The best Android ad blockers

Android ad blockers are a popular way to block ads in mobile apps and on websites. There are various techniques and technologies used for this purpose. Below is a compilation of the basic technologies, their implementation, and the advantages and disadvantages of the various approaches.

First steps: requirements and possibilities

Before I choose the best Android ad blocker for me, I define my requirements and then select the ones that offer high coverage of my requirements today and in the future.

First define the claim

What expectations do I have for an Android ad blocker?

then select solution

Which of the offered Android ad blocker variants meets my requirements?

Core technologies & how they work:

1. DNS-Filter

Function

If your device tries to load a webpage or ad from a known company web address (such as advertisers or trackers), this request will be automatically redirected to a blank or safe address.

For this, the data traffic is routed through a local (on the device) or an Internet-based (trusted) filter. This DNS filter (DNS = Domain Name Services / translator of Internet addresses into machine addresses (IP addresses), e.g., https://www.duckduckgo.com = 52.149.246.39.), filters out advertising and, for example, Internet addresses with malware accordingly.

Positive

Energy-efficient, system-wide, easy to set up.

For paid offers, DNS filters can be compiled individually. This allows not only ads and pages with malware but also other, unwanted content to be filtered.

Limitations

This Android ad blocker only works when ads or trackers come from other internet addresses (domains) – not from the same website you are currently visiting.

2. Internet browser with integrated ads/tracking blocker

Function

Internet browsers like DuckDuckGo, among others, block ads/trackers by default.

Positive

Works without the need to install additional apps or integrate with the system in any other way.

Limitations

Only the respective internet browser benefits from this Android ad blocker, not other apps.

3. Browser-Plug-Ins (Content-blocker in browsers)

Function

Browser extensions (content blockers in browsers) Examples: uBlock Origin in Firefox Mobile or other browsers that support extensions.

Positive

Works without the need to install additional apps or integrate with the system in any other way.

Limitations

Only the respective internet browser benefits from this, not other apps.

4. Local VPN/proxy filters

Function

This Android ad blocker method creates a local VPN tunnel on the device and filters the data traffic. This filtering works system-wide for apps and internet browsers.

Positive

System-wide blocking without the method needing high-privileged rights.

Limitations

On an Android smartphone, only one VPN (Virtual Private Network) can be active at a time. This method is also used as an Android ad filter, so a VPN cannot be used to anonymize outgoing traffic at the same time. This method also increases battery consumption, and encrypted HTTPS content can only be restricted via DNS/host block lists.

5. Additional Android ad filter methods

In addition to the methods listed above, there are others, such as:

- Hosts File / Root-Level Blocking

- Network level (external), e.g., Pi-hole

These methods of Android ad filters require high-privileged rights, which are difficult for the user to set up and generally weaken the security of the smartphone.

!Pro Tip: Combined, simple, and efficient

Given that the chosen method of the Android ad blocker does not want to prevent the use of a VPN for anonymizing data traffic, a combined approach is recommended:

Use a DNS filter, either for free or as a paid subscription (simply enter it in "Settings – Network & Internet – Private DNS – Hostname of the private DNS provider")

Use an internet browser with integrated ads/tracking blocking or a browser that allows browser extensions (content blockers in browsers) to use a corresponding extension.

Continue your learning journey

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