Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Which ad blocker are you using on Safari?

russell_314 said:
Firefox and uBlock origin. YouTube ads will still make it through because they are now integrated with the video. YouTube premium is the fix for that.
Click to expand...

I've used the full Adguard on a few machines, including my M1 Air, and it seems to slow down website loading by quite a bit.

Can't speak for YouTube as I don't use it regularly.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bingefeller
1Blocker but with actions and scripts disabled.
bingefeller said:
hi @Pecka, what does it mean when you have actions and scripts disabled? I'm guessing you're using Safari.
Click to expand...

I have disabled the "1Blocker Actions" and "1Blocker Scripts" extensions in Safari because of privacy concerns since I find their requirements to be invasive.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bingefeller
How I block ads on YouTube (does not involve Safari):

I use the Orion browser for YouTube.

I have the [Firefox] "AdBlocker for YouTube" extension installed
(Orion can install Firefox extensions)

I have Orion set to always open new windows as "Private Windows".

I generally have Orion bookmarks for specific YouTube channels.
So... I open the channel's bookmark (to see all the videos posted)

I locate the video I want to watch, AND THEN:

I RIGHT CLICK on it, and choose to open it in a NEW PRIVATE WINDOW.

The video plays without ads.

(sounds like more steps than it is, and it works well)
 
  • Like
Reactions: hxlover904, BotchQue and bingefeller
bingefeller said:
Would you not be tempted to switch to another ad blocker if this is slowing down loading times?
Click to expand...

I've been testing out a few others and am currently using 1blocker during the trial period. My home network is running through a Firewalla with some serious adblocking, so I don't see much anyway.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bingefeller
Wipr on all my devices, waiting for Wipr 2.0 to be released and purchase it day one.

Sadly, Wipr Extra is still triggering YouTube warnings so I don’t use Extra.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bingefeller
I went to buy AdGuard lifetime license and it will cost £71!!! I can't really justify paying that for an ad blocker. I will wait until Black Friday and hopefully there will be a sale on. For now, I'll stick with Firefox unless some kind of a deal crops up between now and then. £71 is just crazy.
 
gilby101 said:
Increasingly YouTube is using in video stream ads. Requires something to intercept the video stream, understand which bits of a video look like adverts and remove them. Not easy, but AdGuard say they are working on it https://adguard.com/en/blog/youtube-server-side-ad-insertion.html It would require something beyond what is possible in the free AdGuard for Safari. The free adblockers are better than nothing but can't block all ads.
Click to expand...
Using AdGuard Extras has blocked 100% of YouTube ads for me for over 18 months on multiple computers/iOS devices. Without the Extras, yes, AdGuard will fail, but Extras is free and just requires the free User Scripts Safari extension to run.
 
bingefeller said:
That's good to know - thanks.

I still haven't decided on what to go for, I'm kind of leaning towards AdGuard (paid version) and possibly NextDNS, but I'll have to read up on both of them.




Do you need to use AdGuard Extras with the AdGuard app? Do the extras work on their own via your scripting extension?
Click to expand...
AdGuard Extras just allows you to view YouTube without any ads whatsoever. I watch a ton of YouTube in the background and never, ever see ads or hear ads. I believe it works in conjunction with the free AdGuard app/extension. I have not paid for AdGuard premium as the free version and Extras blocks all the ads in Safari for me, and AdGuard Home on a Raspberry Pi blocks ads in non-web browser apps like iOS games, Apple News, Twitch, etc. [AdGuard Home is also 100% free but does require a dedicated system - it's like a better version of Pi Hole [I've used both, and AdGuard is simpler and more powerful to use and there's a free iOS app that allows you to control the settings and such].

AdGuard Home comes with HomeBridge, another open source free project I have on the Raspberry Pi that allows non HomeKit devices to be used with HomeKit. I've used AdGuard Home since at least 2021
 
  • Like
Reactions: bingefeller
bingefeller said:
Would you not be tempted to switch to another ad blocker if this is slowing down loading times?
Click to expand...
I picked up a new M1 MacBook Air in March at Walmart as they were cheap and I wanted to run macOS on an Air [I still use my 2015 11" MacBook Air with a Core i7 that runs insanely fast]. I've not noticed any slow downs with page load time at all, and I am in the mountains of western North Carolina with very slow DSL [the only choice we get - 15 down/1 up]; Fiber is coming in late 2026, but even with my slow connection, Safari is still snappy. I've never noticed a slowdown in any web page or streaming service I've used AdGuard with.
 
snak-atak said:
I would love to see how that’s set up!
Click to expand...
This is the GitHub page that has all the instructions including the automated install. It is quite simple and quick to set up. Just make sure whatever device you install it on, you point all your other devices to it in the DNS settings:

github.com

GitHub - AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome: Network-wide ads & trackers blocking DNS server

Network-wide ads & trackers blocking DNS server. Contribute to AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome development by creating an account on GitHub.
github.com github.com
 
  • Like
Reactions: snak-atak
Do these ad-blockers conflict when installed on the Mac? While Adguard seems quite effective for Safari M1 Pro, along with the DNS server 1.1.1.1 setting, NextDNS (the app) sounds like an excellent approach, according to the above postings. Would these two apps work well together or better off staying with one or the other? I assume NextDNS would reset the DNS server to other than 1.1.1.1.
 
Last edited:
vjl323 said:
This is the GitHub page that has all the instructions including the automated install. It is quite simple and quick to set up. Just make sure whatever device you install it on, you point all your other devices to it in the DNS settings:

github.com

GitHub - AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome: Network-wide ads & trackers blocking DNS server

Network-wide ads & trackers blocking DNS server. Contribute to AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome development by creating an account on GitHub.
github.com github.com
Click to expand...
Thanks! I’ll check it out.
 
  • Like
Reactions: vjl323
Sheepish-Lord said:
Get the full version of AdGuard for macOS vs just the Safari extension. You can find solid deals for a lifetime license and it’s totally worth. You can use the license on iOS and iPadOS as well.
Click to expand...
This. There's a lifetime subscription for only 11 dollars right now over at Stack Social. There is no better ad blocker than the AdGuard desktop extension. @bingefeller


snak-atak said:
Thanks! I’ll check it out.
Click to expand...
DNS blocking is limited to what it can block. I use Pi-Hole myself, but again with the limitations.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bingefeller and vjl323
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back