Best ad blockers for Chrome in 2024

Nowadays, various ads, pop-ups, banners, and auto-play videos plague your average browsing experience on Chrome. Besides being a nuisance, adware is dangerous in other ways. Most are used as marketing ploys to track your browsing habits, while some pose a security threat due to malware.

Because of this, using a Chrome ad blocker is of the essence. It ensures your browsing experience remains ad-free while also disabling various user trackers and blocking access to malicious websites. And if you pick a robust one, you can even say goodbye to all those ads on YouTube, Facebook, and other popular websites.

Alas, finding reliable software is a trial and error process, especially if you don’t know what to look for. That’s why our team tested and ranked various services to provide you with a list of the best ad blockers for Chrome. We thoroughly examined the effectiveness, level of security, price, perks, and other factors to bring only the top Chrome ad blockers and ad-blocking extensions to the table.

Best Chrome ad blockers: shortlist

1. Total AdBlock

   The most effective ad blocker for Chrome
   9.8
2. Nord Adblock

   Best pop up ad blocker for Chrome
   9.7
3. Surfshark Adblock

   Versatile Google Chrome ad blocker
   9.4
4. Proton VPN Adblock

   The safest ad blocker for Chrome
   8.8

What to look for when choosing the best ad blocker for Chrome?

First and foremost, a robust ad blocker should take down adware without much hassle. But that’s not the only key factor you should consider when perusing the vast selection of Chrome ad blockers. Other aspects that mustn't be overlooked include but are not limited to:

• Versatility. A great Google Chrome ad blocker is capable of taking down ads, user trackers that follow your online movements, and websites known for hosting malicious software and scams. Bonus points are awarded for including antiviruses, built-in VPNs, filters, data breach scanners, etc.
• Compatibility. The safety of your whole device, and not only the browser, is paramount. A service that can shield you both on PC and phones is more worth its salt than a standalone browser add-on. However, browser extensions are handy to have, and should be considered as bonuses.
• Privacy. The company behind the ad blocker shouldn’t be dabbling in user tracking itself. Always check whether the provider adheres to a no-logs policy, as it indicates their stance on collecting customer data.
• Pricing. Just because a tool is on the pricier side doesn’t necessarily mean it’s great and effective. Evaluate if you’re getting your money’s worth in terms of features, ease of use, device compatibility, and so on.
• Money-back guarantee. Committing from the get-go if you’re unsure about the Chrome ad blocker or extension isn’t recommended. Test the service beforehand by utilizing money-back guarantees or free trials, if those are available.

The best Chrome ad blockers: overview

1. Total Adblock – the ultimate Google Chrome ad blocker
2. NordVPN Threat Protection – the top Chrome ad blocker
3. Surfshark CleanWeb – ad blocker for Google Chrome with top-notch security
4. Proton VPN Netshield – good ad blocker from Chrome with a privacy focus

Our recommended Google Chrome ad blockers reliably disable ads so that your browsing experience isn’t littered with annoying adware. Furthermore, they take care of user trackers, malicious websites, and YouTube video ads. And since most of these services support multiple devices, you can block advertisements across several household devices.

1. Total Adblock – the best Chrome ad blocker

Take down adware instantly with the ultimate Chrome ad blocker extension – Total Adblock. Of course, there’s a proper application as well, which additionally prevents such headaches as user trackers and malicious websites. Either way, it effectively blocks all unwanted advertisements and pop-ups littering your browser’s screen.

Total Adblock might seem a bit lacking feature-wise, but that’s only if you’re looking for extras handy for other online activities. We found Script-blocking, acceptable ad whitelisting, and annoying notification disabling to be indelible features that worked as advertised. An increase in browsing speed was also noted, which makes sense, since all those ads usually slow down loading times to a crawl. There’s even a neat summary that shows how many ads and trackers were taken down.

Our testing has shown that Total Adblock blocks around 99% of adware, an achievement not every ad blocker can boast. Besides all the pests that you’ll find on the web, this tool takes care of auto-play video ads on YouTube as well. Even Facebook advertisements weren’t left out, making using this social media site less jarring.

You can get the Total Adblock extension on Chrome and all other Chromium-based web browsers. It’s even compatible with Firefox and Edge, and the company behind this Chrome ad blocker, TotalAV, tries to make it available on all kinds of browsers. Moreover, there are apps for Android and iOS, improving the browsing experience of mobile users, too.

Total Adblock is a solid ad blocker for Chrome, coming at 80% less. Of course, there’s a free 7-day trial as well, for those who want to test the service first. Or if you commit from the get-go, backing out is on the table with the 14-day money-back guarantee.

For a deeper investigation of Total AdBlock, read our Total AdBlock review.

2. NordVPN Threat Protection – robust ad blocker for Chrome browser

NordVPN’s Threat Protection is a great ad blocker for Chrome. It reliably blocks adware, user trackers (third-party cookies), and websites that pose a security threat. Plus, this tool scans downloads for malicious software, preventing you from downloading infected files. And since Threat Protection is built-in with a VPN, you benefit from extra protection and anonymity.

Threat Protection can be enabled separately from the VPN and is pretty customizable, letting users toggle what it should block. There is even an option to use a Lite version instead, which utilizes DNS filtering to disable ads and block malicious domains. URL trimming is another useful feature. It removes tracking parameters attached to URL links, increasing your privacy while browsing.

This ad blocker is one of the most robust ones out there, blocking up to 80% of ads. It reliably took down tracking ads, invisible trackers, intrusive banners, and YouTube and Facebook advertisements during testing. Although push notifications and flash banners proved to be troublesome. Furthermore, it gives you a summary of all the things it blocked during a 7-day period, letting you judge its effectiveness yourself.

Threat Protection is available on all major OS – Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. It’s also included in NordVPN’s browser extensions, which you can download for Edge, Brave, Firefox, Chrome, and all Chromium-based browsers. The add-ons include Lite, though, so you won’t be able to customize it. Still, it works just as great as the app version.

Currently, NordVPN with Threat Protection costs 73% less, with 3 months extra. Curious cats can also get a taste of the service with the free 7-day trial. Or, if you need a longer time to test everything, take advantage of the 30-day money-back guarantee.

3. Surfshark CleanWeb – high-performance ad blocker for Google Chrome

Another solid and affordable Chrome ad blocker is Surfshark’s CleanWeb. A part of the VPN suite, which encrypts all internet traffic, it blocks advertisements, pop-ups, video ads, cookie consent pop-ups, trackers, malware, and more. Just keep in mind that you have to enable the VPN connection for it to work.

CleanWeb noticeably increases browsing speeds and is able to detect phishing attempts, helping users avoid scamming attempts. And if that’s not enough, you can also get the Surfshark One package. While it costs extra, you benefit from a robust antivirus, a private search tool that displays organic results, and a breach detection tool that alerts you about personal information leaks.

Our tests have shown that CleanWeb does its job commendably, getting close to NordVPN's 80% effectiveness. Various adware, push notifications, auto-play videos, invisible trackers, and such were stopped in their tracks. We especially enjoyed an ad-free YouTube experience. There were a few hiccups at first, but the rest of the videos weren’t riddled with ads anymore the more we tested this ad blocker.

You can enable CleanWeb on PCs, mobiles, and even smart TVs. The highlight of this service is the browser extensions available on all Chromium-based browsers, along with Edge and Firefox. Here, you get the enhanced CleanWeb 2.0 version. It additionally disables cookie consent pop-ups, alerts about website breaches, and shows statistics.

CleanWeb, bundled with a VPN, can be yours with a 87% discount, plus 2 months free. There’s also an option to test the waters first with the 7-day free trial. After that, you can commit risk-free with the 30-day money-back guarantee.

4. Proton VPN – safe ad blocker for Chrome

Proton VPN’s Netshield is another versatile Chrome ad blocker. Coming built-in with a VPN, it grants users reprieve from adware, user trackers, malware, and online snoopers. Such a security suite offers other benefits as well, like anonymity, geographical restriction circumvention and ISP bandwidth throttling prevention.

By using DNS filtering, NetShield gets rid of advertisements in a snap. There’s two modes to choose from, either Blocking malware only or Blocking malware, tracking and ads. And if there’s a need, you can always turn it off altogether, though knowing how ad-laden most sites are, we wouldn’t advise it. Finally, you can check the blocker’s effectiveness in the Privacy Panel.

NetShield blocks approximately 68% of adware. You won’t see the most intrusive advertisements anymore, but there will be some hiccups here and there. Most notably, it tends to let through GIF images, direct link ads, and Google Analytics tools. Another caveat is YouTube ads. The tool doesn’t always take down auto-play ads in the browser version, but when it comes to the YouTube app, NetShield works as intended.

This Chrome ad blocker is available in VPN app on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. Furthermore, there are browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox users. It even lets you change your in-browser region or select which apps to visit via Proton VPN with split tunneling.

Proton VPN’s NetShield, along with the VPN, costs $4.99/month. Although there’s a free version of Proton VPN, keep in mind that it doesn’t come with the built-in ad blocking functionality. However, the premium version is worth the money. And if you deem it not to be, the 30-day money-back guarantee is right there.

Best Ad blockers for Chrome: comparison

How we selected the best Chrome ad blockers

We didn’t just pick the top ad blockers for Chrome all willy-nilly. Each candidate underwent rigorous testing to determine which are worth your money and which are not. Our assessment procedures took into account:

• User tracker & malware protection. While a great Chrome ad blocker takes care of ads, the best also deals with such nuisances as user trackers and malicious websites. It adds an extra layer of privacy and security, ensuring an optimal browsing experience.
• Extra features. Not many netizens want to pay for a bare-bones tool, so extra points go to those who offer useful perks. We’re talking about whitelisting, antiviruses, private browsers, data breach alerts, built-in VPNs, and such. Better yet if it’s a part of a robust security suite that shields your online activities from all kinds of threats.
• Device compatibility. What’s the point of getting an ad blocker if it only works on a specific OS? Advertisements are a nuisance that affects all kinds of devices. Thus, it’s essential for the tool to be compatible with a wide range of platforms. And brownie points go to those who offer browser extensions.
• Software freshness. Since adware campaigns are constantly evolving to avoid ad blocker detection, these tools must be regularly updated. An out-of-date ad blocker can only do so much if it isn’t routinely patched to battle new forms of advertisements.
• Pricing. Our best Chrome ad blockers are easy on the wallet and include additional features, making them versatile to boot. Plus, they come with money-back guarantees, so you can always get a refund if the service doesn’t live up to your standards.

While Total Adblock proves to be effective for blocking ads, it doesn’t offer an all-in-one security package. And if you’re tired of having a separate app for every different protection need, then we recommend trying NordVPN. Threat Protection is just as robust and comes with the best VPN on the market. Thus, you benefit from superb speeds, total privacy and security while doing anything online, the ability to access blocked or foreign content, and even internet-censorship circumvention.

How to download NordVPN Threat Protection ad blocker on Chrome

Setting up an ad blocker is fairly easy, and even less tech-savvy people won’t have a problem getting started. For example, here’s a little guide on setting up Threat Protection on a computer:

1. Head to NordVPN’s official website, pick a plan and subscribe
   
   
2. Download the right application for your OS and install it on your PC
3. Boot up the app and log into your account
   
   
4. From the sidebar on the left, click on the shield icon. That’s Threat Protection.
5. Enable Threat Protection or Threat Protection Lite, depending on your needs
6. For further ad blocker customization, click on the Settings button and select what you want this tool to block
7. And you’re done! Enjoy an ad-free internet experience.

Get the best Chrome ad blocker

Why do you need to block ads on the Chrome browser?

You should invest in a powerful Chrome ad blocker for many reasons. They help you with:

• Stopping ads. We’re talking not only about your average banners and auto-play videos, but intrusive advertisements that contain trackers and sometimes even malicious software. Even accidentally clicking on them is dangerous, putting your data and device’s integrity at risk.
• Disabling user trackers. It’s no secret that almost every website on the internet is tracking your browsing habits via various trackers. Then this information is used to create targeted ads catered specifically to your interests so that you’re more likely to click on them.
• Improving loading times. When a page is riddled with tons of ads, everything takes much longer to load than usual. But if you eliminate them, there’s fewer elements to bog down the loading speeds.
• Preventing cookie pop-ups. Seemingly every website in existence now requires you to accept their cookie policy to even access their content. They won’t frustrate you anymore with the right ad blocker, though.

How to disable the ad blocker on Chrome

Google Chrome as a built-in ad blocker of its own. However, it usually doesn’t work as intended, and tends to make matters worse by letting through certain acceptable ads. As such, a better course of action would be to turn off the ad blocker on Chrome and invest into a trusted one.

1. At the top right, click on the three dots and select Settings
2. Head to the Privacy and security tab and select Site settings
3. Scroll down until you find Additional content settings and click on it
4. Find the Intrusive ads section and click on it
5. Select the Any site you visit can show any ad to you option, and that’s it

Are free Chrome ad blockers safe?

Only a tiny percentage of free Chrome ad blockers are safe. So, it would be a trial and error process to find one – you don’t really want to get into it as it comes at the price of your safety. And in general, we don’t recommend using free tools for several reasons:

• Ineffectiveness. A free ad blocker can only do so much. Thus, you’re likely to encounter almost the same amount of ads with them as you did without one. Plus, some even intentionally let through particular adware, especially those created by ad companies that fund their operations.
• Subpar to no security. Such costless services don’t always have the incentive to keep you secure since you’re not paying for anything. And if some ads containing malicious code are let through, well, it’s your loss, not theirs.
• User tracking. Certain free ad blockers have been caught tracking their users' actions and then selling this data to third parties. It’s not something you want when you’re lowkey trying to evade tracking in the first place.
• No updates. The tool must be updated frequently to effectively combat all kinds of adware strategies. Besides that, outdated software often has security holes, which malicious entities could exploit.

Is it really worth putting yourself in jeopardy over a few bucks? Definitely not. And because of this, we always advise opting for premium services instead. Our top Chrome ad blocker, Total Adblock, has a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee you can combine to use the service for free for over a month. If you end up not liking it, canceling is always an option.

Try Total Adblock today

Chrome extension Manifest v3

At the end of 2020, Google introduced the next iteration of the API Manifest that affects the Chrome browser and all others based on Chromium. Many people instantly noted that it would change how ad blockers work on Chrome. Notably, while you could still use ad-blocking extensions, they would be less effective. So, the fancy add-on you invested money in could be rendered somewhat useless.

Manifest v3 was set to launch at the start of 2023, but it’s been delayed for an indefinite time. Google cites the reasoning for this as developer troubles while migrating to the new WebRequest API.

What solution to choose

With Manifest v3 still looming on the horizon and so many Chrome ad blockers to choose from, we understand the hesitation when it comes to committing to a solution. We always recommend picking well-known, reputable brands with proven effectiveness and protection measures against all kinds of online threats (ads included). Benefit from top-notch security with:

1. NordVPN
2. Surfshark VPN
3. Proton VPN

Video review

Conclusion

The fact of the matter is that ads are never going away. But it doesn’t mean that we can’t take action to block them in any way we can. And currently, the best tool for the job is a powerful ad blocker that is able to tackle the ever-changing advertising landscape.

We’ve found that the best ad blocker for Chrome is Total Adblock. It passed our tests with flying colors, disabling various user trackers and blocking malicious websites along the way.

What is the best Chrome ad blocker that you’ve ever used? Let us know in the comments below!

---

You may also like to read:
Best free ad blockers
Best ad blockers for Safari
Best ad blockers for iPhone
Best ad blockers for Mac
Best ad blockers for Edge
Best ad blockers for Twitch
Best ad blockers for Android

---

FAQ

Does Chrome have a built-in ad blocker?

Yes, Chrome has a built-in ad blocker, but it doesn’t disable all ads. It only blocks intrusive or annoying ones, leaving those that are acceptable according to Better Ads Guidelines as is. Thus, you’ll be better off with a proper Chrome ad blocker.

How to temporarily disable the ad blocker on Chrome?

You can disable Chrome’s ad blocker via Settings. Head over to the Privacy and security tab, then Site settings. After, click on Additional content settings, select Ads, and toggle off Block ads on sites that show intrusive or misleading ads. You can turn it back on whenever you want.

Do any ad blockers work on Chrome?

Yes, there are plenty of ad blockers that work on Chrome. The best one is Total Adblock. Besides blocking ads, it disables user trackers and prevents you from entering malicious websites. The cherry on top is that it blocks YouTube ads without a hitch.

Is Chrome getting rid of ad blockers?

Google was planning to get rid of ad blocker extensions for Chrome with Manifest V3. But due to backlash, it was currently put on hold until further notice.

What is the best ad blocker extension for Chrome 2023?

The best Chrome ad blocker extension is Total Adblock. It efficiently disables all kinds of adware, blocks user trackers, and stops you from entering websites known for hosting malware. Our testing has shown outstanding results.

Is there a genuine ad blocker for Chrome?

Yes, there are genuine ad blockers for Chrome. Our top picks work well with this web browser, and they efficiently disable ads before they manage to clutter up websites.