5 Best VPNs with Ad Blockers in 2024 (Fully Tested)

Online ads are a nuisance. They risk your privacy, slow down your browser, and are just plain annoying. Sometimes, they can even harm your device.

An ad-blocking browser extension might help. But what about VPNs with ad blockers? Check the test results below.

Using a VPN is already a good thing. It keeps your data safe and lets you access blocked content. If it could also block ads with just a browser extension, that would be great.

We tested ad block features from popular VPNs. We wanted to find the best ad blocker VPNs out there. We also answered some FAQs at the end of the article.

Best VPN with AdBlock – shortlist:

1. NordVPN – best VPN with ad block out there.
2. Surfshark – good ad blocking on unlimited devices.
3. Private Internet Access – reliable ad blocker and high-end privacy.
4. Perfect Privacy – Ad blocker for advanced users.
5. Atlas VPN – affordable tracker and ad blocker
6. Windscribe – good free ad blocker

VPN Ad Blockers – Test Score Overview

VPN	Free VPN ad Blocker	Blocks Media Outlets Ads	Blocks YouTube Ads	Blocks Malicious Sites
NordVPN	❌ No	✅ Yes	✅ Yes (but not overlay ads)	✅ Yes
Surfshark	❌ No	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Yes
Atlas VPN	❌ No	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Yes
PIA	❌ No	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Yes
Perfect Privacy	❌ No	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Yes
Windscribe	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Yes

Best VPNs with ad-blocking

We tested the top VPNs that block ad content – these are the best 5 VPN services with ad blockers according to our results.

1. NordVPN – Best VPN Ad Blocker Out There

Advertisement type	Blocking
Media Site Ads	✅ (Yes)
YouTube Ads	✅ (Yes, except overlay ads)
Malicious Websites	✅ (Yes)

NordVPN offers excellent ad blocking via its Threat Protection feature. When we tested it, we never saw ads on ad-heavy pages – banner ads, pop-ups, or video ads. NordVPN even blocks video ads on YouTube – the ones at the start of a video and during it. The only YouTube ads Threat Protection struggled with were the overlay ads – we saw them more than half of the time. 

Threat Protection was also able to block our connections to malicious HTTP sites. In addition to that, we really like that Threat Protection can also protect you from malicious files, helping you to avoid malware and phishing scams. It scans the executables you download (without compromising your privacy) and removes any malware it finds.

NordVPN’s ad blocker is very simple to use – you just enable and disable it with one click. Threat Protection is available on macOS and Windows. On iOS, Android, Linux, and browser extensions, it’s called Threat Protection Lite. The only difference is that it can’t protect you from malicious downloads on those devices.

Threat Protection is included in all NordVPN plans, which are cheap if you get a long-term subscription. All plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you encounter any issues with this VPN service, you can reach the support team 24/7 through live chat.

Besides NordVPN’s good ad blocker, you also get great security: bank-grade encryption, secure protocols, and a kill switch. NordVPN also has a twice-audited no-logs policy, RAM-only servers, split-tunneling, and obfuscation. Other perks include a large server network, very fast speeds, and excellent P2P and streaming support.

2. Surfshark – Block Ads on Unlimited Devices

Advertisement type	Blocking
Media Site Ads	✅ (Yes)
YouTube Ads	❌ (No)
Malicious Websites	✅ (Yes)

Surfshark’s CleanWeb ad blocker is very reliable. It blocked all ads in our tests. Media sites like Forbes loaded faster thanks to CleanWeb.

CleanWeb works on all platforms – Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and more. It’s easy to use.

Surfshark VPN includes CleanWeb in all plans. Long-term subscriptions are very cheap and come with a 30-day refund. For a small upgrade, you get extra protection against identity theft and malware. Surfshark also offers 24/7 live chat support.

Surfshark offers more than just ad blocking. You get strong encryption, protocols, and a no-logs policy. It also has a kill switch, obfuscation, and split-tunneling. Its server network is large, speeds are fast, and it supports P2P and streaming well.

3. Private Internet Access – Secure Ad Block VPN with Excellent Privacy

Advertisement type	Blocking
Media Site Ads	✅ (Yes)
YouTube Ads	❌ (No)
Malicious Websites	✅ (Yes)

PIA MACE, Private Internet Access’s ad blocker, worked well in our tests. It blocked most ads but had trouble with pop-ups on Can You Block It?. It also blocked other ads and harmful websites. But, it sometimes labeled safe sites as unsafe.

PIA MACE is easy to use and works on many devices. You can use it on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Fire OS. Android and Android TV users need to download the APK from PIA’s site, not the Google Play app.

PIA MACE is free with all plans, and PIA’s prices are very low. You get a 30-day money-back guarantee and 24/7 live chat support. PIA also offers fast speeds, great streaming, and P2P support. It has a kill switch, strong encryption, and secure protocols. Plus, it’s very private, with a no-logs policy proven in court. It also has obfuscation, split-tunneling, and RAM-only servers.

4. Perfect Privacy – Good VPN Ad Blocker for Advanced Users

Advertisement type	Blocking
Media Site Ads	✅ (Yes)
YouTube Ads	❌ (No)
Malicious Websites	✅ (Yes)

Perfect Privacy’s ad blocker, TrackStop, did well in our tests. It blocked ad trackers and stopped ads from loading on websites. It also blocked traffic to unsecured sites. But, it couldn’t block YouTube ads.

TrackStop is easy to use, but you need to set it up in your account’s dashboard. It offers many customization options. Besides blocking ads, it can also block:

• Sites that host fake news.
• Sites that are inappropriate for kids.
• All Facebook domains.
• All social media sites.

Perfect Privacy’s ad blocker can even block all Google domains – YouTube, Google Search, Gmail, etc. But, we don’t see why you would use this option.

TrackStop is included in all Perfect Privacy Plans, but they are not cheap. Also, Perfect Privacy only has a 7-day money-back guarantee and email support.

Perfect Privacy offers great security features. It has a no-logs policy, uses powerful encryption and secure protocols, and a very customizable kill switch. But, this VPN service is more suited for advanced VPN users because the user interface isn’t that beginner-friendly.

Also, Perfect Privacy lets you configure advanced security settings – like setting up a multi-chain connection with up to four hops. It also has great P2P support but doesn’t work with streaming sites.

5. Atlas VPN – Good & Cheap Ad and Tracker Blocker

Advertisement type	Blocking
Media Site Ads	✅ (Yes)
YouTube Ads	❌ (No)
Malicious Websites	✅ (Yes)

Atlas VPN has a great ad blocker called Tracker Blocker. It removes most ads and keeps you safe from harmful websites. But, it can’t block YouTube ads. Yet, it’s excellent at stopping trackers, giving you top privacy.

Tracker Blocker is simple to use. It’s available on iOS, Android, and Windows apps.

The free plan doesn’t include Tracker Blocker. But, Atlas VPN has very affordable plans. You can even share the cost with friends and family since it works on unlimited devices.

All plans come with Tracker Blocker. They’re backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. Paid plans offer live chat support, and there’s also great email support. AtlasVPN also has strong encryption and a strict no-logs policy. Plus, it monitors data breaches to keep your data safe.

6. Windscribe – Highly Customizable VPN Ad Blocker & Free Plan

Advertisement type	Blocking
Media Site Ads	✅ (Yes)
YouTube Ads	❌ (No)
Malicious Websites	✅ (Yes)

Windscribe’s R.O.B.E.R.T. ad blocker performed well in our tests. It prevented ad tracking and blocked all ads on media outlets. Windscribe also kept us safe from malicious sites, but it failed to block YouTube ads.

R.O.B.E.R.T. is easy to use, but you don’t enable/disable it inside the app. Instead, you do it in your account’s dashboard. We were really impressed by how customizable this VPN ad blocker is. On top of blocking ads and malicious content, it can also block:

• Social media networks and their trackers.
• Pornographic content.
• Fake news and clickbait.
• Gambling sites.
• Ads and trackers from other VPNs.
• Cryptominers.

And you can even configure R.O.B.E.R.T. to blacklist or whitelist specific website domains or IPs. Windscribe’s ad blocker works on all apps except the browser extensions.

Windscribe has a free plan and paid plans. You can use R.O.B.E.R.T. with the free plan on all devices, but it only blocks ads and malware. To get full functionality, you’ll have to upgrade to the paid plan. Windsribe’s paid plans are cheap, and the VPN even lets you build your own plan. But, unlike most VPN services that have 30-day refunds, Windscribe only offers a 3-day money-back guarantee. In terms of support, you can only talk with the reps over email.

Besides that, Windscribe also offers excellent security. You get a kill switch, powerful encryption and protocols, and a no-logs policy. There’s also obfuscation, split-tunneling, and timezone and GPS spoofing. Windscribe can even offer limited protection against browser fingerprinting. It also has good P2P support and unblocks Netflix US.

How to Pick a Good VPN with Ad Blocking

These are the metrics we used to rank the VPNs that can prevent ads in this article:

• Block most ads – VPN ad blockers can’t block 100% of the ads, but a good one will stop you from seeing the most annoying ads.
• Block malicious websites – a VPN ad blocker should stop connections to malicious and unsecured sites to protect you from malware and phishing.
• Work on most platforms – the feature should work on most major platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. Only blocking ads on one or two platforms doesn’t offer enough flexibility.
• They are easy to use – a simple on/off switch is all that’s needed. You shouldn’t need to follow step-by-step tutorials to learn how to use the ad blocker.
• Don’t cost extra – an ad blocker should be included in a VPN service from any provider.

How We Tested the VPN Ad Blockers

We tested VPN ad blockers in many ways. We used tools like:

• Ad Blocker Test
• AdBlock Tester
• Can You Block It?
• Ads-blocker.com

We also tested them manually. We checked if they blocked ads on:

• YouTube ads
• Media site ads
• Malicious sites

We visited many ad-heavy sites and watched YouTube videos. We also tried to access unsafe HTTP sites.

Is CyberGhost VPN’s Ad Blocker Good?

CyberGhost VPN’s ad blocker works sometimes. It passed online tests but still showed ads on media sites. It can’t block YouTube ads. But, it does block malicious websites.

We suggest using NordVPN instead. Its Threat Protection blocks most ads and malicious sites. It also blocks YouTube ads. But, it can’t block overlay ads.

Is It Enough to Only Use a VPN AdBlocker?

VPN ad blockers are good but not enough. You might still see ads, especially on YouTube. VPNs focus on unblocking content and encrypting data, not just ad blocking.

To block all ads, use uBlock Origin with your VPN. uBlock Origin is a free ad and script blocker. It blocks all YouTube ads and prevents WebRTC leaks, which many VPNs don’t protect against.

For extra safety, try uMatrix. It blocks ads and malicious scripts. But, it can make some websites hard to use.

uMatrix and uBlock Origin are free and work with most browsers.

How to Use a VPN for Ad Blocking

1. Sign up for a VPN that has an ad blocker (recommended NordVPN)

Can VPN Ad Blockers Protect You Against Browser Fingerprinting?

No, VPN ad blockers can’t stop browser fingerprinting. They block ads, malicious sites, and trackers. But, they don’t protect against browser fingerprinting because they only hide your IP address.

Browser fingerprinting collects more data like device type and OS. It also tracks your timezone and screen size.

Windscribe is the only VPN that offers some protection against browser fingerprinting. Its Split-Personality feature changes your user agent to make you less noticeable. It also spoofs your timezone to prevent sites from figuring out where you are. But, that’s all it does.

To make browser fingerprinting less effective, you can use Tor. It hides your IP and encrypts your traffic. All Tor users have the same browser fingerprint. But, you need to use Tor over a VPN to avoid IP leaks. Remember, using Tor can slow down your internet a lot – up to 80-90%.

There are other ways to prevent browser fingerprinting. You can use a virtual machine, different browsers for each activity, and even burner phones and laptops. But, the only sure way to avoid it is to not use the Internet at all.

Don’t worry too much about browser fingerprinting. If your VPN ad blocker blocks ads and malware, it’s good. What’s important is that it makes your online experience better and keeps you safe.

FAQs

Here are some common questions about VPN ad blockers and more. If you have more questions, please leave a comment.

Do VPNs Block Ads?

Yes, VPNs can block ads with ad-blocking features. You can turn on ad blocking in the app or account dashboard. They also block malicious websites.

But not all VPNs work well for ad blocking. NordVPN has the best ad blocker. It blocks annoying ads on websites and some YouTube ads. Surfshark VPN and Atlas VPN also have great ad-blocking features.

Does an Ad Blocker VPN Get Rid of Pop-Up Ads?

Yes, VPN ad blockers can block pop-ups. We tested the VPNs on this list and never saw annoying ads on media sites. Private Internet Access had pop-ups on the Can You Block It? test, but not on other sites.

Does ExpressVPN Have an Ad Blocker?

No, ExpressVPN doesn’t have an ad blocker. It has Threat Manager to protect against malware-infected sites, but it can’t block ads.

If you want a VPN that blocks ads and shady sites, try NordVPN. It’s as secure, fast, and easy to use as ExpressVPN. But, it also has an ad blocker that blocks website ads, some YouTube ads, and malware-infected sites. Its ad blocker also protects against malicious files.

Does IPVanish Offer Ad Blocking? 

No, IPVanish doesn’t have an ad blocker. We recommend using Surfshark instead. It has a good VPN ad blocker, it’s faster and more secure than IPVanish, and it allows unlimited simultaneous connections, just like IPVanish.

Does an Ad Blocker VPN Get Rid of YouTube Ads?

Most VPN ad blockers can’t block YouTube ads. Only NordVPN worked in our tests, but it didn’t block all ads. We still saw some ads.

To block all YouTube ads, use uBlock Origin with your VPN. We tested it with 20+ videos and saw no ads.

Can VPNs Block Ads and Trackers on iOS and Android Devices?

Yes, most ad blocker VPNs protect mobile devices from ads and trackers. NordVPN’s Threat Protection Lite feature blocked almost all ads in our tests.

But, some VPNs won’t work on Android if you get them from the app store. For example, Private Internet Access’ ad blocker needs manual APK installation.

Are There Free Ad Blocker VPNs?

Yes, there are free ad blocker VPNs, but most are paid. Windsribe’s free plan has R.O.B.E.R.T, which blocks most ads and trackers.

Still, we recommend a paid ad blocker VPN for more features. Windscribe’s paid plans offer full R.O.B.E.R.T access. NordVPN’s paid plans include Threat Protection, which blocks malicious files too.

Do All VPNs Have Built-in Ad Blockers?

Most top ad block VPNs have built-in ad blockers in their apps. But, some VPNs have good ad blockers that you can’t access in-app. Windscribe and Perfect Privacy require changing settings on their websites.

How Does an Ad Block VPN Work?

Most VPNs use DNS servers to block ads. They redirect DNS requests to advertisers’ servers. This stops ads from showing in your browser.

VPNs also block ads by redirecting trackers to invalid IPs. For example, they might send requests to “localhost” or 0.0.0.0. This shows a message saying the website is not reachable.

VPNs also block malicious websites and trackers with third-party blocklists. They blacklist malicious and advertiser IPs. The providers pay for these lists to keep them updated.

How Do Ads Track You?

Ads use tracking cookies, pixels, browser fingerprinting, URL trackers, and IP addresses to track you. They monitor your online behavior to show targeted ads.

VPN ad blockers can protect you from most tracking methods, but not browser fingerprinting. To block most tracking methods, use uBlock Origin and uMatrix too.

Is It Legal to Block Ads with a VPN?

Yes, it’s perfectly legal to use a VPN to get rid of ads. But, some websites might block you if you block their ads.

In most places, using a VPN for illegal activities is against the law. In countries where VPNs are banned, using one can lead to legal trouble. Always check your local laws to ensure it’s safe to use a VPN.