AdGuard 2025 Review: Does It Really Block Ads Better Than uBlock?

Online advertising has evolved rapidly, not always for the better. In 2025, websites will use more intrusive ads, autoplaying videos, pop-ups, and hidden tracking scripts than ever before. Social platforms have become saturated with sponsored posts. Streaming platforms bombard users with unskippable ads. The modern internet has become so noisy that many users now rely on dedicated ad-blocking tools to browse comfortably.

Among the many options available, two names stand out: AdGuard and uBlock Origin. Both are popular, widely used, and highly effective. However, users continue to ask the same question: Is AdGuard 2025 truly better than uBlock Origin 2025?

This full review prioritizes AdGuard as the superior choice, explaining why it outperforms uBlock in nearly every category.

Why Ad Blocking Matters in 2025

The need for strong ad blocking is greater than ever. Here is why:

• Websites use aggressive tracking pixels that follow you across the internet
• Hidden scripts consume battery life and CPU power
• Marketing profiles are built from your browsing habits
• Video ads have increased in length and frequency
• Free streaming sites are overloaded with dangerous pop-ups
• Malware is often delivered through malicious ad networks

In short, effective ad blocking is not just about convenience. It is about privacy, security, and online safety.

What Is AdGuard? A Serious Ad-Blocking Solution

AdGuard is a powerful, multi-layer ad-blocking software designed for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. Unlike simple browser extensions, AdGuard works on the entire system. This means it blocks ads not only in browsers but also inside apps, games, and streaming tools.

Why Users Love AdGuard:

• System-wide ad blocking
• DNS level filtering
• Privacy and tracking protection
• Parental controls for families
• Anti-malware and anti-phishing filters
• YouTube and video ad filtering
• Customizable filters
• Local processing and zero logs
• Lightweight and resource-efficient

You can purchase a lifetime AdGuard subscription from Brytesoft for $39.99, covering up to 3 devices.

👉 Buy AdGuard Ad Blocker Lifetime Subscription

What is uBlock Origin? A Good Free Alternative With Limits

uBlock Origin is a widely used browser extension. It is free, open source, and highly customizable. It is excellent for blocking browser-based ads and tracking scripts.

Strengths of uBlock Origin:

• Lightweight
• Free to use
• Large filter library
• Open source encoding

However, it has major limitations:

• Works only inside the browser
• Cannot block ads inside apps or games
• Cannot block pop-ups at the system level
• Has no parental controls
• Has no DNS-based blocking
• Limited mobile support
• No anti-malware protection
• Not suitable for family use

In short, uBlock is great, but it is not a complete solution. AdGuard 2025 offers a significantly more advanced approach.

AdGuard 2025 Features and Why It Outperforms uBlock

Below is a breakdown of AdGuard’s top features and how they compare to uBlock Origin.

System-Wide Ad Blocking

This is where AdGuard completely wins. While uBlock Origin only filters ads inside Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari, AdGuard blocks ads everywhere, including:

• Apps
• Streaming services
• Games
• Desktop software
• Email clients
• Social media apps

This alone makes AdGuard the more complete ad blocker for Windows.

Advanced Tracking Protection

In 2025, online tracking is more aggressive than ever. AdGuard includes advanced privacy modules that block:

• Cross-site tracking
• Fingerprinting scripts
• Data harvesting tools
• Social media trackers
• Browser fingerprinting

uBlock Origin has some privacy protection, but its browser-only environment limits it.

DNS Level Blocking

AdGuard DNS blocks ads and trackers before they even reach your device. This is a powerful layer of security that uBlock does not offer.

DNS blocking is especially useful for:

• Families who want parental protections
• Mobile users
• Streaming platforms
• Smart TVs
• Shared networks

AdGuard’s DNS filters are constantly updated and highly effective.

Parental Controls and Safe Search

AdGuard provides dedicated parental control features that allow parents to:

• Block adult content
• Enforce safe search
• Filter categories of websites
• Protect children from harmful pages

uBlock does not offer any such protection.

Anti-Malware and Anti-Phishing

While AdGuard is not a standalone antivirus, it includes strong security filters that block:

• Scam websites
• Fake download buttons
• Malicious pop-ups
• Fraudulent ads
• Phishing networks

AdGuard strengthens your security posture.

Superior YouTube and Video Ad Blocking

YouTube ads have become longer and more intrusive. AdGuard’s filtering engine performs significantly better than most browser extensions when it comes to:

• YouTube ads
• Streaming ads
• Video overlay ads
• Pre-roll and mid-roll ads

uBlock Origin struggles with advanced YouTube advertising tactics in 2025.

Custom Filters and Flexibility

Both AdGuard and uBlock support custom rules, but AdGuard adds:

• Built-in filters
• Stealth mode for privacy
• Social media filter lists
• Language-specific blocking
• Malware filter lists

It is more intuitive for non-technical users.

Performance and Speed: Which One Runs Better?

Users often worry that ad blockers slow down browsing. The opposite is true. Both AdGuard and uBlock reduce the number of network requests and free up system resources.

However, AdGuard 2025 is faster because:

• It blocks requests before they reach the browser
• It uses compact optimized filters
• It supports multi-layer filtering without lag
• It reduces bandwidth usage

uBlock is fast inside the browser, but it cannot protect the whole system.

Mobile and App Level Protection

This is another area where AdGuard wins clearly.

AdGuard supports:

• Android apps
• iOS apps
• Smart TV apps
• Windows apps
• Networking at the system level

uBlock only supports browsers.

If you want total privacy on your phone, AdGuard is the better choice.

Pricing Comparison: AdGuard vs uBlock Origin

While uBlock Origin is free, AdGuard offers a lifetime subscription for just $39.99 through Brytesoft, making it a highly affordable option.

👉Discover the pricing for AdGuard Ad Blocker Lifetime Subscription

Why AdGuard is worth the price:

• You get system-wide protection
• You get DNS-level filtering
• You get parental controls
• You get improved security
• You get better YouTube blocking
• You get mobile protection
• You pay once for long-term value

Given the added protection, AdGuard offers significantly better value.

Final Verdict: Is AdGuard Better Than uBlock in 2025?

Yes. AdGuard is clearly better than uBlock Origin in 2025.

Here is the simple breakdown:

uBlock Origin is fantastic as a free tool, but AdGuard Ad Blocker offers the kind of complete protection that modern users actually need.