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Annoying ads on websites that just get in the way of what you are trying to read are some of the biggest nuisances of the internet, especially when it comes to inappropriate advertisements. You do not have to stress about advertisements getting in the way of your scrolling and reading once you have installed one of the best ad blockers out there.
What to Look for in an Ad Blocker
Ad blockers are a great way to speed up your web browsing because beyond a slight initial delay when you open a page, your computer is not loading or downloading ads, which leaves you with a faster connection. But there are some important components to take into account when you choose an ad blocker. Most choices are cut-and-dried, simple decisions, but you just want to make sure you have the right one.
Browser
Most of the time with an ad blocker, you will be installing it as an extension of your browser, whether that be Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or something else. No matter which browser you use, make sure the adblocker has a download or add option for your specific browser. Some are made to work better with Chrome than with other browsers, and that answer is usually laid out clearly at the download.
Banned Tool
There are many sites that ban the use of ad blockers on their site. These are generally news outlets that make a majority of their income from advertisements. You will either be redirected to a page asking you to turn off the adblocker or a pop-up window from the website will appear asking you to turn it off. To do this you just have to click on the extension icon for your ad blocker and you will find options to “pause on this site.” After that just reload the page and you can continue reading.
Website Errors
While some websites outright ban ad blockers, others simply do not function with them. If you use Google Docs you can run into issues of the cursor freezing, lagging, or just not responding. I have had this issue among many others. The solution to this is to turn off ad-block for that site. You can select for it to always be paused on a website or just for a single time. Do not worry; you can change it later.
The Best Ad Blocker
Knowing what you know now, you can choose your ad blocker with ease. Knowing that once you have installed your ad blocker, you should see a vast improvement in the speed and lack of ad clutter on your screen.
If you regularly use Chrome for your internet scrolling, AdBlock is the best choice for you. I use AdBlock on Chrome, and it syncs with multiple devices. So whether I am on my laptop or desktop, all my preferences are saved for each device. While it is available for other browsers, AdBlock seems to excel on Chrome.
Pros:
- Free
- Blocks third-party trackers
- Lists how many ads are being blocked
Cons:
- Does not have great feedback for use on other browsers
Best for: Chrome users
Pricing: Free/donations
If for whatever reason you use multiple browsers when you are on the internet, it is easier to have an ad blocker such as uBlock Origin to use across every browser. You will have to install it on each browser, but you know which one to use. While it does not say it is an ad blocker, the creators describe it as, “a wide-spectrum content blocker with CPU and memory efficiency as a primary feature.”
Pros:
- Can be used to block more than just ads
- Compatible with multiple browsers
Cons:
- Not compatible with every version of Safari
Best for: Multiple browsers
Pricing: Free
Please note that uBlock Origin is not connected with “ublock.org.”
Sometimes instead of adding an ad blocker to your browser, having a super-fast browser that is built around protection is a better choice. With Brave, you get access to a much faster internet connection while protecting your data, activity and blocking ads from your screen. And if you are interested, Brave allows you to browse anonymously and without being tracked with its Tor mode. There is much more attached to Brave to explore, but suffice it to say that as a whole you can rely on Brave as your browser.
Pros:
- Built around security
- Ad blocking is what Brave is built for
Cons:
- Saved passwords from other browsers cannot be copied over
Best for: A whole web browser
Pricing: Free
While it is blatantly obvious from the title, AdBlock Pro is one of the best options for an ad blocker that you can find on the app store. When you initially download it, you get to use a free version of the program. You do have the option to get a paid subscription that is not limited like the free version, and you can try it out with the company’s 7-day free trial.
Pros:
- Has a free version
- Is available for iPhone
Cons:
- Free version is limited
Best for: Safari
Pricing –
- Free
- $9.99 for a year
As far as basic protection is concerned, Ghostery has you covered with the free version. However, its more advanced plans, such as Ghostery Plus and Premium, offer tools for desktop application protection and even a VPN. Ghostery is built to help hide you from the prying eyes that lurk on the internet trying to get access to your private information.
Pros:
- Free version is available
- Built-in VPN
Cons:
- Most tools are only through paid options
Best for: Combination of protective tools
Pricing:
- Free
- Ghostery Plus, $4.99 per month
- Ghostery Premium, $11.99 per month
Where to go From Here
Once you have your ad blocker of choice installed, you will immediately notice a difference. Browser performance improves within 5 minutes of installation. Your browser will be faster and the pages will be less cluttered with ads.
