Been looking for the best ad blocker to use in 2025? Total Adblock will probably appear in your results unless your search page is filled with ads. Total Adblocker is a hit because it’s ridiculously simple to use. One-click install and boom, no more ads.
While it gets admirable scores on Adblock Tester’s benchmark, how well does it really work in real-world browsing? Is it safe? Is it free? Can it block everything, or will some slip through? We’ve tested it extensively, read through user reviews and put it through its paces so you don’t have to.
Quick Overview
| 🌟 Feature | ✨ Details |
| ⭐ Rating | 100/100 |
| 💵 Price | $19.99/year |
| 🆓 Free Version | Available, with limited functionality |
| ▶️ YouTube Ads | All except Shorts |
| ⛔ Blocks Trackers | Yes |
| 💻Compatibility | Chrome, Edge, Safari, Android, iOS |
How did Total Adblock Score? – Adblock Tester Performance Results
Total Adblock secured a perfect 100 out of 100 score on Adblock Tester. We broke down the testing parameters and the highlights for you.
Testing Parameters
The test covers several areas of digital advertising and tracking:
- Contextual Advertising: These ads use user data to serve content. Adblock Tester checks if your ad blocker can stop them from loading.
- Analytics Tools: Google Analytics and Hotjar track user behaviour. If an ad blocker prevents these scripts from running, it helps protect user privacy by blocking data collection.
- Banner Ads: Found on some big sites, these can be hard to block when they’re deeply embedded in the page layout. The test checks for different types: Flash banners, GIFs and static image ads.
- Error Monitoring Services: Sentry and Bugsnag help developers track issues on their sites. While blocking them doesn’t break the site, the Adblock Tester checks if an ad blocker prevents them from running.
Key Result Highlights
- Perfectly. Total Adblock passed all 22 tests without breaking a sweat.
- Every ad, tracker, and background script AdBlock Tester threw at it got blocked.
In short: If it’s an ad, it’s gone. If it’s tracking you, it’s blocked. Total Adblock doesn’t mess around; it gives you an ad-free browsing experience right out of the box.
Pros and Cons
Pros
✔️ Blocks many ad types: video, banner, pop-up.
✔️ Blocks trackers and malicious scripts.
✔️ Easy to install and set up for beginners.
✔️ Offers domain whitelisting.
✔️ Premium has TotalAV antivirus.
✔️ 7 day free trial, no credit card required.
Cons
❌ The free version only allows ads on the top 15,000 websites.
❌ No advanced filter or user rules options.
Compatibility and Platform Availability
Total Adblock only works on Chrome-based browsers and Safari, so it does not support Firefox. Chrome recently received its manifest v3 update. However, there is no system-wide ad blocking for Windows and macOS; it is only browser-based.
Mobile users are better off. The ad blocker is available on both Android and iOS. iOS users can download it from the App Store, and Android users must download it from the Total Adblock website. It also supports system-wide adblocking on Android, making it one of the best Android ad blockers out there.
Where Can You Use Total Adblock?
| Platform | Availability |
| Chromium Extension | ✅ Yes |
| Firefox Add-On | ❌ No |
| Safari Extension | ✅ Yes |
| MV3 Compliance (Chrome) | ✅ Yes |
| Windows App (System-wide) | ❌ No |
| macOS App (System-wide) | ❌ No |
| Android App (System-wide) | ✅ Yes |
| iOS App (System-wide) | ✅ Yes |
Key Features That Sets Total Adblock Apart
Total Adblock is a part of the Total Security suite, and the same people are behind TotalAV, the award-winning antivirus. So yes, they know a thing or two about keeping ads and annoyances at bay. It doesn’t just block banners and pop ups and call it a day. It also blocks invisible trackers and other sneaky background scripts trying to eye your every move. Let’s have a lot at s what makes it special:
Blocks Trackers & Social Widgets
Total Adblock kills tracking scripts that follow you around the web. It blocks Google Analytics, Hotjar, and ad tracking pixels, so advertisers can’t build a profile on you. It also removes social media widgets (like Facebook’s “Like” buttons) that track your activity silently.
Fast Browsing
Fewer ads and trackers mean lighter web pages and faster load times. Without bloated scripts running in the background, websites load smoother and snappier, improving performance and speed.
Whitelist for Trusted Sites
While Total Adblock doesn’t have deep filtering options, it does have a whitelist (allow list). This allows you to enable ads on sites you want to support without digging into complex settings.
Built-in Malware & Phishing Protection
Coming from Total Security, Total Adblock also protects you from threats. It blocks malvertising, phishing sites, and scam pop-ups and protects you and your devices from hidden dangers.
Blocks Pop-ups, Notifications & Cookie Prompts
Total Adblock goes the extra mile by removing many other annoyances like pop-ups, notification requests, and those endless “Accept Cookies” banners that ruin your browsing. Less clutter, more focus.
Total Adblock Usability Score
We tested Total Adblock intensively outside of the benchmarks and real-world tests. We checked its UI, tried its custom support, looked into customisation features, and much more. Based on our testing, we gave it a usability score of 3.5 out of 5. Total Adblock does exceptionally well in some sections while embarrassingly falling behind in some other departments. The following is the descriptive part of the usability tests:
Quick & Simple Installation Process
Installing Total Adblock is super easy. You can either visit the website or find the extension in your browser’s add-on store. Once installed it will automatically redirect you to the setup page, where it’s just a couple of clicks to activate.
And the best part? No credit card required, you get a 7 day free trial automatically upon installation. The process is clean, fast and beginner friendly.
Just Set & Forget, Easy To Use
Once installed, Total Adblock is up and running. You don’t need to adjust anything. Just refresh your open tabs, and ads disappear.
The extension has a minimalist interface accessible from the toolbar. You can pause ad blocking, access settings or upgrade to premium in 3 clicks.
The settings panel has 2 toggles:
- Global ad blocking – On/Off all features.
- Mute notifications – Prevent browser notifications (off by default).
And there are additional menu items for:
- Allow List: Whitelist sites to show ads and notifications.
- Customize Blocking: Ad, privacy and annoyance filters.
- Language Options: No filter tweaking, just general settings.
By default, ad blocking, privacy protection and annoyance blocking are on. Social media tracking, cookie prompts and extra security features are off. You’ll need to manually turn them on for more privacy.
Total Adblock is very easy to use but that ease comes at the cost of customizability.
Very Limited Customizability Options
If you like to tweak your adblocker, Total Adblock might not be for you. It doesn’t have user accessible filter lists, custom filters or manual element blocking.
You can’t create custom rules using HTML/CSS or block specific elements by right-clicking on them. The settings page is bare bones with only basic toggles and no filter management.
Pricing, Free Tier & Total Adblock Pro
Total Adblock does a great job at blocking ads, but is it worth paying for the premium version? Let’s break down what you get with Total Adblock Pro, what the free version looks like and whether the pricing makes sense.
What Do You Get with Total Adblock Pro?
Total Adblock’s premium plan, Total Adblock Pro, unlocks all features and is a true ad-free browsing experience. Here’s what you’re paying for:
- Unlimited Ad Blocking: The free version has limitations but the Pro plan blocks ads on all websites without exceptions.
- YouTube Ad Blocking: YouTube ads are only blocked in the premium plan. The free version lets ads through on the platform.
- PC Tune-Up Tools: A handy system optimisation tool to free up disk space and boost performance.
- TotalAV Antivirus: Comes with TotalAV, an award-winning antivirus software from Total Security.
How Much Does Total Adblock Cost?
- First Year Discount: $19/year ($1.59/month)
- Renewal Price: $99/year ($8.25/month)
The first-year discount is cheap, but the renewal price is way higher. That’s something to consider before subscribing long-term.
On the bright side, Total Adblock has a 60-day money-back guarantee, twice as long as most ad blockers that cap it at 30 days.
What About the Free Version?
Total Adblock does offer a 7-day free trial, which activates automatically when you install the extension. No credit card required. But during our testing, we couldn’t get the free trial to work on mobile devices, so mobile users may need to subscribe right away to get premium features.
But what happens after the free trial ends?
The free version of Total Adblock does not perform as well as the paid plan as it disables ad blocking on the top 15,000 websites, which includes:
- YouTube
- Popular social media sites like X and Facebook
- Top news websites
In other words, most you won’t get much out of the free version because it leaves ads on the sites you visit the most.
So, Is Total Adblock Worth It?
If you want a easy, ad-free experience, then Total Adblock Pro is worth it. At least for the first year. The discounted price is cheaper than many competitors, and the YouTube ad blocking + TotalAV antivirus bundle adds extra value.
If you’re looking for a free ad blocker, this isn’t the one. The free version is too limited to be useful, and once the trial expires, all major sites will show ads.
Customer Support
You can access Total Adblock’s support from the extension’s settings page which redirects you to their help centre. The support options are heavily focused on billing rather than technical support.
- Email & phone support: Available for billing only.
- No live chat: Users looking for real-time help are out of luck.
Many users on Reddit have reported issues with cancelling subscriptions despite following the instructions. While the help centre has detailed guides, resolving issues may still require contacting support directly.
Is Total Adblock Safe?
Yes, Total Adblock is a completely safe ad-blocking tool from Total Security, the company that brought you award-winning TotalAV antivirus software. It’s designed with your privacy and safety in mind, so no data is collected or shared without your consent. Unlike other ad blockers, Total Adblock doesn’t sell your data or inject “safe ads” into web pages.
From a technical standpoint, Total Adblock uses advanced filtering to block annoying ads, trackers and malicious scripts. Its integration with TotalAV also gives you real-time protection against phishing sites, malware and other online threats. So it’s more than just an ad blocker. It’s a privacy tool, too.
Total Adblock also uses regularly updated filter lists to stay effective against the latest ad tech and tracking methods. It’s HTTPS compatible, so it won’t interfere with encrypted websites. With its user-friendly design, Total Adblock is a safe choice for improving your online experience without compromising your security or privacy.
How Does Total Adblock Perform In Real World?
Our benchmark scores test your ad blocker for various background and foreground ads, as well as tracker elements. However, a perfect score on our platform means nothing if it can’t show it in real-world browsing scenarios.
Can Total Adblock Block YouTube Ads?
Total Adblock does a great job blocking YouTube ads, removing skippable and non-skippable in-stream ads, in-feed video ads, bumper ads and masthead ads on the homepage. While watching long-form content we didn’t get any interruptions.
However YouTube Shorts is an issue, most ads were blocked but we still saw a couple of product ads after watching about 25 Shorts. These weren’t tied to any channels but appeared in the feed, so Total Adblock couldn’t block ads from Shorts.
For a smoother experience users looking for a dedicated YouTube ad blocker may need additional tools.
Can It Block Ads on News Sites?
Total Adblock did exceptionally well on major news sites like Forbes and The New York Times.
On Forbes we usually see big banner ads on the homepage, floating video ads and mid-article ad placements. With Total Adblock enabled, none of these appeared. It also blocked notification requests and newsletter pop-ups. However, after reading a few articles we encountered a soft paywall, something Total Adblock couldn’t bypass.
Similarly, The New York Times has animated banner ads and interstitial ads that pop up between articles. Total Adblock blocked all of them, but like Forbes, it couldn’t remove the soft paywall that appears after you consume multiple free articles.
To avoid paywalls, you’ll need additional tools as Total Adblock focuses on blocking ads and trackers, not content restrictions.
Can It Block Sponsored Posts on Social Media?
Social media platforms are notorious for blending ads into their feeds. We tested Reddit, X (formerly Twitter) and Twitch to see how Total Adblock handled promoted content.
On Reddit promoted posts that appear in the feed were completely blocked. These ads often look like regular posts so hard to distinguish, but Total Adblock removed them.
On X (Twitter), we found zero promoted posts while scrolling through the homepage. This is impressive, considering X’s aggressive push for sponsored content.
For Twitch, Total Adblock removed self-promotional banners like subscription discount ads and sign-up banners. However, it can’t block sponsorship placements within creator content; that’s expected, as these are embedded in the video streams, not injected as ads. However, a manual element blocker would have been nice for cases like this.
Can It Block Pop-Ups on Shopping Sites?
Many e-commerce sites spam users with discount pop-ups, newsletter sign-ups and special offer notifications. We tested AliExpress, Shein, and Crocs. These sites are known for their aggressive pop-ups and Total Adblock blocked all of them.
We browsed the homepage and product pages without seeing discount overlays, exit-intent pop-ups or cart reminders. So, if you want frictionless online shopping where you can browse without constantly dismissing interruptions Total Adblock is a great choice.
Top Alternatives to Total Adblock
How Does Total Adblock Stack Up Against the Competition?
All ad blockers aren’t created equal. Some are packed with features, while others keep things simple. So, how does Total Adblock compare to AdGuard, Ghostery, and Adblock Plus? Let’s break it down.
AdGuard vs. Total Adblock: Features vs. Simplicity
Both Total Adblock and AdGuard score perfectly on Adblock Tester, meaning they pass all 22 tests. But that’s where the similarities end.
AdGuard is the feature powerhouse. It has deep customization, system-wide ad blocking and broader compatibility—including Firefox and Safari, which Total Adblock doesn’t support.
Total Adblock is all about simplicity. It’s a one-click install, set-it-and-forget-it ad blocker, perfect for those who don’t want to tweak endless settings.
Pricing? Total Adblock wins. It’s cheaper than AdGuard.
Security? Total Adblock has the edge here too. It’s bundled with TotalAV so it has built-in malware and phishing protection—AdGuard doesn’t. Even as a standalone product Total Adblock blocks malicious ads and phishing sites to keep you safe.
In short: If you want more control AdGuard is the better choice. But if you prefer a hassle-free experience with built-in security at a lower price Total Adblock wins.
Ghostery vs. Total Adblock: Privacy vs. Performance
Ghostery talks the big talk about user privacy and it shows. It has an open-source database of trackers maintained by the community, making it one of the best for privacy obsessed users.
But when we ran both through Cover Your Tracks, a site that tests how well ad blockers handle invisible tracking Total Adblock came out on top.
Ghostery is great at blocking trackers but not always at blocking all ads.
Total Adblock balances both. It blocks ads, trackers and malware risks without needing to tweak settings.In short: If ad blocking plus security is your priority Total Adblock is the way to go. But if you’re more concerned about privacy-first browsing and open-source transparency, Ghostery is worth a look.
Adblock Plus vs. Total Adblock: Ads are “Unacceptable”
If you’ve ever wondered why some ads still show up while using Adblock Plus (ABP), that’s because it allows “acceptable ads” by default.
ABP participates in the Acceptable Ads program so certain ads still get through unless you manually disable the setting.
Total Adblock doesn’t play that game. It blocks everything. No exceptions, no “acceptable” loopholes.
Both are free and easy to use but Total Adblock is more aggressive at blocking all ads, trackers and pop-ups making it the better choice for an ad-free experience.
Final Verdict
Total Adblock does what it says on the tin. It blocks ads, trackers and online annoyances with zero effort. It’s a set-it-and-forget-it tool for users who just want an ad free browsing experience without tweaking endless settings.
It acbrates perfectly in tests, but more importantly it works well in real world browsing, blocks YouTube ads (except Shorts), social media sponsored posts and pop-ups on shopping sites.
Who Should Use Total Adblock?
If simplicity, ease of use and built in security are your top priorities Total Adblock is a good choice.
Who Might Look Elsewhere?
But it’s not for power users. If you want advanced filter customization, deeper browser support or system wide blocking on desktops, you’ll find more with AdGuard or other alternatives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Total Adblock work with incognito/private browsing?
Yes, but you need to enable it manually in the browser’s extension settings. Most browsers disable extensions in incognito mode by default so you’ll need to allow it.
Can I use Total Adblock with my antivirus?
Total Adblock is part of the Total Security suite which includes TotalAV antivirus. TotalAV comes in the bundle. However, if you’re using a different antivirus, there’s no compatibility issues.
Does Total Adblock block ads in mobile apps?
No, Total Adblock only works in browsers. It doesn’t block ads in mobile apps like Instagram, Facebook or Spotify. But on it does block many in-game ads on Android only. If you need system wide ad blocking on mobile and PC, you’ll need an app like AdGuard or a DNS based blocker.
Can Total Adblock remove YouTube ads?
Not entirely. It blocks standard YouTube ads but some YouTube Shorts ads still appear in the feed. If blocking Shorts ads is a deal breaker, you might want to consider a dedicated YouTube ad blocker.