AdGuard Review 2024: Is It Good Software for Ad Blocking?

AdGuard efficiently blocks ads without being intrusive. While opening various browser tabs, we noticed the number of blocked items steadily increased. That’s impressive, but we also had a bit of trouble navigating the interface, which we’ll discuss in further detail.

AdGuard is still a good ad blocker, and we tested it thoroughly to see how it performs with our Macbook Air and PC while using two web browsers. Keep reading to learn how this ad blocker works and discover if AdGuard is the right ad-blocking software for your needs.

AdGuard overview

Our experience

Downloading and installing the ad blocker was no problem. The installation was quick and easy to set up. You may need to update your privacy settings to allow AdGuard access, but that’s simple to do.

In our testing, all the websites functioned properly, and we didn’t notice any hiccups along the way. We were especially impressed with how it blocked ads while watching YouTube videos, as this is where tons of ads seem to populate. Having an ad blocker has allowed our internet usage to be more streamlined without the constant worry of trackers and ads getting through.

We downloaded AdGuard for our Mac and our PC and installed the AdGuard browser extension. To us, one of the best features is the data it saves. Since installation on our device, AdGuard has saved over 18 MB of data for the day.

As we mentioned, the one feature that can be confusing is the total number under AdGuard’s Ads blocked section. When you click on the Statistics option, you’ll see the number for Ad Blocking and then the number for Privacy. We aren’t sure how these numbers stack up or what they mean together.

However, we do like the phishing and malware protection functions that come with AdGuard. It’s a simple matter of turning the protection on, and you’re good to go.

You can also activate and remove context-based ads and websites that use self-promotion, which is a huge plus for ridding those internet interruptions. Also, Stealth Mode protects your identity and personal information from online trackers. We like the added bonus of being able to hide search queries, too.

AdGuard paid plan

AdGuard is available for free or with paid subscriptions. The paid versions allow protection across multiple platforms. The Personal plan covers up to three devices, and the Family option covers up to nine devices. 

There isn’t a lot of information on the website that shows any other differences in the paid vs. free plan. If you only want coverage for one device, we recommend choosing the free option, but the paid plans are also reasonably priced.

Main features

The AdGuard app has impressive features, and here's an overview:

• Ad blocker
• Browsing security
• Browser assistant
• Parental controls
• Phishing protection
• Stealth mode
• Allowlist
• Virtual private network
• Cloud-based DNS service
• Network traffic filtering

With allowlist, AdGuard’s whitelist function, you can add specific websites that you don’t want AdGuard to filter. We were able to test the parental controls, which are only compatible with Windows, on our PC. The parental security features include the ability to conduct safe searches, implement password protection, and block users from downloading files or installing new apps. 

If you want more than just an ad blocker, AdGuard also offers a virtual private network and a cloud-based DNS service. These services can also be bundled at a discounted price. The DNS service is also great for parents because you can schedule screen time for your kids and block undesired content.

AdGuard doesn’t display warnings, but it does show the number of ads blocked. You can also check a website’s security to ensure you’re on a safe site. That’s a great feature for when you’re using multiple websites and want to be secure.

One of the features that can be a bit confusing is the ad blocking and privacy section. You get a total number, but it’s not clear what that means. Even after thorough reading from AdGuard’s site, we couldn’t find an example that matched our extension window.

AdGuard test results

To test AdGuard, we used AdBlock Tester, Cover Your Tracks, and Can You Block It. These websites are dedicated to testing browser protection and ad blockers. 

AdBlock Tester uses advertiser analytics to test the blocker’s effectiveness against contextual advertising, analytics tools, banner advertising, and error monitoring. When we first tested AdGuard with AdBlock Tester on macOS, it received a 68/100 score. After we toggled on every filter related to content blocking in the settings, the score increased to 100/100. 

However, when we retested the AdGuard Chrome extension on our PC, it failed to pass the error monitoring test with a total score of 88/100. 

But when we switched to the Windows app, AdGuard scored 94/100. The difference is that the app was able to block the sentry scripts, whereas the Chrome extension couldn't. Even still, the error monitoring test isn't as important as the ad blocking tests. 

While we're glad that AdGuard is an effective ad blocker, it may not be the best option for someone looking to just set and forget their ad blocker from the moment they download it.

Cover Your Tracks illustrates how visible you are to online trackers. It tests for tracking ads, invisible trackers, and whether you have an identifiable digital "fingerprint." AdGuard received a 2/3 with Cover Your Tracks on both macOS and Windows, having blocked ads and invisible trackers. Our browser still has a unique fingerprint, but we found that to be a common result among most ad blockers.

Can You Block It tests for ad blocker warnings, banner ads, and interstitial ads (or those pesky ads that pop up while the webpage loads), and AdGuard passed 3/3. How do we know? Because we didn't see any ads during the browser test. 

AdGuard test scores

YouTube ad test

If you want to block YouTube ads, you’ll love AdGuard’s blocking capabilities here. We tested numerous channels and videos and were pleasantly surprised when all the ads we normally see were blocked. AdGuard was effective at halting all advertisements while we watched the content of various videos.

We had no ads get through while watching, although we expected a few to slip through the cracks. That didn’t happen with our testing. Using AdGuard also didn’t change our user experience while watching YouTube videos. There were no speed disruptions or slowdowns noted.

We were also relieved to find that AdGuard has persisted against YouTube's recent actions against ad blockers. No need for a YouTube Premium subscription here.

Bypassing paywall test

Most ad blockers, free or premium, can't bypass hard paywalls, and AdGuard is no exception. Paywalled content means that the user is required to subscribe in order to access the "premium" content. However, AdGuard is able to bypass soft paywalls, like those you'd typically see in local news sites. So you can probably use the extension to access regional news stories and catch up on local happenings. 

What browsers and software is AdGuard compatible with?

If you’re looking for an ad blocker that’s compatible with almost any browser, you likely find that in AdGuard. The ad blocker works with the most popular web browsers. It also works on both Android and iOS devices. You can use Windows and macOS and enjoy AdGuard features. 

These are the browsers and systems that have AdGuard ad-blocking extension capabilities:

• Google Chrome
• Mozilla Firefox
• Opera
• Yandex
• Microsoft Edge
• Safari
• macOS
• Windows
• iOS
• Android
• Android TV

How to use AdGuard

The AdGuard extension is easy to install on macOS or Windows. Simply navigate to the website, select download, and allow the extension to install. Once the fast installation is complete, you can access the extension using the browser icon. For quick access, pin the icon to your toolbar. 

To use the more premium features, you'll need to download the AdGuard app. When downloading the extension, AdGuard prompts you to also download the app for the most comprehensive coverage. You can customize a lot more with the app by navigating to Settings. 

From there, you can access AdGuard's advanced security features — which, comparatively, you won't see in the extension Settings because premium features like parental controls, DNS protection, VPN services, and more are only available with the app.

AdGuard alternatives

AdGuard is a standout in the ad blocker realm, but it's not the only option available. We've gathered a list of some of the best ad blockers that we've tested and can recommend as trustworthy alternatives. Plus, all of these top-rated ad blockers stop YouTube video ads.

		Threat Protection	CleanWeb
Best For	Best for blocking YouTube ads	Best overall	Best for blocking streaming ads
Price	Starts at $1.99/mo (billed annually)	Starts at $3.99/mo	Starts at $2.29/mo (billed biennially)
Free version?
Adblock Tester score	100/100	93/100	96/100
Cover Your Tracks score	2/3	2/3	0.5/3
Can You Block It score	3/3	2/3	3/3
Blocks YouTube ads?
Compatibility	Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge, Safari, Opera	Threat Protection: Windows, macOS Threat Protection Lite: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Edge, Firefox	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, FireTV
Learn more	Get Total Adblock	Get NordVPN Threat Protection	Get Surfshark CleanWeb

Total Adblock is a user-friendly and effective ad blocker. It's even consistently thwarted YouTube ads following its crackdown, so you can rest assured that you're using a quality product.

NordVPN Threat Protection is from the makers of NordVPN. Threat Protection is a VPN feature that can block ads, trackers, and malware. Its real-time protection ensures vigilant monitoring of any cyberthreats on the sites you visit and files you download.

AdLock is a standout among free extensions for multiple web browsers. It blocks most ads with its free plan and doesn't sell your data to third parties.

FAQs

Bottom line: Is AdGuard good?

AdGuard is a good ad blocker with plenty of features like phishing, tracking, and browser protection. When testing the product on our Macbook Air running Big Sur 11.3 and Windows PC, we loved having multiple webpages open with no interruption in speed performance. Another standout feature is viewing YouTube videos with no ads invading while watching our favorite content creators.

AdGuard is best for the user who wants to get rid of online ads and likes to delve into all the functionality of the product interface. There are different options you can set up, like custom filters, an allowlist, and user rules. If you want to add your preferred filtering rules, you can do that with this ad blocker. It’s also a good product if you don’t want to pay a lot or anything at all for a solid ad blocker that takes care of annoyances in the background while you are web browsing.

If you’re still looking for the best ad blocker for you, check out the best ad blockers on the market, which we've researched and tested. 

Featured ad blockers

Ad blocker
Best For	Best for blocking YouTube ads	Best overall	Best for blocking streaming ads
Price	Paid plan costs $1.99/mo (billed annually)	Starts at $3.99/mo	Starts at $2.29/mo (billed biennially)
Blocks YouTube ads
Learn more	Get Total Adblock	Get NordVPN Threat Protection	Get Surfshark CleanWeb

5.0

AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Editorial Rating

Learn More

On AdGuard Ad Blocker's website

AdGuard Ad Blocker

• Simple interface
• Doesn’t interfere with device speed
• Ad-blocking statistics can be hard to interpret

Author Details

Patti Croft

About the Author

Patti Croft is a seasoned writer specializing in technology, with three years of experience. With a B.S. in Computer Science and a background as a technical analyst and security specialist, she covers a range of topics like data security and parental control software.

Kate Quinlan