Best free ad blockers in 2023

Ad blockers are becoming an increasingly popular way to protect users from intrusive and annoying ads that clutter websites. Efficient ad blockers can even get rid of newsletter and cookie consent notifications, ensuring an overall great browsing experience.

While there are many excellent paid ad blockers, depending on your needs, free ad blockers might do the job just as well. In fact, most paid providers offer a risk-free way of using their service as well as a free trial and free versions. This way, you’ll get top-notch anti-adware protection with no disappointment.

We selected the best free ad blockers you can try out to improve your browsing experience. Check them out!

Top 5 best free ad blockers for 2023

1. NordVPN Threat Protection – the most reliable provider with a free 30-day period
2. Total Adblock – best free provider for Android and iOS
3. Surfshark Cleanweb – user-friendly and efficient provider free for 30 days
4. Atlas VPN SafeBrowse – ultra secure provider with a free 30-day period
5. Proton VPN NetShield – great 30-day free ad blocker for decreasing load times

📢 LIMITED OFFER: Get NordVPN Threat Protection, now 50% OFF!

Free ad blockers vs. paid ad blockers

When it comes to ad blockers, there are two main options: free and paid. While both options can help you block unwanted ads and pop-ups, there are some key differences between them.

Paid ad blockers generally offer more advanced features and better protection against ads. These ad blockers usually have more robust filtering options, allowing users to block specific types of ads or whitelist certain websites. Not to mention the additional security features — most paid ad blockers come with VPN or malware detection.

Additionally, paid ad blockers often include customer support and regular updates to keep up with new types of adware. This means that paid ad blockers are more efficient in blocking unwanted ads and providing a better browsing experience.

On the other hand, free ad blockers may not offer the same level of protection or advanced features. They may only be able to block basic ads and fail at more advanced ad types or tracking technologies. What’s worse is that some free tools either have backdoors that get exploited by hackers or try to prey on your data themselves.

When it comes to free ad blockers, there's another alternative — a built-in ad-blocking feature. These days most browsers offer content blockers to remove some adware and protect users' privacy by stopping trackers. However, rarely do these ad blockers block image and video ads. Mostly, they are suited for cookies and trackers.

A paid ad blocker is the better choice if you want the most advanced ad-blocking features. They will block all types of ads and let you customize the blocking setting to suit your specific needs. Remember that a paid ad blocker also delivers additional security features, such as malware detection, to protect your personal data and device

The best free ad blockers - our detailed list:

Not only did we test the success rate of these ad blockers, but we also looked for ways to get them for free. As it turns out, top ad blockers on the market all offer to get their services for free — at least for a short while. So, let's dive deeper into the best free ad blockers list.

1. NordVPN Threat Protection — the most reliable and secure provider with a risk-free 30-day period

Free version:	Yes (Free 7-day trial)
Risk-free trial:	30-day money-back guarantee
Supported platforms:	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Brave, Opera, and Edge
Current deal:	🔥Get NordVPN Threat Protection, now 50% OFF!🔥

Visit NordVPN Threat Protection

NordVPN Threat Protection is downright crushing ads. Whether they are in-video ads, trackers, or notifications, this ad blocker leaves no annoyances in your sight.

Yet, being reliable and effective doesn't always mean being free. While there's no completely free version, you should be tempted to use the provider's 30-day money-back guarantee.

Features: NordVPN has more to offer than a mere ad-blocking feature. Instead, the provider delivers a well-rounded security and privacy suite. First of all, it efficiently encrypts your browsing traffic with VPN. Then, it enhances the anti-tracking forces with a URL trimming tool that removes tracking parameters from URLs. On top of that, Threat Protection effectively detects malware and phishing scams.

Test results: it comes as no surprise that the number one provider has passed the tests exceptionally well. It successfully blocked ads on YouTube and even removed invisible trackers. Not to mention other types of adware, such as pop-ups, banners and cookies. It has even blocked malicious websites.

Compatibility: NordVPN Threat Protection comes with a wide range of compatibility. It works with all major operating systems: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. The cross-platform support is paired with a user-friendly design.

Furthermore, the provider ensures that you can navigate the ad blocker right in your browser of choice, whether it's Firefox, Safari, Brave, Opera, or Edge.

Price: now, when the 30 days expire, you can continue using the renowned service for $3.49/month. It won't break the bank and will allow you to enjoy the service with no bounds.

You can find out more about the features in our NordVPN Threat Protection review.

2. Total AdBlock - best for Android and iOS devices with a 7-day free trial

Free version:	Yes
Risk-free trial:	14-day money-back guarantee
Supported platforms:	Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, and Edge
Current deal:	🔥Get 75% OFF Total Adblock!🔥

Visit Total AdBlock

Total AdBlock is another provider that is merciless when it comes to adware. It boosts your browsing experience by getting rid of banners, trackers, cookie notifications, and other annoyances — you won't even know they were supposed to be there.

The best part about Total AdBlock is the free version. But keep in mind that it comes with limited capabilities. We suggest trying out the premium version risk-free with a 7-day free trial or a 14-day money-back guarantee.

Features: with Total AdBlock, whitelisting is not an issue. In the Acceptable Ads section of the tool, you can customize which sites can show ads. Additionally, in the same control panel, you'll find rich information about the ad blocker's performance. Check it out to see summaries of blocked trackers, page loading time, and data-saving statistics.

By the way, if you're looking to enhance the security of your device, you can get Total AdBlock together in a bundle with the Total Security antivirus suite. This way, you'll keep your device fully safe from malware-injected ads on top of ad-blocking features.

Test Results: without a doubt, Total AdBlock gets the job done. During our tests, the provider had excellent results – blocking all ads and trackers except for error monitoring. It even got rid of YouTube and Facebook ads.

Compatibility: Total Adblock has applications for Android and iOS devices. You'll need a browser extension to make it work on your desktop or MacOS device. But don't worry. The provider supports a wide variety of browsers, such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, and Edge.

Price: when you're ready to upgrade, Total Adblock will cost you $2.42/month. Keep in mind that the complete antivirus suite costs $19.00/year.

For more information about the full service package, visit our TotalAV review.

3. Surfshark CleanWeb - user-friendly and efficient ad blocker with 30-days risk-free option

Free version:	Yes (Free 7-day trial)
Risk-free trial	30-day money-back guarantee
Supported platforms:	Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, FireTV, Android TV
Current deal:	🔥84% OFF Surfshark CleanWeb 2.0 + 2 months FREE!🔥

Visit Surfshark CleanWeb

Surfshark CleanWeb ad blocker delivers faster loading times and removes adware from your sight. Paired with an acclaimed VPN service, the CleanWeb removes pop-ups, banners, cookie pop-ups, and trackers with ease.

If you're an Android, macOS, or iOS user, you can get a 7-day free trial. Meanwhile, everyone else can make use of a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Features: Surfshark CleanWeb protects you from various online threats. The breach alerts are always on and running, warning you of dangerous sites. With the VPN service at hand, you'll get another layer of protection for your data.

When it comes to additional features, CleanWeb offers a whitelisting feature for full control of your browsing experience. It also comes with a private search engine that prevents trackers.

Test Results: there's no need to question how good CleanWeb actually is. The test results speak for themselves. CleanWeb works its magic on YouTube and Facebook ads very well, not to mention other types of adware. The only weak spot we found is the direct link ads. But this one is forgivable, given its success rate with more severe adware.

Compatibility: Sufshark has vast compatibility options. You can get an app for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS devices. Another option is to set it up on your Chrome, Firefox, and Edge browsers.

Price: Sufshark is known as a budget-friendly provider. The subscription costs $2.05/month and comes with unlimited connections.

You can learn more about this service in our Surfshark One review.

4. AtlasVPN SafeBrowse - a security-minded ad blocker with risk-free guanrantee

Free version:	No (Only the VPN has a free version)
Risk-free trial:	30-day money-back guarantee
Supported platforms:	Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows
Current deal:	🔥81% OFF Atlas VPN SafeBrowse!🔥

Visit Atlas VPN SafeBrowse

AtlasVPN SafeBrowse is a great ad blocker that easily gets rid of adware. The reliable and user-friendly provider tackles all annoyances, whether they are pop-ups or video ads.

While the free version allows using the VPN only, you can get SafeBrowse with a subscription that offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Features: unsurprisingly, SafeBrowse is a security-minded ad blocker. Not only does it block adware, but it also keeps track of harmful websites and malware. You'll find the summary of trackers, ads, and other blocked online threats if you need to keep on top of its capabilities.

In addition, the ad blocker comes with a built-in VPN to protect your browsing traffic. This feature is inseparable from SafeBrowse — for the ad blocker to work, you'll need to enable a VPN connection.

Test Results: SafeBrowse blocks YouTube ads like a charm. During our tests, it effectively blocked other adware, too, except for Google analytics tools, some images, and error monitoring. However, we noticed that SafeBrowse had missed some of the trackers.

Compatibility: the provider has great cross-platform compatibility. You can get an Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows app. Unfortunately, Altas VPN doesn't offer browser extensions.

Price: SafeBrowse comes with the paid version of the Atlas VPN. However, the price doesn't bite. The subscription starts at $1.82/month.

You can find out more about the Atlas VPN package in our Atlas VPN review.

5. ProtonVPN NetShield - great ad blocker to boost your website loading speed with 30-days free

Free version:	No (Only the VPN has a free version)
Risk-free trial:	30-day money-back guarantee
Supported platforms:	Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows
Current deal:	🔥Get up to 50% OFF Proton VPN NetShield!🔥

Visit ProtonVPN NetShield

ProtonVPN NetShield is a great tool to make intrusive adware a thing of the past. It's perfect when you need to hide trackers and other annoying ads. On top of that, ProtonVPN protects your security by tracking down malware.

ProtonVPN does offer a free version, however, it only allows you to test out the VPN. To benefit from NetShield, you'll need a subscription that comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Features: customizability is at the core of NetShield. The malware protection can be turned on or off separately from the ad-blocking feature, giving you full control over the settings.

The best part about NetShield is its speed. The ad blocker uses DNS filtering to prevent adware from loading. In turn, the pages load faster, saving data consumption and battery power.

Test Results: NetShield is a solid ad blocker. It removed most YouTube ads with slight inconsistencies. It also works well with most other adware. However, some annoyances, such as push notification requests, pop-under ads, and direct link ads, are not its strongest suit.

Compatibility: Proton VPN has apps for Windows, macOS, Android, Linux, and iOS devices. Yet, the provider doesn't have any browser extensions.

Price: to continue using ProtonVPN and all of its features, you'll be charged $4.99/month. Don't forget that this provider comes with an additional bonus — unlimited simultaneous connections.

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

How we selected and tested these free ad blockers

Even though ad blocking sounds like a simple feature, not all anti-adware software is the same. Some are so efficient you may even forget ads existed. Others are a bit frustrating, as they can't tackle the most annoying of ads. So, you might be curious how we determined which free providers are the best. Here's an explanation:

• Free version or trial available: we selected providers for this list that offer either free or risk-free trials. Of course, we also looked for the most efficient free providers.
• Price: paying more doesn't always mean you're getting more. Thus, we compared the providers' pricing plans against the features and performance of their services. Only the best value ad blockers have made it into our list.
• Independent testing: to measure how well ad blockers keep their promises, we had to put them to the test. The results come from Can You Block It and the AdBlock Test. These tests allow us to see how ad blockers perform with different ads, such as pop-ups or cookie consent notifications.
• Additional features: we looked at each provider's features and tested them on various devices. While an ad blocker is sufficient enough, additional features can ramp up its value. That's why the best providers offer protection against malware and phishing scams. Some even deliver secure cloud storage and a VPN.
• Supported platforms. An ad blocker shouldn't dictate what browser or platform you should use. Instead, it should be versatile enough to adapt to your needs. We selected providers that work with the most widely used operating systems and browsers for this list.

How to choose the best free ad blocker

Ad blockers come with different capabilities and features. Thus it's important to consider what's important to you and pick accordingly. Here are some ideas we suggest you take note of:

• Ad blocking performance: a good ad blocker should be able to block ads on various websites and platforms. On top of that, it's important that it blocks the exact type of ads you need. So before committing to a certain provider, check what type of ads they remove.
• Compatibility: before committing to a specific provider, make sure that it offers good cross-platform support. This way, you'll be able to use the ad blocker on all your devices.
• Additional features: you can get a simple ad blocker to remove ads or a full security suite to protect your device. That's right. If you look at the features closely, you'll see that some ad blockers offer many additional security features. This includes a VPN to encrypt your browsing traffic, as well as malware protection that prevents infections and detects malicious activity.
• Price: many paid providers offer an excellent service no free ad blocker can match. They strive to improve your privacy, security, and browsing experience with efficient tools. When you consider the value you get, these providers don’t even seem so expensive. So, make sure to check what you get with paid plans.
• Customization: the ability to whitelist websites and tweak settings will only help your browsing experience. Say you want to support your favorite YouTube creators by whitelisting ads. In this case, you should pick a provider that offers to customize the ad-blocking features.
• Money-back guarantee: creating an efficient anti-adware service capable of protecting your device from malware is expensive to develop. That’s why it’s not always a good idea to get a completely free ad blocker — they aren't always as effective. With a money-back guarantee, you can try out the service without the risk of losing money if the provider does not fulfill your needs.

Free ad blockers comparison

Now, let's take a look at the top providers and their features:

	NordVPN Threat Protection	Total Adblock	Surfshark Cleanweb	Atlas VPN SafeBrowse	Proton VPN NetShield
Brand
Price	$2.49	$2.42	$2.05	$2.05	$4.99
Free version	Yes (Free 7-day trial)	Yes (Free 7-day trial)	Yes (Free 7-day trial)	No (Only the VPN has a free version)	No (Only the VPN has a free version)
Risk-free trial	30-day money-back guarantee	14-day money-back guarantee	30-day money-back guarantee	30-day money-back guarantee	30-day money-back guarantee
Passed ad blocking tests	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Apps	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS	Android, iOS	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, FireTV, Android TV	Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows	Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows
Browsers	Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Brave, Opera, and Edge	Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, and Edge	Chrome, Firefox, Edge	–	–
Comes with	VPN	Stand alone or antivirus	VPN or VPN+antivirus bundle	VPN	VPN

Free ad blockers based on your OS and browser

You may wonder how to block ads on iPhone or any other device you use. And what if you're using several other devices? To answer all of the platform support questions you may have, we decided to review free ad blockers for specific systems.

Free ad blockers for your OS

Let's look at your options for ad blockers based on the OS.

• Free Android ad blockers. Android systems have a default Google Chrome Browser with a built-in ad blocker. However, those who tried it know its capabilities are quite modest. Chrome's content blocker doesn't block the most annoying ads or pop-ups, nor does it help to remove them on apps. However, it works quite well at removing malicious adverts.To deter the rest of the adware on the whole system, you should get a free ad blocker for Android. Providers such as NordVPN Threat Protection can block most ads. NordVPN is a complete security suite for online browsing, as it can detect malware efficiently. You can get NordVPN Threat Protection with a 7-day free trial on the Google Play store.
• Use your iPhone and iPad devices with no ads for free. iOS devices come with the default Safari browser. The browser has a built-in content blocker. However, don't expect it to block ads on your device. It was developed to block pop-ups and provide warnings on fraudulent websites. Instead, we suggest getting a third-party provider. According to our tests, Total Adblock is the best free ad blocker for iPhone or any other device. The provider has a limited free version, which can block most ads. However, we suggest getting a paid version with a 7-day free trial or 14-day money guarantee for a better ad-blocking success rate.
• Free macOS ad blockers. MacOS apps are a growing problem. More and more adware appears on the Apple app store as well as in the apps themselves. Unsurprisingly, the macOS doesn't come with any type of built-in ad blocker capable of removing ads from system-wide apps. For that, you need to get an ad blocker of your own. We recommend NordVPN Threat Protection, a free ad blocker for Mac. NordVPN Threat Protection is a reliable and secure provider that effectively removes ads and comes with a user-friendly macOS app. You use it free for 30 days and then ask for a refund.
• Ad blockers for Windows free of charge. Users have noticed that windows developers are testing injected ads in Windows 11 Insider build. It's likely that soon the operating system will feature pop-ups advertising Microsoft products. You can avoid this by getting a free ad blocker for windows. Our lists feature many options. Try out the market giant NordVPN Threat Protection for 30 days free, or download the budget-friendly and reliable SurfShark CleanWeb.

Free ad blockers for your browser

Browser extensions are a popular way to implement ad blockers. They are convenient and simple to use. Let's discuss free ad blockers for the most popular browsers.

• Google Chrome free ad blockers. Chrome is the most popular browser in the world. With several billion users worldwide, Chrome does its best to provide an excellent browsing experience. But there's an area many users would benefit from improving. It's the need for an efficient ad blocker. As we mentioned before, Chrome comes with a content blocker that is quite good at removing malicious content. Whether it's pop-ups, notifications, or in-video ads, Chrome can detect malicious code injected in them and remove the ad. However, it doesn't block ads that are deemed safe, nor does it remove trackers. The only way to remove ads on Chrome is to get a third-party ad blocker, such as NordVPN Threat Protection, Surfshark CleanWeb, or Atlas VPN SafeBrowse.
• Remove ads on the Safari browser for free. Safari users could also benefit from an ad blocker. Currently, the built-in content blocker is disappointing. It is designed to handle pop-ups and warn about dangerous websites. In comparison, most third-party ad blockers can block every type of ad and detect malware. Check out our list to find the best free ad blocker for Safari.

Is it safe to use a free ad blocker?

No, free ad blockers aren't as safe as their paid counterparts. By using a free ad blocker, you risk not getting the adequate protection you need.

Free ad blockers may not be as safe as paid ones for a few reasons:

• Lack of updates: free ad blockers may not receive regular updates, which means they may not be able to keep up with new adware used by advertisers. This can make them less effective at blocking ads and leave users exposed to unwanted ads and pop-ups.
• Minimal security features: free ad blockers may have a lower level of security features than paid ones, which can leave users vulnerable to malware and other malicious code. Some free ad blockers may even contain malware themselves, which can infect your device and put your personal information at risk.
• Limited customer support: free ad blockers typically don't offer customer support, making it difficult to troubleshoot issues or get help if you have a problem.
• Data collection: free ad-blockers may collect your browsing data and share it with third parties. This can lead to privacy issues.

It's important to be careful when downloading and installing free ad blockers. Instead, we recommend choosing a reliable provider. Additionally, the benefits of paid ad blockers are worth considering, which generally have more features, better security, and more reliable support.

Is it worth paying for ad blocker?

Yes, ad blockers are well worth the money. After all, they are the best way to secure your online privacy and improve your browsing experience. Even though many free providers are efficient enough at blocking basic ads, paid providers offer well-rounded security suits on top of the ad-blocking feature.

These days, adware is extremely prevalent. Advertisers no longer hesitate when placing them in the most inconvenient places simply because they need your attention. As a result, users unwillingly embark on a quest to find their preferred content each time they visit a site.

To save you the frustration, ad blockers come to the rescue. However, adware is a sneaky business. Only well-developed and frequently updated software can provide sufficient protection. That's where paid providers have the edge over free ad blockers.

Another aspect to consider is malware. Cybercriminals, desperate for your personal information, often inject malicious code into adverts. When unsuspected victims click on them, their device gets infected to extract data or manipulate the device. A good ad blocker can save you from these common online dangers, but malware protection is not the default feature. Typically, only the paid plans offer this type of protection.

While it's understandable why you may be unwilling to spend money on an ad blocker, their benefits are undeniable. If you're unconvinced, it's always a good idea to put the providers to the test by making use of free trials and money-back options.

Conclusion

There's no denying that ad blockers are powerful tools that can help to improve the online browsing experience. They can help to protect you from targeted ads, annoying ads, and dangerous or malicious ads. You can enjoy a more peaceful online browsing experience using an ad blocker.

However, a good experience can only be guaranteed by efficient providers. That's why we tested dozens of providers to see which are best. At the top of our list is NordVPN Threat Protection. The provider has stunned us with independent testing results. It has blocked most of the ads — something that other providers really struggle with.

On top of great ad-blocking capabilities, NordVPN Threat Protection guarantees full security. It works as a full security suite that delivers functional VPN, ad blocking as well as malware protection.

While there's no completely free version, you can try out NordVPN Threat Protection with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you decide to keep it, the subscription costs xx/month.

Best ad blockers deals this week:

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