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Which adblockers are we testing?
In this article, we will be looking at 5 popular adblockers. Here is the list:
We will be testing these on Chrome, as it is the most used browser, but we will provide links for Firefox and Safari if they exist.
We will be using the tests from the main page of this website to compare the adblockers on their trackability. We will also be looking at their ratings and if they are paid or not. All the adblockers reviewed here claim to block all ads, including those on YouTube.
Test Results
uBlock Origin
Pros:
- Open Source
- Free
- Highly Customizable
Cons:
- May require some manual configuration for optimal blocking
- Clunky UI
- A lot of settings, might overwhelm new users
- Not compatible with new chrome versions
Primary Detection - passed
AdBlock detector library check
CSS Bait - passed
Test using ad-related CSS classes
Script bait - passed
Test loading scripts from ad domains
Image bait - detected
Test loading images from ad domains
CSS background - passed
Test using ad URLs in CSS background
Fetch bait - detected
Test fetching resources from ad servers
uBlock Origin has long been one of the most popular adblockers, and for good reason: it is open-source and completely free to use. The new Manifest V3 update by Google for Chrome unfortunately means that the original Chrome extension no longer works with newer browser versions. Luckily, uBlock Origin Lite is available.
uBlock lite
Pros:
- Open Source
- Free
- Highly Customizable
- Compatible with new Chrome versions
Cons:
- May require some manual configuration for optimal blocking
- Slightly less effective than uBlock Origin
Primary Detection - passed
AdBlock detector library check
CSS Bait - passed
Test using ad-related CSS classes
Script bait - passed
Test loading scripts from ad domains
Image bait - detected
Test loading images from ad domains
CSS background - passed
Test using ad URLs in CSS background
Fetch bait - detected
Test fetching resources from ad servers
uBlock Lite is a fork of uBlock Origin that, unlike its predecessor, still works with newer versions of Chrome (and other Chromium-based browsers like Brave and Edge). Unfortunately, it misses some of the more advanced features that uBlock Origin offers, but in practice, it still blocks most if not all ads. However, just like uBlock Origin, it can still be detected by some websites, as shown in the overview above. The UI is more user-friendly than uBlock Origin, which is a welcome improvement. We highly recommend this ad-blocker.
Adblock Plus
Pros:
- (partly) Open Source
- Free (but with premium version)
- Simple UI
- Available in Safari
Cons:
- Premium version is paid
- Program that allows companies to bypass ad-blocking
- Annoying pop-ups asking you to pay
Primary Detection - detected
AdBlock detector library check
CSS Bait - detected
Test using ad-related CSS classes
Script bait - detected
Test loading scripts from ad domains
Image bait - detected
Test loading images from ad domains
CSS background - passed
Test using ad URLs in CSS background
Fetch bait - detected
Test fetching resources from ad servers
Adblock Plus demonstrates that paid options are not always superior. Although this is a very popular option, we believe it falls short of uBlock Origin, not only due to its paid premium version but also because of its inferior ad detection capabilities and how easily it can be detected. Another downside is its program that allows certain advertisers to bypass the ad-blocking. You can turn this "feature" off, but its presence is questionable. All in all, we would suggest considering other adblockers.
Adblock (by getadblock.com)
Pros:
- (partly) Open Source
- Free (but with premium version)
- Simple UI
- Available in Safari
- Seemingly slightly better than Adblock Plus
Cons:
- Premium version is paid
- Program that allows companies to bypass ad-blocking
- Annoying pop-ups asking you to pay
Primary Detection - passed
AdBlock detector library check
CSS Bait - passed
Test using ad-related CSS classes
Script bait - detected
Test loading scripts from ad domains
Image bait - detected
Test loading images from ad domains
CSS background - passed
Test using ad URLs in CSS background
Fetch bait - detected
Test fetching resources from ad servers
AdBlock and Adblock Plus are owned by the same company but are, in fact, separate products. However, because they are owned by the same company, many of the same questionable business decisions are carried over. Both feature annoying pop-ups and allow companies to bypass ad-blocking for a fee. Once again, we see no compelling reason to use this over uBlock Origin, even though its UI is arguably slightly better.
Ghostery
Pros:
- Open Source
- Free
- Great looking UI
- Available in Safari
Cons:
- Has some partnerships with companies to show ads
Primary Detection - passed
AdBlock detector library check
CSS Bait - passed
Test using ad-related CSS classes
Script bait - passed
Test loading scripts from ad domains
Image bait - detected
Test loading images from ad domains
CSS background - passed
Test using ad URLs in CSS background
Fetch bait - passed
Test fetching resources from ad servers
In our opinion, this is the best ad blocker developed by a company, as opposed to a community-driven project like uBlock Origin. The UI is very nice, and it offers support for Safari. There have been some reports regarding privacy concerns, with its terms of service being described as overly broad. However, if you encounter issues with uBlock Origin or Lite, or if you are on a platform not supported by uBlock, Ghostery is the best alternative among those we reviewed.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we recommend using uBlock Origin or uBlock Lite. They are open-source, free, and highly customizable. While uBlock Origin's interface can be clunky for new users, its effectiveness is top-tier. uBlock Lite offers a more user-friendly experience and compatibility with newer Chrome versions. If you are looking for an alternative, especially one with a polished UI or Safari support, Ghostery is the best option we reviewed.
If you want to check your ad blocker you can check the widget below, or for a full overview go to the main page.
