AdBlockers for macOS / Safari / iOS

March 16, 2022 4:11 PM

I see everyone recommending uBlock Origin, but that doesn't work with Safari.

I'm looking for recommendations for an Adblocker plugin that:
* works with Safari (this is a requiement, I won't use Chrome, FireFox or any other browser in day-to-day use)
* is ethical (e.g. not Russian malware or a crypto scam)
* works on macOS and iOS (ideally, sharing rules and exceptions between the two)
* free or paid is OK - I'm happy to pay for quality

I'm currently using 1blocker on iOS and AdGuard for Safari / macOS
The good thing about having 2 different systems - if a website doesn't work on the mac, I can open it on the iPad and if it works there, then I have a good idea it's my Adblocker's fault.

But there's lots of bad things about having 2 different systems: each has different rules/allowlists/blocklists which are not synched.

posted by soylent00FF00 to Computers & Internet (12 answers total)

Hmm, I use AdGuard for Safari and really like it. I use Firefox Focus on my iPhone/iPad and it works really well for me. I haven't found one system that works for all three OSes and syncs between them.
posted by General Malaise at 4:19 PM on March 16, 2022 [1 favorite]

1blocker is also available for Safari on macOS. I just checked and the macOS and iOS versions do have synchronized custom rules.
posted by strangecargo at 4:32 PM on March 16, 2022 [2 favorites]

1Blocker all the way - I bought the lifetime subscription and it works across all my Apple devices
posted by sol at 4:34 PM on March 16, 2022 [1 favorite]

Those recommending 1Blocker — how much does it cost for the paid plans? It seems weird that it's not obvious/transparent from looking at their website or app store pages.
posted by General Malaise at 4:41 PM on March 16, 2022

My bad, it's in small text at the bottom of the app store page, but again, not exactly clear.

In-App Purchases
Yearly Premium
$14.99
Premium
$4.99
Monthly Premium
$2.99
Premium
$38.99
Premium
$12.99
Premium
$9.99
Premium
$1.99
Premium
$2.49
Premium
$32.99
posted by General Malaise at 4:43 PM on March 16, 2022

I use Firefox Focus on my iPhone/iPad and it works really well for me.

Same here. It’s been really solid for me in iOS. You can set it as an ad-blocker in Safari.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:29 PM on March 16, 2022

I also use 1Blocker. I generally use Firefox as my primary browser on MacOS, and so also use uBlock Origin there, but it's definitely 1Blocker on my iDevices and on Safari on Mac when I do pull it up. I've been very happy with it.
posted by lhauser at 6:49 PM on March 16, 2022

I use and love Wipr. It's no frills, cheap ($1.99 on the app store with no subscription needed) and is easy to just set and forget.
posted by ferdinandcc at 11:25 PM on March 16, 2022

not Russian malware or a crypto scam

I use 1Blocker myself, so obviously I don’t think it’s malicious, but: fwiw the developer is Russian (and indeed has #bitcoin in his Twitter bio). If I understand it correctly, the way the Safari content blocking API works means that the app isn’t actually getting access to all your activity, but I have to admit I’ve had a flutter of paranoia about this myself, so.
posted by Bloxworth Snout at 1:17 AM on March 17, 2022

I use BetterBlocker on iOS, iPad and macOS Safari and it seems fine. I haven’t compared it to any other blockers though.
posted by fabius at 6:03 AM on March 17, 2022

I use a combination of Magic Lasso for ad blocking, and Vinegar for video, which has the benefit of blocking YouTube ads in addition to other features.
posted by emelenjr at 8:10 AM on March 17, 2022

I use AdGuard on all my Apple devices. I combine it with StopTheMadness.
posted by Jesse the K at 8:00 AM on March 18, 2022