For a start, thanks to the App store’s strict developer guidelines, neither Firefox nor Chrome support browser add-ons in iOS. IOS being what it is, however, installing an ad-blocker on an iPhone or iPad is not so simple. Such as uMatrix, Privacy Badger, and/or uBlock Origin.
On desktop platforms and Android, the usual approach to blocking ads is to install an ad-blocker add-on for the Firefox or Chrome browsers.
What is an Ad Blocker, and Should You Be Using One? How to stop pop-ups and ads on iPhone They also claim to save battery life, although we are entirely convinced this benefit will be noticeable to the average user. For the same reason, ad-blockers reduce bandwidth consumption and so are pretty much essential for those with limited data plans. This is why they are also known as "content blockers".Īnother benefit of ad-blockers is they can speed up page load times, because they prevent the browser loading unnecessary (and potentially harmful) scripts. The term "ad-blocker" is somewhat misleading because while ad-blocker apps do block ads, their most useful function is to prevent tracking scripts being loaded into your browser, which allows companies to track your movements as you browse the web. Visit 1Blocker How does an adblocker work on iPhone? The 1Blocker website proudly boasts that independent tests by Wirecutter, NY Times, and BrooksReview have confirmed that the app cuts average data usage by over 50 percent. One feature we like is the ability to block annoyances such as social media widgets, cookie notices, share bars, and crypto-miners. If you wish to support specific websites you can whitelist them. It also allows you to add custom rules, which you can protect using Touch ID or Face ID. It uses over 115,000 rules to block ads and trackers and features regional rules appropriate to specific countries. It is a standard Safari adblocker which benefits from doing its job simply but well. You can test it yourself thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee, and if you have any issues while using it, you can contact its customer support team 24/7! Visit AdLockġBlocker has a relatively high price tag, this updated version of the much-loved legacy 1Blocker app remains very popular.
Plus, it does not support the acceptable ads policy, meaning that it blocks all ads mercilessly. What's more, you get a light and dark theme to ensure you can control the adblocker in the dead of night if you need to (or if you just want to put out those dark vibes). It is also good at blocking flashing banners, auto-play ads, timed pop-ups, and unwanted redirects.Īnybody who purchases a plan can use their adblocker on up to 5 devices simultaneously, which makes the subscription great value-for-money. That said, it always prevents advertisement videos while playing games, allowing apps to run more smoothly and without interruptions. We also liked that it worked without breaking on-page content such as auto-load videos on news sites.
Our tests revealed it to prevent ads on torrent sites, streaming sites, social media sites, and YouTube. It also prevents trackers to protect your privacy. A subscription starts at just $16 per year and it blocks all types of ads, malware, and connections to malicious websites. The iOS version can block ads both on websites and apps, and it can be set up to prevent the loading of annoying scripts such as pop-up chat boxes, for example. If you really want to customize your web browsing experience, and like the idea of being able to set up rules for different websites, the full, in-app purchase of 1Blocker is worth it.AdLock is a reliable ad blocker that is available for iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Chrome, and Safari. But if you're looking at 1Blocker, it's probably because you want the advanced features, like custom rules, a Whitelist extension for Safari, and iCloud syncing so your ad block settings are synced across all your iOS devices.
If your ad-blocking needs are minimal, you'll have a great experience with the free download and just blocking ads or trackers. For a $4.99 in-app purchase, you'll be able to unlock the ability to use more than one feature at a time.
You can also customize whether to block or allow cookies and page elements from specific sites.ġBlocker is free to download, but it's really more of a trial version. Plus, you can add your favorite sites to the Whitelist ( ahem, iMore) and block specific websites from access at all. You can set different rules for blocking ads, trackers, cookies, website comments, Twitter and Facebook widgets, adult websites, and more.