privacyapps.ioPrivacy checkup

Private ad and tracker blockers

14 apps, each with a privacy passport

Browser extensions block the most but only in that browser; DNS blockers cover every app on a device or network but can't remove ads served from the same domain. Check who sees your queries and whether the blocker itself sells exceptions.

If you only try two

Privacy passport
uBlock Origin
Ad & tracker blockers
Our pick
No tracking
Yes
Open source
Yes
Only you can read it
On device
No account
Yes
Free
Yes
5 of 5 checks
- Android
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
Best blocker for Firefox, light on memory
Privacy passport
NextDNS
Ad & tracker blockers
Our pick
No tracking
Yes
Open source
Partly
Only you can read it
Nothing stored
No account
Optional
Free
Free plan
3 of 4 checks
- Android
- iPhone
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Web
Blocks ads in every app on phones, no install needed

All 14 ad and tracker blockers

Passes

Works on

14 of 14 apps

uBlock OriginPick

Browser extension68.8k

Efficient, open-source content blocker that removes ads, trackers and malware domains using community filter lists.

No tracking
Open source
Stays on device
No account
Free

Android
Mac
Windows
Linux

NextDNSPick

Service4.2k

Encrypted DNS service that blocks ads and trackers on every device and network, set up once per phone or router.

No tracking
Partly open
Account optional
Free plan

Android
iPhone
Mac
Windows
Linux
Web

uBlock Origin Lite

Browser extension3.9k

Version of uBlock Origin built for Chrome's newer extension rules; blocks ads with no access to your browsing data by default.

No tracking
Open source
Stays on device
No account
Free

iPhone
Mac
Windows
Linux

Privacy Badger

Browser extension3.9k

EFF extension that learns which third parties follow you across sites and blocks them, and sends Global Privacy Control.

No tracking
Open source
Stays on device
No account
Free

Android
Mac
Windows
Linux

AdGuard

App

System-wide ad and tracker blocker for computers and phones, plus free open-source browser extensions.

Minimal tracking
Partly open
Stays on device
Account optional
Free plan

Android
iPhone
Mac
Windows
Linux

AdGuard DNS

Service

Free public DNS that filters ads and trackers, with a paid dashboard for custom rules and per-device settings.

No tracking
Partly open
Account optional
Free plan

Android
iPhone
Mac
Windows
Linux
Web

Pi-hole

Self-hosted61.5k

DNS sinkhole you run on a small computer at home to block ads and trackers for every device on your Wi-Fi.

No tracking
Open source
On your server
No account
Free

Linux

AdGuard Home

Self-hosted37.7k

Open-source network-wide blocker like Pi-hole, as a single program with encrypted DNS and parental controls built in.

No tracking
Open source
On your server
No account
Free

Mac
Windows
Linux

Blokada

App3.3k

Open-source phone app that blocks ads and trackers in every app through a local VPN tunnel, no root needed.

Tracking not stated
Open source
Stays on device
No account
Free plan

Android
iPhone

RethinkDNS

App5.8k

Android firewall and DNS blocker that shows which apps contact which servers and lets you cut them off.

No tracking
Open source
Stays on device
No account
Free

Android

Control D

Service

Customisable DNS filtering from the Windscribe team, blocking ads and trackers or rerouting single services.

Tracking not stated
Closed source
Account needed
$3/month

Android
iPhone
Mac
Windows
Linux
Web

Mullvad DNS

Service

Free encrypted DNS from Mullvad with optional ad, tracker and malware blocking, no account or app needed.

No tracking
Closed source
No account
Free

Android
iPhone
Mac
Windows
Linux

Ghostery

Browser extension1.8k

Open-source extension from Munich that blocks ads and trackers and auto-rejects cookie consent pop-ups.

Minimal tracking
Open source
Stays on device
No account
Free

Android
iPhone
Mac
Windows
Linux

ClearURLs

Browser extension5.1k

Small extension that strips tracking parameters like utm_ and fbclid from links before you open them.

No tracking
Open source
Stays on device
No account
Free

Android
Mac
Windows
Linux

What to check in ad and tracker blockers

1 Where it works: one browser, one device or whole network
2 No paid 'acceptable ads' exceptions
3 Whether DNS queries are logged, and where

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