Best Adblocks for Safari: Top Solutions to Consider
Like any other popular web browser, Safari has ad-friendly settings by default. What does it mean? Well, we bet you’ve seen tons of banners, video ads, search promotions, and pop-ups while surfing the web on your Mac computer, iPhone, or iPad. And those advertisements are not only distractive but may also compromise your digital privacy and pose a threat to your security. That’s where adblocking software comes into play: adblock apps detect any intrusive ads in your browser window and prevent them from popping up. But what is the best ad blocker for Safari? Read on to discover the best ad-blocking solutions for Safari to browse the web safely.
Main reasons to block ads on Safari
According to Data Reportal, over 30% of people use certain ad-blocking software to avoid online advertisements. But why do they do it, in the first place? To answer this question, let’s overview several key reasons why you may want to remove ads on Safari (or any other browser without default ad-blocking settings).
- To avoid annoyance and distraction. Over 80% of users use ad-blocking tools to avoid bumping into intrusive and interruptive ads. In particular, this applies to video ads, autoplay video ads, pop-ups, and banners that take up lots of space on the screen. Such advertisements often sidetrack people from important matters and may even ruin our online experience.
- To stay away from viruses. Nearly 60% of users claimed that they block ads to prevent malware and other cybersecurity threats. Indeed, viruses and malicious programs introduced through a shady ad or a pop-up aren’t rare. In fact, many sponsored ads on Google are designed to compromise your device’s security.
- To enhance online privacy. Approximately 58% of Internet users block ads to browse the web more privately. It’s not a secret that big corporations and advertisers use targeted ad campaigns and collect tons of customer data to send them personalized promos. So if you want to protect your digital identity and keep your private information to yourself, it’s better to avoid ads on social media, search engines, and browsers, including Safari.
- To save the device’s battery. When loading a website that contains video and audio ads, your device consumes more power. Blocking unwanted ads can save a battery from draining, which is the main motivation for 23% of users.
- To decrease the loading time. 22% of people block ads to increase their Internet speed and bandwidth to reduce loading time. The thing is that without ads, web pages load faster, which was proven by a recent study.
Now that you know why it’s a good idea to remove ads from Safari, let’s consider the most effective ad blockers to do it.
Best ad blockers for Safari
One of the most popular ways to block ads on Safari is by using an ad-blocking browser extension or app. There are lots of such tools out there, so it’s critical to choose a reliable and effective one. Here are some of the best ad blocks for Safari available.
Adblock Plus
Adblock Plus emerges as a noteworthy ad blocker tailored for Safari browsers on Mac. With just a single click, it efficiently removes various types of ads, including videos and infographics, enhancing your browsing experience.
If you’re a Safari user, Adblock Plus proves to be a valuable tool, ensuring safety, ease of download, and reliability in safeguarding your privacy from external threats. Not only does it contribute to better browsing speed, but it also provides additional device information, such as traffic data, high-quality display, and an attractive interface, enhancing your overall browsing experience.
AdGuard
This ad blocker removes unwanted promotions from iPhone applications and games. It also has a convenient feature for parents, allowing them to filter out potentially inappropriate and adult content.
The AdGuard home screen provides an interface for configuring fundamental settings, including notification preferences, update intervals, and the selection of content blockers. These content blockers are organized into thematic clusters called filters.
AdLock
AdLock is one of the most popular ad-blocking apps for Safari. Users have the option to install either the app or a browser extension. It effectively blocks all trackers and ads, as well as connections to harmful sites.
AdLock proves itself as an excellent solution for streaming sites, offering the capability to eliminate all pre-rolls, mid-rolls, post-rolls, and other unskippable video commercials effortlessly. Users can achieve this by activating a special one-click script or utilizing the AdLock player.
Furthermore, AdLock protects against social media widgets that track users across various sites, ensuring enhanced privacy during browsing sessions. All this makes AdLock a go-to choice for individuals seeking uninterrupted streaming experiences and improved online privacy.
Wipr
Wipr stands out as another good adblock for Safari, effectively removing all undesirable ads, including cryptocurrency miners, cookie pop-ups, trackers, and such. What’s more, the interface is very intuitive and user-friendly.
Enabling Wipr Extra allows users to block ads on platforms like YouTube and other streaming sites. However, this feature necessitates granting full website access, prompting users to consider potential privacy implications before leaving it enabled for extended periods.
Magic Lasso
You just cannot overlook Magic Lasso. Renowned for its high efficiency and excellent performance, Magic Lasso seamlessly integrates with Safari browsers across various Apple devices like iPads, Macs, and iPhones.
Beyond its compatibility, Magic Lasso is particularly good at eliminating all types of ads, ensuring faster browsing without distractions while safeguarding your privacy. Additionally, Magic Lasso provides complimentary technical support and features an intuitive user interface for seamless navigation.
Total AdBlock
Total AdBlock stands out as a premier ad blocker exclusively designed for Safari on iPhones and iPads. Beyond its primary function of blocking ads, Total AdBlock offers a tailored filter enabling users to halt social media trackers and widgets. Users can bid farewell to attention-grabbing elements such as “like” and “share” buttons while browsing websites.
Total AdBlock’s versatility extends to removing specific web elements such as cookie dialog boxes. For added convenience, users have the option to whitelist certain websites, ensuring proper loading even with ad blockers enabled. This flexibility and comprehensive feature set contribute to Total AdBlock’s popularity among users seeking an enhanced browsing experience.
1Blocker
1Blocker uses filters to proactively instruct Safari on what to block, making it highly effective in removing various ads, trackers, and fingerprinting scripts. Its setup is straightforward, and the app seamlessly receives cloud updates for its built-in filters.
The app offers ample customization options, allowing users to create rules for specific URLs or hide particular elements using CSS selectors. Additionally, users can choose to block cookies or permit ads for selected sites while still preventing trackers and social buttons from functioning.
Important things to remember about using a Safari adblock
If you want to install an adblock app or Safari extension, remember that not all of them are reliable. If you happen to download a fake app, it will compromise your privacy by collecting your personal information and selling it to third parties. Moreover, such an ad blocker may even infect your device with malware.
Secondly, it’s important to mention that the capabilities of ad-blocking apps are somewhat limited. While being relatively effective when it comes to removing unwanted advertisements from your browser, there are several downsides that we have to warn you about:
- Some legitimate ads may be blocked. While ad blockers aim to remove intrusive or irrelevant ads, they may also block legitimate and non-intrusive advertisements that contribute to supporting content creators.
- Poor website performance. With an ad blocker switched on, a website you browse may load not as fast as it used to since your ad-blocking app has one more task to deal with to load properly.
- Missing important information and content. Nothing and nobody is perfect and ad blockers are no exception, which means they may falsely recognize an important piece of content or information as an annoying ad and hide it from you.
However, there is an alternative to ad-blocking applications: virtual private networks (VPNs). Let’s find out why and how they can do better than even high-profile ad blockers.
Why VPN is the best way to remove ads from Safari
VPN is a powerful tool for your online security. Not only does it block annoying and potentially dangerous ads on Safari, but it also helps take your privacy to the next level. A VPN alters your IP address and runs your Internet traffic through a remote server. As a result, snoopers, hackers, and ad agencies won’t be able to compromise your online activities.
However, it’s also essential to choose a credible VPN for Safari. Similar to ad-blocking software, free VPNs often lack important security features and may even pose a threat to your privacy. So it’s better to safeguard yourself and stick to a trustworthy paid service like VeePN. Here are the main benefits of this solution.
- It blocks ads and trackers across all browsers and apps. VeePN will protect your entire traffic, no matter which browser, app, or game you’re currently running. For instance, even if you’re using Safari and Chrome simultaneously, intrusive ads and online snoopers won’t bother you.
- It offers the most powerful encryption standard. VeePN uses AES-256 – the most powerful encryption standard to date, empowered with several top-rated VPN protocols. It means that you won’t have to worry about your data protection – even if some pieces of it appear in the wrong hands, nobody will manage to read it.
- It protects from public Wi-Fi risks. VeePN’s NetGuard is an effective measure against various dangers. Make sure to turn it on when using a public network to shield yourself from man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks, phishing attempts, viruses, and other threats.
- It enhances your browsing freedom. Apart from being an ad-blocking and online protection tool, a VPN helps overcome Internet limitations and surf the web freely. Since it hides your real IP, you can access any content you wish while traveling, even if it’s unavailable in your current location.
Follow the steps below to get started with VeePN to block ads and protect your overall browsing experience.
How to remove ads from Safari with VeePN
Here’s how to block ads in Safari with VeePN:
- Sign up for VeePN and choose the preferred subscription plan.
- Download and install the VeePN app on your device. It’s a multi-platform service that offers solutions for various operating systems, including a VPN for iOS and a VPN for macOS.
- Open VeePN and toggle the Block Ads box in the Privacy Preferences section. You can also decide to block malicious websites, prevent online tracking, and turn on the Kill Switch feature in this section.
- Choose the desired VPN server from over 2,500 options in 89 locations to get a new IP address.
- Turn your VPN on and enjoy your ad-free browsing experience.
Check out VeePN’s pricing plans and try it now with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Block pop-up ads and third-party trackers – don’t let anyone spoil your secure Internet journey.
FAQ: How to Block Ads on Safari
An ad blocker is a software tool or browser extension designed to prevent advertisements from displaying on web pages or within apps. It works by filtering out or blocking the code that serves ads, thereby improving browsing speed, reducing distractions, and enhancing privacy. Learn about the best ad-blocking solutions in this article.
Ad blockers work by intercepting requests made by your web browser to load advertisements from various sources, such as ad networks or servers. They use predefined filters or rules to recognize and block elements on web pages that match known patterns of advertising content. This prevents ads from being displayed or downloaded, resulting in a cleaner browsing experience. Find out more in this article.
Safari does not have built-in ad-blocking features. However, you can switch a web page you’re visiting in Read Mode via Safari’s preferences to disable all distracting elements.
Also, you can install ad-blocking extensions from the App Store or Mac App Store to block ads within Safari or use VeePN, a robust VPN service, to hide your traffic from advertisers and block pop-up ads.
VeePN is freedom
Ghostery performs well, but it caused CPU issues for me. AdGuard is quite resource-intensive but highly efficient. VeePN allows some ads to get through but is very light on system resources.
I use Wipr because it’s lighter compared to how Safari feels when running AdGuard, though it lacks any configurable settings.
I like AdGuard, but some YouTube ads still manage to bypass it.
AdGuard for Safari functions similarly to uBlock Origin.
AdGuard is the strongest ad blocker, though I’ve found it to be somewhat demanding on system resources.
My top two choices were AdGuard and Ghostery.
If you’re serious about both blocking ads and protecting your data, I’d say a VPN is the best way to go.
Using a VPN like VeePN to block ads and boost privacy on Safari is a game changer. I didn’t realize VPNs could do that! Definitely beats having to deal with ads everywhere.