Best YouTube ad blockers in September 2024

YouTube ad blockers effectively block annoying ads and protect your online privacy by blocking third-party trackers. YouTube ad blockers are a cheaper alternative to YouTube Premium subscriptions.

However, YouTube is enforcing strict rules against the use of ad blockers and taking steps to ensure that all users contribute to the ecosystem that supports its creators.

As of June 2024, the platform is using new measures to block videos for users who haven't disabled their ad blockers. In light of this, we at Cybernews thoroughly tested a dozen ad blockers to see whether the YouTube adblock crackdown really means the end for ad blocking tools. Our recent tests showed that some ad blockers still work on YouTube without being detected.

Below is a list of the 5 best YouTube ad blockers in 2024. Continue reading and pick the best ad blocker for YouTube – recently tested and reviewed by the Cybernews expert research team.

Best YouTube ad blockers for 2024 – shortlist

1. Surfshark CleanWeb – best ad blocker for YouTube in 2024
2. Total Adblock – versatile YouTube ad blocker
3. NordVPN Threat Protection – trustworthy YouTube ad blocker with a money-back guarantee
4. Ghostery Ad Blocker – YouTube ad blocker for mobile
5. uBlock origin – customizable ad blocker for ads in browsers

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Why should you use an ad blocker for YouTube?

You should be using a YouTube ad blocker simply because it’s convenient. YouTube has gotten way too comfortable with displaying advertisements over the years, placing more than one on a single video. Aside from being annoying, it interrupts your online experience. So, here are some benefits of using a YouTube ad blocker:

• Skip middle-of-the-video ads. You already watched an ad at the beginning of the video, and you deserve to watch a 15-minute video without additional annoyances. YouTube ad blockers let you enjoy seamless streaming altogether.
• Avoid unskippable ads. Some advertisers or YouTubers decide that you can’t skip a particular ad, making you sit through a 20-second video about something you may not even care about. The easiest way to avoid this is, you’ve guessed it… getting a reliable ad blocker.
• Ensure more privacy. YouTube collects your personal information to personalize ads and lure you into the consumerism trap. Getting an ad blocker in a VPN package ensures data privacy as well as third-party tracker avoidance.
• Improve performance. Ad blockers can help to improve the performance of your browser and YouTube by reducing the amount of data that’s loaded. This can be especially beneficial if you have a slow internet connection.
• Save money. Ad blockers can help you to save money by preventing you from being exposed to targeted advertising. When you watch a video on YouTube, advertisers can use your viewing history to target you with ads for products and services that you may be interested in. By blocking ads, you can avoid this and save money on impulse purchases.

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• Blocks various types of ads
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• Compatible with browsers and mobile devices

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The best ad blockers for YouTube – detailed list:

Watching YouTube without ads requires getting a reliable ad blocker that’s compatible with the devices you own and can block YouTube ads anywhere. With the most recent YouTube attempts to block ad blockers and new server-side ad injection methods, our Cybernews research team newly tested each ad blocker on our list. In the process, we tested the ad blockers on different devices and operating systems to make sure that they still work and can effectively block YouTube ads anywhere. Below are our top ad blocker picks based on the YouTube ad blocking tests, device compatibility, available features, and pricing.

1. Surfshark CleanWeb – the best YouTube ad blocker in 2024

Visit Surfshark CleanWeb

Surfshark is the best ad blocker for YouTube, especially for those who value great features for an affordable price. If a low-cost ad blocker with extra privacy is what you’re looking for, Surfshark CleanWeb and CleanWeb 2.0 features are just that and more. They remove YouTube and many other ads, cookie consent pop-ups, trackers, and malicious content.

YouTube ad blocking test results. Surfshark delivered a solid performance in our tests, especially on mobile apps, where it successfully blocked YouTube video ads in both the browser and app versions. While some sponsored content in the suggestions bar was still visible, there were no issues on macOS or within its browser extensions. The CleanWeb 2.0 feature worked smoothly across platforms. On Windows, the app started removing ads after a few videos, though it encountered occasional challenges on Firefox.

Features. Surfshark CleanWeb implements a cookie pop-up blocker. This helps put a stop to every site asking for cookie consent. The ad blocker comes with the Surfshark VPN or the whole Surfshark One bundle. The latter also includes data breach alerts and a private search engine on top of a time-tested VPN.

Compatibility. You can get Surfshark CleanWeb on most devices, including Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, Fire TV, and iOS. The CleanWeb 2.0 feature is available on browser extensions only (Chrome, Firefox, and Edge).

Pricing. If you get CleanWeb with the Surfshark VPN service, you’ll pay as low as $2.19/month for unlimited devices. You can even get a 7-day free trial. The Surfshark One bundle, however, costs $3.98/month and comes with many beneficial additions. Whichever option you pick, a 30-day money-back guarantee is also there.

You can read more about this service in our in-depth Surfshark CleanWeb review.

2. Total Adblock – a great YouTube ad blocker for different types of ads

Visit Total AdBlock

Total Adblock is a great YouTube ad blocker that still works in 2024, based on our testing. It can remove various other types of ads aside from countless interruptive YouTube ones. It can also eliminate trackers, pop-ups, and banners. So you not only remove annoyances but also improve your online privacy posture.

YouTube ad blocking test results. The setup of Total AdBlock was quick, taking less than 3 minutes. In our July 2024 tests, it effectively blocked YouTube ads across both mobile apps and desktop devices. Whether using the YouTube app or website on Chrome or Safari, Total AdBlock consistently removed ad interruptions. Similarly, its browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge performed well, ensuring YouTube ads were blocked across the board.

Features. Total Adblock allows whitelisting ads and pop-ups when they’re acceptable. If you’re a mobile device user, you’ll be able to make use of various convenient blocking filters. You can also get this ad blocker with the Total Security antivirus package. This way, you also get a full-on malware protection and removal tool.

Compatibility. You can get Total Adblock on iOS and Android. While it’s not available as an app on desktop devices, you can use it as a browser extension on Chrome, Edge, Safari, Opera, and Firefox browsers.

Pricing: Total Adblock is completely free for 7 days. If you wish to continue using it, it’ll cost $1.59/month (a 14-day money-back guarantee is in place). Alternatively, you can opt for the Total Security antivirus package. Its prices start from $49/year and it comes with a 30-day refund policy.

To learn more about this service package, read our Total Adblock review.

3. NordVPN Threat Protection – trustworthy YouTube ad blocker

Visit NordVPN Threat Protection

NordVPN Threat Protection is another ad blocker that works on YouTube in 2024. Aside from YouTube ads, it can remove pop-ups, banners, autoplay video ads, trackers, and even malicious files.

YouTube ad blocking test results. According to our tests and research, the NordVPN Threat Protection DNS filter is a good YouTube ad blocker. In June 2024 tests, it successfully blocked ads on YouTube with the iOS and Android NordVPN apps. The Threat Protection DNS filter on NordVPN browser extensions blocked all YouTube ads on Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Edge. Unfortunately, the desktop app Threat Protection feature on Windows and Mac didn’t block any YouTube ads, so my recommendation is to only use the browser extensions for desktop devices.

Features. With NordVPN Threat Protection Pro, you get the URL trimming feature. It deletes tracking parameters from the URLs you visit so you won’t be tracked. Additionally, it scans the files you download to prevent malware from getting into your device. The ad blocker comes in a VPN package, letting you watch your guilty pleasure YouTube videos privately.

Compatibility. DNS filtering is available on the NordVPN Threat Protection Pro (and Lite) feature. Threat Protection Lite is available on Safari, Chrome, Opera, Brave, and Edge browsers. Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS apps also include the Threat Protection Pro tool.

Pricing. You can get Threat Protection Pro with the Plus and Ultimate NordVPN plans. The prices start from $3.99/month, and you can also use the free 7-day trial. In any case, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re left unsatisfied.

You can learn more about the other features in our NordVPN Threat Protection review.

4. Ghostery ad blocker – a free YouTube ad blocker app

Visit Ghostery

Ghostery Ad Blocker is primarily a tracker blocker, but it also blocks pop-ups, ads, and even cookies. Additionally, it seems to work with YouTube ads as well.

YouTube ad blocking test results. During our most recent tests, Ghostery Ad Blocker successfully blocked YouTube ads on various popular browsers. This includes Chrome, Firefox, Opera Safari, and Edge browsers.

Features. The Ghostery Ad Blocker application allows users to customize the tracker blocking, as well as see statistics on which ads and trackers were removed. You can also use the Never Consent feature to remove cookie notifications and whitelist websites.

Compatibility. Ghostery is available as a browser extension on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge browsers, as well as an app for Mac, Windows, and iOS. There is also a mobile app called Ghostery Private Browser which also includes ad and tracker blocking.

Pricing. Ghostery Ad Blocker is a completely free ad blocker and private browser. Additionally, if you sympathize with its mission, you can support the creators with donations.

For more information, check out our Ghostery review.

5. uBlock origin – free ad blocker extension for YouTube on desktop

Visit uBlock Origin

uBlock origin is a free and open-source ad blocker available as a browser extension on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera browsers. In our tests, it proved to block a variety of ads, including those on YouTube.

YouTube ad blocking test results. Our most recent 2024 tests revealed that uBlock origin can successfully block ads on Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari, and Edge browsers, on Windows and macOS. Unfortunately, uBlock origin is not available as a mobile app, so you will have to find another mobile ad blocker to block YouTube ads.

Features. uBlock origin is a pretty extensive ad blocker for browsers and includes a variety of settings and filtering options. In the settings, you can adjust whether you want to see placeholders for blocked ads, the number of blocked requests, enable or disable cosmetic filtering, and more. Furthermore, you can adjust, add, and disable filter lists, as well as add your own filters and rules. Whitelisting is also available.

Compatibility. uBlock origin is available as a browser extension for Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Opera, and Edge, as well as a manual installation. Unfortunately, there is no mobile application.

Pricing. uBlock origin is completely free and open-source, and you can easily install it on your own browser. The creator of uBlock origin does not accept any donations or sponsorships, but you can get in touch with them if you want to contribute otherwise.

Comparing the best YouTube ad blockers

Different ad blockers are more or less suitable for different devices and browsers. Below you’ll find different picks based on your needs.

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How we selected and tested YouTube ad blockers

We started our tests by filtering out unreliable ad blockers. Then, we researched the products and tested their blocking capabilities. Here are the criteria we looked at:

• YouTube ad blocking capabilities. We tested each ad blocker with the YouTube app on different devices and the YouTube site on major browsers. All of the ad blockers on our list are capable of blocking YouTube ads on multiple devices.
• Other ad blocking capabilities. The best ad blockers are beneficial not only for YouTube ad removal. We made sure to pick providers that are capable of blocking ads and other interruptions, such as intrusive third-party trackers and cookie consent pop-up ads, on your favorite websites.
• Extra features. Ad blockers that come as part of cybersecurity tools, such as antivirus or VPN, are great picks. This way, you not only stop intrusive interruptions but also protect yourself and your data from threat actors.
• Compatibility. We made sure to only include ad blockers that are available on various operating systems or browsers. Since you can use all of our ranked ad blockers on multiple devices with one account, compatibility is an important decision factor.
• Value for your money. We made sure that for the price you pay, you’re getting yourself more than just an ad blocker. The products we picked are affordable and offer much more than just YouTube ad blocking. This includes extra online security from hackers or privacy from third-party trackers.

What to look for in the best YouTube ad blocker?

The best ad blockers for YouTube do exactly what the name implies – remove ads on YouTube. So naturally, here are some of the factors you should consider when getting an ad blocker for this platform:

• Great ad blocking capabilities. Do prior research and find out whether the ad blocker of your choice can block YouTube ads on your device or browser. The ad blockers on our list can all block ads on the platform effortlessly.
• Additional security features. If an ad blocker comes with a VPN or antivirus package, you’re already getting a great deal. That’s because you get additional cybersecurity benefits, such as malware removal or complete personal data privacy. All that for a much better price than that of YouTube Premium.
• Intuitive apps. Before getting an ad blocker, make sure it’s compatible with your device or browser. Some ad blockers have a very limited number of apps or don’t have browser extension versions at all.
• Affordable prices. Ad blockers shouldn’t be expensive, even if you’re getting them with an additional security service, such as an antivirus or VPN. A few bucks a month will do the trick just as well.

How to use YouTube with an ad blocker?

YouTube and ad blockers don’t have a good relationship, and sometimes your ad blocker might not work or get detected. Here are some tips on how to watch YouTube with an ad blocker and avoid getting detected:

1. Use one ad blocker at a time. Choose one reliable ad blocker for YouTube – don’t keep several extensions or apps turned on at the same time. The more ad blockers you use at the same time, the easier it is for YouTube to detect you.
2. Use apps instead of extensions. Ad blocker apps usually have more functionalities and filtering options compared to browser extensions. Besides, since it is a system-wide application, the ad blocking will extend not only to YouTube but to other sites and applications as well.
3. Update your ad blocker. The pre-defined rules and filter list databases are constantly being updated. Install every ad blocker update to make sure that the latest functionalities are enabled.
4. Disable JavaScript. Some websites, including YouTube, may use JavaScript code to spot active ad blockers – it uses bait ads to detect when an ad blocker has made changes to the site. By disabling JavaScript on your browser, you can bypass this detection technique. Keep in mind that this might impact site performance.
5. Use your browser’s reading mode. A reading mode or reading mode extension will block JavaScript from running on YouTube and therefore disable ad blocker detection. Keep in mind that reading mode also will simplify the webpage, which can impact the performance and appearance of the site.

For more tips on how to use YouTube with an ad blocker, check out our guide for bypassing ad blocker detection on YouTube.

Why is my YouTube ad blocker not working anymore?

As of June 2024, YouTube is experimenting with a new approach to ads on its platform – server-side ad insertion. This approach makes it even more difficult for ad blockers to detect and block server requests for ads since the ad is being inserted (stitched) directly into the video stream before it reaches your device. That means that an ad essentially becomes a part of the video itself.

Therefore, instead of finding new ways to detect ad blockers, YouTube resorts to finding and experimenting with new ways to serve ads to users. However, it must be noted that the server-side ad insertion is still in its experimental phase. All of the ad blockers on this list can still block YouTube ads – as proved by our extensive tests.

YouTube Premium for ad-free YouTube – is it worth the money?

Whether YouTube Premium is worth your money depends on how much YouTube you watch and what perks you need. YouTube Premium is a paid subscription that completely removes ads on YouTube and lets you enjoy videos in the background or download them. You also get access to YouTube Music Premium.

To make you pay for ad-less viewing or to allow ads, YouTube is employing harsher measures against ad blockers. Some users reported video loading delays when using an ad blocker. Others also complained about YouTube not allowing you to play the video until the ad blocker is disabled.

However, despite the intense YouTube ad blocker crackdown, many Reddit users agree that getting background play and removing ads is just not worth paying $13.99/month. Especially if you watch only a few videos per day.

Instead, you can pay around less and get an ad blocker. For instance, if you get Surfshark CleanWeb, you get to block ads for only $2.19/month.

Conclusion

YouTube and ad blockers are still at war – ad blockers are finding new ways to bypass YouTube’s ad block detection, and YouTube is looking for ways to keep displaying ads and to take down ad blockers.

With the new YouTube approach to ads – the server-side ad-injection – many ad blockers fail to detect and block video ads. To ensure that there’s still a solution to this problem, the Cybernews research team recently tested the best ad blocker tools to see if they still block YouTube ads on mobile and desktop devices.

Based on the most recent tests, our best YouTube ad blocker recommendation is Surfshark CleanWeb. For $2.19/month, you’ll be able to block all YouTube ads anywhere, on any device successfully.

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