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The All About Cookies editorial team strives to provide accurate, in-depth information and reviews to help you, our reader, make online privacy decisions with confidence. Here's what you can expect from us:
Best Comprehensive Web Protection
Best Budget-Friendly Bundle
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Best Free Ad Blocker Extension
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Better suited for advanced users because some features require technical knowledge
Total Adblock is solid ad blocking software, but we can recommend a few alternative ad blocking tools based on price, features, and usability.
NordVPN Threat Protection stands out for its strong blocking features, antivirus security, and VPN included in this ad-blocking suite. Surfshark CleanWeb also comes with a secure VPN but is a bit more affordable and gives you standout ad-blocking coverage for streaming services. If you don’t need advanced security features, uBlock Origin is a free ad blocking extension that stops unwanted ads and filters out interruptions.
We’ll give you all the details you want to choose the best ad blocker that works for your online browsing needs.
There is no shortage of available ad blockers, but each is unique. When selecting software, consider prices, features, device compatibility, and testing scores. Ad blockers improve your online experience, but getting the right one is crucial.
Out top Total Adblock alternatives do more than just block YouTube video ads. These powerhouses offer advanced security protection in addition to robust ad blocking capabilities.
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| Free version | ||||
| Compatibility | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Amazon Fire | Threat Protection: Windows, macOS
Threat Protection Lite: |
Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, FireTV | No |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge, Safari, Opera | Threat Protection Lite: Chrome, Firefox, Edge | Chrome, Firefox, Edge | Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari (prior to 13), Opera, Chromium |
| Blocks YouTube ads | ||||
| AdBlock Tester score | 100/100 | 93/100 | 96/100 | 100/100 |
| Cover Your Tracks score | 2/3 | 2/3 | 0.5/3 | 2/3 |
| Can You Block It score | 3/3 | 2/3 | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| Starting price | Free or $1.59/mo (billed annually) | As low as $3.39/mo (billed biennially) for the first two years | As low as $2.19/mo (billed biennially) | Free |
| Learn more | Get Total Adblock | Get NordVPN Threat Protection | Get Surfshark CleanWeb | Get uBlock Origin |
Stops intrusive ads before they can even load, improving browsing experience and speed
Identifies malware-ridden files and protects against visiting malicious websites
Encrypts your data and blocks third-party trackers for increased security and privacy
NordVPN Threat Protection is for users who want more than an ad blocker. It’s best for those who want multiple security features to keep unauthorized users from accessing their online activity. It offers solid ad-blocking ability, the secure NordVPN virtual private network service, and the option to add more features, like malware protection and a password manager.
We found the setup of NordVPN Threat Protection to be simple, with no hiccups along the way. It’s a user-friendly product that allows anyone to get up and running without needing technical knowledge.
The interface was straightforward, and we had an excellent view of threat detection. The software notified us of potentially harmful files that were removed for our benefit. We also liked the different security features available with this product to keep internet activity safe and private.
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Although NordVPN Threat Protection doesn’t require technical skills, we found parts of the product confusing, which could cause some users to pause. The blacklisting and whitelisting processes may necessitate some investigation upfront.
When we ran our tests, finding the settings for these features took us longer than expected. After searching, we discovered you can whitelist websites by turning on Threat Protection and viewing the Web tab.
Blocks ads, banners, and pop-ups on your browser and apps, including smart TVs
Enjoy boosted browsing speeds and save money on mobile data with its effective ad-blocking capabilities
Added benefit of a VPN to encrypt your data, hide your IP address, avoid phishing scams, and minimize malware risks
Surfshark CleanWeb is an easy-to-use yet powerful ad blocker that covers unlimited devices. It’s best for users who want a more affordable security suite. The Surfshark Starter bundle offers enhanced privacy and security with the inclusion of CleanWeb and Surfshark VPN, which can encrypt your online traffic and hide your IP address to prevent unauthorized access to data. Premium plans include Surfshark Antivirus protection, data breach alerts, and more.
During testing, we found the user interface intuitive, which is good when learning a new product. Even if you aren’t a frequent VPN user, you won’t have any trouble with this design. We also love that we can cover all the devices in our household under one plan. Most competitors cap device coverage.
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This may seem nitpicky, but it was hard to see when the ad blocker was actually on. Even when testing YouTube ad blocking, we had to check the toggle buttons to show that CleanWeb was running. That isn’t a deal breaker for us, but it’s worth knowing.
CleanWeb hides the VPN settings within the Surfshark app at first, and there’s no signal that lets you know it's up and working. Again, this is not a huge deal to us because the product worked well and did the job of blocking ads.
One of the best totally free ad blockers available
Highly customizable, open-source ad blocker that's compatible with multiple browsers
Can block advertising and analytics tools, including banner ads, video ads, and trackers, and can even bypass soft paywalls
uBlock Origin is best for people who want a free ad blocker that comes with impressive test scores for blocking capabilities. uBlock Origin is a free, open-source ad blocking extension. It’s also customizable so you can better map out your online experience. It works by filtering out elements on web pages that could interrupt your viewing. You can mark a website as acceptable to use the whitelisting capability, allowing that page to show ads.
We liked that uBlock Origin was easy to install and effective at blocking ads. A standout feature is that uBlock doesn’t have a default “acceptable ads” list. Instead, uBlock lets you decide what’s acceptable. uBlock Origin also provides warnings if you navigate to websites that are malicious, have spyware, or have notable privacy and tracking issues.
We think the ad blocker counter is a good way to know how many ads have been blocked. With uBlock Origin, you can view the number of ads to date. You’ll also be provided with warnings regarding malicious websites that could have spyware or privacy issues. It’s also one of the best ad blockers for YouTube, which is high praise considering the platform has cracked down on ad blocking software.
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If you want to create custom filters, you may need some technical skills. It’s still doable if you aren’t a technical guru, but you might need to visit Github or the uBlock subreddit threads to get help from other users.
Since uBlock Origin is a browser extension only, you won’t have an app for your Android or iPhone. Many users watch streaming videos and other content from their phones so this can be a letdown.
Whether you’re looking for a free ad blocker or a paid ad blocker, there are many specs to consider. We’ve tested a lot of ad blocking software to determine the best ad blockers based on price, subscription length, advanced security features, bundled options, protection scores, compatibility, device coverage, and more.
AdGuard, AdLock, and Ghostery didn’t make our top three Total Adblock alternatives list, but these popular ad blockers work well.
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| Free version | |||
| Compatibility | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Android TV | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android | No |
| Browsers | Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera, Yandex | Chrome, Firefox, Safari | Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera |
| Blocks YouTube ads | |||
| AdBlock Tester score | 100/100 (macOS)
94/100 (Windows) |
92/100 | 91/100 |
| Cover Your Tracks score | 2/3 | 2.5/3 | 0/3 |
| Can You Block It score | 3/3 | 2/3 | 3/3 |
| Learn more | Get AdGuard | Get AdLock | Get Ghostery |
The best ad alternative to Total Adblock is NordVPN Threat Protection, which combines anti-malware, a secure VPN, and an ad blocker to give you more protection, privacy, and security. Total Adblock is still one of the best ad blockers and is the best for blocking YouTube ads. See how it compares in our Total Adblock vs. NordVPN Threat Protection review.
NordVPN Threat Protection, Surfshark CleanWeb, and uBlock Origin are good Total Adblock alternatives. In fact, they’re some of the best ad blockers available. All three stop unwanted ads, block YouTube video ads, and help protect you from malicious ads and websites.
There are free alternatives to Total Adblock, like uBlock Origin, AdGuard, and AdLock. uBlock Origin is totally free, whereas AdGuard and AdLock are freemium ad blockers, so you can upgrade to access more advanced ad blocking features.
Total Adblock is a solid ad blocker. In fact, it’s one of the best ad blockers around. Although the limited free version doesn’t block YouTube ads or come with all the bells and whistles, you can upgrade to premium, which comes with the award-winning antivirus software TotalAV and unlimited ad blocking.
But if Total Adblock doesn’t offer the protection you need, we’d also recommend these popular ad blockers due to their unique features: NordVPN Threat Protection, Surfshark CleanWeb, or uBlock Origin.
Both NordVPN Threat Protection and Surfshark CleanWeb come bundled with secure VPN services. NordVPN is arguably the best VPN on the market, but Surfshark offers unlimited device coverage with all plans — at super affordable prices.
If you just want a standalone ad blocker without advanced malware, phishing, and tracking protection, then you can’t go wrong with uBlock Origin. It’s a free, open-source ad blocker extension that’s customizable for tech-savvy users.
| Starting price | Best for | Learn more | |
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As low as $3.39/mo (billed biennially) for the first two years | Best comprehensive web protection | Get NordVPN Threat Protection |
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As low as $2.19/mo (billed biennially) | Best budget-friendly bundle | Get Surfshark CleanWeb |
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Free | Best free ad blocker extension | Get uBlock Origin |
Instantly blocks distracting ads on millions of websites, including YouTube video ads
Blocks third-party trackers to protect your privacy and information
Improves page load times and enables faster browsing
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