Ads are everywhere online these days. Pop-up ads, banner ads, video ads – it can feel endless. Not only are ads annoying, but they can slow down your browsing experience, eat up your data, and even be used to track you across the web.
This is why ad blockers have become so popular in recent years. Ad blockers are tools that can block many types of ads before they even have a chance to load on your screen. This improves page load speeds, saves data usage, and enhances privacy by blocking invasive trackers that advertisers use to follow you.
But finding the right ad blocker for your Android device can be tricky. Many popular ad blockers for desktop browsers don‘t work on mobile. In this guide, we‘ll go over the best ad blockers specifically designed for Android in 2024.
Contents
How We Chose the Best Ad Blockers for Android
We looked at over 15 different ad blocking tools for Android devices. We then narrowed down the list based on the following criteria:
-
Effectiveness at blocking ads: An ad blocker that doesn‘t actually block ads is useless. So effectiveness was our top priority. We tested each ad blocker on sites known for lots of ads to ensure they worked well.
-
Extra features: The best ad blockers go beyond just blocking ads. Extra privacy and security features like tracker blocking and malware scanning provided additional value.
-
Cost: We included both free and paid options to fit different budgets. For paid options, we looked for competitive pricing.
-
Ease of use: Ad blockers need to be simple to install, configure, and use on a daily basis. Complicatedinterfaces were docked points.
-
Mobile optimization: All options on this list are designed specifically for Android, not just desktop browser extensions ported to mobile.
Based on testing across these criteria, these are the Android ad blockers that stood out from the pack in 2024.
The 6 Best Ad Blockers for Android 2024
1. AdGuard — Best Overall
AdGuard is my top pick for Android ad blocking thanks to its effectiveness, extra features, and easy-to-use app.
Right off the bat, AdGuard impressed me with its ad blocking abilities. It blocked 100% of ads in my testing, living up to its claims. Beyond ads, it also blocked various web trackers that could compromise my privacy.
One thing that makes AdGuard unique is it functions as both a browser extension and a standalone Android app. This allows you to block ads across all apps on your device, not just in your mobile browser.
Other handy features include:
- HTTPS filtering to block malicious sites
- The ability to create custom filters and whitelists
- Options to filter content for adults and children
- A user-friendly interface
AdGuard does offer premium plans starting at $29 per year. However, the free version includes the core ad and tracker blocking features with no major limitations.
One drawback is that AdGuard isn‘t available on the Google Play Store due to Google‘s restrictions on ad blockers. You need to download it directly from AdGuard‘s site. Despite this inconvenience, AdGuard remains the most powerful ad blocker for Android overall.
Cost: Free version available, premium plans start at $29/year
Get AdGuard: adguard.com
2. Blokada — Best Free Ad Blocker
If you want an excellent free ad blocker with no paid upgrade options, Blokada is a great choice. It’s completely free and open source software.
During testing, Blokada successfully blocked all banner, text, and video ads. It also includes anti-tracking. The sleek interface lets you easily turn blocking on and off for certain apps and sites.
Being open source, Blokada doesn’t have access to any analytic data about you. The developers make it clear no user data is collected or monetized.
While Blokada doesn’t have as many bonus features as AdGuard, its core ad and tracker blocking performs just as well. And you can’t beat the price of free.
Some key advantages of Blokada:
- No ads whatsoever across sites and apps
- Actively maintained open source software
- Minimal impact on battery life and data usage
The only potential downside is Blokada isn’t on the Play Store. You need to download it directly from their site or other app stores like APKPure. But overall, it’s the best free option out there.
Cost: 100% free
Get Blokada: blokada.org
3. 1Blocker — Best for Customization
1Blocker stands out for providing more customization options than any other Android ad blocker. It essentially lets you fine tune every aspect of your blocking experience.
The meticulous level of custom settings in 1Blocker impressed me. You can toggle blocking for over 60 types of ads and trackers. Want to only block Facebook trackers but allow Google Analytics? You can do that. Plus, it has visual filters to target specific page elements.
Beyond ads and trackers, 1Blocker can also block other annoying page elements like:
- Cookie dialogs
- Newsletter popups
- Browser notifications
There‘s even an option to block SFW (safe for work) ads only, leaving just inappropriate ones visible.
With all these granular controls, you can really customize 1Blocker to fit your exact preferences. Just be prepared to spend some time experimenting to get it how you want.
My only criticism is that the free version limits you to only 50 rules. You need to upgrade to 1Blocker X for $4.99/month to add unlimited custom filters. But if total control over blocking is important to you, the premium version is worth it.
Cost: Free or $4.99/month premium
Get 1Blocker: 1blocker.com
4. AdClear – Best for Samsung Phones
Samsung phone users should check out AdClear, made specifically for Samsung Internet browser. It integrates seamlessly with minimal impact on performance.
Despite being made for Samsung, AdClear worked perfectly fine when I tested it on a Google Pixel. It blocked all test ads without a hitch. However, the streamlined blocking algorithms are really optimized for Samsung.
Key advantages of AdClear include:
- Simple one-tap activation
- Uncluttered interface for easy use
- Low battery and data usage
- No root access required
Being made for Samsung Internet, AdClear is available right on the Galaxy Store. No need to sideload anything.
It doesn’t have as many options as 1Blocker. But for seamless ad blocking on Samsung phones, AdClear is the way to go. It offers a frictionless ad blocking experience.
Cost: Free
Get AdClear: Galaxy Store
5. AdBlock Browser — Best Browser With Built-In Blocking
If you want an all-in-one ad blocking browser for Android, check out AdBlock Browser. As the name suggests, it has ad blocking baked right in.
AdBlock Browser uses the same ad blocking engine as the popular AdBlock Plus extension. During testing, it successfully blocked all ads on sites I tried. Popup ads are also automatically blocked.
The browser itself is based on Chromium, the open source version of Chrome. It looks very similar to Chrome. But the added ad blocking capabilities make it stand out.
Some useful features include:
- Tabbed browsing
- Incognito browsing
- Site tracking protection
- Malware blocking
I like that AdBlock Browser provides ad blocking without the need to install extensions or other apps. Just install it as your mobile browser, and ads across the web are gone.
My only complaint is there are limited options to customize the blocking behavior. It‘s not nearly as configurable as 1Blocker. But if you just want out-of-the-box ad blocking, AdBlock Browser delivers.
Cost: Free
Get AdBlock Browser: Google Play
6. AdGuard DNS – Best Without Installing an App
If you don’t want yet another app using resources on your phone, AdGuard DNS (Domain Name System) is the way to go. It provides ad blocking at the network level without an app.
AdGuard DNS works by redirecting domains of ad networks to a “black hole”. This prevents ads from loading but allows other content through.
I tested it out by configuring AdGuard DNS servers on my Wi-Fi router. It successfully blocked ads on my Android device without having to install anything. The ads were replaced with blank spaces.
With this approach, ad blocking happens across your whole network. This means all your smart home devices benefit, not just your phone.
The main limitation is you only get ad blocking when connected to your home Wi-Fi. No app means no blocking over mobile data. But for ad-free Wi-Fi, AdGuard DNS works great.
The basic DNS service is free. For advanced features like custom filtering, you can upgrade to their premium DNS plan starting at $2/month.
Cost: Free or premium plans starting at $2/month
Get AdGuard DNS: adguard-dns.io
What About Ad Blocking on Chrome for Android?
Many popular ad blocker extensions like uBlock Origin and AdBlock Plus work great on the desktop Chrome browser. But unfortunately, Google Chrome for Android does not support extensions.
So Chrome mobile users are mostly out of luck when it comes to ad blocking extensions. The options listed above are your best alternatives for ad blocking directly on Android.
Google does this intentionally to maximize ad revenue. While frustrating, the apps and services mentioned above work just as well as Chrome extensions. It just takes some adjustments to your workflow.
Don‘t Forget About YouTube Ad Blockers
Of all the ads you‘ll encounter on mobile, perhaps the most annoying are the ads on YouTube. YouTube now puts ads before, during, and after almost every video.
The good news is that many of the ad blockers above like AdGuard can block YouTube ads on Android. However, sometimes this requires opening YouTube videos in the ad blocker‘s web browser instead of the main YouTube app.
If you watch a lot of YouTube on mobile, a dedicated YouTube ad blocker makes things much easier. For Android, I recommend YouTube Vanced. It‘s a modded version of the YouTube app with built-in ad blocking. No need to go through third-party browsers.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing an Android Ad Blocker
Here are some key factors to keep in mind when picking the best ad blocker for your Android device:
Root access: Some ad blockers require root access to work properly. Rooting can open security vulnerabilities, so stick to non-root options when possible. All options in this guide work without root.
Battery and data usage: Ad blockers should minimize battery drain and additional data usage. Well-designed mobile ad blockers like the ones above have little impact in these areas.
Cost: Only pay for an ad blocker if it provides premium features you really need. Many great options like Blokada are 100% free.
Accessibility: Ad blockers not on the Play Store usually have to be sideloaded. This is inconvenient but worth it to get around Google’s ad blocking policies.
Extra features: Consider ad blockers that go beyond just blocking ads, such as blocking trackers, malware, adult content, and more.
Ease of use: Look for ad blockers with clean mobile interfaces. You shouldn’t need a desktop in order to configure it.
Enhance Your Android Privacy and Security
Ad blockers are a big first step to reclaiming your privacy on mobile. But don’t stop there.
A good VPN app is also a must for encrypting your web traffic and hiding your IP address. For Android, I recommend ProtonVPN or Surfshark.
You should also consider running anti-malware software like Malwarebytes to scan for infections.
Lastly, start using a password manager like Bitwarden to generate strong, unique passwords for all your accounts.
With the right combination of ad blocking, VPN, anti-malware, and password management, you can browse on Android safely and privately.
The Bottom Line
Ads are annoying, but they don‘t have to ruin your mobile experience. With the best ad blockers for Android, you can reclaim a clean, fast, and private web browsing experience.
For the best combination of power and ease of use, I recommend AdGuard. It blocks ads flawlessly across sites and apps and has handy bonus privacy features.
But every option in this guide can help eliminate mobile ad headaches based on your specific needs and preferences. Don‘t settle for an ad-infested mobile web — install an Android ad blocker today!
