I tested Adblock Plus for a week on YouTube, news sites, and blogs. It used to be the king. But is it still worth installing in 2026?
A few years ago, if someone asked me which ad blocker to install, I said Adblock Plus without even thinking. It was the king. Everyone used it. It worked.
But things change.
Google changed how Chrome handles extensions. Newer ad blockers came out. And Adblock Plus started doing something that rubbed me the wrong way – they introduced "acceptable ads."
So I decided to test Adblock Plus properly. I used it for a full week on my personal Chrome browser. I visited YouTube, news sites, blogs, forums, and streaming platforms. I wanted to see if the old king still deserves a spot in your browser.
Here is my honest take.
What Is Adblock Plus?
You have probably heard of this one. Adblock Plus has been around forever. It is one of the oldest and most downloaded ad blockers on the Chrome Web Store.
The idea is simple. You install it. It blocks pop-ups, banner ads, video ads, and even tracking scripts. No complicated setup. No credit card needed.
But here is the thing most people do not know.
Adblock Plus runs something called the "Acceptable Ads" program by default. That means they let certain advertisers pay to show you ads. The ads are supposed to be "non-intrusive" – small, quiet, not annoying. But still. You are paying for an ad blocker that shows you ads. Does that feel weird to anyone else?
You can turn this off in settings. But most users never do. And that is my first problem.
How I Tested Adblock Plus
I do not write reviews after five minutes of clicking around. That is useless.
Here is my actual testing process:
Duration: One full week of daily use
Sites tested: YouTube, CNN, BBC, Reddit, recipe blogs, forum sites, and two streaming platforms
Comparison: I also ran uBlock Origin Lite on a different profile to compare side by side
Settings check: I tested both with default settings and after turning off acceptable ads
Now let me tell you what I found.
The Good Stuff – What Still Works
Banner Ads on News Sites Disappear
This is where Adblock Plus still shines. I visited CNN, BBC, Fox News, and a few local news sites. Those big banner ads at the top? Gone. The sidebar ads? Gone. The autoplay video ads that follow you as you scroll? Also gone.
If you mostly read news and blog articles, Adblock Plus does its job well.
Easy to Install and Use
You do not need a manual to figure this out. Click "Add to Chrome." Click "Add extension." Done. No settings to fiddle with unless you want to.
The icon sits in your toolbar. Green means it is working. Red means it is off. Simple.
Pop-Up Blocking Works Fine
Those annoying "subscribe to our newsletter" pop-ups that jump in your face? Most of them disappeared. Not all, but most. The same goes for floating video players and sticky banners.
I would say about eight out of ten pop-ups got blocked. Not perfect, but not bad either.
Pages Load Faster Than Without an Ad Blocker
This is true for any decent ad blocker. Fewer ads mean less stuff to download. Less stuff to download means faster page loads.
I noticed a clear difference on heavy news sites. Pages that used to take five seconds loaded in two. That matters.
The Not So Good Stuff – Be Honest With You
Here is where Adblock Plus started to annoy me.
YouTube Ad Blocking Is Weak
This is the biggest problem.
I watched about thirty YouTube videos during my test. With default settings, about half of them played ads before the video started. Some played ads in the middle. A few even played two ads in a row.
I tried turning off acceptable ads. That helped a little. But still, too many ads slipped through.
If you watch YouTube every day, this alone should make you look elsewhere.
The Acceptable Ads Thing Bothers Me
Let me explain this clearly.
Adblock Plus makes money by charging advertisers to be on their "acceptable" list. These advertisers pay to show you ads that are "not annoying." But here is my problem – I installed an ad blocker because I do not want to see any ads. Not even the polite ones.
You can turn this off. Go to settings. Uncheck "Allow acceptable ads." But most users never do that. And I think that is sneaky.
It Collects Some Data
I checked their privacy policy. Adblock Plus collects some data by default – things like which websites you visit and which ads get blocked. They say it is anonymous and helps improve the product.
But compared to uBlock Origin Lite, which collects nothing, this feels like a step backward.
Slower Than Newer Ad Blockers
I ran Adblock Plus and uBlock Origin Lite side by side on the same websites. uBlock Origin Lite felt faster. Pages loaded quicker. Scrolling felt smoother.
Adblock Plus is not slow. But it is not the fastest anymore.
How Does It Compare to Other Ad Blockers?
I ran Adblock Plus against three other popular ad blockers. Here is the honest breakdown.
No contest. uBlock Origin Lite blocks YouTube ads completely. Adblock Plus does not. uBlock Origin Lite collects no data. Adblock Plus collects some. uBlock Origin Lite feels faster. Adblock Plus does not. uBlock Origin Lite wins easily.
Vs. Ghostery
Ghostery is better for privacy nerds who want to see every tracker. Adblock Plus is simpler for casual users. But Ghostery blocks YouTube ads better than Adblock Plus. So Ghostery wins for me.
Vs. Stop Ads
Stop Ads is even simpler than Adblock Plus. But it also struggles with YouTube. Between these two, I would pick Adblock Plus because it blocks more pop-ups and has more settings. But neither is great for YouTube fans.
The Simple Winner Table
| Feature | Adblock Plus | uBlock Origin Lite | Ghostery | Stop Ads |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube ads blocked | No | Yes | Sometimes | No |
| Pop-ups blocked | Good | Excellent | Great | Okay |
| Page speed improvement | Medium | High | Medium | Medium |
| Privacy focused | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Easy to use | Yes | Yes | Medium | Yes |
| Default shows some ads | Yes | No | No | No |
How to Install Adblock Plus
If you still want to try it, here is how.
Open the Chrome Web Store.
Search for "Adblock Plus."
Look for the one by Eyeo GmbH. That is the official one.
Click "Add to Chrome."
Click "Add extension."
Once installed, I highly recommend you go to settings and uncheck "Allow acceptable ads." Otherwise, you are paying for an ad blocker that still shows you ads.
Should You Install Adblock Plus in 2026?
Here is my honest answer.
Install Adblock Plus if:
You mostly read news sites and blogs, not YouTube
You want something simple that just works
You do not care about the acceptable ads thing
You do not want to learn new settings or interfaces
Skip it if:
You watch YouTube every day
You care about privacy and data collection
You want the fastest, cleanest ad blocker available
For most people reading this, I say skip it. uBlock Origin Lite does everything Adblock Plus does, plus blocks YouTube ads, plus respects your privacy, plus runs faster.
Adblock Plus used to be the king. But kings get old. And in 2026, there are better options.
One Thing I Will Give Adblock Plus Credit For
To be fair, Adblock Plus is still better than no ad blocker at all.
If you have never used an ad blocker and you want something simple and trusted, Adblock Plus will improve your browsing experience. The default settings block enough to make a difference. And it is definitely better than watching every single ad on every single site.
But once you try something better, you will not come back.
My Final Rating
YouTube ad blocking: 2 out of 5
Pop-up blocking: 4 out of 5
Page speed improvement: 3.5 out of 5
Privacy: 2.5 out of 5
Ease of use: 5 out of 5
Overall: 3.5 out of 5
Final Thoughts
Adblock Plus is not a bad extension. Let me be clear about that. It blocks banner ads. It stops pop-ups. It speeds up news sites. For someone who never watches YouTube, it works fine.
But the internet has changed. YouTube is huge now. And Adblock Plus does not handle YouTube well. Plus the acceptable ads program feels dishonest to me. I installed an ad blocker because I do not want ads. Not even the polite ones.
If you already use Adblock Plus and you are happy with it, keep using it. No judgment. But if you are reading this review because you are looking for a new ad blocker, pick uBlock Origin Lite instead. Trust me on this.