adblock safari without app store

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Installing a Safari adblocker without the App Store - possible?

• Thread starter benyben123
• Start date Oct 30, 2021
• Sort by reaction score

macrumors regular

• Oct 30, 2021

I was wondering if anyone knows of a good AdBlocker for Safari (I am running MacOS High Sierra on a 2015 MBA) which can be downloaded without the Apple App Store. Preferably something light as I am trying to keep this device as light as possible. I am new to this so forgive my ignorance on this matter. Thank you.  

macrumors member

• Oct 31, 2021

You can search for a Safari extension called AdGuard. I used to use the AdGuard app but any type of disk cleaner or anti-virus will tend to slow down a Mac. An alternative is to use something like Brave browser with built in ad blocking capabilities.  

• Nov 2, 2021

so there's a difference between an extension and an app?  

macrumors Penryn

"so there's a difference between an extension and an app?" Yes.  

Thanks. I am not seeing just an extension of AdGuard. I am seeing a full app.  

• Nov 11, 2021

benyben123 said: Thanks. I am not seeing just an extension of AdGuard. I am seeing a full app. Click to expand...

macrumors 65816

• Nov 14, 2021

When you accept the terms of an Ad Blocker, note that it says the software has access to all of your browsing history and data. So be sure it’s a company you trust.  

• VPN & Privacy
• Ad-blocker for Safari

Best ad-blockers for Safari

Whether it’s an autoplay video covering the button you’re about to click, or a banner ad obscuring the content you’re trying to read – everyone hates adverts. Happily, the best ad-blocker for Safari will stop adverts and other annoyances from ever bothering you again.

Sophisticated ad-blockers remove a whole host of stubborn adverts, as well as trackers and fingerprinting scripts. They’ll also help prevent you from connecting to malicious websites and will neutralize threatening adware code.

Choosing from one of the multitude of ad-blockers available for Safari on the App Store can be daunting, which is why we’ve done the work for you. If you’re in a rush, our findings are summarized below:

• Total Adblock : Our first choice for a Safari ad-blocker. Strong ad-blocking ability and can prevent social media trackers and access to malicious websites.
• AdLock : Best budget option for a Safari ad-blocker. Able to stop ads on video and audio streaming sites. Blocks all ads by default.
• AdGuard : Open-source ad-blocker able to stop all types of ads as well as trackers, malware and phishing websites.
• 1Blocker : Simple to use and great for quickly creating custom rules. Stops trackers, cookies and fingerprinting scripts as well as ads.
• Wipr : Easy installation and great at blocking ads, trackers, and cryptocurrency miners. Can also prevent EU cookie and GDPR notices.

We used the criteria below to help us narrow down the Safari ad-blocker options. If you’re interested, we have a comprehensive section on our testing process later in this article.

• Comprehensive and reliable ad-blocking
• Good value for money
• No acceptable ads
• Plenty of customization
• Security features

Here’s a list of the best ad-blockers for safari:

1. Total Adblock

Total Adblock is a powerful ad-blocker that removes banners, video ads and pop-ups by default from Safari – but only on iPhone and iPad. Mac users will need to use a different browser if they wish to employ Total Adblock.

The software can be configured to block websites known to distribute malware, and can also remove cookie and privacy warnings on trusted websites – thus speeding up page loading times. Alternatively, adding websites to a whitelist enables them to automatically display without any filters.

Using Total Adblock’s custom filters allows you to block any elements on a web page that you’d prefer not to see. A social media tracking blocking filter stops “like” and “share” buttons from appearing on websites.

The basic Total Adblock app is free, but will not block ads on the top 15,000 websites ranked on Alexa – thus making it fairly useless. You will also get access to TotalAV virus protection and PC Tune-Up software.

• Robust ad-blocking with subscription
• Stops ads on streaming sites
• Enables element blocking
• Subscription includes TotalAV antivirus
• Prevents social media tracking
• Annual subscription required for usable app

BEST AD-BLOCKER: Total Adblock is our top  ad-blocker for Safari. It offers rigorous blocking of ads and malware, and the subscription includes TotalAV antivirus.

AdLock for Safari is a free extension that blocks pop-ups, autoplay videos, and banner ads; while also protecting you against trackers, bugs, analytical systems, and scammers.

The UI is immediately approachable, making it easy to get started. Toggle switches help you set preferences, and there’s a whitelist where you can add any sites that you’d rather see unfiltered. There are no acceptable ads, so you don’t need to dig around trying to turn them off. You also don’t need to worry about your data being sold to third parties.

There’s scope for more comprehensive tinkering via the ad filters – AdLock recommends using a maximum of five for peak performance. These filters are mostly drawn from EasyList, which is the most popular option for ad-blockers. You can create custom rules and AdLock also allows the removal of any element from a page, including non-ad-related callback forms and online chat boxes.

AdLock is great for streaming sites. It can remove all pre-rolls, mid-rolls, post-rolls, and otherwise unskippable video commercials. You just need to engage a special one-click script or use the AdLock player. AdLock also stops social media widgets following you from site to site.

• Rigorous blocking
• Good for streaming sites
• Protects privacy
• Extension is free
• Extension not as powerful as app

BEST BUDGET-FRIENDLY OPTION: AdLock’s free Safari browser  extension is a reliable ad-blocker that stops ads in streaming sites.

AdGuard for Safari is a free browser extension that stops all ads, trackers and widgets. You can create custom filtering rules and manually remove any web page element. The software helps with security by issuing warnings if you unintentionally visit malicious or phishing websites.

The AdGuard home screen allows you to set up the basics: notification preferences, update intervals, and which content blockers you’d like to use. Content blockers are thematic clusters of filters. For example, the AdGuard Security Blocker contains filters that stop browser-based cryptominers, domains known to spread malware and spyware, and sites associated with fraudsters.

Alternatively, you can add filters of your choosing in the custom area, or create custom rules that apply specific filtering criteria. For example, you might want a particular element removed when visiting such-and-such website. AdGuard provides instructions on how to master rule syntax.

AdGuard doesn’t collect any user data or allow “acceptable ads”. The software is open-source, with the repository on GitHub available via the AdGuard “About” page.

• Intercepts malicious website connections
• Allows custom rule creation
• Stops social media widgets
• Doesn’t block as much as its app

CUSTOMIZATION OPTIONS: AdGuard is a powerful, open-source ad-blocker that encourages the creation of custom filters and rules.

4. 1Blocker

1Blocker uses filters to tell Safari what to stop in advance. It’s effective at removing a range of ads, trackers and fingerprinting scripts. Setup is simple and the app automatically receives cloud updates to the built-in filters.

There is plenty of scope for customization. For example, you can create rules for a defined URL or hide a particular element with a CSS selector. You can also block cookies, or allow ads for a particular site while still blocking trackers and social buttons.

1Blocker doesn’t have access to the pages you visit and doesn’t track you in any way. There are no “acceptable ads,” as funding for the app comes from subscriptions. These cost either $2.99 a month, or $14.99 for a year. There is a free version of the app, but it’s limited in what it can do. For example, you can only block either trackers or ads – not both.

1Blocker is compatible with iPhones running iOS 14.2 or later, iPads running iPadOS 14.2 or later, iPod Touches running iOS 14.2 or later, and Macbooks running macOS 10.15 or later. Any preferences and custom rules are kept in sync across all devices via iCloud.

• Easy to use
• Blocks fingerprinting scripts
• Easy to create custom rules
• Doesn’t block all types of ads
• Best features require subscription

GREAT FOR BEGINNERS: 1Blocker is simple  to set up, with a straightforward interface that makes creating custom rules easy.

Wipr is a relatively simple ad-blocker that can nevertheless block a wide range of trackers and ads, as well as cryptocurrency miners and EU cookie notices. Its blocklist is automatically updated twice a week, ensuring not much gets past it.

If you want to block ads from the likes of YouTube and other streaming sites , you can enable Wipr Extra. This requires full website access, so consider any privacy implications in leaving it turned on long-term.

Wipr is able to block ads in apps that display websites using the Safari View Controller. Note that it is not able to help with blocking scam, phishing or other malicious sites.

If purchased in the App Store, you’ll be able to install Wipr on all the iPhone and iPads with the same Apple ID. If purchased on a Mac, you’ll be able to install it on all the Macs with the same Apple ID. Wipr costs $1.99 in each store, so you’ll have to pay $3.98 if you wish to use it on both an iPhone and a Mac, for example.

The app is compatible with iPhones running iOS 12.0 or later, iPads running iPadOS 12.0 or later, and Macs running macOS 10.15 or later.

• Straightforward ad-blocker
• Doesn’t protect against malicious code
• One purchase won’t cover all devices
• No custom rules

EASY SETUP: Wipr is a straightforward  ad-blocker that keeps itself updated and blocks a decent number of ads and trackers.

Can I use a free ad-blocker for Safari?

You can, and there are many decent free ad-blockers available. However, as with most products that seem free, there’s often a hidden cost. Some ad-blockers make money by allowing some ads through – what are sometimes called “acceptable ads.” Other, less scrupulous, apps may even sell your data to third parties.

More commonly, ad-blocking developers create a free version of the subscription-only service – typically a browser extension. This has less features than the paid-for version, but allows people to become familiar with the service and pay out when they find that they can’t live without a particular feature.

How to install a Safari ad-blocker:

If you want to use a Safari browser extension ad-blocker, follow these instructions:

• Launch the Settings app.
• Scroll down and tap Safari .
• Under General , tap Content Blockers .
• Activate your chosen content blocker by toggling the switch next to it to the green ON position.

If you’ve downloaded an ad-blocker app for Safari, follow these instructions to enable it:

• Click on Safari in the top left-hand corner.
• Select Safari Extensions from the drop-down menu.
• Wait for the App Store to automatically open on the extensions page.
• Search for the ad-blocker you’d like to add.
• Click Get underneath the ad-blocker extension.
• Sign in with your Apple ID if required and start downloading.
• Click install to get the app up and running.
• Open the extension and follow the instructions.
• Click on Safari in the top right corner once more.
• Select Preferences from the drop-down menu.
• Tick the checkbox next to the ad-blocker you downloaded.

Methodology: Finding the best Safari ad-blocker

Most Safari ad-blocking extensions are capable of preventing certain cookies, images, pop-ups and other unwanted content from being downloaded. So what makes one better than the other? The best Safari ad-blockers will perform notably well when tested against the criteria below:

• Comprehensive blocking: We expect ad-blockers to be able to block most types of advert that appears on a web page. This includes pop-ups , banners, and interstitial ads. We also require the removal of autoplay video and audio, as well as the option to stop chat boxes and pre-roll ads.
• Good value: An expensive ad-blocker doesn’t necessarily mean it’s worth your money. We only include ad-blockers that can justify what they charge. This normally means they provide superior blocking ability with other privacy and security features.
• No acceptable ads: We know that developers need to make money, but allowing ads on an ad-blocker doesn’t seem like the right way to do it. For this reason, we don’t recommend ad-blockers that allow paid advertising to be displayed.
• Plenty of customization: Ruthless blocking seems great… until it isn’t. Being able to whitelist sites is a good starting point. However, a good ad-blocker allows you to create custom rules for everything from ads to trackers, cookies and notices. We also like to be able to customize blocking on an element-by-element basis.
• Security features: It’s not just ads we want to see blocked, it’s trackers, fingerprinting script and any malicious code whatsoever. Ad-blockers that intercept connections to untrusted sites score points too.
• Compatibility: Safari is available on all Apple devices, including Mac, iPad, and iPhone. Although all of the ad-blockers we looked at worked with Safari, they didn’t all work great across all devices. The mobile Safari app is different to the macOS Safari app, and so we only recommend ad-blockers that have been specifically designed to work across all Apple devices.

FAQs: Best ad-blocker for Safari

Does apple allow ad-blockers.

Apple began allowing ad-blockers on the iPhone and iPad versions of Safari in 2015. Devices running iOS 9 were – for the first time – permitted to add content blocking extensions to Safari. 

Prior to this, the only way to block adverts was to “jailbreak” the devices, which involved replacing – or modifying – key components of the operating system with custom applications. Where subsequent security measures weren’t instigated, this resulted in their becoming easier for attackers to infiltrate. 

Apple allowing ad-blocking Safari extensions negated the need to do this. At the same time, it ensured that the company could still make money from allowing advertising in apps.

Are ad-blockers legal?

Yes, though there were a slew of court cases when Apple first began allowing ad-blockers. These were brought by media companies that were heavily reliant on advertising money. None of them were successful, and the use of ad-blockers has been steadily increasing since – much to the chagrin of the ad industry. 

The problem is that ads are becoming ever more invasive. Many actively prevent us from enjoying a particular website’s content until we’ve interacted with the advert. Meanwhile, ad-blockers are getting more powerful and easier to install. 

Of course, the people who run that website might say that ad-blockers are morally questionable. After all, advertising revenue effectively pays for the website. There is ultimately no easy solution. Some sites try using a paywall to stay ad-free, while others incorporate adverts into their content. A short-term solution involves site owners asking users to whitelist their sites if they like them.  

How do ad-blockers work?

Ad-blockers detect scripts designed to make your browser load content from the servers of ad networks. By blocking these scripts, the adverts aren’t requested or displayed. Ad-blockers can also block scripts that monitor your online behavior or contain malicious code. Ad-blockers are able to detect scripts by comparing them with huge lists of offending domains – often created by the online community. 

Without these additional advertising requests playing out, pages tend to require less bandwidth and are quicker to download. Indeed, research suggests that the execution of third-party scripts can account for more than half of a page’s loading time.

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We recommend using NordVPN - #1 of 72 VPNs in our tests. It offers outstanding privacy features and is currently available at a discounted rate.

Justin Schamotta

How to Install Extensions in Safari

Installing Safari extensions is still relatively new, and many users are unsure of how to add them to their default browser on Mac, iPhone and iPad. Knowing Apple, this will change soon. 

However, for now, thoughts like "How do I install Safari extensions on Mac?", "How do I block popups in Safari?", "Is my Safari extension working?" and “What are the best Safari extensions? are going through people's heads.

What are Safari extensions?

Safari extensions are small apps that add extra functionality to the web browser. Extensions can improve your browsing experience by allowing you to do things that Safari doesn’t support by default. For example, you can use extensions to filter content, remove ads, increase privacy, and more.

One of the best adblocking extensions is the Ghostery Tracker & Ad Blocker which blocks annoying popups, prevents tracking , and improves your browsing experience.

We’ve created these installation animations to show you how to add extensions to Safari on your iPhone, iPad, and MacOS using one of the best Safari Ad Blockers .

Navigating to the App Store has not changed. The bit that has changed is that browser extensions are considered apps that you download on your device.

However, they do nothing, except carry the code of the Ghostery free tracker and ad blocker as well as a splash screen (the very first screen a user sees when opening an app). This is where the trouble starts when downloading extensions for Safari.‍

How to install the Ghostery extension for Safari on your iPhone

After downloading the Ghostery - Privacy Ad Blocker for Safari from the Apple AppStore, open the app and follow the instructions in the animations below:

Once enabled, you must grant Ghostery permission to de-clutter websites by blocking ads, trackers, popups, and other annoying banners:

While browsing Safari with Ghostery enabled, the extension icon (puzzle piece) in the url bar confirms that Ghostery Privacy Ad Blocker is up and running. If this tutorial didn't help, please feel free to reach out to [email protected] . You can always use this video to guide you through the installation process.

How to install Ghostery's free ad blocker extension for Safari on your iPad

After downloading the Safari Ad Blocker from the Apple AppStore, open the app and follow the instructions in the animations below:

Once enabled, you must grant Ghostery permission to de-clutter all websites by blocking ads, trackers, popups, and other annoying banners:

If this tutorial didn't help, please feel free to reach out to [email protected] .

How to install the Ghostery extension for Safari on your Mac

To block ads on Mac download the Ghostery - Privacy Ad Blocker from the Apple AppStore, open the app, and follow the instructions in the animations below:‍

Once you have downloaded a Safari ad blocker extension in Mac , you must grant Ghostery permission to de-clutter all websites by blocking ads, trackers, popups, and other annoying banners:

Does Safari block ads?

No, Safari does not block ads by default. To block ads, you need to use an ad blocker for Safari such as Ghostery browser extension on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad.

How do I block pop up ads on Safari?

You can block pop up ads on Safari by going to Settings > Safari and turning on Block Pop-ups . You can also use a Safari extension such as Ghostery to block pop-ups and other types of ads.

What is a Safari extension?

A Safari extension is a small program that adds functionality and customization to Safari, the default web browser on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad. You can download and install Safari extensions from the App Store .

What is Ghostery?

Ghostery is a Safari extension that blocks ads, trackers, popups, and other annoying banners on websites. It also protects your privacy by preventing third-party trackers from collecting your personal data.

How do I install Ghostery on Safari?

Once you have enabled Ghostery as an extension, you can browse Safari with Ghostery running in the background. You can see the puzzle piece icon in the URL bar that confirms that Ghostery is blocking ads and trackers. You can also tap or click on the icon to see more details and customize your settings.

How does Ghostery improve my browsing experience?

Ghostery improves your browsing experience by making websites load faster, look cleaner, and consume less data. It also prevents annoying popups and banners from interrupting your online activities. Moreover, Ghostery protects your privacy by stopping third-party trackers from collecting your personal information and browsing habits.

What if I need help with Ghostery?

If you need help with Ghostery, you can visit our general FAQ page and you can also contact our support team at [email protected] if you have any questions. We are happy to assist you anytime!

Still have questions?

If there is anything you miss in Ghostery or have any questions, please drop a line to [email protected] . We’re happy to talk to you anytime.

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AdBlock for Safari for Mac

Blocks ads in Safari.

AdBlock for Safari overview

AdBlock has been downloaded more than 250 million times and is used by more than 65 million people worldwide. Now, AdBlock has created a powerful ad blocker that’s available as a Mac app.

AdBlock for Safari s a powerful and simple-to-use adblocker. It stops annoying pop-ups, removes autoplay video ads and blocks obnoxious audio ads. It also gives you control over which ads you see and what websites you support. You can tell AdBlock to stop working on certain websites, "whitelist" sites you want to support, and get easy access to a comprehensive library of customer support information to help you get the most out of your AdBlock app.

AdBlock helps websites load faster in Safari and protects you from malware lurking inside ads on malicious websites. It’s easy to install and free to use. Give it a try!

Key features:

• Block ads on the websites you visit, including Facebook, YouTube and millions of others
• Speed up your browsing by filtering out unwanted content with Apple’s powerful Content Blocking API
• Protect yourself from annoying and intrusive ads that distract you from the stories you are trying to read

What’s new in version 2.1.4

• Bug fixes & improvements

Write your thoughts in our old-fashioned comment

( 116 reviews of adblock for safari ).

User Ratings

Sourcing the best Mac apps and software for over a million users since 1997.

How to Customize AdBlock for Safari

AdBlock’s Blog

We all know that AdBlock for Safari begins blocking pop-ups and other annoying ads the moment you install the app. But did you know it can do more than that? Every user is able to make AdBlock their own by using their allowlist to support content creators they specifically love, switching to Dark Mode if they prefer, and adding VPN features to up their personal Online Health score.

Support Content Creators You Love

Content creators and web publishers are a part of the internet ecosystem, with many of them relying on ad revenue to survive. Take YouTube creators for example. There are roughly 15 million active content creators on YouTube , with 500 hours of content uploaded to the site every minute. That’s a TON of content!

And some of these creators have monetized their channel so they can use ad revenue as their income to keep on creating. If you love a YouTube creator, it’s easy to allow ads on their channel while blocking ads everywhere else. All you need to do is pause AdBlock for Safari temporarily while you watch the creator’s YouTube channel.

To pause AdBlock:

• Open the AdBlock for Safari app.
• Click on Pause Ad Blocking.

When you click Pause Ad Blocking, the web page you’re on will reload automatically. It may take a few moments for all of the previously blocked ads to appear.

Once you’re ready to begin blocking ads again, follow these steps:

• Click on Resume Ad Blocking.

Again, the page will reload automatically and without ads.

What if a publisher or content creator you love isn’t on YouTube? If there’s a website that you’d like to always allow ads on, you can add it to your allowlist. This will automatically turn off AdBlock whenever you visit that site while keeping ad blocking turned off everywhere else.

To add a website to your allowlist:

• Under Allow ads on a site or page , click Manage .

3. On the next screen, enter the URL of the site you want to add to the allowlist in the textbox and click Add Website.

Once the site is added, you’ll see it on your allowlist. And if you ever want to remove the site from your list, you can visit your allowlist again and simply delete it from there.

Use Dark Mode

AdBlock for Safari comes with Dark Mode. This means you can use the app while reducing the amount of light coming from your screen without compromising on visibility. It’s perfect for those users that prefer darker shades as they use their Mac!

Monitor Your Online Health Score and Use AdBlock VPN

AdBlock for Safari offers a new feature called “Online Health.” Online Health allows you to see how healthy your internet connection is in terms of online security . With this tool, you’re able to have more control over your internet connection by assessing your health score. You can up this score by using both ad blocking and VPN features to ensure that your connection is encrypted, private, and safe from third parties.

To increase your Online Health score to 100%, you’ll need to integrate the AdBlock for Safari app with AdBlock VPN. Why? Because using a VPN is a great way to increase your online privacy. VPNs create a private connection between you and the internet by allowing your web traffic to flow through a secure and encrypted tunnel. This tunnel between you and the VPN’s servers makes it difficult for third parties to see what you’re doing on the internet. With AdBlock VPN, you can hide your online identity , access unblocked content based on location, and securely use public Wi-Fi.

We designed AdBlock for Safari so that you have more control over your internet experience. From supporting the content creators you personally love to helping you stay safer on the web, we’ve got you covered! If you’d like to try AdBlock, head to the Mac app store to download the app. And we’re here for you at [email protected] should any questions come up along the way.

Want to be in the loop when it comes to the latest news at AdBlock? Sign up for our newsletter !

Written by AdBlock

AdBlock is the #1 extension for Chrome, and is also on Safari, Edge, Firefox & mobile. Block ads and more! Get help any time at https://help.getadblock.com .

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Apple integrates content-blocking feature into Safari. What we know so far

Apple is purportedly planning to integrate ad-blocking directly into its Safari browser, as reported by AppleInsider in an exclusive scoop. According to the publication, the feature will be dubbed “Web Eraser” and will be accessible through the updated page control menu set to debut with the forthcoming iOS 18.

True to its name, the feature is said to enable users to “erase unwanted content from any page of their choosing.” This will encompass nuisances like banner ads, images, text, and, if desired, can extend to “entire page sections.” The report indicates that the process of purging distractions or other undesired elements from web pages should be effortless and can be accomplished “with relative ease.”

Once you’ve gotten rid of all the distractions, they’re gone for good and won’t scurry back to the page when you close it. According to the report, Safari will keep track of the changes you’ve made to the page. So when you revisit it, Safari will display the page without the clutter you’ve banished, presenting it in its clean and modified state. If you are not satisfied with your job, you can let the exiled elements come back by asking the browser to restore the webpage to its original state.

A ‘must-have’ for any ad blocker

According to AppleInsider, Apple appears to have taken inspiration for the feature from 1Blocker, a third-party blocking app. But even according to 1Blocker itself, this feature is a staple among ad-blocking apps, and has been for years. We agree with 1Blocker when it says that this is “a must-have for any content blocking app.”

AdGuard has the same feature across all its desktop apps and browser extensions, as well as in AdGuard for iOS. Depending on your device, it’ll take you from two to four clicks or taps to block any element on the page. For example, in AdGuard for iOS you have to tap the shield icon and select the “Block elements on this page” option.

From there, you can click or tap on any element on the page that you’d like to hide.

You can view the filtering rule associated with the blocked element by clicking on the checkmark icon.

Screenshot: Selective element ad blocking in the AdGuard for iOS

You can see the video of the entire process here

There have been several , though unconfirmed, reports that the Web Eraser feature might be AI-powered. While there is no indication that it indeed will be AI-driven in AppleInsider’s original report, there is a fertile ground for speculation, given AI’s widespread integration into various facets of our lives, including ad blocking. About a year ago we witnessed the birth of the very first AI-powered ad blocker for YouTube — GPT-AdBlocker — if you’re curious, we’ve tested it and results were quite a mixed bag .

It’s essential to draw an important distinction here. While AI has proven rather successful in tasks like identifying images and speech, identifying ad elements in a page’s code, and most importantly, creating corresponding filtering rules to hide them poses a different challenge. Eyeo, the parent company of AdBlock and Adblock Plus, has been making some progress in that regard, having worked on an AI model that would automatically classify URLs parameters and determine if a certain portion of a page has ads or not. The model has reportedly reached certain precision, but the company is still working on a proof of concept .

The unveiling of the new Apple’s browser version may occur at Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which spans from June 10 to June 14, just a couple weeks away. It’s anticipated that Apple will also announce iOS 18 during the event and commence beta testing for developers. As per AppleInsider, Safari 18, as the new software will be named, is set to debut “later in 2024.” So we have to be patient and wait for its official release to see if Apple’s in-built ad blocker has some AI features.

But we will be rather surprised if it does. The way we see it, an AI-driven ad blocker should be capable of automatically parsing page code, identifying elements, creating filtering rules, and using them to conceal undesired elements while ensuring the page does not break in the meantime and all the useful elements are displayed in an orderly fashion. While it is possible in theory, this will be incredibly hard to achieve. For one, configuring the AI to create error-free rules is very challenging, since some of these rules can be lengthy and complex.

adguard.com###app > main.main:nth-child(2) > div.welcome > div.product-presentation:nth-child(3) > div.product-presentation__in > div.product-presentation__products:last-child > div.product-presentation__product.product-presentation__product--windows > div.product-presentation__product-slider:first-child > div.swiper.swiper-container.slider.swiper-initialized.swiper-horizontal.swiper-pointer-events.swiper-backface-hidden > div.slider__arrow.slider__arrow--next:last-child

Example of a more complicated ad-blocking rule

Thus, even if AI accurately identifies the ads, there is a quite substantial risk of it botching the rules formulation part. You make one tiny mistake in the rule syntax, and the page looks completely differently from what you’ve intended. Not to mention the interdependencies within these rules. Sometimes, one cannot be added without the other, or one must consider the old rules when adding new ones, and so forth. It’s an incredibly complex and iterative process, in which every character is of outsized importance.

Overall, relying solely on AI for ad blocking isn’t trustworthy at the moment, and it’s susceptible to adversarial methods, meaning it’s easy to trick the model. However, using an AI model to spot bugs in filtering rules is a great idea and such tool would be a great aid for filter developers. We’ll definitely consider it at AdGuard once the technology reaches a sufficient level of maturity.

Concluding thoughts

Apple’s decision to integrate content-blocking into Safari is a boon for privacy. Ads aren’t just irksome and annoying, they’re also trackers, stealthily monitoring your online activity across various websites. These trackers collect data on your browsing habits, preferences, and interests, creating detailed profiles that can be exploited for targeted advertising or even sold to third parties without your consent.

As for the details of the implementation, we can only speculate until we see it with our own eyes. But we wouldn’t count on it being AI-driven to any significant degree; it’s more likely that Apple has drawn inspiration from some tried-and-true techniques that third-party ad blockers have been using for years.

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How to block YouTube ads on MacOS

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• Created: May 13, 2020
• Updated: May 5, 2023

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YouTube is known for notoriously persistent ads. From one short ad at the beginning of the video to sometimes two ads now, and one in the middle and one at the end, surely. If one does not click Skip, it would keep going for minutes. As MacOS users often cannot use certain software (only Windows versions), we’d like to highlight ways to block YouTube ads on a Mac. These include browser extensions (Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Opera) and desktop applications. We focus on 2 factors mainly: effectiveness and impact on page load speed.

Block YouTube ads in Opera

Option 1: Built-in adblock function. This is the easiest and fastest option in Opera . It does not require to find and install anything, and it’s not hidden somewhere in the settings. The moment you enter Opera browser, it suggests to enable ad blocking option.

For options, click the blue icon on the right. If it’s not there, click the Easy Setup icon and scroll down – find a slider under the Privacy & Security section. Hit it and the adblock icon will appear. But most of all, we have to check how does it block YouTube ads. Half an hour of listening to the latest hits goes by and not a single video ad or picture-in-picture ad has appeared. Test passed.

Opera website claims that the adblock is able to increase page speed up to 90%. During our use, we’ve registered a 50% increase, which is still a great result.

Option 2: Opera add-ons. AdBlocker for Youtube is one of those Opera extensions specifically tailored for YouTube. It does its job well, though one or two video ads still slipped, an in-picture banner surfaced as an empty frame. No page banners were seen. Minimal interface, just two sliders, a real gift for those who like to keep it simple. Regarding page load speed, in our case YouTube videos have been opening from 21% to 36% quicker without ads (29% on average).

Read next: Adblocking Opera add-ons .

Stop YouTube ads in Chrome

AdBlock is among the most popular YouTube ad blocker extensions. It has a plain window with basic functions like disabling ad blocking on a current page. In settings it has more functions, including customizing filter lists, whitelisting, statistics, as well as contacting the support team.

One of the features is particularly useful for active YouTube viewers. In the General tab you can tick Allow whitelisting of specific channels. This way you can support favorite content producers (as they get money from advertisers) while still blocking ads elsewhere.

AdBlock is another free extension, although donations are welcome. There is also a Premium license, however its benefits are insignificant. Our little YouTube ads test: pass. Yet AdBlock appears to be slowing the pages instead of speeding up: +30% on average. In some cases videos were loading in 6-8 seconds. Also, we’ve noticed that this Chrome extension has been consuming 350-400Mb of RAM.

To make it three and show enough variety, there’s also uBlock extension . In our experience, it was performing better than AdBlock. A few video ads have appeared for half a second, and were gone just before sound started. In some cases, a blocked banner caused some mess in the page layout. Picture-in-picture banners were blocked successfully.

All in all, we consider a test passed, with minor flaws. Regarding the load speed, uBlock has not been explicit. At times videos loaded 5% faster, other times it was 30% slower, and often it was the same. Generally, it took 2 to 3 seconds to start videos.

Read next: Adblocking Chrome extensions .

Firefox addons

Nothing different with Mozilla Firefox browser and tools to block YouTube ads in it. Let’s drop two examples. AdBlocker for YouTube by German vendor shows positive results. It does not have any icon in the window, so to disable it, you need to go to Menu-Tools-Add-ons and find it. It has no option to whitelist YouTube channels.

One might find it disturbing that this add-on asks for permission to access user data on all websites and to all browser tabs. Why does an app designed to block YouTube ads only, require all that data? No idea and no explanation from the vendor. Yet it works well, blocks advertisement and causes clips to load ~30% faster.

Another example with a cute design is Ghostery . When you click on Ghostery icon you will see the amount of ads and trackers blocked and page load time (most ad blockers do not display such info). You can also mark a current website as Trusted or Restricted to manage tracking. Even though Ghostery is primarily an anti-tracking tool, it hides ads just as well, not a single ad has  appeared while testing. Load speed impact is minor, only getting around 5%.

Safari extensions blocking ads

Blocking ads on a Mac primarily involves the Safari browser. There’s no shortage of tools for it either. Ad And Stuff Blocker is one, and it looks ascetic: just it on the extension tab of Safari, no icon in the browser. And 2 functions only: enable/disable and whitelist. In terms of performance, it halts  in-picture banners, but lets some side banners through. It blocks video ads yet in some cases it may result in a black screen instead of video. Also, the layout of the Up Next column may get affected, which is a minor flaw.

AdGuard for Safari is one of the most space-occupying YouTube ad blockers. Apart from being visible in the launchpad, in the dock, and in the browser, it also has 7 separate extensions in Safari Extensions manager page. A small window in the browser allows you to enable/disable AdGuard on a current page, report a page, or block an element. AdGuard performs great, we’ve detected no flaws during use. It has no option of whitelisting a particular YouTube channel, though advanced users may do this in the Rules.

Multi-browser ad blockers

If you are switching between different browsers, it might be inconvenient to use different ad blockers.  In this case, one might want to consider a regular desktop application that will cover all the browsers and even programs containing ads. These apps are naturally more expensive. We have tested two multi-browser ad blockers on four browsers that are popular among Mac users: Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and Opera.

AdGuard supports Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Yandex browsers. Previously, we’ve tried AdGuard for Safari. The AdGuard app that you install on a Mac, is working just as well. However, Chrome may not block all the ads without the extension. It is not free, but has a 14-days trial.

Ghostery Midnight works in Cliqz, Firefox, Chrome, Opera, Yandex, Safari, Edge, and Internet Explorer. It also contains such extra functions as VPN and anti-tracker. It is installed as a separate app and also has an extension for each browser. It works for YouTube ads greatly, it does not affect page load time much (not more than -5%). All in all, via a 7-days trial you can decide if it is worth it. Read more in Ghostery review .

As you see, there’s no problem in finding suitable tools for MacOS when you want to block YouTube ads while surfing the web. Of all the examples of extensions and programs, we’ve made a brief summary table with key findings.

We’ve also tried out more ad blockers and found several that do not block ads on YouTube properly, and therefore we do not recommend it:

• Firefox : Clean YouTube.
• Chrome : AdBlock Plus, Enhancer for YouTube.
• Safari : AdBlock, Magic Lasso, uBlock.

Some extensions from the same vendor do not perform equally in different browsers. As our tests show, uBlock and AdBlock are good in Chrome, but not Safari. Remember, our list of examples is not exhaustive in any way, there are plenty of other tools. 

Read next: Top adblockers that actually work .

Q: How to block YouTube ads? A: Download an ad blocking extension for your browser. The recommended ones are AdBlock for YouTube, Ghostery, AdGuard.

Q: How to block YouTube ads in Safari? A: Download an ad blocking extension, e.g. Ad And Stuff blocker, AdGuard.

Q: How to block YouTube ads in Chrome? A: Download an ad blocker extension such as uBlock and AdBlock.

Q: How to block YouTube ads in Firefox? A: Get an ad blocker, for example, AdBlocker for YouTube, Ghostery.

Q: How to block YouTube ads in Opera? A: Opera has a built-in ad blocking function. To enable it, go to Preference > Privacy Protection > Block ads and surf the web faster.

Q: Is there an adblock that works in many browsers? A: Yes. If you download a no-root ad blocker, such as AdGuard or Ghostery, it will block ads on all the browsers and apps.

Q: Does AdGuard support all browsers? A: AdGuard works with the most popular browsers: Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Yandex.

Q: Does Ghostery work with all browsers? A: Ghostery works with Cliqz, Firefox, Chrome, Opera, Yandex, Safari, Edge, and Internet Explorer.

Q: How can I disable ad blocking on a specific YouTube channel? A: AdBlock extension has this function. To enable it, go to Extensions > AdBlock > General > Allow whitelisting of specific YouTube channels. If you use different ad blocker, you will have to disable ad blocking manually and refresh the page every time you watch videos where you want to see ads.

Q: AdBlock vs AdBlock Plus vs AdBlock Pro A: These are different ad blockers from different developers that use similar names and similar logos. AdBlock seems to be the most original and better performing extension.

Q: Do ad blockers slow down YouTube? A: It depends. In most cases, it does not slow down YouTube and in some cases it even increases the speed of page loading. Try disabling ad blocker and then enabling it again. If the change in page load time is noticeable, consider changing your ad blocker.

Q: Does an adblocker make YouTube load faster? A: Yes, some ad blockers increase the speed of YouTube loading, since they omit downloading ads. Page load time may vary depending on the ad blocker, browser, the amount of tabs open, quality of the video, and other variables.

Q: Is ad blocking safe? A: Ad blocking itself is safe, but some ad blockers may have malware/adware inside or make a profit from users personal data. Make sure to use products from reliable developers or use privacy and malware protection apps to stay safe.

ThinkMobiles is one of most trusted companies conducting IT & software reviews since 2011. Our mission is to provide best reviews, analysis, user feedback and vendor profiles. Learn more about review process.

About author

Alex started to develop software as early as in his school years, when he was 16 years old. These first attempts were gaming and healthcare mobile apps. During the high school period he has been producing trading bots and various trading software. Afterwards, he used to manage offline businesses, yet still devoting spare time to online gambling niche and web development. In 2011, Alex finally decided to launch an IT outsourcing company specializing in mobile apps and fintech. Since then, the team has also developed several proprietary products. In 2015 the company took on a commitment to solely concentrate on its own trademarked products and IT marketing activity.

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How to Stop Redirects on iPhone in Safari Browser

Why does this error appear, method 1: delete website data.

Method 2: Enable Cross-Site Tracking

Method 3: Use AdLock

Method 4: Confirm You Are Accessing the Mobile Website, Not the Desktop Site

What about other browsers on the iphone, do you like this post share it.

Kostya Shebanov

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1. Fixed DNS bug 2. Add custom DNS 3. Add and modify design (UI/UX) 4. Updated default app built-in adblock filters

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The developer, Redev Inc. , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer's privacy policy .

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