“iPhones don’t have ads like Androids do” – you’ve probably heard this line before. While that might seem true at first glance, as they don’t come with annoying pre-installed apps or cluttered interfaces, it doesn’t tell the whole story.
Ads on iPhones are definitely a thing. You’ll spot them in Safari, pop up in free games, sneak into news apps, and even get mixed into third-party tools. Sometimes, they even show up in system-level suggestions. They’re just a bit more subtle. And with Apple’s closed ecosystem, blocking them can be tricky, but it’s not impossible.
Let’s return your iPhone to what it does best: being fast, private, and distraction-free.
How to Quickly Block Ads on iPhone (The Easiest Way)
If you’re looking to get rid of ads in Safari without diving into DNS settings or fiddling with filters, we’ve got a super simple solution for you:
- Head over to the App Store and download Total Adblock.
- Launch the app and set up your account (just your email and a password).
- Pick a plan to kickstart ad blocking
- Navigate to Settings > Safari > Extensions.
- Flip on all the Total Adblock switches to start blocking content.
And that’s all there is to it! You should see ads, trackers, and annoying pop-ups vanish in no time. No need for jailbreaking, sideloading, or any shady tricks.
Pro tip: Inside the app, you can also tweak filter lists to block social media buttons, analytics, or anything else that clutters your browsing experience.
Best Ways to Block Ads on iPhone Without Jailbreak
While Apple doesn’t give you the same level of control over ad blocking as Android, you definitely don’t have to put up with annoying ads. Some solid options are available if you’re fed up with those pesky banners in Safari, pop-ups in your games, or trackers lurking everywhere online. And you won’t need to jailbreak your phone to use them.
Depending on how thorough you want to be, here are the three best methods for blocking ads on your iPhone in 2025.
1. Block Ads in Safari Using Content Blockers
Safari is the only browser on iOS that fully supports ad-blocking through content blocker extensions. These handy tools work by stopping ad scripts and trackers before they even load, which means you get a smoother browsing experience, less clutter, and better privacy.
You’ll need to download a content-blocker app from the App Store to get started. Here are a few recommendations:
- Total Adblock: Perfect for beginners, featuring a simple setup and several pre-made filter lists.
- AdGuard: An advanced ad blocker with comprehensive filters that block everything.
- 1Blocker: A bit more advanced, offering deep customization if you want to block specific elements or websites.
- Wipr 2: A lightweight, straightforward blocker that just gets the job done.
After you’ve installed your chosen app, head over to Settings > Safari > Extensions (or Content Blockers) and turn everything on. You can also explore the app to tweak the filters if you want more control (this is optional but helpful).
Remember that Safari ad blockers won’t stop ads in apps or other browsers, but they will significantly clean up your web browsing experience.
2. Block Ads Across All Apps Using DNS Filtering
DNS filtering is the way to go if you’re looking to block ads, not just in Safari but also in games, apps, and third-party browsers. This technique stops ads right at the network level, preventing them from ever reaching your phone. No need for rooting, jailbreaking, or dealing with sketchy configuration profiles.
To get started, you can use apps like:
- AdGuard for iOS: This DNS-level blocker works seamlessly within Apple’s restrictions.
- NextDNS: A more advanced option that lets you customize settings, complete with real-time analytics and blocklists.
- Control D: Another solid choice if you’re after more privacy-focused filtering.
Setting it up is quick and easy: open the app, turn on DNS filtering, and choose the DNS server or filter lists you prefer. Once that’s done, ad domains are effectively blackholed before they can even load, meaning most ads in free apps, games, and even some streaming services get filtered out automatically.
Remember that this method won’t eliminate ads embedded in the user interface (like those on YouTube), but it does a fantastic job for everything else and won’t interfere with your VPN like app-based blockers sometimes do.
3. Use an Ad-Blocking Browser Instead of Safari
Switching to an ad-blocking browser can be a quick and effective fix if you’re not tied to Safari and are open to trying a different browser for your casual browsing or YouTube sessions.
Brave Browser
Brave Browser is a fantastic option. It comes with built-in ad blocking and tracker protection and even removes those pesky YouTube ads when you watch videos in the browser. Plus, it offers advanced features like fingerprinting protection and private search.
DuckDuckGo Browser
Another solid choice is DuckDuckGo Browser. It’s lightweight, minimalist, and all about privacy. It blocks trackers, clears your history when you close it, and helps keep data collection minimal.
Firefox Focus
If you prefer a speedy, no-frills experience, Firefox Focus is perfect. It’s a clean browser that wipes out ads and data as soon as you exit.
These browsers don’t depend on Apple’s Safari extension system, which gives them the upper hand in blocking unwanted content. While you might miss out on syncing everything with iCloud Keychain or Safari’s reading list, if you’re just browsing news, shopping, or watching videos, they’ll provide you with a cleaner, ad-free experience right from the start.
Extra iPhone Privacy Settings to Cut Down Distractions and Tracking
Not every annoyance you encounter on your iPhone is an ad. Some are just distractions, while others feel too much like your phone keeps tabs on you. While these features won’t completely block ads, it’s a good idea to turn them off if you’re after a cleaner and more private experience.
Use Safari’s Distraction Control to Hide On-Page Clutter (iOS 18+)
With iOS 18, Apple introduced a handy little feature called Distraction Control in Safari. This tool allows you to hide annoying elements on a webpage manually. Think pop-ups, sticky banners, fake download buttons, and those pesky auto-playing sidebars.
Here’s how to use it:
- Open Safari and navigate to a website.
- Tap the “aA” icon on the address bar’s left side.
- Choose “Hide Distracting Items”.
- Select any elements you want to disappear from the page.
- Hit Done.
Remember, this isn’t a permanent fix (refreshing the page will bring everything back), but it’s a game-changer for enjoying articles or browsing in peace.
Turn Off Personalised Ads on Your iPhone
Want to turn off personalized ads on your iPhone? Here’s how! While Apple still shows ads in places like the App Store and News, keeping Personalized Ads on means they’ll use your App Store activity, reading habits, and other data to tailor those ads just for you. If you’d prefer to opt out of that:
- Head over to Settings > Privacy & Security > Apple Advertising
- Toggle off Personalized Ads
You’ll still see ads, but they’ll be more random instead of based on your behavior. This simple tweak can make your iPhone feel a bit less intrusive.
Disable Location-Based Ads and Tracking Services
If you want to disable location-based ads and tracking services, Apple might use your general location to show you localized ads and suggestions. It’s a subtle thing, but if you want to cut off location tracking completely:
- Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services
- Scroll down and tap on System Services
- Look for Location-Based Apple Ads and turn it off
While you’re at it, you might want to switch off Location-Based Suggestions and Product Improvement services too. They’re not directly tied to ads, but they do give Apple extra data that you probably don’t need to share.
How to Block In-Game Ads on iOS
If you’ve ever found yourself rage-quitting a game after enduring the same 30-second ad five times in a single level, trust me, you’re definitely not alone. In-game ads have become a common nuisance, especially in free-to-play games. And let’s be honest, Apple doesn’t exactly make it easy to block these ads at a system level.
But don’t worry! There are a few tricks you can try to either tone them down or get rid of them altogether.
1. Turn Off Wi-Fi or Mobile Data While Playing
This is the simplest and most effective method for offline games. Most in-game ads need an internet connection to load, so cutting off your data means no ads. Easy peasy.
- Just swipe down to access the Control Center and switch on Airplane Mode, or
- Head to Settings > Cellular and turn off data for that specific game.
You’ll still be able to play (as long as the game doesn’t require constant internet), and you won’t have to deal with any annoying pop-ups or video ads.
2. Use a DNS-Based Ad Blocker (Limited)
Tools like AdGuard DNS or NextDNS can help block some ad servers used by mobile games, but it can be hit or miss. Some games have ads hard-coded into their content or use domains that can’t be filtered out via DNS.
Still, it’s worth a try, and it might help block some of the lighter banner or interstitial ads.
3. Try a Firewall App
iOS doesn’t allow full firewall-level blocking like Android does, but apps like 1Blocker offer limited domain filtering features. You can attempt to add known ad domains to blocklists, though this won’t work for every game and won’t stop all video ads.
4. Look for Paid Versions or Remove Ads IAP
I get it. Nobody wants to shell out cash for a game they downloaded for free. But some games offer a one-time “Remove Ads” in-app purchase that’s worth it if you play regularly. No more shady pop-ups. No data collection. Just smooth, uninterrupted gameplay.
While there’s no perfect, one-size-fits-all solution for eliminating all in-game ads on iOS, these options can help reduce the worst offenders, especially for offline games. And if you combine one of these methods with DNS filtering or a solid Safari blocker, your phone will feel like a much more ad-free zone!
Why You Should Block Ads on Your iPhone
If you think ad blocking is just about convenience, think again. Ads do more than interrupt your doomscrolling sessions. They slow things down, eat up your data, and track more than expected. And yes, this still applies even if you’re using an iPhone.
Apple likes to market itself as the privacy-first company (and compared to Google, that’s fair). But “privacy-focused” doesn’t mean ad-free. You still see banner ads in Safari, video ads in free games, and personalized product placements in Apple’s apps. And those ads? They come packed with trackers.
Here’s why blocking them is crucial:
Faster Browsing and App Performance
Ads can load images, scripts, videos, and trackers. When you block them, you’ll notice pages load faster, games run smoother, and fewer crashes from overloaded memory.
Less Data Usage
If you’re on a limited data plan, ad-heavy pages can quickly consume your bandwidth. Blocking them saves you MBs (and maybe even your sanity).
Better Battery Life
Fewer scripts running in the background means less strain on your processor, which translates to more battery life for the things you actually care about.
More Privacy, Less Creeping
Many ads are just trackers in disguise. They follow your behavior across websites and apps, building a profile of you. By blocking ads, you reduce the number of third parties peeking into your digital life.
Cleaner User Experience
There will be no popups, auto-playing videos, or “accidentally” tapping a banner instead of a button. Your iPhone will start to feel like your phone again.
Blocking ads helps you reclaim control. If you’ve never tried it before, you’ll be amazed at how much faster, cleaner, and more private your iPhone feels without all the clutter.
A Quick Comparison Between the Top 5 Best Ad Blockers for iOS
| Ad Blocker | Adblock Tester Score | Starting Price | Where it Works | Why it’s the best? |
| Total Adblock | 100 | $19.99/year | Chrome, Android & iOS | Easy setup, one-click |
| NordVPN | 91 | $71.88/year or $12.99/month | Everywhere | Streaming ads and privacy |
| Surfshark Cleanweb | 98 | $47.85/year + 3 months | Everywhere | Best VPN ad blocker bundle |
| AdGuard | 100 | $39.99/year | Everywhere | Blocks everything |
| 1Blocker | 100 | $14.99/year or $2.99/month | iOS, iPadOS & macOS | Integrates with Apple ecosystem |
To learn more about each of these ad blockers, read the full article Best Ad Blockers for iPhone in 2025.
Wrapping Up
Ads on iPhones might not be as in-your-face as on Android devices, but trust me, they’re still lurking, gobbling up your data, slowing down your phone, and tracking way more than they should. But you don’t have to let them do that.
This guide should help you make your phone work for you instead of the advertisers. You don’t need to jailbreak your phone or make things overly complicated. Just choose the method that feels right for you and reclaim a bit more control over how your iPhone operates.