AdAway
One of the best applications for . The program blocks advertising banners in games and applications, and also makes it possible to create white and black lists of addresses with which you can regulate the display of advertising. Also, thanks to Adaway, you can find out which apps contain ads. The application is equipped with a simple and convenient interface with support for the Russian language. Adaway may require Root rights to operate.
Adblock Plus
An excellent program for blocking all kinds of advertising in . The application filters ads using the same filter lists as the extension for popular browsers.
If your plans include filtering all web traffic, you will need Root rights; on non-rooted devices, this will require manual configuration of the proxy server, in short, you will have to tinker a little. Otherwise, Adblock Plus will limit itself to scanning WiFi traffic.
AppBrain Ad Detector
AppBrain Ad Detector is an easy to use scanner that does its job well. This application will help you find and remove programs containing adware, as well as malicious applications that send paid messages from your device. The scanner detects push notifications, advertising networks and SDKs of various social networks, and prevents attempts to place spam labels on the home screen.
In the Show Apps section, you can find out which applications contain a threat and what access rights they have.
TrustGo AD Detector
AD Detector is more like an anti-spyware scanner than an ad blocker. The main purpose of this program is to identify malicious applications that steal user data.
AD Detector successfully removes various types of spyware, dialers, downloaders, and aggressive advertising modules. The program will quickly determine what exactly may be causing the creation of shortcuts on the desktop, the appearance of messages on your e-mail, etc.
AdFree
A good application for automatically blocking ads in and applications in devices running the Android system.
The utility works by blocking requests from well-known sites that distribute advertising. The database of unwanted links is updated daily. To run the application you will need Root rights.
Bottom line
By installing at least one of these applications, you will kill two birds with one stone - free up space on your screen, and also protect yourself from all sorts of threats that often go hand in hand with advertising.
Many of us find advertising annoying. It reaches us everywhere: on radio, television, in newspapers, on billboards or information boards, and recently on mobile devices. Modern smartphones and tablets require full-fledged operation, which is actively used by software developers and marketers. The audience for mobile advertising is truly huge: it covers all segments of the population and age categories. But given the limited mobile traffic, the not always high quality of the Internet and the insufficient power of mobile devices, as well as the intrusiveness of advertisers, most users try to get rid of advertising.
If on a computer everything is simple in this matter, then on Android or iOS it is somewhat more complicated. Google and Apple are actively cracking down on ad blocking apps, removing many of them from their app stores, yet they continue to exist.
We offer a review of the best ad blocking apps for Android and iOS.
First, let's determine what types of advertising users of Android and iOS mobile devices may encounter.
Banners at the top or bottom of the window. They can be either static, constantly displaying content, or dynamic, appearing and disappearing from time to time.
Pop-up window. When you start or close the program, advertising runs in full screen. Sometimes it may contain videos.
Menu element. For example, it may offer to buy additional features.
In the browser. Similarly, as on a computer, you see advertising information that site owners place on their resources.
There are other options that are more than informational. Advertising of any kind takes up device resources and slows down the loading of web pages, in addition, consuming additional traffic.
Ad blocking on Android
Adblock Plus
This is a mobile solution for Android from the world-famous developer of a plugin for computer browsers. Allows you to block ads in the browser and other applications. Uses the same blocking subscriptions as on PC.
The program is very simple to configure. Its capabilities will depend on the availability of root rights. When they are present, blocking will be done by changing the hosts file. In this case, advertising will be removed both via Wi-Fi and mobile Internet. If they are absent, you need to configure a proxy server in the network settings. It will only work via Wi-Fi.
Download the application from the official website by clicking on the inconspicuous link Download Adblock Plus for Android https://adblockplus.org/en/android-install. Then turn it on by clicking the button in the menu, download the subscription you are interested in, allow or block the display of unobtrusive advertising. Advanced settings allow you to select the type of lock, depending on the presence of root.
AdAway
An app that removes unwanted content from Android apps and browsers. Claimed to remove 99% of advertising. Since blocking is done by , root rights are required. Without them, the program will not work. It is possible to create white and black lists to regulate advertising sources. Ads on mobile networks may not be completely removed.
After launching the application, click “Download files and apply ad blocking”, wait until the download is completed and restart the tablet. Before deleting, disable blocking in the program menu. The latest version can be downloaded from the F-Droid website https://f-droid.org/repository/browse/?fdid=org.adaway, an analogue of the Play Store.
Adguard
An excellent application for removing ads in browsers, and for an additional fee in other applications. A VPN connection is created for your protection, so you don't need root to work. You can delete content and block social network buttons. The settings allow you to select the algorithm and filtering mode. The free version will only protect browsers, while for 129 rubles a year you can block ads in other applications and games, enable anti-phishing to protect against scammers, get improved filters and better technical support. You can download it from the official website https://adguard.com/ru/adguard-android/install.html.
Ad blocking on iOS
On iOS the situation is not so rosy. You can only block ads in browsers, while applications will continue to show them. What’s noteworthy is that in iOS 9 such support appeared at the system level. Special extensions for the Safari browser have been introduced. Thanks to this, ad blockers officially appeared in the AppStore. All of them are enabled as follows: Settings - Safari - Content blocking rules, after which you need to activate the installed application. The only difference between them is the customization options and the quality of content blocking.
Crystal
This is certainly the best ad blocking app on iOS. The program filters most of the unwanted content and increases the number of users several times. It does not contain any settings at all, everything works fine without them. If something is not filtered somewhere, you can send a link to the developer through the program interface.
Adguard
Great app for blocking ads on iOS. Filters content, speeds up page loading and protects your privacy. Over 50 filters optimized for Safari are available. There is a white and black list setting, regional filters, removal of social network buttons and various counters.
1Blocker
Ad blocking application for iOS with a huge number of personalized settings. You can customize almost individually each element from a list of more than 7,000 units. Reduces traffic consumption by half, reducing battery consumption. For advanced users, this will be the best choice as you can fine-tune the filter.
Browsers with a built-in ad blocker
We have included this item in a separate list, since such browsers are developed for both Android and iOS. Whether you are not satisfied with the standard Safari browser or you don’t want to rack your brains with hacking Android, then download one of these browsers. The most popular of them are UCBrowser, AdBlock Browser, Firefox with the AdBlock Plus extension. We will not describe in detail the advantages and disadvantages of each of them. Their common feature is ad blocking on websites without additional system settings or software installation.
Conclusion
If you are annoyed by advertising while using your phone, install one of the applications from our review. Android owners have a little more options if they have root rights, but on iOS all blockers are officially supported by Apple and are freely distributed through the AppStore.
What software are you using? We would be very grateful if you could leave a comment after reading.
NetGuard is a good firewall for Android that allows you to block Internet access for each installed program. Not long ago, a new feature appeared - blocking ads by filtering traffic without . How to activate ad blocking in this firewall - read our short instruction article.
To begin with, it is worth noting that the ad blocking function in NetGuard is available in the application version from the official project page on GitHub. The variation on Google Play does not have such capabilities, since ad blockers no longer allow ad blockers to enter the catalog. On Trashbox, the name indicates those versions of NetGuard that contain ad blocking.
Instructions for activating ad blocking in NetGuard
So. The application has been downloaded and installed. Open NetGuard and go to settings without activating the firewall.We are looking for an item "Traffic filter" and activate it with the toggle switch. The program will warn you about possible battery consumption, but it is insignificant.
After that, look for the item in the menu “Download hosts file” and click on it. NetGuard will automatically download the hosts file with most of the addresses from which advertisements are usually downloaded. Loading traffic from them will be blocked. Alternative hosts files can be found on GitHub, downloaded from there and imported into the application.
Next, return to the main menu of the application and activate it with a toggle switch in the upper left corner. The program will start working when the key icon (VPN) appears in the top bar, and the indicator next to the toggle switch takes the shape of the NetGuard icon rather than an hourglass. After activation, it is advisable to wait 5–10 minutes - during this time all DNS addresses will be updated.
Later we check the operation of the blocker. Open a test page on the official NetGuard website. If the test displays “Ad Blocking Works,” this means that the blocking is working.
Left - before blocking, right - after
To clearly see this, go to some popular site with a lot of advertising, for example - zaycev.net.
Also see our video instructions for activating ad blocking in NetGuard:
Aggressive advertising is gradually moving from television channels to the Internet. It appears in the form of banners, pop-ups or additional buttons in applications, annoying and confusing the user. But this problem can be solved once and for all with the help of applications that will help remove and completely disable advertising on Android devices.
Why do pop-up ads appear in games and programs?
Owners of popular websites sell advertising space to organizations wishing to promote their services. Developers release applications that are free for users and publish them on the Play Store. To recoup their work, they embed ad units into games and programs and sell them to advertisers. The more popular the application, the more income it generates.
The banner is located at the bottom of the screen - the user can close it
How to disable and block using applications
Dozens of applications have been created to block ads. They cannot be downloaded from the Play Store because they violate Google's policies. Each program is available on the developer's official website, some of them require root access to work correctly.
Obtaining root rights on an Android smartphone or tablet
Effective root access expands the functionality of Android and allows other applications to make adjustments to the operation of the smartphone or tablet. You can get root rights by using Kingo Android Root, Farmaroot, Vroot and others. Brief instructions for obtaining root rights using Kingo Android Root:
The application requests access to Superuser rights
In the smartphone menu you will see a new SuperSU Free item, which is responsible for providing root access to applications.
AdBlock Plus
Adblock Plus app does not require root access. This is a popular ad blocker in applications and browsers, works with Android and other operating systems. Instructions for using the program:
Photo gallery: setting up AdBlock Plus
You can go to the network settings directly from the AdBlock Plus application. The proxy server will have to be configured manually through the network settings of your smartphone or tablet. Enable filtering and uncheck the “Allowed applications” option
After all actions, advertising will be blocked - you can enjoy “clean” applications. Points 2–5 are relevant for Android versions 4.2 and higher. Android 3.x does not provide manual configuration of the proxy server. Owners of such smartphones will need to root the device for AdBlock Plus to work.
AdGuard
The free version of the AdGuard application blocks ads in browsers, as well as fraudulent and phishing resources. To hide ad units in programs and games, you will need to purchase an additional key. The application works without root rights, filtering parameters are configured in the program menu. You can create a “white list” of sites you trust. To activate the AdGuard blocker, download the program, open it and click the green enable button. To configure filtering, click the button in the form of three dots in the upper right corner of the screen and select “White List”.
The program starts with one button
AdAway
The developers claim that the AdAway program eliminates 99% of advertising. The application prevents programs from sending requests to ad servers. Requires root rights. At the same time, a smaller percentage of advertisements are blocked using mobile networks. To enable the blocker, follow the instructions:
There are only two buttons in the application - to activate and disable the blocking
To remove the block, go to the application and click “Unblock”.
Video: blocking ads on your phone with AdAway
LuckyPatcher
The program scans installed applications, checks the availability of a license and the integrity of files, and also hides advertisements. LuckyPatcher requires availabilityroot access and installationBusybox. To disable advertising using Lucky Patcher, follow the instructions:
If the method does not work, go to Lucky Patcher again and select “Remove Advertising Activities”.
Be sure to make a copy of the game or program for which you plan to hide ad units. Lucky Patcher may damage the internal files of the application, causing it to not start.
Video: How to block ads using the Lucky Patcher app
AdFree
Affordable and easy to use, AdFree blocks ads when the user is rooted. The program operates in applications and browsers, takes up little space and allows you to create white and black lists of resources. To block ads:
NetGuard
NetGuard is a well-known firewall, the latest versions of which have added an ad blocking feature. The application is available on the Play Market in a truncated version - you can download the full program with the blocker from the developer’s website. To set up ad protection:
You can configure traffic filtering in the application
To verify the effectiveness of the program, visit an online resource with a large number of advertising windows and banners.
Block persistent ads manually
How to get rid of intrusive content in browsers
Ad blockers are application-specific and do not completely remove intrusive ads from browsers. If advertising on website pages persists while the blocker is active, install additional extensions on your smartphone.
Firefox
The Firefox browser works perfectly with the AdBlock Plus extension and does not require the installation of additional programs. Install and launch the application and enjoy the absence of advertising.
Opera
Restart the gadget and the browser will be cleared of advertisements.
UC Browser
UC Browser was developed by Chinese engineers for lazy Android device owners. The application has a built-in ad blocker AdBlock, as well as an optimizer for the appearance of Internet pages. The browser successfully hides ad units and formats the page content taking into account the user's screen parameters. At the same time, the program retains all the functions inherent in other browsers: download manager, browsing history, optimization for night and day surfing the Internet.
Prevention of the appearance of advertising banners and windows
The only way to prevent in-app advertising is by using blockers. However, more and more often, users are faced with pop-up banners caused by a virus. How to distinguish built-in advertising from viral advertising:
If you suspect that your smartphone or tablet contains viral advertising, install an anti-virus program - Kaspersky Internet Security, McAfee, Dr. Web or other - and run a full scan of the device. Delete the files detected by the antivirus. To prevent the appearance of viral advertising, leave the antivirus turned on and check your device periodically.
Do not use several ad blocking applications on Android at the same time - they will conflict with each other, using similar operating algorithms. Test the proposed options and choose the one that best suits your smartphone or tablet.