Online advertising is often a necessary nuisance. Short of erecting paywalls or requiring subscriptions to access content or services, they’re one of the few ways for organizations to generate revenue. However, in some cases web domains may use invasive ad tactics or track you, or you may even be exposed to malvertising, in which malicious services slip through the net.
Ad blockers can reduce clutter, speed up website loading times, and improve your online privacy and security. Long-standing, reputable ad blockers for your browser include Privacy Badger, Ghostery, and AdBlock Plus.
What is the best ad blocker right now?
My favorite ad blocker is Ghostery. It’s a great solution for blocking advertisements, unwanted scripts, and trackers. It works quietly in the background and is compatible across a variety of popular browsers.
Alternatively, you could check out Adblock Plus<!–> if you want a high level of control, or Privacy Badger–> if you want to focus on tracker detection and removal.
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ZDNET authors often use ad blockers ourselves, and when compiling our recommendations, we keep an eye on the latest developments in the market while also looking at current customer feedback and any software changes consumers should be aware of. Read on for the rest of my top picks for quality ad blockers.
The best ad blockers of 2025
Why we like it: I prefer Ghostery as my go-to ad blocker because it does an excellent job blocking ads and reducing the number of pop-ups I encounter, and it also helps limit tracking.
Though it doesn’t stop all YouTube ads (most of the time), I have other methods for dealing with that annoyance — and it still prevents enough that I can watch the majority of videos published by the channels I subscribe to without interruptions every few minutes. Ghostery has a handy pause function, too, that you can access directly from your browser toolbar if you pin this extension.
Testing through Adblock Tester and Cover Your Tracks revealed a 99/100 score and an indication of strong web protection, although some unique fingerprint elements were detected.
Who it’s for: Anyone on the hunt for an all-around ad blocker. Ghostery is unobtrusive and serves very well as a general ad blocker and for tracker prevention. Best of all, it’s free.
Who should look elsewhere: If you want to focus on tracker prevention rather than full ad blocking, look at Privacy Badger.
Ghostery features: Open source | Compatible with Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera | Private search | Tracker prevention | Free
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Why we like it: I’ve used Adblock Plus frequently over the years, and it works well as a browser extension that operates quietly in the background.
It isn’t the best at catching and stopping ads in embedded video, and it won’t tackle cookie banners without a premium subscription, but for many of us, its free version does a great job of removing distractions, irritating ads, and clutter.
If a site seems broken or you can’t access content without disabling your ad blocker, you can quickly greenlist the domain, either temporarily or permanently, through Adblock Plus settings.
I like the high level of control you have over this ad blocker, which also includes filter lists and acceptable ads. Still, you can use this option with its default settings.
Testing through Adblock Tester and Cover Your Tracks indicated this ad blocker provides strong web protection, though some fingerprint identifiers were found. Adblock-tester had a score of 77/100.
Who it’s for: Individuals who want an ad blocker they can exert a lot of control over, especially in regard to filters. You can rely on default lists or even create your own.
If you’d prefer to also block additional distractions, including pop-ups and floating videos, you can sign up for Adblock Plus Premium. This service costs $40 per year or $4 per month.
Who should look elsewhere: It doesn’t work very well on YouTube, and some users report issues with Acceptable Ads policies, so if these points are important to you, check out another of my favorites.
Adblock Plus features: Open source | Compatible with Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera, Yandex | Android and iOS apps | Filter lists | Acceptable Ads option | Free version, premium available
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Why we like it: The Electronic Frontier Foundation is a nonprofit that stands up for a consumer’s right to privacy, so you know any software it creates or advocates for is likely to improve your personal privacy and security.
The EFF’s Privacy Badger is an extension for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera that doesn’t focus on simply removing advertisements. Instead, this extension detects and maps out the tracking code in online assets and scripts, and works to break the links that track you over multiple domains.
The extension works over time to identify tracking parties and will send out the Global Privacy Control and Do Not Track signals to opt you out of data sharing and to try to stop you from being tracked. If these signals fail, blocking is the next step. As a result, Privacy Badger will end up blocking many ads, though that’s not the priority.
Testing through Adblock Tester and Cover Your Tracks indicated this ad blocker provides strong web protection, although some fingerprint identifiers were found. Adblock-tester got a score of 63/100, but when combined with other ad blockers, this extension appeared to help boost overall scores. It also works very well for blocking YouTube ads.
Who it’s for: Anyone who wants to stop being so easily tracked across different online domains.
Who should look elsewhere: If you want a traditional ad blocker that’ll block as much of this content as possible, either use Privacy Badger as an accompaniment or look at one of my other recommendations.
Privacy Badger features: Made by EFF | Compatible with Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera | Tracker and cookie blocking | Global Privacy Control signals | White-listing | Free, donation based
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Why we like it: uBlock Origin is a respected ad block solution that’s been around for years. It’s vastly popular, and for good reason: It’s an open-source, wide-range ad blocker that’s been developed for CPU and memory efficiency.
However, Google threw a spanner into the works with the introduction of Manifest V3, its new extension platform. Extensions that don’t adhere to the new guidelines are being disabled, and this includes uBlock Origin. In the Chome Store, you’ll see a message that reads, “This extension is no longer available because it doesn’t follow best practices for Chrome extensions.”
You do have the option to download uBlock Origin Lite instead, but it’s not the same as the original software.
Despite this, uBlock Origin is still an excellent option for other browsers, including Firefox. During testing on a Firefox test browser, this extension received top marks at Adblock Tester, but Cover Your Tracks suggested there may be a unique fingerprint issue.
Also: Once uBlock Origin stops working on Chrome, you have 2 options
Who it’s for: Anyone who’s using a Manifest V2 browser or who wants an open-source solution.
Who should look elsewhere: Though you can download uBlock Origin Lite for Chrome, it won’t have the full array of features you can enjoy with uBlock Origin. So I’d suggest Chrome users look elsewhere.
uBlock Origin features: Open source | Support for Chrome (through Lite), Firefox, Edge, Opera | Doesn’t accept donations, sponsorship | Active developers | Lightweight
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If you’re looking for an ad blocker to circumvent disruptive YouTube ads, there’s a work-around you should consider.
Why we like it: By using a Virtual Private Network (VPN), you can change your IP address so you’ll appear to be in a different country. If you happen to select a country where YouTube doesn’t seem to serve ads — because the company can’t monetize them — you can enjoy an ad-free experience.
It isn’t a way to “block” YouTube ads, as it were, but rather, a way to avoid them entirely.
As a ZDNET VPN reviewer, I’ve tested many VPNs over the years, and the ones I like the most for this purpose are Surfshark, ExpressVPN, and NordVPN. Servers in Albania always work well for me.
You could also consider going the hardware route if you want blanket VPN coverage for this purpose. Check out my results doing so with Privacy Hero 2.
Who it’s for: Anyone who wants to watch YouTube without being bombarded with ads.
Who should look elsewhere: This is a work-around for YouTube only, so if you want a full ad block experience on the web, consider my other, more traditional options.
Read on: Best VPN services: I’ve tested countless VPNs to find the fastest and most secure services for your security, streaming, and travel needs
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When you’re searching for an ad blocker, you’ll find many available options. Your choice may depend on your preferred browser and whether you want free software, so consider the information below.
Ad blocker | Compatibility | Open-source components? | Free version? |
Ghostery | Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera | Yes | Yes |
Adblock Plus | Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera, Yandex, Android, iOS | Yes | Yes, or paid |
Privacy Badger | Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera | Yes | Yes |
uBlock Origin | Chrome (through Lite), Firefox, Edge, Opera | Yes | Yes |
VPNs | Major browsers | Majority, no | Varies |
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Choose this ad blocker… | If you want… |
Ghostery | The best ad blocker overall. Ghostery performs extremely well over all popular browsers and does a fair job at wiping out ads embedded in videos. It’s a great set-and-forget option. |
Adblock Plus | A high level of control over ad blocking. One of Adblock Plus’ strengths is its filter lists, through which you can choose how much content to block or allow. |
Privacy Badger | To block third-party trackers. EFF’s Privacy Badger isn’t a traditional ad blocker, but it can enhance your overall privacy, and it works well with other ad blockers. It’s great for reducing YouTube ads, too. |
uBlock Origin | Manifest V2 browser use. Though uBlock Origin isn’t compatible with Chrome anymore, it’s still a great ad blocker for other browsers, including Firefox. |
VPNs | A YouTube ad “blocker” — of a sort. While many VPNs now offer threat protection and built-in ad blocking, using a VPN can also help you avoid ads on YouTube, allowing for an ad-free experience with the right settings. |
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When you’re looking for a new ad blocker, think about the following.
- Platform compatibility: What operating system or browser do you use? Ensure that the ad blocker you like the look of is compatible.
- Ease of use: Consider whether other users find the software easy to use, and whether you mind a learning curve, or if you’d prefer a set-and-forget system.
- Customization: Ad blockers offer different levels of customization, and if you want to tweak their settings, white-list specific page elements, or block websites entirely, find out whether the ad blocker you’re considering offers these options.
- Cost: Most ad blockers are free or have a free option, but there may be cases where you want to pay for top-tier services — or donate to keep specific software running.
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The proliferation of ads on almost every screen we view is often a necessary evil, but one we frequently try to limit our exposure to. In choosing my recommendations for the best ad blockers of 2025, I considered the following factors.
- Testing: I’ve downloaded, installed, and tested out a variety of ad blockers with a focus on browser-based options. Where possible, I’ve compared extensions across a range of browsers and I’ve used tools including the EFF’s Cover Your Tracks and Adblock Tester to gather data.
- User experience: I’ve analyzed user feedback for each of the ad blockers I’ve listed, ensuring that users have a generally positive experience but noting any common gripes with different software.
- Platform compatibility: I prefer ad blockers that are compatible with various platforms, including Windows and Mac, as well as popular browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. I’ve generally avoided ad blockers built specifically for limited use cases.
- Cost: Ad blockers are typically free, though they may ask for donations or offer premium versions for a small subscription cost. With my final recommendations, I’ve factored in any ongoing costs.
- Security: Because software vulnerable to exploitation can compromise your system, and you may need to provide permission for a new ad blocker to access specific resources during its installation, I’ve ensured that each ad blocker on my list has a generally robust attitude to security and performs frequent security updates.
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- Reddit has rolled out an update allowing users to hide ads from specific companies or advertisers.
- Google’s phasing out of uBlock Origin began last year, but recently the extension has been automatically disabled on some devices.
- Google has suspended around 700,000 advertiser accounts linked to fraud, including AI-generated ads that impersonate public figures.
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The majority of browser-based or app ad blockers are free or offer freemium options, with paid plans available for advanced features. Some ad blockers rely on donations, and you may see such requests when they update. Alternatively, some browsers will have built-in ad-blocking functionality.
If you’re experiencing a high volume of ads or pop-ups, adware or nuisanceware may have infected your device. So you should run an antivirus program to remove it.
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Some ad blockers are more effective than others in specific cases. For example, one ad blocker may be excellent for catching YouTube ads, whereas another effectively filters out intrusive or malicious ads. There’s no ad blocker that’s a perfect, one-size-fits-all solution — especially as the majority of ad blockers have to evolve and update to match the tactics of marketers or the code used in browser updates.
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Your chosen ad blocker may make a mistake on occasion and block a legitimate, safe website you want to visit. Typically, you’ll find your ad blocker under your browser’s settings or extensions tab. You might also find it on your main browser bar (such as next to the Chrome address bar) if you enabled a shortcut during setup.
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Alternative ad blockers to consider
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