Ad Blocker for YouTube iOS: Best Ways to Block YouTube Ads on iPhone

If you're searching for an ad blocker for YouTube on iOS, you've probably discovered that it's not as straightforward as blocking ads on regular websites. YouTube ads are notoriously difficult to block, especially on iPhones and iPads. In this guide, I'll show you every working method to block YouTube ads on iOS in 2025.

Why Are YouTube Ads So Hard to Block on iOS?

Before we dive into solutions, it helps to understand why YouTube ads are particularly challenging:

1. Server-Side Ad Insertion (SSAI)

YouTube increasingly serves ads from the same servers as the actual video content. This means traditional ad blockers can't distinguish between ads and videos.

2. The YouTube App is a Closed System

The YouTube app doesn't use Safari, so Safari content blockers have zero effect on it. The app controls everything about what loads.

3. Google's Cat-and-Mouse Game

Google actively works to detect and circumvent ad blockers. What works today may stop working tomorrow.

4. iOS Restrictions

Apple doesn't allow system-wide ad injection blocking the way Android does. There's no root access or custom system modifications.

Method 1: Watch YouTube in Safari with Ad Blockers (Most Effective)

The most reliable way to block YouTube ads on iOS is to skip the YouTube app entirely and use Safari with content blockers.

How It Works

1. Install a Safari content blocker (see recommendations below)

2. Go to youtube.com in Safari instead of using the app

3. Sign in to your Google account for personalized recommendations

4. Optional: Add to Home Screen for app-like access

Recommended Safari Content Blockers for YouTube

AdGuard for Safari

• Excellent YouTube ad blocking
• Blocks pre-roll, mid-roll, and banner ads
• Free tier works great

1Blocker

• Strong YouTube ad filtering
• Customizable rules
• Can create YouTube-specific filters

Wipr

• Simple and effective
• One-time $1.99 purchase
• Good YouTube coverage

Step-by-Step Setup

1. Download AdGuard from the App Store

2. Open Settings > Safari > Extensions

3. Enable AdGuard

4. Open Safari and go to youtube.com

5. Bookmark or add to Home Screen for easy access

Create a Home Screen Shortcut

Make Safari YouTube feel like an app:

1. Open youtube.com in Safari

2. Tap the Share button (square with arrow)

3. Tap "Add to Home Screen"

4. Name it "YouTube" and tap Add

5. Access YouTube ad-free from your home screen

Pros

• Works reliably
• No subscription needed
• Full YouTube functionality
• Works on iPhone and iPad

Cons

• No background playback (unless YouTube Premium)
• No offline downloads
• Slightly less optimized than native app
• No Picture-in-Picture (in free tier)

Method 2: DNS-Based Ad Blocking

DNS-level blocking can reduce YouTube ads, though it's less effective than Safari content blockers.

How DNS Blocking Helps

DNS blockers intercept requests to ad servers before they connect. While YouTube serves many ads from its own servers (bypassing DNS blocks), some ad-related domains can still be blocked.

Setting Up DNS Ad Blocking

Option A: AdGuard DNS

1. Go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management > DNS

2. Tap Manual and enter:

   • Primary: 94.140.14.14
   • Secondary: 94.140.15.15

Option B: NextDNS (More Customizable)

1. Create a free account at nextdns.io

2. Download the iOS profile

3. Install in Settings

4. Add YouTube-specific blocklists in your NextDNS dashboard

Effectiveness for YouTube

DNS blocking typically blocks:

• Some pre-roll ads
• Tracking requests
• Some third-party ad calls

DNS blocking typically cannot block:

• Ads served from youtube.com domain
• Server-side inserted ads
• Most mid-roll ads

Verdict

Use DNS blocking as a supplement to Safari content blockers, not as your primary YouTube ad blocking method.

Method 3: YouTube Premium (Official Solution)

Let's address the elephant in the room: YouTube Premium is the only guaranteed, 100% effective way to remove ads from the YouTube app on iOS.

What You Get

• Ad-free videos everywhere (app, web, TV)
• Background playback (audio when app is closed)
• Offline downloads
• YouTube Music Premium included
• YouTube Originals access

Pricing

• Individual: $13.99/month
• Family (up to 6 accounts): $22.99/month
• Student: $7.99/month

Is It Worth It?

If you watch a lot of YouTube, Premium pays for itself in time saved and frustration avoided. Some calculations:

• Average YouTube ad: 15-30 seconds
• Heavy user: 50+ ads/day
• Time saved: 12-25 minutes daily

Getting Premium Cheaper

Family Plan Split: Share the $22.99 family plan with friends/family - that's under $4/person

Student Discount: If you're a student, get 40% off

Annual Billing: Some regions offer discounts for paying yearly

Method 4: Alternative YouTube Frontends

Some third-party apps and websites provide YouTube content without ads. However, use these with caution.

Web Alternatives

Invidious

• Open-source YouTube frontend
• No ads by design
• Access via various instances (invidious.io)
• Works in Safari

Piped

• Another open-source frontend
• Privacy-focused
• No Google tracking
• Various public instances available

How to Use Web Frontends

1. Find a working instance (instances.invidious.io or piped.video)

2. Open in Safari

3. Search for videos and watch ad-free

Risks and Considerations

• Reliability: Instances can go down without notice
• Features: Limited compared to official YouTube
• ToS Violation: May violate YouTube's terms of service
• No Recommendations: Limited personalization
• No Login: Usually can't use your YouTube account

Method 5: Pi-hole or Network-Level Blocking

If you're technically inclined, you can set up network-level ad blocking at home.

How It Works

Pi-hole or AdGuard Home runs on your home network (usually on a Raspberry Pi or router), blocking ad requests for all devices.

Requirements

• Raspberry Pi or always-on computer
• Basic networking knowledge
• Time for setup and maintenance

YouTube Effectiveness

Similar to DNS blocking - helps with some ads but can't block server-side ad insertion. More effective for general ad blocking across all devices on your network.

When to Consider This

• You want whole-home ad blocking
• You're comfortable with technical setup
• You have multiple devices to protect
• You want more control over blocking rules

Method 6: Brave Browser (Alternative to Safari)

Brave browser has built-in ad blocking and can handle YouTube ads when watching on the web.

Setup

1. Download Brave from the App Store

2. Open Brave and go to youtube.com

3. Ads are blocked automatically

4. Sign in for personalized experience

Brave vs Safari + Content Blocker

Both work well for YouTube. Choose based on:

• Brave: All-in-one solution, no extra apps needed
• Safari: Better iOS integration, use your preferred content blocker

Comparing All Methods

| Method | Effectiveness | Cost | Difficulty | App Support | |--------|---------------|------|------------|-------------| | Safari + Content Blocker | 85-95% | Free | Easy | No | | YouTube Premium | 100% | $13.99/mo | Very Easy | Yes | | DNS Blocking | 20-40% | Free | Easy | Partial | | Web Frontends | 100% | Free | Easy | No | | Brave Browser | 85-95% | Free | Easy | No | | Pi-hole | 30-50% | $50 setup | Hard | Partial |

My Recommended Strategy

For the best YouTube ad-blocking experience on iOS, here's what I recommend:

For Casual YouTube Users

1. Install AdGuard for Safari (free)
2. Watch YouTube in Safari instead of the app
3. Add YouTube to Home Screen for easy access

For Heavy YouTube Users

1. Consider YouTube Premium - the time saved and better experience is worth it
2. Split a Family Plan with others to reduce cost
3. Supplement with DNS blocking for other ads

For Privacy-Focused Users

1. Use Safari with AdGuard
2. Set up NextDNS for additional protection
3. Consider Invidious for privacy-conscious viewing

Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn't my ad blocker work in the YouTube app?

Safari content blockers only work in Safari browser. The YouTube app doesn't use Safari's rendering engine, so these blockers have no effect on it.

Can I block mid-roll ads on YouTube?

Yes, when using Safari with a content blocker, most mid-roll ads are blocked. The effectiveness varies as YouTube updates their ad delivery.

Will using ad blockers get my YouTube account banned?

There's no evidence of Google banning accounts for using ad blockers. They may show warnings about ad blockers but don't typically ban users.

Is there a way to block YouTube ads in Chrome on iOS?

iOS Chrome uses Safari's WebKit engine, so Safari content blockers should work. However, Safari offers better content blocker integration.

Can I get background playback without Premium?

Not easily. Background playback in Safari requires the paid version of YouTube Premium. Some workarounds exist but are unreliable.

Do ad blockers affect YouTube's recommendations?

No, using Safari with an ad blocker still shows personalized recommendations if you're signed in to your Google account.

Conclusion

While there's no perfect solution for blocking YouTube ads on iOS, watching YouTube in Safari with a content blocker is the most effective free method. For the YouTube app specifically, YouTube Premium remains the only guaranteed solution.

My top recommendation: Install AdGuard for Safari and watch YouTube at youtube.com instead of the app. Add the site to your home screen for an app-like experience, and enjoy dramatically fewer ads.

If you watch hours of YouTube daily, consider the Premium subscription - it's a legitimate way to support creators while getting an ad-free experience everywhere, including the native app.

Whatever method you choose, you now have all the tools to take back control of your YouTube viewing experience on iOS!