Last updated Dec 28, 2023 at 12pm ET
Services developed by Apple have an alleged reputation of being more secure and reliable than products from other tech companies. Still, they’re by no means perfect and can always use a helping hand to patch any flaws.
For example, you should invest in the best ad blocker for Safari to protect yourself against virus-laden and annoying online advertisements while surfing the net. These nuisances come in many forms, meaning the browser needs a specialized ad-blocking tool to back it up.
And so, we picked the top 3 ad blockers compatible with Safari that will eradicate any unwelcome additions from your device.
Top 3 best free ad blockers: shortlist
- Best Safari ad blocker overall9.6
- Well-rounded ad blocker for Safari9.3
- Affordable and versatile Safari ad blocker9.2
- superb and private Safari ad blocker8.8
Missing a name or two? Your favorite didn’t feature on it either? Likely, they made it to our honorary hall of fame down below. For all they do well as ad exterminators, we found them lacking in one way or another. Read onward to learn what held us back in nominating them as the best Safari ad blockers.
What to look for when choosing the best ad blocker for Safari
You probably know that there’s no shortage of options when it comes to ad blocker software. However, having a clear set of criteria for filtering out the undesirables is critical. Here’s a look at what we considered vital when choosing the top Safari ad blocker tools.
- Compatibility with Safari. The Apple-exclusive browser is notorious for not supporting a huge selection of plug-ins and extensions. Unfortunately, this includes various ad-blocking software, both bad and good. Therefore, you’ll need a separate ad blocker compatible with macOS or iOS. Our go-to choice in this category is NordVPN Threat Protection.
- Ad blocking performance. We had to test numerous ad-blocking tools to find out which were the most capable of dealing with every conceivable online advertisement.
- Bonus features. Ad blockers aren’t as one-dimensional as their name suggests. In fact, the best ones can prevent other digital dangers, such as phishing attacks, scams, excess trackers, malicious web domains, and more.
- Customization options. The most exemplary netizens understand that blocking all ads is detrimental to the internet. After all, online creators depend on ad revenue to continue doing what they do. Thus, a worthwhile ad blocker for Safari must allow customers to choose what ads they want to permit and on what websites.
- Reliability. It’s critical to pick an ad-blocking service with a solid reputation that respects your privacy and doesn’t engage in unnecessary data harvesting.
- Pricing. It should come as no surprise that free ad blockers can’t fulfill the aforementioned criteria. However, we understand that most people are unwilling to open their wallets. Thus, we picked reasonably priced options with free trials and money-back guarantees as a means of uncommitted testing.
Those are the exact factors that guided our choice for the #1 place among Safari ad blockers. Needless to say, Total Adblock met all the criteria and even exceeded some expectations.
The best Safari ad blockers: overview
- Total Adblock – best Safari ad blocker with feature-rich suite
- NordVPN Threat Protection – superlative Safari ad blocker with top-notch VPN
- Surfshark CleanWeb – ultra secure and cheap ad blocker for Safari
- AdLock – multi-layered solution against all ads on Safari
After much consideration and testing, we ended up with the following three viable ad blocker options for Safari. They proved more than capable when dealing with various types of ads while surfing the web. They also support a degree of customization to fit your specific needs. Best of all, you’ll find various bonus features for improving your digital security.
You can use them as background apps on your Apple device while using Safari to dive into the world wide web securely.
1. Total Adblock – all-time best ad blocker for Safari with hefty extras
$1.59/month
24/7 live chat, email, knowledge base
- Intuitive interface on Safari and iOS devices
- Nearly 100% success against ads
- Several filter lists
- Unavailable on Mac devices
Total Adblock is the best iOS Safari ad blocker due to the multifaceted nature of this software. The variety of blocking filters scour all ads, eliminating them before you can even catch the sight of them. Better yet, the ad blocker cleans up white spaces after removing advertisements, so you get boosted browsing speeds and better looks.
We used a wide variety of testing methods to verify the effectiveness of this ad blocker. For starters, we conducted manual field tests on YouTube and Facebook to see how the service fares on sites the average person visits daily. After that, we used third-party options like AdBlock Tester (94/100 score) and Cover Your Tracks for more thorough information about tracker removal. Overall, Total Adblocker performed exceptionally well on all fronts.
Total Adblock boasts a versatile package. Apart from swiping ads off your screen swiftly, it offers you customization options. The selection of blocking filters (Base, Social Media, Annoyances, and Tracking Protection) can be tinkered with to your heart’s content. Besides, the whitelisting feature lets you choose which websites can run the ads and which shouldn’t. That’s in case supporting content creators, say, on YouTube, sits well with you.
On the other hand, the Total Security package encompasses the best of security for your iOS device. It includes antivirus, safe browsing VPN, and the ad blocker for broadening your online horizons and securing them.
One of the best financial decisions you can make as a netizen is to grab Total Adblock for 80% cheaper. And if you wish to test the service yourself, the service got your back with the 7-day free trial. Furthermore, you can prolong the period with the 14-day money-back guarantee.
2. NordVPN Threat Protection – first-rate Safari ad blocker with file protection
Panama
$3.99/month
24/7 live chat, email, knowledge base
- Scans files for malware
- Includes a VPN
- Block ads and trackers super effectively
- No whitelisting
NordVPN Threat Protection is a superlative addition to your online ventures. It offers a versatile security suite with noteworthy protection against ads, cookie banners, and other flashy hindrances.
Ad-free browsing on Safari is a reality within your reach with NordVPN Threat Protection. It dealt very well with our tests and AdBlock Tester, scoring a solid 89/100. YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter (X) ads were mostly gone. The ad block had a more difficult time with Facebook and Twitch. However, it fared fairly well overall as one of the best Safari ad blockers.
The tool is separated into two categories – Web protection and File protection. The first category focuses on guaranteeing a risk-free online experience. For example, it blocks malicious websites, replacing them with warnings instead. Secondly, it removes nosy online cookies and tracking parameters from links. And finally, it removes ads and prevents them from loading, thus improving the page’s overall performance.
Then we have File protection, which stops malicious software from crippling your system. The tool does so by scanning both the files you downloaded and the entire system.
Go for the long haul with NordVPN Threat Protection and gain an 73% discount when signing up. You’ll even earn 3 bonus months of subscription time at no extra cost. Or start with the 7-day free trial first. And don’t forget about the 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re having second thoughts.
3. Surfshark CleanWeb – secure Safari ad blocker for limitless devices
The Netherlands
$2.19/month
24/7 live chat, email, knowledge base
- Unlimited device connections
- Adds a VPN service
- Allows whitelisting
- Requires a VPN connection
Surfshark CleanWeb is a solid Safari ad blocker if you seek a middle ground between affordable prices and performance. Best of all, it has excellent device compatibility and unlimited device connection support, meaning you can use it to protect every gadget in your household.
Regarding effectiveness, Surfshark CleanWeb performed reasonably well during our tests. It garnered a 74/100 score on AdBlock Tester, which is below NordVPN’s results. YouTube ads were no match, while many pop-under ads on other sites were harder to deal with.
In general, the feature swiftly deals with all types of ads, including in-video ones on YouTube, pop-ups, and even cookie consent forms. Speaking of which, CleanWeb also wipes away online trackers and excessive cookies that undermine your overall privacy. We even tested this aspect with the Cover Your Tracks tool.
However, there are some caveats, too. For starters, you can only reap the benefits of CleanWeb when a VPN connection is enabled. Thankfully, that’s barely inconvenient because the service utilizes WireGuard for top speeds.
Sign up for Surfshark CleanWeb now and receive an 86% discount plus 2 months for free. Consider the 7-day trial route if you’re not fully on board yet. Alternatively, make use of the 30-day money-back warranty.
4. AdLock – privacy-focused ad blocker for Safari
Slovakia
$1.05/month
24/7 live chat, email, knowledge base
- Multiple filtering options
- Substantial ad blocking rate
- HTTPs blocking
- Doesn’t work simultaneously with VPN
AdLock is a solid Safari ad blocker. It’s a fast and intuitive addition to your iOS or MacOS device that secures a relatively adless browsing experience. Besides, AdLock is a cheap solution accessible to anyone that wants a mid-range extension or app.
Manual tests on YouTube proved that AdLock has no trouble thwarting in-video ads. However, it scored a meager 67/100 on AdBlock tester. Specifically, the service struggled with banner ads and direct link ads. Furthermore, according to Cover Your Tracks, the provider could only partially block tracking ads.
This Safari ad blocker curbs ads on the DNS level. In short, the service blocks wanted traffic and queries from malicious websites, thus protecting you from adware and malvertising to an extent. But that’s not all when it comes to filters because you can choose from a variety to block specific websites or apps. HTTPS filter is one of the prominent options unique to AdLock.
AdLock is a cheap Safari ad blocker that offers good value for the small price tag. Moreover, you can grab the service and save 70% on your purchase thanks to this nifty deal. The 14-day free trial and 30-day money-back guarantee allow curious cats like yourself to play with the service before committing.
Best Ad blockers for Safari: comparison
Still can’t decide which Safari ad blocker is right for you? Look at the table below that compares the essential aspects of each provider on our list.
| Ad Blocker |  |  |  |  |
| Price | $1.59/month | $3.09/month | $2.19/month | $1.05/month |
| Free version | ✅Yes (Free 7-day trial on Android, iOS & extension) | ✅Yes (Free 7-day trial on Android) | ✅Yes (Free 7-day trial on Android & iOS) | ✅Yes (14-day free trial) |
| YouTube ad blocking | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes |
| Blocks trackers | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes |
| Malware filter | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes |
| Device compatibility | Android and iOS | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, FireTV, Android TV | Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows |
| Browsers | Chrome, Opera, Brave, Vivaldi, and Edge | Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Brave, Opera, and Edge | Chrome, Firefox, Edge | Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge |
| Coupons | Get 80% off | Get 73% off | Get 86% off | – |
Safari ad blockers that didn’t make it
The battle for the top seats was fierce. It was hard to choose the victors, but we were strict on the criteria and paid little attention to the popularity of some services. If we found them lacking in some area, then we cast them aside for this one. Here is a list of honorary mentions for those that we so close yet so far:
- uBlock Origin. This one is very simple – the ad blocker isn’t available on Safari. While it’s good on Firefox, it’s been staggering on Google after Manifest V3 changes, too.
- AdGuard. People using Safari have reported hiccups in performance on iOS and macOS devices after recent updates.
- AdBlock Plus. Eyeo owns the service, which is a big no for us. The company has quasi-alliance with online advertisers, putting the reliability of user data into question. Besides, it lets some ads pass through specifically because of that.
- Ghostery. The ad block has dealt in user data distribution, which caused quite an uproar in the userbase. Though Ghostery is trying their best to appease us, it’s a wound that hasn’t healed up.
- Privacy Badger. It’s an ad blocker that blocks trackers only, not ads. Thus, we don’t really count it as a full-fledged ad blocking solution for Safari.
How we selected the best Safari ad blockers
Here’s a brief overview of what specific features we looked at and tested when learning how to block ads in Safari.
- Ad blocking. Unsurprisingly, the primary criterion is the tool’s ability to effectively block a broad spectrum of online advertisements.
- Page load time improvements. An efficient ad blocker should quietly run in the background, wipe away needless screen clutter, and increase page loading times.
- Tracker blocking. Online trackers come in many forms and follow you when you visit other pages. As such, a well-rounded ad blocker for Safari should tackle these digital stalkers.
- Device compatibility. No one would pay for an ad-blocking tool that only works with one platform type. Most importantly, the services we looked at need to be compatible with Mac and iOS operating systems, the only platforms that support Safari. However, our selected services are also compatible with other devices for better versatility.
- Filter customization. You’ll likely want to whitelist certain websites to continue supporting your favorite creators via ad revenue.
- Price. We only picked options that are good at their jobs and don’t cost a fortune. They even include free trials and money-back guarantees if you’d prefer to do some tests yourself before committing.
All things considered, Total Adblock is the most worthwhile ad blocker for Safari. It delivered the most outstanding results while providing a more comprehensive suite of tools than the competition.
Get the most well-performing Safari ad blocker to keep unwelcome adverts out of sight. It will also remove trackers and scan your device to ensure absolute security while surfing the web.
Why do you need to block ads on the Safari browser?
As mentioned before, online ads come in many different forms and thus include various issues while you’re out and about online. Let’s dive deeper into what problems you’ll face without the assistance of a high-quality ad blocker.
- Intrusive ads. Savvy internet users know that online ads try to be as attention-grabbing as possible. They utilize a wide range of annoying tactics (screen obstruction, popping up out of nowhere, etc.) to distract you from your current activity. Ultimately, this results in reduced productivity while working and reduced enjoyment while trying to relax on the web. And don’t even get me started on ads that infect your device with malware.
- Cookie notices. Any website that wants to operate in the EU must comply with the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation). That means most pages immediately bombard you with cookie notices, consent forms, and other screen-wide menus for setting your data protection preferences.
- Newsletter notifications. Many web pages urge users to sign up for newsletters via frustrating pop-ups. Usually, inputting a fake email address does the trick, but you can also block these menus with any of the best ad blockers for Safari.
How to install Total Adblock on Safari
You’ll need to install the Total Adblock iOS app or extension to block ads on Safari because it has no Mac app. Follow the steps below to reap ad-blocking benefits on Safari using Total Adblock.
- Get a reliable Safari Ad Blocker. Our #1 choice for iOS devices is Total AdBlock, now 80% OFF
- Launch the application and press on Get Started
- Press Cancel, if Total AdBlock tries to redirect you to their page
- Tap Enable Extension for Total AdBlock to work properly
- Now head to the Settings, find the Safari app, and look for a button that says Extensions
- After you’ve enabled Total AdBlock Filters, head back to the app and let it update
- Now you can browse without ads and enjoy an ad-free streaming experience on Safari!
How to block Youtube ads on Safari
YouTube is arguably the most famous video-sharing platform on the internet. It’s constantly updated with new videos and is enjoyed by millions of viewers and content creators alike. Unsurprisingly, such a massive platform relies on ads as a revenue source for prolific YouTubers and to make a profit for the company.
Unfortunately, many viewers are frustrated by the length and frequency of these in-video ads. Thus, they are curious about how to block YouTube ads on Safari and other systems.
You can probably guess the answer is relatively simple – just enable an effective ad blocker for Safari! However, the real question is which tools are the most effective at blocking ads.
Our tests concluded that the top YouTube ad blockers for Safari are premium apps like Total Adblock. These tools are updated frequently to tackle the latest ad-inserting technologies. After all, YouTube tries to make blocking ads on the platform impossible.
Secondly, premium online services are generally more reliable because they don’t resort to data harvesting and other harmful practices undermining your security and privacy. Plus, they’re pretty versatile and practical in different scenarios. For example, you can use the included VPN to change your location and access geo-restricted videos on YouTube.
Is Safari built-in ad blocker any good?
Like most well-maintained browsers, Safari has a built-in ad blocker for rudimentary online security. However, it’s pretty bare bones and likely won’t grant you the desired results.
Firstly, it isn’t as effective as specialized ad-blocking software and lacks many benefits you’d expect. For example, you can’t customize any settings to suit your needs. That means no website whitelisting or permitting certain types of advertisements.
Secondly, the built-in Safari ad blocker only deals with pop-ups and fraudulent websites. Meanwhile, other online ads Apple deems acceptable are left untouched. That means you’ll still have to sit through ads on YouTube and tolerate other integrated advertisements.
Are free Safari ad blockers safe?
By now, you’re well aware that nothing on the internet is ever truly free. Naturally, this principle applies to free ad blockers as well. Let’s elaborate so you’d understand why we don’t recommend using free ad blockers for Safari.
Here’s a quick rundown of the typical drawbacks (and dangers) that come with free ad blockers.
- Subpar ad-blocking performance. Don’t expect top-quality results from a product that highly-paid professionals don’t maintain.
- Integrated ads. Free products need some kind of revenue stream, so don’t be surprised when your costless ad blockers insert some of the very things they’re meant to eliminate.
- Infrequent updates. Free ad blockers aren’t updated frequently because they’re relatively low-priority for the developers.
- Security vulnerabilities. The previous point also means that free ad blockers are more likely to have various security vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit.
- Potential data logging. It’s worth reiterating that many extensions are unavailable on Safari because they’re made with malicious intent. To be precise, a free ad blocker can actually be a virus in disguise.
And so you’ll be better off with a premium ad blocker for Safari. It will ensure 100% ad removal no matter what website you visit. Best of all, our suggested providers offer lengthy money-back guarantee periods, meaning you can test them out for a certain amount of time and get a no-questions-asked refund if the results don’t satisfy you.
Conclusion
Safari has a relatively small selection of integrated extensions available because Apple must approve each one. That means ad-blocking solutions are unavailable because they negatively affect the system’s revenue. And so, you’ll need a separate ad-blocking app to remove advertisements on Safari.
Total Adblock is the best ad blocker for Safari since it’s a versatile and mid-range solution for all kinds of technically-inclined. The service boasts a nearly perfect ad blocking rate coupled with advanced features and filter lists. Moreover, the sleek design and fast functionality of Safari extension and iOS app account for smooth user experience.
Do you use ad blockers in conjunction with Safari? What’s your preferred tool for the job? Share your experience with the rest of us!
You may also like to read:
Best ad blockers for Chrome
Best ad blockers for Firefox
Best ad blockers for Edge
Best ad blockers for Mac
Best ad blockers for iPhone and iPad
Best ad blockers for Twitch
Best ad blockers for Hulu
FAQ
What is the best ad blocker for Safari?
Total AdBlock is the best Safari ad blocker. It’s available as an iOS app, a beginner-friendly interface enriched with classic and unique ad blocking features. Whitelisting, filter lists, script blocking are just the tip of the iceberg. It’s an affordable solution for every netizen.
How do I block ads on Safari?
The best way to block ads on Safari is with the Total AdBlock application. Simply setup the app and adjust the settings. That way, undesired ads are taken care of while the rest remain intact. You can find the whole guide on the topic in the How to install Total Adblock on Safari segment of this article.
Do ad blockers work on Safari?
Yes, certain ad blockers work on Safari. To be precise, the best results are available with dedicated macOS and iOS apps like Total Adblock. Meanwhile, ad-blocking Safari extensions don’t exist or are malware in disguise, meaning you should avoid them at all costs.
What ad blocker does Apple recommend?
Unsurprisingly, Apple recommends its in-house ad-blocking solutions. However, they aren’t as effective as third-party solutions like Total Adblock. Furthermore, Apple-owned ad blockers only block malicious adverts and leave YouTube ads untouched.
How to disable an ad blocker on Safari?
You can disable the integrated Safari ad blocker on iPhone and iPad by going to Settings > Safari and then turning off the Block Pop-ups and Fraudulent Website Warning. Meanwhile, Mac users should open Safari, choose Safari > Settings (or preferences) and disable the ad blockers in the Websites and Security tabs.
