Important Features of Ad Blockers That We Looked At:

A quick search on the internet will yield dozens and dozens of ad blockers all claiming to do the task smoothly and without a hitch. While a vast majority of them are free to use, it would still be a waste of precious storage space if you happen to download an ad blocker that will just sit on your browser, as you watch helplessly as ads infiltrate your screen. There are several things to keep in mind when looking for an ad blocker that can really fulfill its job: platform, filter list, configurable blocking, ease of use, and support.

Platform

First and foremost, availability of the ad blocker over several platforms should be of importance. If you have a desktop computer while also sporting a smartphone or tablet, it would be the best choice to find an ad blocker that offers a version on both platforms. This way you can enjoy the same experience and performance. You can also check for web browser compatibility if your preferred browser is supported by the ad blocker. Most of them support the more widely-known browsers anyway, like Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Opera, and Microsoft Edge, but you will find some that offers compatibility with more obscure browsers. In short, the ad blocker of your choice should play well with your browser preference, and not the other way around.

Filter List

One thing that proves to be an important factor when choosing an ad blocker is the list of ads and other medium that it can actually block. There are many kinds of advertisements floating in websites, from pop-up ads, to video ads, sponsored ads, banners, and many more. While some of these ads may bring information, a whole boatload of them are simply a nuisance in your web browsing experience. There are also potentially harmful content like spyware and data trackers which can obtain and transmit information from your session without your knowledge. It would be highly advantageous if an ad blocker can put all of these unwanted content in its hit list.

Configurable Blocking

If you ever want to support a certain website by allowing their ads to appear, then ad blockers with customizable filters should do the trick. While some ads may be intrusive and ultimately annoying, there are others that can actually help the revenue of a certain website; thus the choice of showing them to visitors. Plus, having the control on which items to filter and to let pass can give a more personalized feel whenever you browse the internet, with your permission on every single ad that shows on the screen.

Ease of Use

Enabling an ad blocker should not take more than a few seconds upon installation, and should be up in running literally within a minute or two. This is of course, assuming that the user opts to go with the tool's default setting. If there are custom options that you would want to apply, then you shouldn't have to jump through hoops just to configure them. Ad blockers are one of the simplest tools in the computer world, and any individual, even those who are less tech-savvy, can figure out how to use them without much effort.

Support

Last but not the least, of course, is the assistance you get from the support team in case you have any questions or concerns about the use of the ad blocker. While you can get information from the official blog or forum, it would still be a more reliable and convenient experience if you can have direct communication with a representative. It can also help if these ad blockers have social media accounts where you can comment or send your issues via private message. Moreover, no tool is perfectly designed, and any developer willing to listen to reports and suggestions can certainly improve their software.