The Best Ad Blockers for Firefox 2024 (2024)

We determined that the best ad blockers for Firefox areNordVPN Threat Protection, AdLock, Surfshark CleanWeb,and uBlock Origin. NordVPN Threat Protection and Surfshark CleanWeb are two ad blockers bundled with a VPN for comprehensive protection. On the other hand, AdLock and uBlock Origin are two free extensions focused on blocking content to improve your browsing experience.

Learn more about why we selected these four ad blockers for Firefox.

The best ad blockers for Firefox 2024

It’s important to use ad-blocking software combined with a web browser that you trust. We’ve tested some of the most popular ad-blocking services on the Mozilla Firefox browser.Alllead the way with their unique security features and ability to bypass unwanted ads (including YouTube ads), making these some of the best overall ad blocking solutions:

• NordVPN Threat Protection: Best overall
• AdLock: Best free extension
• Surfshark CleanWeb: Best for affordable privacy
• uBlock Origin: Best for unique add-ons

Top 4 ad blockers for Firefox compared

Ad blocker	Threat Protection		CleanWeb
Firefox extension
Features	Blocks ads, blocks trackers, blocks malware, whitelisting, blacklisting, VPN, cloud-based threat detection	Blocks ads, blocks trackers, blocks malware, allowlist, ad filters	Blocks ads, blocks trackers, blocks malware, VPN, firewall	Blocks ads, blocks trackers, blocks malware, advanced filtering, customizable blocking modes
Price	Starts at $3.39/mo (billed biennially) for the first two years	Starts at $1.05/mo	Starts at $2.19/mo (billed biennially)	Free
Free version available
Learn more	Get NordVPN Threat Protection	Get AdLock	Get Surfshark CleanWeb	Get uBlock Origin

How we tested the best ad blockers for Firefox

We tested the most important security components for each ad blocker before choosing our top four best ad blockers for Firefox. First, we tested the ad blockers through AdBlock Tester, a site that permits you to test your ad blocker against analytics and advertising services embedded within the testing website.

Next, we tested the ad blocker through Cover Your Tracks, a website that reveals how trackers view a browser. We used the site to test whether the ad blocker was truly blocking tracking ads and invisible trackers. Knowing how important it is for you to bypass social media and video ads, testing the ad blockers on YouTube was the third and final component of our testing process.

We also used Can You Block It tests to determine whether the ad blockers can prevent "ad blocker warning" pop-ups, banner ads, and interstitial ads, or those ads that pop up while the webpage loads.

To ensure that each testing experience was unique, we fully disabled each ad blocker browser extension before enabling the next ad blocker on our list. Additionally, we made our top three selections because they had top scores in blocking ads, blocking trackers, and blocking ads that live on social media, among other factors.

NordVPN Threat Protection: Best overall

NordVPN Threat Protection is an integrated ad and malware blocker included with NordVPN, one of the best virtual private networks (VPNs) on the market. But its plans come with a lot more than just the ability to encrypt your internet connection. You can use it to block ads, trackers, and malicious websites, and to scan downloaded files for malware.

You can also opt to use Threat Protection Lite while connected to NordVPN, ensuring that your device is protected from pesky ads and malicious sites whenever you need.

What we liked

NordVPN Threat Protection had some impressive test results when we were testing for AdBlock Tester and Cover Your Tracks.AdBlock Tester tests the effectiveness of your ad blocker, factoring in contextual advertising, analytics tools, banner ads, and error monitoring. Cover Your Tracks tests your browser to see how well you're protected from tracking and fingerprinting. These high test scores are important, especially if you choose to pay for an ad blocker — no one wants to pay for something that doesn't work.

NordVPN Threat Protection received a 93/100 score for ad blocking, a near-perfect score, and 2/3 for tracker blocking, showing that it can block tracking ads and invisible trackers. It also allows for whitelisting and blacklisting, so you can tailor your ad-blocking experience as needed.

We also like that Threat Protection can block malware, too. Threat Protection passed our malwaredetection and phishing detection tests, so we felt reassured that NordVPN could act as a well-rounded cybersecurity suite. Like other Nord products, Threat Protection was easy to set up, and its interface was intuitive.

What we didn’t like

NordVPN Threat Protection can be pricey, considering you're paying for a VPN subscription and not just a premium ad blocker. Surfshark has its own ad and malware blocker, known as CleanWeb, that's more affordable.

If you opt to use Threat Protection Lite, the capabilities are pretty limited. Threat Protection Lite can't block trackers or scan for malware, which could put your device in danger of malware if you're not using an antivirus program.

NordVPN Threat Protection: pros and cons

Get NordVPN Threat Protection| Read Our NordVPN Threat Protection Review

AdLock: Best free extension

AdLock is one of the best free extensions we've tested. Even without paying for a subscription, AdLock blocked most ads with just the extension. It also promises to respect your data privacy by effectively tackling trackers and by not selling or sharing your data.

What we liked

AdLock received among the highest Cover Your Tracks scores, at 2.5/3. It not only blocked ads and trackers, it also partially defended against browser fingerprinting. According to Cover Your Tracks, fingerprinting is difficult to detect and thwart considering it tracks your browser by the configuration and settings made available to websites.

AdLock's privacy privacy is another indicator of its commitment to privacy. It states that it gathers anonymous usage information, but it's stored on your local storage and it's not sold or shared with third parties. We feel good about its data usage, even with the free extension.

With AdLock Premium, you can also download the AdLock apps for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. With the app, you'll be able to block ads, trackers, and other annoyances outside of just your Firefox browser.

What we didn’t like

If you opt for a premium subscription, AdLock starts at $1.05/mo but you'll need to commit to a subscription for five years. There are also annual and monthly plans, but those come at a higher cost.

AdLock also had the lowest AdBlock Tester score among our top four picks, since it had some issues with the error monitoring test. However, it still scored above 90 points and was only one point behind NordVPN Threat Protection, so the markdowns were minimal.

AdLock pros and cons

Get AdLock | Read Our AdLock Review

Surfshark CleanWeb: Best for affordable privacy

Similar to NordVPN Threat Protection, Surfshark CleanWebcomes included with Surfshark VPN, both of which are key tools of the Surfshark One cybersecurity suite. By hitting a toggle on your VPN settings, you can block ads and pop-ups, autoplay video ads, cookie pop-up requests, and more.

Surfshark also provides CleanWeb 2.0, which is included with the Surfshark browser extension for Firefox, Google Chrome, and Microsoft Edge. CleanWeb 2.0's capabilities include blocking ads and cookie pop-up banners and receiving alerts for data breaches and malware.

What we liked

We were pleased to see CleanWeb receive a near-perfect AdBlock Tester score of 96/100. On top of securing our web browsing and streaming, CleanWeb safeguards our online privacy with top-notch VPN services.

We also like that you can get CleanWeb for a cheaper cost than its competitor, Threat Protection. Surfshark's pricing starts at$2.19/mo (billed every two years) for a two-year plan (often with some extra months thrown in), and it allows for unlimited simultaneous connections so you can encrypt your internet connection and block ads on multiple devices.

It also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it out for a month to see if it's right for you.

What we didn’t like

Although Surfshark is an affordable ad blocker, you'd still be required to buy a VPN subscription in order to use Surfshark CleanWeb. This may not be ideal if you already have a VPN or if you're just looking for an ad blocker.

In addition, you can only access CleanWeb 2.0 with the Surfshark browser extension. This can be frustrating if you're trying to block ads on your smartphone or other devices.

Surfshark CleanWeb: pros and cons

Get Surfshark CleanWeb |Read Our Surfshark CleanWeb Review

uBlock Origin: Best for unique add-ons

uBlock Origin is open-source software that's available on a variety of browsers and offers the most customizable features of any other brand we tested. Along with the basic services of blocking ads, trackers, and malicious URLs, this ad blocker includes several more customizable features that may keep you safe during your web browsing.

Firefox’s website for the uBlock Origin extension calls it “a wide-spectrum content blocker with CPU and memory efficiency as a primary feature.”

Related to the company’s mantra, a user’s personal study on GitHub highlighted that uBlock Origin uses less computer memory than some of the leading brands.^[1] The benefits of reducing memory consumption include speed and page stability, so you can use this ad blocker without worrying about sacrificing your PC’s memory data.

What we liked

uBlock Origin scored a perfect 100/100 with AdBlock Tester. We initially had some issues with Cover Your Tracks, but after some tinkering, uBlock Origin received a typical 2/3 test score.

We also liked that the extension offers a multitude of filter lists that you can enable or disable within your settings. These lists are additional options beyond their default settings, such as:

• EasyList Cookie:Blocks cookies banners, GDPR overlay windows, and other privacy-related notices
• Fanboy Annoyances:Blocks social media content, pop-ups, and other annoying objects to help decrease webpage load times
• AdGuard Annoyances: Blocks cookie notifications, pop-ups, mobile app banners, widgets, and other annoyances
• Dan Pollock’s hosts file: Stops your PC from connecting to certain internet hosts to protect you from spyware and pop-up traps, prevent further tracking, and reduce bandwidth use

What we didn’t like

uBlock Origin released its JavaScript blocking feature in September 2018, taking the extension a step forward in blocking Javascript that can hide malware or attempt exploits. While this was a positive step for the organization, some recent user reviews from the Firefox browser extension showed concern about the feature automatically blocking certain websites. Luckily, the developer addressed the issue by fixing it in GitHub and responding directly to the review.

Another potential misstep for uBlock Origin is the lack of a support website or contact form for user issues. After searching its main webpage, we found that you can reach them through an email address at the bottom of the page that will populate if you click “get in touch.”

uBlock Origin pros and cons

Read Our uBlock Origin Review

Honorable mentions

There are plenty of ad blockers on the market for you to consider. Here are some tested alternatives that also unblock YouTube ads:

• Adblock Plus: Adblock Plus states that it blocks all ads by default, including YouTube ads, which our testing confirmed. You can also customize which sites allow ads and view how many ads you’ve blocked.

  Read Our Adblock Plus Review

• AdGuard: AdGuard blocks ads and trackers and provides many filter options to create a seamless and safe browsing experience. It offers custom filters in several languages, so you can block unwanted ads from websites worldwide. This software has a filter specifically for social media, which is a great idea since cybercriminals love to use social media as an exploitative resource.

  Read Our AdGuard Review

FAQs

Bottom line

Our top four best ad blockers for Firefoxall blocked ads, trackers, and potential malware, and they passed our hands-on tests while browsing the web and with AdBlock Tester and Cover Your Tracks. But we've found that the best ad blocker for Firefox is NordVPN Threat Protection.

Although AdLock, Surfshark CleanWeb, anduBlock Origin all have their merits, NordVPN Threat Protection comes bundled with one of the best VPNs so you can block ads, trackers, malware, and other cyberthreats with ease.

4 best ad blockers for Firefox 2024