TechRadar Verdict
AdBlock is an excellent, free ad-blocking tool.
We recommend it to anyone looking to remove intrusive ads from their browsers.
Ask an internet user about their everyday problems, and youll likely hear about ads.
Excessive ads have made many cherished websites challenging to use, angering users.
Fortunately, theres a proven solution to this problem: anad blocker.
AdBlock is one of the best ad blockers available, and its free to use.
It allows you to enjoy ad-free browsing without paying a dime, but theres a catch.
AdBlock is maintained by Eyeo GmbH, a German company that also offers a paid product called AdBlock Plus.
AdBlock Plus offers more advanced features than AdBlock, e.g., a mobile app.
One of the main drawbacks we observed when using AdBlock was frequent popups advertising the AdBlock Plus offering.
Sure, AdBlock effectively blocks ads, but showing its own ad felt off-putting.
However, we could understand that as the small price for enjoying a free ad blocker.
Like most ad blockers, AdBlock scans and checks your web app requests against filtering rules.
Hence, you’ll see an empty space in those slots where ads usually appear.
Of course, you might not want to block all ads entirely.
You may have some trusted sites that you want to permit to show ads.
AdBlock lets you customize your configurations, allowing ads to be displayed on specific domains.
you’re able to exempt as many domains as you want from ad blocking.
Some publishers participate in the Acceptable Ads program, agreeing to adhere to standards that make their ads non-intrusive.
you might also opt out of this default feature.
Some ad blockers offer these features for free, but thats not the case with AdBlock.
AdBlock: Interface and In-Use
AdBlock has a user-friendly interface youll likely enjoy using.
We didnt face any noteworthy difficulties downloading and using the extension.
It works smoothly, and the controls app is designed to be easy to understand.
The main drawback we observed in this criterion is that AdBlock lacks a mobile app.
AdBlock: Customer Support
AdBlock is a free tool, so dont expect much customer support.
Theres no support team to contact as a free user, so you must figure out most issues yourself.
However, we appreciate that AdBlock provides a detailed Knowledge Base and FAQ section on its website.
The website contains tutorials about AdBlock features and in-depth answers to customers' common questions.
you might always consult it for help if you face any issues with the app.
AdBlock: The Competition
AdBlock has competitors you should know about, such asuBlock OriginandGhostery.
These are two effective ad-blockers you’re able to use free of charge, just like AdBlock.
They are suitable alternatives but dont offer much to make them stand out from AdBlock.
It doesnt offer much outside ad-blocking (except if youre on the premium AdBlock Plus subscription).
However, it does its job very well and significantly improves your browsing experience.
