Best Safari Ad Blocker: Easy Ad-Free Browsing

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Best Safari Ad Blocker: Easy Ad-Free Browsing

As a heavy web browser, I get frustrated by ads as much as the next person. I’m also very Apple native and find myself using Safari for the majority of my sessions.

I put together a list of my favorite ad blocks for Safari but if you want my #1 recommendation without scrolling then here it is.

NordVPN Threat Protection – Best all-round ad block and VPN package

My second choice is:

Surfshark CleanWeb – Best budget ad block for Safari combined with a VPN

The web is filled with hundreds and thousands of ads that can ruin your viewing experience. An average person sees up to 10,000 advertisements a day, according to a 2021 report.

However, there are many tools which can stop all these ads from appearing on your device. In this article, we have listed the best ad blockers for Safari.

Our picks for the best ad blocks for Safari:

NordVPN Threat Protection
Surfshark CleanWeb
AdLock
AdGuard
Wipr
AdBlock
1BlockerX

Why are these the best ad blockers for Safari?

While there are many other ad blockers for Safari, we have selected these for the following reasons. Keep on reading.

Work on Mac and iOS
Best browser extensions and apps
These ad blockers are secure
Four of the six options I listed have free options

My Picks: The 7 best ad blocks on Safari

1. NordVPN Threat Protection

Throughout testing, I found NordVPN Threat Protection significantly improved my online safety. It’s not just about the robust defense against malicious websites and the thorough scanning of downloads for malware; the ad-blocking feature had the biggest impact on my browsing sessions compared to the others in my list.

By that I mean; ads are virtually nonexistent in Safari, which meant no more annoying interruptions and a much cleaner web experience. The tracking prevention which covers my own online footprint, also gave me peace of mind regarding my privacy.

Main benefits:

Blocks malicious websites to enhance online security.
Scans downloaded files for malware, reducing the risk of infection.
Ad-blocking capability declutters web pages for a smoother browsing experience.
Helps prevent online tracking to maintain user privacy.

Drawbacks:

May not offer the same level of protection as standalone antivirus programs (though this depends)
Some legitimate websites might not function properly with the ad blocker enabled when in Safari.

2. Surfshark CleanWeb

Surfshark CleanWeb and its successor, CleanWeb 2.0, is setting the highest standard in premium ad blockers and works seamlessly on Safari.

The feature set is robust:

Ad blocking
Cookie pop-up suppression
Timely alerts for data breaches and malware.

User reviews (and my own time spent using it) show tangible benefits that resonate with users who are seeking a frictionless Safari experience.

If you consider yourself as one of the following then you should really consider a premium ad block solution:

Tech enthusiast
Privacy advocates
Habitual surfer mobile users
Those in bandwidth-restricted regions
parents and businesses

Whether it’s safeguarding against malware, minimizing data costs, ensuring focused content consumption, or customizing content filters, Surfshark CleanWeb delivers.

One of the coolest features is allowing ad whitelisting, where Surfshark CleanWeb respects the ecosystem of free content while still putting control in the hands of the user.

Main Benefits of Surfshark CleanWeb:

Faster page loading times
Enhanced privacy and security
Bandwidth and data usage conservation

For anyone seeking a seamless, secure, and user-friendly browsing experience on Safari, CleanWeb is a solution that truly delivers on its promises. It’s my #1 pick.

2. Adlock

This is an affordable ad-blocking tool that works on iOS and Mac devices. Adlock makes no exceptions while blocking advertisements. It bars all promotions from streaming and torrenting sites, social media platforms and other websites.

However, you can whitelist your favored platforms, and let them play ads if you would like to support them monetarily.

Nevertheless, Adlock is pricey; at the time of writing, it came with an annual price was $16.

That said, we think this is a fair price considering the benefits you unlock with Adlock.

3. AdGuard

Many individuals and enterprises use the AdGuard ad-blocker.
This tool has a free option. You can also buy this product’s lifetime license for three or nine devices.

Easy to set-up and use, this ad-blocker lets you select which advertisements and tracking scripts you want to block. What’s more, web pages will load quicker even after blocking all those scripts and ads.

AdGuard also has an extension, called AdGuard Assistant. This add-on lets you block websites and even report them if they still serve you ads.

4. Wipr

Like others, Wipr also has a free option. This ad-blocking tool works perfectly across iOS and Mac devices.

Apart from blocking ads and tracking scripts, Wipr also stops things like GDPR/EU notices, which can hamper your viewing experience.

5. AdBlock

This ad blocker also has a free option and works perfectly with Safari. Installing and using AdBlock is easy, and you can read hundreds of good reviews about it in the Play Store.

You can enable and disable the AdBlock proxy service at will. Create your own blocking rules and sync all them with iCloud.

Finally once you have downloaded AdBlock on your iPhone or Mac it will go straight to work without any sort of technical setup. It’s a great tool as an out of the box solution and those without an amount of web savvyness.

6. 1BlockerX

This is one of the earliest ad blocking software for Apple devices. 1BlockX has paid and premium versions, and there are 43,000 blocking rules to choose from. What’s more, this tool can stop 13,000 known trackers easily.

1Blocker X claims it reduces your data consumption by 50%. By installing this app, users can also improve their battery performance.

Many users like this tool for its customer support and a detailed blog section.

How I chose the best ad blocker for Safari

My selection criteria, for any ad blocker and across any platform, follows a structured process that prioritizes the most important factors while also taking into account some of those nice-to-have features.

Here’s how I assess ad blockers:

Here’s why I think those factors are the most important:

Ad Blocking Effectiveness: Measure its success at eliminating various ads across websites. The best ad blockers leave few, if any, ads unblocked.
Page Load Speed Impact: Good ad blockers speed up browsing by stopping ads from loading. Faster pages mean a better experience.
Privacy Protection: Top ad blockers also shield you from trackers and cookies. Privacy features are a must.
Browser and Device Compatibility: Effective ad blockers work across all major platforms and browsers without hiccups.
Resource Efficiency: is crucial. The ad blocker should not hog system resources, ensuring smooth device performance.
Usability: It should be simple to use, with clear options for customization like whitelisting and easy on/off toggles. Accessibility for all skill levels is key.

Summing Up

As is obvious, the adblocker market for Safari is well catered to with each offering a similar selection of features but varying levels of effectiveness.

Ultimately my pick for best ad blocker for Safari is NordVPN Threat Protection.

Some ad blockers focus on simplicity and user-friendliness, while others provide a comprehensive set of customizations for advanced users. CleanWeb has all of the above.