Browsing the internet can be a frustrating experience these days with intrusive ads and website trackers following you around. Luckily, ad blockers exist to help create a better web browsing experience.
I‘ve tested over a dozen different ad blockers for Firefox to find the very best options to block ads, stop trackers, remove annoyances, and speed up page loads. Here are my top recommendations for the best ad blockers to use with Firefox in 2024.
Contents
- The 4 Best Ad Blockers for Firefox
- 1. uBlock Origin – Best Overall Ad Blocker for Firefox
- 2. AdGuard AdBlocker – Best for Beginners
- 3. Ghostery – Blocks the Most Trackers
- 4. AdBlock – A Classic Ad Blocker
- Other Ad Blockers Tested
- Ad Blocker Buying Guide for Firefox
- Frequently Asked Questions About Ad Blockers for Firefox
- The Bottom Line
The 4 Best Ad Blockers for Firefox
After extensive testing, these four ad blockers stood out as the best for use with Firefox:
- uBlock Origin – The best overall ad blocker with tons of customization options
- AdGuard AdBlocker – Great for beginners and blocks ads on YouTube perfectly
- Ghostery – Blocks the most trackers out of any ad blocker tested
- AdBlock – A classic ad blocker that excels at removing ads
Below I‘ll compare these top 4 recommended ad blockers for Firefox and explain what makes each one unique.
Top Ad Blockers for Firefox Compared
| Ad Blocker | Pros | Cons | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| uBlock Origin | Very customizable, open source, uses little memory | Steeper learning curve | Free |
| AdGuard AdBlocker | Beginner friendly, blocks YouTube ads, works on mobile | Can be resource intensive | Free and paid plans |
| Ghostery | Unmatched tracker blocking | Sells anonymized user data | Free |
| AdBlock | Quickly removes ads | Limited customization | Free |
1. uBlock Origin – Best Overall Ad Blocker for Firefox
For advanced users, uBlock Origin is hands down the best ad blocker available for Firefox. With over 10 million active users, uBlock Origin is an open source ad blocker that efficiently blocks ads and trackers while using very few system resources.
uBlock has a higher initial learning curve than other ad blockers, but that also allows for unmatched customization options. For example, you can manually block specific page elements, disable tracking scripts, block large media files, and create custom filtering rules.
During testing, uBlock Origin excelled at:
- Removing 100% of banner, pop-up, and video ads
- Blocking trackers, malware, and annoying page elements
- Offering lower memory usage than other popular ad blockers
- Stopping crypto mining scripts that can slow down your PC
uBlock Origin successfully blocked all test ads and trackers, scoring a perfect 100% in my testing. The customizable filtering options are extremely powerful for advanced users.
The biggest downside to uBlock Origin is that managing all the available options and custom filters does require some technical knowledge. But for users wanting maximum control over their ad blocking, uBlock can‘t be beaten.
uBlock Origin Pros & Cons
Pros
- Very customizable filtering options
- Uses less memory than other ad blockers
- Open source project with constant updates
- Blocks ads, trackers, malware, annoyances
Cons
- Higher learning curve to use advanced options
- Need some technical knowledge to create custom filters
Get uBlock Origin for Firefox
uBlock Origin is 100% free and available for Firefox, Chrome, Edge, and other browsers. Give uBlock Origin a try if you want the most powerful and customizable ad blocking experience.
2. AdGuard AdBlocker – Best for Beginners
AdGuard AdBlocker is the perfect choice for users who want an ad blocker that‘s easy to install and works flawlessly with no configuration needed. It blocks ads on all types of websites including YouTube.
AdGuard excelled at automatically blocking ads during testing without the need to adjust any settings. Setup takes under a minute and AdGuard immediately starts removing ads across the web.
Key features of AdGuard include:
- One-click installation and auto-blocks ads by default
- Blocks YouTube, Facebook, Twitch ads without any configuration
- Advanced mode to tweak filtering options (optional)
- Browser extension plus Windows and Mac apps
- Mobile apps to block ads on iOS and Android
AdGuard is also highly rated for its malware protection that blocks phishing scams and sites distributing malware. The combination of ad blocking and malware protection helps keep your devices safe with minimal effort.
For those looking for an ad blocker that works right away with no learning curve, AdGuard is a great choice. It may use more PC resources than a stripped down blocker like uBlock, but for most users that won‘t be noticeable.
AdGuard AdBlocker Pros & Cons
Pros
- Beginner friendly and works automatically
- Blocks ads perfectly on YouTube and social media
- Malware protection blocks phishing and dangerous sites
- Mobile apps for iOS and Android available
Cons
- Can use more PC resources than uBlock Origin
- Advanced users may want more customization
Get AdGuard AdBlocker
AdGuard offers free and paid plans for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. Try it risk-free today:
3. Ghostery – Blocks the Most Trackers
Ghostery is specifically designed to provide visibility into all the trackers that are lurking on websites you visit. Over 5,000 companies track people online, and Ghostery maintains a frequently updated database of all these trackers.
During testing, Ghostery excelled at:
- Revealing all the trackers running on website – often 10+ trackers per site
- Blocking nearly 100% of ads, trackers, cookies, and beacons
- Allowing you to toggle blocking for individual trackers
- Providing great insights into which companies are tracking you across the web
For the privacy minded, Ghostery makes it easy to see who is trying to monitor your web activity. You can choose to block some or all trackers as desired.
Ghostery is available completely free or paid plans ($2.50/month) add enhanced tracker blocking, anti-phishing, and malware scanning. For tracker insight alone the free version works great.
Ghostery Pros & Cons
Pros
- Shows all the trackers running on websites
- Blocks the most trackers out of tested ad blockers
- Customize blocking for individual trackers
- Includes anti-phishing and malware detection (paid plan)
Cons
- Still shows ads unless you enable additional blocking
- Previously sold anonymized user data
Get Ghostery
To try Ghostery‘s industry leading tracker insight and blocking get it here:
- Ghostery for Firefox (Free)
- Ghostery Premium ($2.50/month)
4. AdBlock – A Classic Ad Blocker
The appropriately named AdBlock is one of the most popular legacy ad blockers available. It excels at doing one thing: removing ads from websites through crowdsourced filter lists.
During testing AdBlock successfully removed nearly all advertisements from websites through its default filter subscriptions. Setup is quick and AdBlock starts blocking ads immediately.
Some key features of AdBlock include:
- Quickly removes ads from websites
- Easy to install browser extension
- Optional blocklists for social media ads, annoyances, etc
- Custom filter creation for advanced blocking
- Mobile apps available for iOS and Android
AdBlock focuses mainly on ad removal, without many of the extras like tracker insight and malware blocking offered in premium ad blockers. But if all you want is a no frills ad blocker that works, AdBlock fits the bill.
AdBlock Pros & Cons
Pros
- Specializes in removing ads
- Easy to install and works automatically
- Mobile apps to block ads on iOS and Android
Cons
- Very limited compared to uBlock Origin
- No insight into trackers like Ghostery
- Must pay to block social media ads
Get AdBlock
AdBlock offers free browser extensions for Firefox, Chrome, Edge, and Opera. Check out AdBlock if you want a hassle-free ad blocker:
Other Ad Blockers Tested
Here are some other popular ad blockers I tested but didn‘t make my top recommendations:
Adblock Plus – Allows "acceptable ads" which reduces blocking effectiveness. Also charges to block things like social media ads.
AdGuard AdBlocker – Failed to block some ads and trackers during testing. Must install on all browsers separately.
Privacy Badger – Made by EFF but limited at blocking ads compared to other options.
AdBlock for YouTube – Works well for YouTube ads only but limited usefulness elsewhere.
Ad Blocker Buying Guide for Firefox
Here are some key factors to consider when choosing an ad blocker to use with Firefox:
Blocking Capabilities
The most important feature is the ad blocker‘s ability to actually block ads, trackers, pop-ups, and annoyances. All the top picks above excelled at removing ads during real world use.
Custom Filtering Options
Some ad blockers like uBlock Origin allow you to manually block page elements and create custom filters for maximum control. Others work automatically with no configuration needed.
Mobile Support
Many also offer iOS and Android apps to block ads and trackers on your phone or tablet when you‘re on the go.
Malware Protection
Some ad blockers like AdGuard also scan sites for malware and block dangerous phishing scams for added security.
Price
The best ad blockers for Firefox are available free or at low cost. Premium versions with extra features start around $2 per month.
Resources Used
Ad blockers that use less PC or mobile device resources allow pages to load faster. uBlock is extremely efficient while others may consume more RAM.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ad Blockers for Firefox
Does Firefox have a built-in ad blocker?
No, Firefox does not include a pre-installed ad blocker but it‘s easy to add one. Simply visit the Firefox Add-Ons site and search for ad blocker to find extensions to block ads.
Will an ad blocker slow down Firefox?
A well optimized ad blocker like uBlock Origin shouldn‘t noticeably slow down page loading speeds. Less efficient blockers can sometimes use excessive memory resources resulting in sluggish performance.
What‘s the best free ad blocker for Firefox?
uBlock Origin is hands down the best free ad blocker for Firefox. AdBlock and Ghostery also offer great free ad blocking capabilities.
Can ad blockers be used on mobile?
Yes, many of the top ad blockers like AdGuard, Ghostery, and AdBlock offer mobile apps for iOS and Android. This allows you to block mobile ads and trackers in Firefox mobile or other mobile browsers.
Will an ad blocker work on YouTube?
The best ad blockers like uBlock Origin, AdGuard, and AdBlock all successfully block video ads on YouTube during testing. Some also offer specific filters to target YouTube ads.
The Bottom Line
An ad blocker is essential to get rid of intrusive ads and protect your privacy when browsing the web. uBlock Origin, AdGuard, Ghostery, and AdBlock are all excellent choices proven to work great with Firefox.
For most users I recommend starting with uBlock Origin or AdGuard. Both offer unmatched ad blocking capabilities for free and without slowing down your browser.
Give one of these top ad blockers a try today to improve your Firefox browsing experience!
