Private and open-source alternatives to Adblock Plus
10 ad and tracker blockers rated against the same public privacy criteria as Adblock Plus, with our picks first.
Why look for an alternative?
- Open source: partial. The browser extension is GPL-3.0, but some versions such as the iOS Safari app are proprietary.
- No trackers or telemetry: no. The website uses Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager for visitors outside the EU, and the mobile apps use crash reporting and event tracking.
- No ads or data sales: no. Shows Acceptable Ads by default, and large platforms pay a licensing fee to take part.
- Independent audit: no. No independent audit is published.
- Effective by default: no. Acceptable Ads are allowed by default, including ads from companies that pay a licensing fee.
- No browsing data collected: partial. Filtering happens on the device, but filter list downloads send the extension version, browser, operating system and active lists. Mobile event tracking can be turned off.
See the full Adblock Plus rating.
The alternatives
uBlock Origin Grade B Our pick
Free, open-source content blocker for ads, trackers and malware sites. Efficient, with no "acceptable ads" program.
Why it is our pick: The most effective blocker available, with no data collection, no home server, no acceptable-ads deals and not even a donation page. Install it through the links on its GitHub page to avoid look-alike extensions.
uBlock Origin scores 88 out of 100 (grade B) on the ad and tracker blockers criteria. It meets 6 of 7 criteria: open source, no trackers or telemetry, no ads or data sales, effective by default, no browsing data collected and custom filters.
uBlock Origin Lite Grade B Our pick
Manifest V3 content blocker from the uBlock Origin developer that filters ads and trackers through declarative browser rules, with no background process.
Why it is our pick: For browsers that only allow Manifest V3 extensions, such as Chrome and Edge: uBlock Origin's filter lists with no data collection and no background process.
uBlock Origin Lite scores 88 out of 100 (grade B) on the ad and tracker blockers criteria. It meets 6 of 7 criteria: open source, no trackers or telemetry, no ads or data sales, effective by default, no browsing data collected and custom filters.
AdGuard Home Grade B
Self-hosted DNS server that blocks ads and trackers for every device on a network. Includes a web dashboard, encrypted DNS support and parental controls.
Based in Cyprus. AdGuard Home scores 88 out of 100 (grade B) on the ad and tracker blockers criteria. It meets 6 of 7 criteria: open source, no trackers or telemetry, no ads or data sales, effective by default, no browsing data collected and custom filters.
hBlock Grade B
POSIX shell script for Unix-like systems that builds a hosts file blocking domains that serve ads, tracking scripts and malware, using several public blocklists.
hBlock scores 88 out of 100 (grade B) on the ad and tracker blockers criteria. It meets 6 of 7 criteria: open source, no trackers or telemetry, no ads or data sales, effective by default, no browsing data collected and custom filters.
Diversion Grade B
Shell script ad blocker for routers running Asuswrt-Merlin firmware. Blocks ad and tracker domains through dnsmasq and can manage Entware and pixelserv-tls.
Diversion scores 79 out of 100 (grade B) on the ad and tracker blockers criteria. It meets 5 of 7 criteria: open source, no ads or data sales, effective by default, no browsing data collected and custom filters.
Ghostery Grade C
Browser extension from Ghostery that blocks ads, trackers and cookie pop-ups and shows which trackers each site uses.
Based in Germany (Fourteen Eyes). Ghostery scores 65 out of 100 (grade C) on the ad and tracker blockers criteria. It meets 3 of 7 criteria: open source, effective by default and custom filters.
Wipr Grade C
Paid Safari content blocker for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Vision Pro that blocks ads, trackers, cookie notices and annoyances with no configuration.
Based in Spain (Fourteen Eyes). Wipr scores 65 out of 100 (grade C) on the ad and tracker blockers criteria. It meets 4 of 7 criteria: no trackers or telemetry, no ads or data sales, effective by default and no browsing data collected.
AdGuard Grade C
Ad and tracker blocker from AdGuard, available as a free browser extension and Safari content blocker and as paid system-wide apps for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.
Based in Cyprus. AdGuard scores 62 out of 100 (grade C) on the ad and tracker blockers criteria. It meets 3 of 7 criteria: no ads or data sales, effective by default and custom filters.
1Blocker Grade D
Safari content blocker for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Vision Pro with filters for ads, trackers, annoyances and adult content, plus custom rules and an in-app tracker filter.
1Blocker scores 53 out of 100 (grade D) on the ad and tracker blockers criteria. It meets 4 of 7 criteria: no trackers or telemetry, no ads or data sales, no browsing data collected and custom filters.
AdBlock Grade F
Ad blocker for browsers and mobile, owned by eyeo, which shows ads approved under the Acceptable Ads program by default on desktop.
Based in the United States (Five Eyes). AdBlock scores 24 out of 100 (grade F) on the ad and tracker blockers criteria. It meets 1 of 7 criteria: custom filters.