Can switchers give advice on Ad blocking in Android?

[TTTedP]

Let's skip the iOS vs Android and privacy debates for this one. A bit of info I can't find through the noise is how people's experience has been specific to ad-blocking when switching from iOS to Android.

I dabble with Android devices pretty regularly but the one thing that drives me back every time is the increased advertising when browsing and using the device.

On iOS I use Purify with Safari. TBH, it works really, really well. Especially when combined with Reader view. I see very little ads in my day-to-day.

For Android, I have used paid version of AdGuard with Chrome but a bunch of stuff still gets through. They also just show blank placeholders where the blocked ads were. I am using the full features, certificate and local VPN set up. It is not, IMO, as clean of an experience.

I am not interested in jumping through a bunch of hoops on Android; rooting my device, running 3rd party browsers, or setting up a network Pi hole. I am seeking a like-for-like experience similar to iOS/Safari/Purify.

With all the debating about which platform is better, I still don't see this discussed too much. For the switchers out there, what combo are you using? Are you content with it?

 

[co.ag.2005]

I know you don't want to hear about 3rd party browsers, but if you want adblock in a browser (Chrome), without root or DNS blocking apps, you'll have to use a 3rd party solution. I use Samsung Internet from the Play store and there's quite a bit of content blockers available for it as well on the play store. IMO, Samsung Internet is much more smooth to use and operate than Chrome but I know it lacks some Chrome / google tie ins people need. You can sync your bookmarks from Chrome browser on Windows / Mac to Samsung Internet with a Chrome extension, so at least there is that.

 

[TTTedP]

Thanks. I felt like I was missing something. I definitely would like to have synched bookmarks & tabs as one of the features. That's why I was fixated on Chrome (or Firefox if I had to).

I am always leery of the 3rd party browsers that there is something compromising going on under the hood.

 

[Tig Bitties]

I'm rooted on my Pixel 3 XL, and AdAway with extra hosts added is almost 100% perfect ad free in Chrome and Samsung browser, and other apps too, it stops all ads

But for stock, I just found out about "AdClear" get the .apk you download from their website, not on the Play Store, and it works surprisingly well. It doesn't need root or anything, and once setup, and you set which apps to block, it really works
[doublepost=1540832829][/doublepost]https://www.seven.com/adclear-installation.php

 

[The_Interloper]

I use Blokada - free and open source. Works great in all apps, not just browsers.

https://blokada.org/index.html

 

[mi7chy]

From my research the most effective Android ad blocker is Firefox + uBlock Origin extension (this is open source and probably the engine behind other ad blockers like Purify). Since I prefer Chrome, a close second is Adguard app. Just make sure to disable 'allow search ads and self-promotion' and maybe why some ads are slipping through for you since I rarely/never see them. A few blank ad placeholders might show up but it's better than ads.

 

[IowaLynn]

Samsung Internet Beta. It supports 5 adblock extensions. Plus use Adguard.com well worth lifetime subscription for multiple devices.

Sammy made their browser available to non-Samsung Android devices, seemed over a year ago. Nothing fisy. Very well done. It has a simplified reader view also.

I've played with Chrome, beta, Dev, Canary, but no thanks, too many ads and marketing.

If you use Windows, Edge can be useful too.

 

[TTTedP]

Good info, thanks. Something about "Samsung Internet" I still find fishy but I'll check on these. Firefox Focus has been a good discovery. If they had that for desktop + bookmark/tab synching, I would probably be set.

 

[Tig Bitties]

Samsung internet beta

really it is the best Android web browser out there and I'm not a Samsung fan at all but the team that put this web browser together is totally different than the people that make the phones and it's the closest to a safari type web browser you'll find an Android and ad blockers work very well with it

 

[koigirl]

Samsung browser is my favorite browser. Better than Safari in my experience since switching from iPhone to Note 8. No freezes, it "just works". Not shady at all. Integrated adblocker works seamlessly.

 

[SteveJUAE]

Samsung browser is my favorite browser. Better than Safari in my experience since switching from iPhone to Note 8. No freezes, it "just works". Not shady at all. Integrated adblocker works seamlessly.

Ditto on the Samsung browser

 

[pika2000]

Try Brave.

 

[chagla]

If you are rooted, I highly recommend using a Firewall (rooted) app. Allow only selected apps to access internet.

 

[Coffee_Time]

Hello!
If you are not rooted:
1. The best browser experience is by far OPERA BROWSER! I didn't beleive until I tried it. It has built in ad blocker, night mode, and black theme during the day. Also it's blazing fast. Zero lag! Never thought this.
It you are still locked with Chrome, then Bromite is the key. Just google it.
2. YouTube Vanced. Premium YouTube for free without ads.
3. If you are lucky and your phone manufacturer didn't preinstalled FB, then Facebook apk without ads. Just search it.
If you want to root:
Google it, maybe Ad Blocker...
[doublepost=1540986627][/doublepost]P. S. Stay away from DNS, VPN ad blocking...

 

[Tig Bitties]

https://youtubevanced.com

so I could just install that without being rooted or anything just on a stock pixel 2 XL for instance? And what happens to the existing YouTube That's pre-installed already?

this will be good for my wife's phone I have the pixel 3 XL which I'm rooted running AdAway and stuff so I'm good on ad blocking but for my wife she doesn't want her phone rooted or anything she wants it stock

 

[mi7chy]

https://youtubevanced.com

so I could just install that without being rooted or anything just on a stock pixel 2 XL for instance? And what happens to the existing YouTube That's pre-installed already?

this will be good for my wife's phone I have the pixel 3 XL which I'm rooted running AdAway and stuff so I'm good on ad blocking but for my wife she doesn't want her phone rooted or anything she wants it stock

Yes, there's a non-root version and it lives side by side with the official YouTube as a different app name YouTube Vanced. Additionally, you also need to install MicroG apk if you want to log in with a Google account. What's nice about it is no interrupting ads, you can set the preferred resolution and force VP9 codec.

 

[Tig Bitties]

Thanks for the reply mi7chy

So for my wife's 2 XL, non rooted, what's the best non vpn ad blocker ? She uses Samsung browser and sometimes Chrome.

 

[mi7chy]

So for my wife's 2 XL, non rooted, what's the best non vpn ad blocker ? She uses Samsung browser and sometimes Chrome.

Browser rendering correctness: Chrome (closest to flawless) > Firefox (close second) > Samsung

Ad blocking: uBlock Origin (nearly flawless) > Adguard (some blank placeholders show up)

Firefox + uBlock Origin if you prefer better ad blocking.

Chrome + Adguard if you prefer better browser rendering.

I have both installed and flip flop between them.

Samsung browser has some minor but annoying glitches for me such as viewing Facebook event rsvp list, Yahoo comments and videos, etc.

 

[IowaLynn]

Never had issue with Adguard and Samsung. Never seen blank. Never use FB etc though. I use 5 extensions along with Adguard.

Gave up on Firefox. Plus the reports their security was needing more work.

I tend to use beta, Chrome Dev or Canary. Everyone has differing needs and expectations.

I don't like how URLs often include added information on where and how you arrived on a web page.

I used Netguard firewall but can't use it+ Adguard. Never rooted.

 

[snow755]

dos Adguard work with chorme moblie ?

 

[SigEp265]

Another vote for Firefox + uBlock Origin extension