Best Ad Blockers for Mobile in 2025: Complete Comparison

With so many ad blocking options available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. I've spent countless hours testing different solutions, and I'm here to share what I've learned.

Let me break down the best options for blocking ads on mobile in 2025.

Types of Mobile Ad Blocking

Before we dive into specific solutions, let's understand the different approaches:

1. DNS-Based Blocking

• Works at the network level
• System-wide protection
• No app installation required
• My recommendation for most users

2. Browser Extensions/Apps

• Works only in specific browsers
• More customizable
• Can break some websites

3. VPN-Based Blocking

• Routes traffic through VPN servers
• Can block ads in apps
• Uses more battery

4. Local VPN Apps

• Creates a local VPN to filter traffic
• App-based but system-wide
• No external VPN needed

Best DNS-Based Ad Blockers

These are my top picks for DNS blocking, which I recommend for most users:

NextDNS ⭐ Top Pick

Pros:

• Highly customizable blocklists
• Detailed analytics and logs
• Multiple device support
• Free tier available
• Excellent performance

Cons:

• Free tier has query limits
• Setup slightly more complex

Price: Free (300K queries/month) or $20/year unlimited

My Take: NextDNS is my go-to recommendation. It offers the perfect balance of power and usability. You can customize exactly what gets blocked, view detailed logs, and it just works.

AdGuard DNS

Pros:

• Very easy setup
• Good default blocklists
• Fast servers worldwide
• Family protection option

Cons:

• Less customizable than NextDNS
• Basic analytics

Price: Free

My Take: If you want something that "just works" without any configuration, AdGuard DNS is excellent. Set it up and forget about it.

Quad9

Pros:

• Strong focus on security
• Blocks malware domains
• Non-profit organization
• Very fast

Cons:

• Doesn't block as many ads
• No customization

Price: Free

My Take: Quad9 is better for security than ad blocking. Great if malware protection is your priority, but not the best for comprehensive ad blocking.

Cloudflare 1.1.1.1

Pros:

• Extremely fast
• Privacy-focused
• Great app interface
• WARP VPN included

Cons:

• Doesn't block ads by default
• Limited customization

Price: Free

My Take: Cloudflare is fantastic for speed and privacy, but you need their "1.1.1.1 for Families" version for any blocking, and even then it's limited.

Best iOS Ad Blockers

DNS-Based (Recommended)

For iOS, I recommend using a configuration profile from one of the DNS services above. Here's why:

• Works in all apps and browsers
• No battery drain
• Apple-approved method
• Easy to set up and remove

Safari Content Blockers

If you only care about blocking ads in Safari:

1Blocker ⭐

• Native iOS app
• Customizable rules
• Good performance

AdGuard for Safari

• Free version available
• Comprehensive blocking
• Regular updates

VPN-Based

AdGuard Pro

• Full VPN-based blocking
• Works in all apps
• More battery usage

Best Android Ad Blockers

DNS-Based (Recommended)

Android 9+ has Private DNS built in, making DNS blocking incredibly easy. Just enter the hostname of your chosen DNS service in Settings.

Local VPN Apps

If you need more control:

Blokada ⭐

• Open source
• No external VPN
• Highly customizable
• Free

AdGuard for Android

• Comprehensive blocking
• Local VPN approach
• Premium features available

Browser-Specific

Brave Browser

• Built-in ad blocking
• Chromium-based
• Great for browsing

Firefox + uBlock Origin

• Powerful combination
• Most customizable
• Extension support

My Recommendations by Use Case

"I just want ads gone with minimum effort"

→ AdGuard DNS - Set it up once and forget about it

"I want control over what's blocked"

→ NextDNS - Customize everything to your liking

"I'm on a tight data plan"

→ DNS blocking (any) - Saves 30-50% data on ad-heavy sites

"I care about privacy above all"

→ NextDNS + Quad9 - Block ads and malware, encrypted DNS

"I need to block YouTube ads"

→ Browser-based solutions - DNS can't block YouTube ads effectively

"I want a VPN too"

→ Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 with WARP - Fast VPN with basic protection

What About Paid vs. Free?

Most DNS-based blocking is free and works great. Here's when to consider paying:

Free is fine if you:

• Just want ads blocked
• Don't need detailed analytics
• Use fewer than 300K queries/month (NextDNS)

Consider paying if you:

• Want detailed logs and analytics
• Have many devices to manage
• Need priority support
• Want to support the developers

Setting Up Your Choice

Once you've picked a solution, setup is easy:

For iOS:

1. Download the configuration profile from your chosen provider
2. Install it in Settings > General > VPN & Device Management
3. Done!

Detailed iOS Guide →

For Android:

1. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Private DNS
2. Enter the hostname from your chosen provider
3. Done!

Detailed Android Guide →

The Verdict

After testing everything, here's my final ranking:

1. NextDNS - Best overall, most features
2. AdGuard DNS - Best for simplicity
3. Blokada (Android) - Best free app-based solution
4. 1Blocker (iOS) - Best Safari content blocker
5. Brave Browser - Best browser with built-in blocking

For most people reading this, I recommend starting with DNS-based blocking. It's free, easy, and works system-wide. If you need more, you can always add browser extensions or apps later.

Final Thoughts

The best ad blocker is the one you'll actually use. Start simple with DNS blocking, see how it works for you, and adjust from there.

Remember: You don't need to pay anything or install complex apps. A simple DNS change can transform your mobile browsing experience.

Ready to get started? Check out my setup guides for step-by-step instructions.