While advertisements are a source of income for many individuals, some people use them to inject viruses such as malware or adware into your browsers.
If you want to keep your browsers protected or are just annoyed with the endless ads you see on the internet, using an ad blocker can solve your problem.
Browsers, such as Google Chrome, Edge, and Firefox, allow you to install extensions that can help remove unwanted ads while browsing the net. So, here are five of the best ad blocker extensions you should install on your browser.
Why Might You Use Ad Blockers?
Ad blockers make the internet a safer place to be in. As mentioned, some people use ads to inject viruses, and using an ad blocker can protect your computer from such attacks.
At the same time, these browser extensions stop ad servers from tracking your online habits, giving you peace of mind that your data isn’t exploited.
Most of all, it gives you a cleaner browsing experience since you won’t be seeing annoying pop-ups, sudden and unwelcomed sound effects, or other ads that may distract you. Ad blockers provide you with a more pleasant, reader-friendly website that can help you use the internet more efficiently.
1. AdBlock
AdBlock is one of the best extensions you can use for your favorite browser. This ad blocker can support various platforms, including Edge, Chrome, and Firefox.
Since it removes most of the ads in the websites you visit, pages load faster while helping you save memory usage on your computer. This is because ads can take up a lot of space and often makes a site heavier to load. That’s why blocking them can give you a faster internet experience.
In addition, AdBlock protects your privacy by ensuring that advertisers won’t track your internet activity. Using this extension minimizes the chances of getting ads targeted to your profile.
You’ll also eliminate pop-up ads, which lessens any distraction, especially if you are working. This also blocks ads from many popular social and streaming platforms, such as Facebook and YouTube. Lastly, it allows acceptable ads, so you can still support your favorite websites without the ad clutter.
Download: AdBlock for Chrome | Edge | Firefox (Free)
2. AdGuard AdBlocker
Another ad blocker extension on our list is AdGuard AdBlocker. This extension works well on social media platforms, removing any distractions that could steer you away from your tasks.
For example, it won’t show any suggested Facebook page, allowing you to only see organic content on your favorite social media platform. It also blocks all ads you can find, including pop-ups, banners, video ads, and more.
It can also read anti-block scripts, so you won’t have to turn off the extension when you're visiting sites that have such codes. However, AdGuard has an option to show some ads that can be beneficial for you, such as search ads.
If you want a more personalized experience, this ad blocker allows you to create your own ad filters to enable ads from various websites you support.
It also protects your personal information by blocking third-party tracking systems, adware, and spyware. Furthermore, it warns you every time you visit malicious and phishing websites.
Download: AdGuard AdBlocker for Chrome | Edge | Firefox (Free)
3. Ghostery
If you’re installing an ad blocker for safer web browsing, Ghostery is an ideal option. This web extension lets you see what companies or advertisers are tracking you by listing them down on each website you visit.
It also has enhanced protection features, including Anti-tracking that removes all your data points, Ad-blocking that eliminates unwanted ads, and Smart-Browsing that automatically blocks trackers that can affect website performance.
Ghostery also gives you much more control over the ads you want and don’t want to see. For example, it features a Granular control that allows you to block and unblock specific trackers on every website you visit.
You also have the option to trust particular sites, allowing you to see ads that support a healthy ecosystem of websites. Lastly, since it declutters web pages, websites load faster.
Download: Ghostery for Chrome | Edge | Firefox (Free)
4. AdBlocker Ultimate
AdBlocker Ultimate is another free web browser extension that eliminates unwanted ads. Unlike AdBlock, which has a predefined list of accepted ads, this extension gives you complete control over what sites to whitelist or not.
This means that it blocks all kinds of ads you can find online, including pop-up ads, overlay ads, interstitial page ads, and many more. However, if you like to accept ads from various websites, this ad blocker gives you a quicker way.
It also helps you avoid visiting potentially harmful sites, so you can keep browsing safely. Like most ad blockers, AdBlocker Ultimate protects your data from online trackers and activity analyzers.
So, if you just want to remove all ads and focus on content that matters to you, AdBlocker Ultimate is an excellent extension for you.
Download: AdBlock Ultimate for Chrome | Edge | Firefox (Free)
5. uBlock Origin
If your primary reason for blocking ads is to speed up your computer, uBlock Origin is a great choice.
In addition to eliminating ads, its main feature is to make your CPU and memory more efficient. It stops your browser from loading heavy ads that could potentially eat your device’s resources so that it can perform better.
When it comes to ad blocking, uBlock Origin has a list of filters that are loaded and enforced upon installation. If you want to block more ads and trackers, there are other filter lists that you can choose from.
Furthermore, this ad blocker has a point-and-click feature that allows you to block JavaScript locally or globally, giving you more control over what you want to see on every website you visit.
Download: uBlock Origin for Chrome | Edge | Firefox (Free)
Don't Forget, Ads Can Be Beneficial Too
If advertisements are ruining your browsing experience, blocking them can be the best way to enhance your experience. However, do note that many websites can provide their services for free by incorporating some ads in them.
So if you value various websites and would like to continue supporting them, there is a reasonable compromise. You can use ad blockers to remove the most intrusive ads while whitelisting your favorite websites.