ups, malware, or autoplay video ads, with Threat Protection, they simply disappear.

The best part about NordVPN Threat Protection is that it combines world-class VPN, malware and phishing protection. This bundle guarantees well-rounded security against all threats and annoyances.

Features. NordVPN has plenty of features focused on security and good user experience. For instance, the URL trimming tool removes tracking parameters attached to URL links. Meanwhile, the ad-blocking feature prevents unwanted ads from displaying, reducing loading time.

Test results. NordVPN Threat Protection is a high-performing tool. When tested on Mac, the Adblock Tester gave the provider 95/100 points. When tested on the Firefox extension on Windows, the provider missed only the Google Analytics tools and static images.

Additionally, Can you block it test went almost flawlessly. The ad blocker hasn't blocked only the direct link ad. However, this one type of ad is not going to ruin your browsing experience.

Pricing. You can try out Threat Protection with a free 7-day trial. Then, you can upgrade to your chosen plan, starting at $3.49/month.

For more information about this feature, check out our NordVPN Threat Protection review.

2. Total Adblock – great for blocking Firefox ads on mobile devices

Free version:	Yes (Free 7-day trial)
Supported platforms:	Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, and Edge
Customer support:	24/7 live chat, email, guides and articles, FAQs
Current deal:	🔥Get 75% OFF Total Adblock!🔥

Visit Total AdBlock

Total Adblock is another great provider, powered by effective filters that remove various types of adware. It flawlessly handles ads, banners, third-party trackers, video ads, and pop-ups on the Firefox browser.

The ad blocker is a part of the top-rated TotalAV security suite. So if you're looking for additional antivirus protection, Total Adblock paired with TotalAV suite is the way to go.

Features. Total Adblock gives you a speed boost by blocking unwanted content. It is designed to catch adware with base, tracking protection, social media, and annoyance filters. They can remove even the most frustrating content, such as cookie notices and pop-ups.

Total Adblock is not only concerned with protecting you from ads but also with maintaining privacy. Thus the provider doesn't store or log any of your data.

Test results. Test results speak for themselves – Total Adblock gets the job done. We ran the Adblock Tester for the Firefox extension on both macOS and Windows devices, receiving the same score of 94/100. Total Adblock didn't pass only the error monitoring part of the test. Meanwhile, the Can you block it test showed no flaws.

Pricing. You can try out Total Adblock for 7 days free of charge. Then, you'll be asked to upgrade for a price starting $2.42/month to continue using the service.

To find out more about the full service package, visit our TotalAV review.

3. Surfshark Cleanweb – well-performing Firefox extension

Free version:	Yes (Free 7-day trial)
Supported platforms:	Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, FireTV, Android TV
Customer support:	24/7 live chat, email, guides and articles, FAQs
Current deal:	🔥84% OFF Surfshark CleanWeb 2.0 + 2 months FREE!🔥

Visit Surfshark CleanWeb

Surfshark CleanWeb is another effective and budget-friendly ad blocker integrated into a VPN service. It offers close-to-perfect ad-blocking capabilities, efficiently removing ads, pop-ups, banners, video ads, cookie notices, and trackers.

CleanWeb is a great option for those in need of well-rounded security. With the Surfshark One bundle, you can remove malware, utilize the Safe Search feature and protect your data with a VPN.

Features. CleanWeb has a private search engine that can prevent trackers from prying on your browsing habits. In addition, you'll receive alerts about your personal data leaks and the websites you visit.

The provider tops it all off with malware protection. CleanWeb efficiently detects malicious ads, protecting you from infections.

Test results. When we ran Adblock Tester on the macOS app, CleanWeb blocked everything in the Firefox browser except the Google Analytics tools, Gif images, static images, and error monitoring. As a result, it scored 70/100 points. Meanwhile, the same test on the Firefox extension was absolutely flawless, resulting in a 100/100 score.

Similarly, the Can you block it test showed some issues on the macOS app but was nearly perfect on the Firefox extension.

Pricing. SurfShark CleanWeb clean web comes with a friendly price that starts at $2.30/month. You can also try it out with 7-day free trial.

To learn more about this service, check out our Surfshark One review.

4. Atlas VPN SafeBrowse – budget-friendly Firefox ad blocker

Free version:	No (Only the VPN has a free version)
Supported platforms:	Chrome, Firefox, Safari,Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows
Customer support:	24/7 live chat, email, guides and articles, FAQs
Current deal:	🔥81% OFF Atlas VPN SafeBrowse!🔥

Visit Atlas VPN SafeBrowse

Atlas VPN SafeBrowse ad blocker is another reliable and secure provider with integrated malware protection. Not only does it block ads, 3rd party trackers, malware, and video ads, but SafeBrowse also protects against phishing, ransomware, and other attacks.

To increase security even more, SafeBrowse offers a VPN service. The high level of protection covers all of the protection basis, starting with your browser and ending with your device.

Features. SafeBrowse pays special attention to the websites you browse. Once the malicious activity is detected, it immediately blocks access to a dangerous website, preventing possible infection.

The ad blocker is very effective at tracing and blocking trackers, too. You'll see exactly how well it works by checking the dashboard for a list of trackers SafeBrowse detected and blocked.

Test results. Atlas VPN offers sufficient ad blocking. We run an AdBlock tester on both Windows and macOS apps. SafeBrowse managed to block all ads on the Firefox browser, except for Gifs, static images, and error monitoring, scoring 74/100. Meanwhile, the macOS app scored 68/100 points for failing Google analytics tools, Gifs, static images, and error monitoring tests. While the difference is minor, the overall browsing experience is slightly better on Windows devices.

When we ran the Can you block it test, the results were similar. SafeBrowse couldn't remove some pop-under ads, video ads, and direct link ads.

Pricing. SafeBrowse isn't available for free, but it comes with every Atlas VPN plan. The prices don't bite and start at $2.05/month.

For more information about the Atlas VPN package, read our Atlas VPN review.

5. Proton VPN NetShield – good ad blocker with several layers of protection

Free version:	No (Only the VPN has a free version)
Supported platforms:	Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows
Customer support:	24/7 live chat, email, knowledge base, FAQs
Current deal:	🔥Get up to 50% OFF Proton VPN NetShield!🔥

Visit ProtonVPN NetShield

A security-minded Proton VPN provider delivers NetShield, an efficient ad blocker with several layers of protection. It can handle ads and trackers as well as malware threats.

As the name suggests, Proton VPN includes NetShield with its virtual private network service. The best part about it is a VPN Accelerator. If you're concerned about speed while using a VPN and an ad blocker together, the feature helps retain a fast connection and performance.

Features. NetShield gives you full control over the level of protection you need. You can turn off ad blocking with just one click. Or you can leave only the malware detection on. Of course, there's an option that allows you to block malware, ads, and trackers simultaneously.

Test results. Similarly to some other providers, NetShield's app performs better on a Windows device. The AdBlock tester scored NetShield with 76/100 points when tested on the Firefox browser. The macOS app test resulted in a score of 68/100. The provider hasn't passed only the Google Analytics tools, Gif image, static image, and error monitoring tests. However, Can you block it tests were identical on both platforms – NetShield did not pass only the direct link ads.

Pricing. While the NetShield ad blocker comes only with the premium Proton VPN subscription starting at $4.99/month, it's a fair deal since it allows for 10 simultaneous connections.

For more information about the features of this service, refer to our Proton VPN review.

How we selected and tested Firefox ad blockers

We gathered the list of best ad blockers for Firefox by putting providers to extensive testing and analysis. Here are the most important criteria we looked at:

• Independent testing. We run several tests to ensure that providers deliver on their promises. Such tests as Adblock Tester and Can you block it helps us determine the types of ads you can expect a provider to handle.
• Additional features. A good ad blocker does not merely block ads. It should also provide additional features, such as URL trimming to remove tracking parameters. Various customization modes are a good measure of the tool's usability.
• Overall protection. Having all security tools in a single bundle can be extremely handy. That's why we analyzed what features each provider offers to enhance their customers' security. For example, a provider that offers a VPN will allow users to protect their browsing traffic. On top of that, malware detection increases their device security.
• Platform compatibility. We tested to see how providers perform on various devices and browsers. Good platform compatibility is important to ensure that an ad blocker is compatible with the Firefox browser on various desktop and mobile devices. This will allow you to have protection on all systems you use.
• Price. Many providers offer mediocre service for a significant price. Thus, we evaluated how well the price matches the value each provider offers.

Why do you need to block ads on your Firefox browser?

The main reason to install an ad blocker is to reduce the number of ads you see. This will, in turn, save you bandwidth and also improve your browsing experience by removing intrusive ads. However, there are more reasons why you need ad blocker.

First of all, ad blockers improve privacy. Some advertisers use tracking cookies to monitor your online activity, which can be used for targeted advertising. They know exactly what pages you visit and where you go next. By blocking tracking cookies, you can prevent this from happening.

Then, there are those websites that are simply cluttered with ads. Not only do they annoy you by getting in the way of the content, they also reduce the loading speed. This is especially problematic on mobile devices, where users are often limited in terms of data usage and battery life. Your best option to increase speed, reduce data consumption and improve your browsing experience is simply using an adblocker.

Yet, the biggest benefit of using an ad blocker is that it protects you from malicious ads that can infect your computer with malware or track your browsing habits without your knowledge. These malicious ads are often the result of malvertising attacks, which exploit vulnerabilities in web browsers or browser plugins to display unwanted content on websites.

Firefox's built-in ad-blocking features

Mozilla Firefox is one of the most privacy-minded browsers on the market. Though, it is no surprise that the provider offers a decent built-in content blocker. The browser-native feature can block two types of content – trackers, and cookies. However, the content blocker does have some issues to consider.

The most notable feature is Enhanced Tracking Protection. Designed to automatically protect users’ privacy as they browse, the tool effectively blocks various trackers and malware.

By default, Firefox can recognize and block these types of trackers and scripts:

The Enhanced Tracking Protection tool comes with three modes. The Standard mode allows the pages to load normally while blocking the trackers. It is optimized for adequate protection and performance. Then, there's Strict Enhanced Tracking Protection. It's even more effective at blocking trackers. However, it increases the risk of encountering broken sites. The third mode allows users to customize what they want to block with the Custom mode.

While tracking protection is designed to improve privacy, it can get in the way of user experience. From time to time, Firefox users, who enable tracking protection, can encounter broken or strange-looking websites. That is because, as Mozilla explains it, Firefox must also block the content to block the trackers. Websites often conceal trackers in login fields, forms, comments, videos and so on.

However, Mozilla is constantly working on improving its tracker protection. Recently, it rolled out SmartBlock, an intelligent tracker-blocking tool for Firefox Private Browsing and Strict Mode. It dramatically improves the browsing experience by reducing broken sites.

Now, what about cookies? Firefox lets you get rid of them too. Recently, Mozilla introduced Total Cookie Protection, which confines cookies to the site that created them, effectively preventing cookie sharing with tracking companies.

While tracking and cookie protection are great tools to enhance your privacy, they are just one piece of the browsing experience puzzle. So, if you're wondering whether you still need an additional ad blocker for Firefox, the answer is clear – yes, you do. An ad blocker will remove all types of adware. And if you pick an excellent provider, such as a NordVPN Threat Protection, you’ll also get a VPN, malware protection, and other features.

Visit NordVPN Threat Protection

How to turn off the ad blocker on Mozilla Firefox?

Mozilla Firefox offers a decent built-in content blocker, but it has flaws. The content blocker may make the site look broken when it prevents ads and other content featuring trackers from loading. The best way to fix that is to turn off the content blocker on the broken website. This method also works as a whitelisting feature.

The process is quite easy:

1. Click on the shield icon to the left of the address bar.

2. Then, toggle the switch at the top of the panel.

That's it, the website is now whitelisted!

How do I block YouTube ads on Firefox?

YouTube receives a major part of its revenue from advertising. Thus, it's safe to safe that prerolled ads are here to stay. However, it's hard to argue that these are not annoying. They ruin the browsing experience and are often very irrelevant to you. Naturally, you might be thinking, 'How do I block YouTube ads on Firefox?'. The answer is simple – use an ad blocker.

One of the few reasons you may want to continue seeing ads on YouTube is to support your favorite content creators. Many YouTubers rely on ad revenue to make income from their content. While turning the ad blocker off will support content creators, however, the reasons against ads may make you reconsider.

It's no secret that many ads on the internet are a product of spam or even malicious activity. Some advertisers aim to steal your data or even inject your device with malware. It would help if you always were careful where you click. However, ad blockers can minimize this risk.

Furthermore, ads may interrupt load time and video buffering. This is a major concern for those with a slow or shared internet connection. If you've noticed that it takes forever to load videos on YouTube, ads may be part of the problem.

All things considered, if you decide to block YouTube ads on Firefox, you'll be able to prevent security threats and improve your privacy as well as your overall browsing experience. All you have to do is pick a suitable provider.

Are free ad blockers for Firefox safe?

The short answer is no. Free ad blockers for Firefox aren't safe. While we're all tempted by free services, the truth is that nothing is really free. On the surface, you may not see the difference between some free and paid providers, but free ad blockers come with risks that you should know about.

First, free ad blockers don't necessarily block all ads all of the time. We tested a handful of free providers and noticed a mediocre performance. Missed pop-ups, the inability to block cookie consent notifications, and Google analytics tools are just the tip of the iceberg.

Free ad blockers often fail, but not only at blocking ads. The security they offer needs to be fixed too. Remember the Nano Ad blocker breach back in 2020? The new developers purposely tampered with user Instagram accounts after injecting malicious code into the ad blocker, which had more than 200,000 downloads.

Remember that developing an ad blocker is not simple or cheap. The process requires resources. Thus they are forced to monetize their products somehow. Reputable providers will collect a competitive fee and ensure a top-quality product. Free providers, on the other hand, may track your online activity and sell this data to third parties.

So is a free ad blocker worth the risk? Our answer is – definitely not. Since many trustworthy ad blockers on the market do not break the bank and offer well-rounded protection for your device, taking a risk with a free ad blocker is simply not worth it.

Conclusion

Ad blockers have made their mark for protecting users from annoying and often malicious ads. They also handle trackers that prey on your browsing habits without your knowledge. Let's not forget that the software makes scrolling through the web experience a little less frustrating by also removing pop-ups and cookie notifications.

However, many assume free ad blockers are just as safe as paid ones. In reality, paid ad blocker providers are concerned about their reputation and user data safety, free ones – not so much. Not to mention that free providers offer mediocre blocking capabilities.

When we tested top providers on the market, we were pleasantly surprised by NordVPN Threat Protection. It passed the tests with flying colors, which means it can block almost any unwanted content. It also comes with a VPN service, which will encrypt your browsing traffic for extra anonymity. But let's be honest, you might be tempted to use it for unblocking the geo-restricted content on Netflix, as well.

FAQ