The number of streaming platforms are on the rise these days. And almost every social media platform lets you share videos now. And inclusion of video content allows these platforms to monetise with video ads.
Stands Ad Blocker aims to rid of you ads on social media and streaming platforms like Facebook and YouTube. It was previously known as Fair Adblocker and similar to Adblock Plus it has an acceptable ads programme, which is known ads “fair ads”. Now, does Stands Ad Blocker live up to its promises or does it’s fair ads policy come in the way. We will be exploring that and more.
Quick Overview
| 🌟 Feature | ✨ Details |
| ⭐ Rating | 58/100 |
| 💵 Price | Free |
| 🆓 Free Version | Yes |
| ▶️ YouTube Ads | Yes |
| ⛔ Blocks Trackers | Yes |
| 💻Compatibility | Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge |
Overall Score
Alright, let’s get this out of the way. Stands Ad Blocker got a 58 out of 100 on Adblock Tester. It’s bad. There’s no excuse it for it, and we looked into the results, there’s no sugarcoating it either.
Testing Parameters
We put Stands AdBlocker to the test against the web’s sneakiest ads and trackers. Here’s what we checked:
- Contextual Ads: You know those ads that feel like they’re listening in on your conversations? They’re not magic. They’re contextual ads, using your browsing data to serve super personalised content. We tested whether Stands AdBlocker could block them before they even load, so your browsing is less creepy and more private.
- Analytics Tools: Tools like Google Analytics and Hotjar are the internet’s nosiest neighbors, watching everything you do, what you click, how long you stay, and even how you scroll. We tested whether Stands AdBlocker could block these tracking scripts, reducing unwanted data collection and keeping your activity private.
- Banner Ads: Banner ads are everywhere. Some are easy to ignore, others feel like they’re glued to your screen. We tested Stands AdBlocker against different types, including Flash banners, GIFs, and static image ads, to see how well it cleans up the mess.
- Error Monitoring Services: Tools like Sentry and Bugsnag aren’t ads, but they do track a ton of user behavior to help developers fix site bugs. While blocking them won’t break a website, it reduces background tracking. We tested whether Stands AdBlocker could prevent them from running, so you get an extra layer of privacy without interfering with usability.
Key Result Highlights
- Stands Ad Blocker for a 58 out 100.
- It did great in contextual advertising. That’s basically where all its scores came from.
- But it failed miserably in Banner advertising, as it did not block anything there.
- Analytics tools and error monitoring are used for background invisible tracking, and it failed to block them too.
To summarise, it’s okay for some surface level ads, but under that, it fails to block any of the invisible trackers. Moreover, it also fails to block some obvious banner ads.
Pros and Cons
Pros
✔️ Completely free, and no feature restrictions.
✔️ Blocks YouTube and Facebook ads
✔️ User-friendly interface
✔️ Allows manual element removal
✔️ Has a separate whitelist for pop-ups
✔️ Manifest V3 compliant
Cons
❌ Poor performance in Adblock Tester
❌ Fails to block banner ads, analytics tools, and background trackers.
❌ No system-wide protection
❌ Fair ads system is unclear
❌ No accessible filter lists
❌ No option to pause ad blocking
❌ Poor customer support
Compatibility and Platform Availability
Stands Ad Blocker is only for desktop web browsers. So it covers Google Chrome, Edge, Opera, Vivaldi, Firefox, Safari, and other Chromium based browsers. It is compatible with Chrome’s MV3 platform which is good for future support.
| Platform | Availability |
| Chromium Extension | ✔️ Yes |
| Firefox Add-On | ✔️ Yes |
| Safari Extension | ✔️ Yes |
| MV3 Compliance (Chrome) | ✔️ Yes |
| Windows App (System-wide) | ❌ No |
| macOS App (System-wide) | ❌ No |
| Android App (System-wide) | ❌ No |
| iOS App (System-wide) | ❌ No |
Stands does not work system-wide. There’s no mobile browser or VPN based app for either Android or iOS. Same for Windows and macOS. There’s no app, which means the browser extension is the only way.
Core Features of Stands Ad Blocker
Stands AdBlocker is a mix of standard and advanced features to give you control over your browsing experience. Right out of the box it blocks ads, trackers, pop-ups and adware, but also has unique customization options that set it apart.
Blocks Ads, Trackers & Adware by Default
From annoying pop-ups to third-party trackers and malicious adware, Stands makes sure you’re not bombarded with intrusive content. It works quietly in the background, making websites load faster and feel cleaner while keeping tracking scripts at bay.
Fair Ads
Stands takes a unique approach to fair advertising, allowing users to support ethical ads, but only if they choose to. While previously they disabled the fair ads by default, after a recent update we could not find the fair ads section. More on that in usability.
Facebook Ad Blocking
Most ad blockers struggle with Facebook ads, but Stands takes them down with ease. It can filter out ads and sponsored posts from your news feed, keeping your scrolling experience distraction-free. But you’ll need to enable this feature manually in the settings.
Search Ad Blocking
No more scrolling past sponsored links and search ads just to get to real results. Stands removes ads from Google, Bing and other search engines, giving you a cleaner search experience.
Webmail Ad Blocking
If you’re tired of text-based ads cluttering your email inbox, Stands can block them too. This works on popular email services, so your inbox will be ad free.
Customization & Stats
Stands lets you whitelist sites individually for ads and pop-ups, so you can allow one without the other. And the extension provides real-time stats with graphs showing exactly how many ads, trackers, pop-ups, and annoyances it has blocked for you.
Installation & Usability
When it comes to usability, Stands AdBlocker is simple and straightforward. But it also lacks a lot of customisation. It gets a usability score of 3 out 5 from our end.
Highlights
- Quick install; no account required, no setup.
- Default settings are good, ad blocking is enabled already.
- User friendly, minimal learning curve.
- Advanced features exist but require manual activation.
- No deep customization or custom filter lists.
Quick & Easy Installation
Installing Stands Ad Blocker pretty simple. We found it in the Chrome Web Store with no warnings or restrictions. If you prefer, you can also install it from the Stands website, but that just takes you to your browser’s extension store.
Once installed, it took us to a donation page which is optional, but worth doing if you want to support the project. That was the only extra step. No setup, no account required, just install and go.
Easy to Use – Clean & Simple UI
Stands gets high marks for user-friendliness. As soon as it’s installed, ad blocking is enabled by default. No need to mess with settings right away.
Here’s what you’ll see in the main extension interface:
- A toggle to whitelist the site you’re on
- A popup toggle
- An element blocker
We did notice one missing feature. There’s no toggle to pause ad blocking all together, which would have been nice. Moreover, previously there was a fair ads option with a slider. Which was absent in the latest update. Does that mean they got rid of the fair ads, or is it enabled by default? We can’t say for sure.
Digging into the settings, we found all the core blocking features. Ads, tracking, adware, and pop-ups were enabled by default. But some of the advanced features like Facebook ad blocking, search ad removal, webmail ad blocking needed to be turned on manually.
Also, Stands provides stats and graphs of ad blocking activity so you can see a visual breakdown of what’s being blocked.
Limited but Functional Customization
When it comes to customization, Stands is pretty basic. Unlike uBlock Origin or AdGuard, there are no filter lists or custom rules. But it does have element blocking, which is a rare feature for ad blockers that don’t support custom filters.
There are two separate whitelists. One for ads and one for pop-ups, so you can allow one without the other. This gives some flexibility in how strict or relaxed the blocking is on specific sites.
Pricing and Free Version
Yes, Stands AdBlocker is free and according to their website it will always be free. There are no premium plans, no paywalls, and no locked features. Whether you just want basic ad blocking or advanced options like Facebook and YouTube ad removal, you get everything for free.
Donation-Based Model
Stands doesn’t charge for its service but runs on donations. As soon as you install the extension you will be taken to a donation page. But contributing is optional.
You can choose to donate monthly, yearly or as a one time payment. If you skip the donation at installation you can always find the option later in the extension’s main page or on the Stands website.
Note: Donating won’t unlock additional features. Unlike some ad blockers that offer “premium” versions, your contribution supports the project, it won’t change how the ad blocker works.
How Does It Compare to Paid Ad Blockers?
For a free ad blocker Stands performs well, especially in areas where many free blockers struggle:
- Blocks ads on YouTube
- Removes Facebook ads & sponsored posts
- Gets rid of search ads on Google & Bing
But has some weak spots:
- Struggles with blocking scripts
- Inconsistent with pop-ups & notifications
Compared to Total Adblock, a paid ad blocker that offers system-wide filtering, advanced tracker blocking and better script handling, Stands doesn’t quite match up. But for a free browser extension it does a solid job where it counts.
Is Stands Adblocker Worth It?
If you’re looking for a free ad blocker that works for everyday browsing, Stands is a good option. But even though it’s a free ad blocker, there are many other free and open source alternatives that perform significantly better. So we do not think it’s worth considering.
Customer Support
If you run into problems with Stands AdBlocker, don’t expect any fast or reliable customer support. The only official support channel we could find was an email address. No live chat, no phone support, and not even a knowledge base to help with common issues.
We decided to test their email support by sending a few emails of our own. After more than 7 days, we heard nothing. No acknowledgement, no support ticket, nothing.
For a tool that’s community funded, we would have expected some kind of user support, but in its current state Stands falls short.
If you like quick support or a help center, Stands AdBlocker might not be for you. It’s an okay ad blocker, but if you ever run into a problem, you’re mostly on your own.
Why Does Stands Ad Blocker Stand Out in 2025?
Stands AdBlocker exists in a crowded space where ad blockers are constantly updating to fight back against increasingly aggressive online ads and tracking. So, does it bring anything new to the table in 2025? The answer is yes, but also no. It does a few things well but struggles to stand out in a market where uBlock Origin and AdGuard are leading the way.
Where Stands AdBlocker Excels
- It’s 100% Free with No Paywalls: Unlike Total Adblock or AdGuard which require a premium subscription for full features, Stands is completely free. There’s no premium tier, no feature restrictions and no forced acceptable ads program. They ask for donations but contributing doesn’t unlock extra functionality. It just supports the project.
- Good YouTube & Social Media Ad Blocking: Many ad blockers struggle with YouTube’s anti-ad-blocking measures but Stands still blocks all video and banner ads on YouTube. It also removes sponsored posts on Reddit, Facebook and X (Twitter) making it a good option for social media ad blocking.
- User Friendly with a Clean UI: Some ad blockers like uBlock Origin are powerful but overwhelming for non-techy users. Stands keeps things minimalist. Simple toggles for ad blocking, pop-ups and whitelisting make it easy for everyone to use.
- Fair Ads System: Stands used to have a “Fair Ads” system where users could support ethical ads on their own terms.
Where Stands AdBlocker Falls Short
- Poor Performance in Advanced Ad-Blocking Tests: In tests Stands scored 58/100. One of the lowest scores we have gotten so far. It failed to block many banner ads, invisible trackers & analytics scripts and pop-ups and paywalls on major news sites. Compared to uBlock Origin, AdGuard and Ghostery, Stands is behind the curve in tracker blocking and anti-script features.
- No System-Wide Protection: Unlike AdGuard or Total Adblock, Stands is just a browser extension. No Android or iOS support. No Windows or macOS apps. No VPN integration for extra security. If you want device-wide ad blocking, Stands doesn’t offer it.
- No Options for Power Users. Most ad blockers let you add custom filter lists, manually block specific trackers, and enable script blocking for extra privacy. However, Stands offers none of that. It has an element blocker but no customization options for power users.
- No Customer Support: With no live chat, no phone support and an email that never replies, Stands has no customer support. If you get stuck, you’re on your own.
Is Stands AdBlocker Safe?
Yes… kind of. Maybe.
Stands AdBlocker itself is safe. It doesn’t contain malware, doesn’t hijack your browser, and doesn’t sell your data (as far as we can tell). It works as an ad blocker and does its job without posing a direct security risk. But being a safe ad blocker doesn’t mean it’s great at keeping YOU safe.
Unlike some of the more privacy focused ad blockers like uBlock Origin or AdGuard, Stands doesn’t fully protect you from hidden trackers, analytics tools or more advanced data collection methods. So while it removes ads, it’s not necessarily stopping websites from gathering your data in other ways.
How Does Stands AdBlocker (Fail to) Keep You Safe?
- It Doesn’t Block Invisible Trackers
One of the biggest weaknesses of Stands is its failure to block background tracking scripts. Websites use trackers hidden in their code to monitor user activity, even if you never interact with an ad. These trackers:
- Build behavioral profiles based on your browsing habits
- Link your activity across different sites
- Sell your data to advertisers, data brokers and third parties
Stands AdBlocker doesn’t do enough to stop these trackers, so even though you won’t see ads, your data is still being collected in the background.
- Fails to Block Analytics and Data Collection Tools
Many websites use services like Google Analytics and Hotjar to track everything you do. From how long you stay on a page to where you click and scroll. These aren’t traditional ads, but they collect just as much, if not more, data about you.
Most privacy focused ad blockers block these tracking tools by default. Stands? Not so much. In our tests, it failed to block analytics scripts, so even though the ads were gone, the tracking remained.
Final Thoughts on Safety
So, is Stands AdBlocker safe?
- It’s safe to install and use.
- But, it’s not great at keeping your data safe.
If you just want ad blocking, it works. If you want protection, it doesn’t.
How Well Does Stands AdBlocker Work in Real-World Tests?
When it comes to real-world ad blocking, Stands AdBlocker is mixed bag. It rocks at social media and search engines but struggles with pop-ups, paywalls and embedded banners. Here’s how it performs across different types of websites.
Does Stands AdBlocker Block YouTube Ads?
Yes and it’s really good. With Manifest V3 causing issues for many adblockers, some have lost the ability to block YouTube ads fully. But Stands managed to block all YouTube ads, including:
- Pre-roll and mid-roll video ads
- Skippable and non-skippable ads
- Banner ads on the homepage and sidebars
YouTube Shorts ads
We tested multiple videos across different creators and scrolled through 25 YouTube Shorts. Not a single ad made it through. For a free ad blocker, that’s a win.
Does Stands AdBlocker Block News Website Ads?
It’s hit or miss on news sites. On sites like Forbes and The New York Times, Stands removed banner ads and floating video ads and cleaned up the reading experience.
But it failed to block pop-ups, including:
- Newsletter subscription prompts
- Soft paywalls after a limited number of free articles
- Browser notification requests
For ad-heavy news sites, Stands works well for surface-level ad removal but struggles with intrusive overlays and tracking elements.
Does Stands AdBlocker Block Search Engine Ads?
Yes. Search ads on Google and Bing were gone, which means, no more sponsored results at the top of searches and a cleaner distraction-free search experience. That’s a huge plus for those who want unbiased search results without paid placements taking up space.
Does Stands AdBlocker Block Social Media Ads?
Stands AdBlocker does a solid job blocking social media ads, especially on sites where ads look like regular posts.
- On Reddit, all promoted posts were removed, so no more sponsored content in your feed.
- On X (Twitter), sponsored tweets were blocked.
- On Facebook, ads and sponsored posts were filtered out (you need to enable this in settings).
- But on Twitch, Stands didn’t block self-promotion banners which show up below livestreams or at the bottom of the page.
Final Verdict
Stands AdBlocker is a meh. On one hand, it blocks YouTube ads perfectly, removes social media sponsored posts and is free with no paywalls. It’s also super easy to use so if you just want basic ad blocking without complicated settings it’s a decent option.
But on the other hand it fails in too many areas to be considered top tier. It scored poorly in our tests, failed to block banner ads, pop-ups, paywalls and invisible trackers. It also lacks deep customization, system-wide support and proper customer service. And with no explanation on whether its “Fair Ads” system is still active it leaves a lot of uncertainty on how ads are being handled behind the scenes.
Who Should Use Stands AdBlocker?
- If you only care about blocking YouTube and social media ads it does the job.
- If you want a free ad blocker that’s easy to install and use it works fine.
Who Should Skip It?
- If you want serious privacy protection uBlock Origin or AdGuard are better options.
- If you need a tracker blocking ad blocker this won’t keep your data safe.
- If you want system-wide ad blocking Stands isn’t available outside of browsers.
- If you expect any level of customer service don’t count on it.
To summarise: Stands AdBlocker isn’t bad but it’s not good either. It’s good for YouTube but weak everywhere else. And with many better free options available we can’t really recommend it unless you only need it for video ads.
AdBlock Tester Score: 58/100