Online ads aren't just annoying—they can be dangerous. "Malvertising" is a technique where hackers hide malware inside legitimate-looking ads. A good ad blocker stops this cold.

Quick Summary: The Best Blockers

  • 1
    uBlock Origin The lightweight king. Free, open-source, and blocks everything.
  • 2
    AdGuard Can block ads inside apps (not just the browser).
  • 3
    Ghostery Great for seeing exactly who is tracking you.

1. uBlock Origin

#1 BEST OVERALL

Do not confuse this with "uBlock" (owned by AdBlock). uBlock Origin is the original, community-driven project that is widely considered the best blocker in existence.

It uses very little memory (RAM) compared to others and has no "Acceptable Ads" program—meaning it blocks 100% of ads, not just the annoying ones.

  • Completely Free
  • CPU Efficient
  • Open Source
  • No "Paid" Whitelist

2. AdGuard

While uBlock is a browser extension, AdGuard offers a standalone app for Windows and Mac that filters your entire internet connection.

This means it can remove ads from apps like Skype, torrent clients, and even some games. It also has excellent Parental Control features built-in.

  • System-Wide Blocking
  • Android/iOS Apps
  • Privacy Protection
  • Cosmetic Filtering

3. Ghostery

Ghostery focuses heavily on Tracker blocking. Its unique dashboard shows you exactly which companies are trying to track you on any given website.

It's a great educational tool to see the "invisible" web, but can sometimes break websites if the blocking is too aggressive.

  • Visual Tracker Map
  • Smart Blocking
  • Fast Page Loads
  • Private Search