If pop-up ads, banner ads, and flashy text all intrude on the web or video you’re viewing on your Android device, get an ad-blocker. Here are the best.
No one likes ads — pop-up or otherwise — intruding on their online experience of reading or video viewing, but ads are everywhere on the internet. The only way to shield yourself from them is to install a special ad-blocker, software that detects and disables ads before they reach you. Ad blockers deflect annoying videos, graphics, and text ads that appear on your Android device while using apps or browsing websites. Ad-blocking is controversial, which is why Google has removed specific ad-blocking apps from the Play Store. Google’s business model is built on ads, so encouraging users to block ads is counterintuitive. But the question goes beyond whether ads are objectively good or bad. For many sites, ads are a financial lifeline — the difference between running a site and shutting it down. Sure, pop-ups can feel intrusive, but it’s kind of like over-the-air TV — it’s free, but the ads pay for the time. Installing an ad-blocker app on your Android device means you are likely affecting the livelihood of those who run the sites you enjoy. If you’ve thought about it and still want to install an ad blocker, we have a few suggestions for the best ones. Our selection also includes ad detectors and ad-blocker browsers, as they all are designed to cut down on ad viewing. Not on Android? Have a look at our favorite ad blockers for iPhone and the best ad blockers for Chrome. AdAway is a free, open-source ad-blocking app for Android, available for rooted and non-rooted devices. AdAway blocks ads using hosts files (text files that map host names to IP addresses) from various locations and combines them automatically. You can whitelist or blacklist additional domains or add a new hosts file.
