6 apps to… block unwanted content

2 min read

Best content blockers

Banish ads, protect your privacy, and more

C ompanies are getting better at tracking us online. If that doesn’t sit well with you – or you want to see fewer intrusive ads – content blockers can help. These handy tools obliterate ads, block trackers, and protect your privacy, letting you get back to enjoying the best of the web – and giving you more control than either Safari or Private Relay on iCloud do. Here are six of the best content-blocking apps.

1 Blocker

Free (IAPs) FROM 1blocker.com NEEDS iPadOS 14.2 or later

If you’re serious about blocking annoying web content on your devices, 1Blocker should be at the top of your list. This Safari add-on extends the browser’s capabilities on iPhone, iPad, and Mac in a way that is both comprehensive and easy to use. It shuts out irritating ads, nefarious trackers, and general annoyances like mobile app banners and crypto-mining malware. That makes your browsing faster by removing slowdowns and protects your privacy at the same time.

AdGuard

Free (IAPs) FROM adguard.com NEEDS iPadOS 11.2 or later

If 1Blocker isn’t quite your thing, AdGuard is an excellent alternative. It clamps down on intrusions and annoyances, from pesky website elements that get in the way to intrusive adverts that harvest your data. It also throws in parental controls for that extra bit of reassurance. Note: AdGuard is free with in-app purchases, while AdGuard Pro is a separate version from the same developers with a one-off £8.99 payment. And both versions are available for iPhone too.

BlockBear!

Free FROM blockbear.com NEEDS iPadOS 9 or later

While 1Blocker and AdGuard provide plenty of depth, BlockBear! (from the creators of virtual private network service TunnelBear) is more of a fire-andforget solution to content blocking. Instead of a bewildering array of options, this app presents just a handful that let you terminate ads, social buttons, tracking, and custom fonts. You can whitelist specific websites, too. That makes it a much simpler – and swifter – way to rein in invasive content.