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If you're looking for an ad blocker, this may be your best option at the moment. Keep in mind that filter lists will not be updated while the app is not running though. If you like, you can just disable the icon and forget about it altogether. However, ads will still be blocked even while the app isn't running, even though the Safari icon indicates otherwise. If you close the app, the Safari icon will show that ad blocking is not active.
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It's worth noting that the desktop app needs to be running in the background for filter lists to be updated and settings to be changed. It seems to work as well as any top ad blocker for other major browsers. We tried it out on a bunch of popular and lesser-known websites, and we came across no instance where it failed to block an ad. What's more, you can create your own blocking rules for elements that aren't included in the default filters but you would prefer not to see. After installing AdGuard, you'll need to head to the browser's preferences and enable the extensions you would like to be active, depending on what you want to block.Īside from ads, the add-on can also block trackers and various annoyances that pop up on certain websites. Thanks to Apple's changes to the extension ecosystem, all browser add-ons are now fully-fledged apps that also functionality to Safari.
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It offers great blocking capabilities, while also being unobtrusive and user-friendly. Finding free ones is even trickier, since Safari extensions are published via the Mac App Store, meaning additional costs developers must recoup.ĪdGuard for Safari comes from the developer of the well-known AdGuard desktop ad blocker, and it is completely free and open-source. Ad blockers for Safari are often not as good as those available for other browsers, largely because of the limitations developers need to work around.
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