Adblock Plus

Adblock Plus is a browser extension and mobile ad-blocking product that filters ads, third-party tracking requests, and malicious domains. Its regularly updated filter lists include EasyList and EasyPrivacy, and users can remove default lists, add others, or make their own. It blocks formats such as video ads, banners, pop-ups, and pop-unders, and can disable social buttons. Acceptable Ads are enabled by default, but users can turn that feature off. The desktop add-on supports Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge, Opera, and Yandex Browser. Mobile options include a Safari app for iOS, a product for Samsung Internet on Android, and a dedicated Adblock Browser. The extension can access page URLs and content to block or hide ads, but it does not track browsing history, record form typing, or alter submitted data. Free ad blocking is available. Premium is listed at $4 a month or $40 a year and adds blocking for cookie consent pop-ups and other distractions.

Adblock Plus offers free ad blocking with filter customization and desktop and mobile options. Acceptable Ads start enabled, while Premium adds blocking for cookie consent pop-ups and other distractions.

Adblock Plus suits people who want browser-based ad and tracking protection with options to customize filter lists. Users who want cookie pop-up blocking or other distraction controls can consider Premium.

Adblock Plus is an ad-blocking extension and mobile offering with adjustable filter lists and controls for third-party tracking. It is best for people who want a capable free blocker they can tailor, though cookie pop-up and other distraction blocking requires Premium.

Overview

Regularly updated lists such as EasyList and EasyPrivacy target intrusive ads, malicious domains, and third-party tracking requests. That covers formats including video ads, banners, pop-ups, and pop-unders, as well as fingerprinting scripts, analytics requests, and data-collection domains. Acceptable Ads are on by default; turning them off removes that allowance for readers who want ads blocked without the exception.

Users can remove default lists, add other lists, or make their own, and an element picker offers a way to hide individual page elements. The trade-off is that the extension can see page URLs and content to decide what to block or hide. It does not track browsing history, record form typing such as passwords, or alter submitted data.

Key features

• Ad and tracker controls: EasyList and EasyPrivacy address advertising and third-party tracking, while users can disable social media buttons to limit networks' ability to build profiles from visited sites.
• Custom filters and element picker: Filter-list management suits users who want to adjust what gets blocked; the element picker adds a more targeted way to hide page content.
• Premium distraction blocking: Premium adds blocking for floating videos, site notifications, and cookie consent pop-ups. These extras matter to people who want fewer interruptions than ad blocking alone provides.
• Open-source status: The web extension is GPLv3-licensed, but some versions, including Adblock Plus for Safari iOS version 3.x or higher, use proprietary codebases.

Pricing

The free plan costs nothing and provides browser ad blocking; Acceptable Ads can be disabled. This is the sensible starting point for readers who primarily want ad blocking and filter customization, but it does not include Premium's cookie pop-up, floating-video, and site-notification blocking.

Premium is $4 a month, billed monthly, or $40 a year, billed annually. Both plans add blocking for floating videos, site notifications, and other distractions, plus cookie consent pop-ups, while retaining the free features. The annual option is the lower-cost commitment for a full year; the monthly plan avoids that annual commitment. One purchase works across as many supported browsers, profiles, and computers as desired, so the purchase is not limited to a stated device count.

Platforms

Adblock Plus supports Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, and browser extensions, with desktop and mobile coverage. Desktop add-ons are available for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge, Opera, and Yandex Browser. On mobile, there is a Safari app for iOS and a product for Samsung Internet on Android; Adblock Browser is a separate dedicated ad-blocking browser. Premium is available in the iOS app and desktop extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera.

Organizations can deploy the Chrome and Edge versions through group policy, but Premium is not supported for those deployments. Commercial partners can integrate ready-to-use SDKs into desktop products, Android Chromium, Android WebView, and iOS products, with dedicated technical support.

Who it's for

Adblock Plus fits readers who want free ad blocking across desktop and mobile options, particularly those who value control over filter lists and the ability to disable Acceptable Ads. Premium is more suitable for people who also want cookie consent prompts and other listed distractions blocked. Readers seeking a single open-source codebase across every version should note that some versions are proprietary.

Pros and cons

• Pros: The free plan includes ad blocking, and users can switch off Acceptable Ads rather than accept that default allowance.
• Pros: Custom lists, an element picker, and tracking-focused filters give users more control than ad blocking alone.
• Pros: A Premium purchase covers supported browsers, profiles, and computers without a stated seat cap.
• Cons: Cookie pop-up and other distraction controls require a paid Premium plan.
• Cons: Acceptable Ads start enabled, so readers wanting no ads must change the setting.
• Cons: Page URLs and content are visible to the extension for blocking decisions, and not every version is open source.

Alternatives

Consider 1Blocker if you want a freemium option for iOS, macOS, and browser extensions with multiple blocking categories and background filter updates; its listed Monthly plan is $2.99 a month and renews every month. AdBlock Pro for Safari is another freemium option for iOS and macOS with paid premium ad-blocking features.

AdBlocker Ultimate is worth comparing if you need coverage that includes Android, Windows, web, and extensions, with Personal and Family plans for 3 and 10 devices. AdLock offers a 1-year plan at $39.50 a year for readers comparing annual pricing; its 1-month plan is $9.95 a month and covers 5 devices.

Disconnect is another freemium alternative with a Basic Extension for a single browser and a Premium plan at $5 a month. Ghostery may suit readers who prefer a free, open-source tracker and ad blocker with all features free and no subscription. Roadblock offers a free tier and a $0.99 a month Premium plan with custom rules and iCloud Sync. Adblock Fast is a free alternative for Android, iOS, web, Windows, and extensions.

For broader browsing, compare the Ad Blocking Software and Ad blockers lists.

Verdict

Choose Adblock Plus if you want free ad blocking with adjustable filters across desktop and mobile, plus the option to turn off Acceptable Ads. Its strongest reason to choose Premium is cookie pop-up and distraction blocking, while readers who require every version to be open source or want those extras without a subscription should look elsewhere.