I’ve been using YouTube since 2015, and it holds many memories for me. However, the increasing frequency of ads has seriously disrupted my viewing experience. To fix this, I’ve tried various methods to block ads and compiled them into this article.
In this post, I’ll share the five most effective ways I’ve found, ranging from browser extensions and mobile apps to subscribing to YouTube Premium and even using a VPN. I hope these solutions help you enjoy a smoother, ad-free YouTube experience.
Blocking YouTube Ads with YouTube Premium
YouTube Premium is YouTube’s official ad-free subscription service, offering ad-free viewing, video downloads, background playback, access to YouTube Music Premium, and exclusive access to original content.
YouTube Premium Can Block All Types of Ads
As a YouTube Premium member, you can block almost all ads on the platform, including the usual pre-roll, mid-roll, and post-roll video ads. It also removes third-party banner ads on the page and text or image ads in YouTube search results. However, YouTube Premium does not block brand promotions or sponsored content that creators include directly within their videos.
Pros and Cons
Once you subscribe to YouTube Premium, you can enjoy a smooth, ad-free viewing experience, perfect for focused activities like studying.
It also supports background playback and offline downloads, so you can continue listening to videos or music even with your phone locked.
The subscription also includes YouTube Music, with access to over 100 million songs, providing better value than paying for a separate music service.
Plus, your membership helps support the content ecosystem, as fees are distributed to creators based on watch time.
However, the subscription cost is relatively high. In the U.S., the individual plan is \$13.99 per month, the family plan is \$22.99 per month, and eligible students can get a discounted rate of \$7.99 per month.
In 2025, YouTube also removed legacy discounts for early users, meaning all users now pay the standard rates.
Cheaper Ways to Subscribe to YouTube Premium
When I was struggling with the high cost of YouTube Premium, I accidentally discovered a more affordable way to get the subscription – sharing a YouTube Premium account. This allows you to split the cost with others, making it a more budget-friendly option.
I have found a few platforms that offer shared YouTube Premium accounts at significantly lower prices. For example, GamsGo offers shared accounts for as low as $4.17, which is nearly 50% cheaper than subscribing directly to YouTube Premium.
Blocking YouTube Ads with AdBlock
AdBlock is a free browser extension that blocks YouTube video ads, pop-ups, and tracking ads by intercepting ad requests and hiding unwanted page elements, making your viewing experience smoother and more enjoyable.
AdBlock Installation Guide
To block YouTube ads with AdBlock, you first need to install the extension in your browser. AdBlock is compatible with major browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.
Simply go to your browser’s extension store, search for “AdBlock,” and click “Add.” The extension will be automatically added to your browser and will start blocking ads right away once installed.
Adblock Can Block All Kinds of Ads
AdBlock can effectively block all video ads, ensuring uninterrupted playback while you're watching videos.
When browsing the web, it filters out banner ads, pop-up ads, and native ads disguised as recommended content. It also blocks tracking ads that collect user behavior data, helping reduce the risk of data leaks.
However, it’s important to note that AdBlock cannot block in-app ads on mobile platforms or sponsored content directly embedded by creators in their videos.
AdBlock Pros and Cons
AdBlock is a browser extension, which means it only blocks ads when you're watching YouTube videos through a web browser. It doesn't work within the official YouTube app.
However, its core features are completely free to use. The developers rely on voluntary donations and optional whitelisted partners to support their work, and users can easily disable ad whitelisting at any time in the settings.
While some third-party app stores may offer “AdBlock Pro” or similar paid versions, the official AdBlock team has made it clear that its core ad-blocking service will always remain free.
AdBlock also works across various browsers and devices, making it a convenient option for everyday users looking to quickly improve their viewing experience.
Why Isn’t My AdBlock Blocking Ads?
Even after installing AdBlock, you might still see ads on YouTube for several reasons:
AdBlock is not enabled: If ads are still showing, first check that AdBlock is active. Make sure it hasn’t been paused and that YouTube isn’t added to your whitelist.
Using Incognito/Private Mode: Extensions like AdBlock are often disabled in private browsing modes by default, such as Chrome’s Incognito, Edge’s InPrivate, or Firefox’s Private Browsing.
Filter lists are outdated: AdBlock relies on regularly updated filter lists to block ads. If you’re still seeing ads occasionally, try refreshing the page or waiting for the latest filters to take effect.
Overall, AdBlock is a powerful ad-blocking tool that effectively blocks most YouTube ads. It's compatible with most major browsers, and its core features are completely free. Users can easily enhance their viewing experience with a simple installation and setup.
Blocking YouTube Ads with YouTube Vanced
YouTube Vanced is a modified, third-party YouTube app for Android devices that offers premium features like ad-free playback, background play, and forced picture-in-picture mode without the need for a paid subscription. It also supports high-resolution playback and automatic skipping of sponsored segments, providing a cleaner, more personalized viewing experience.
YouTube Vanced Installation Guide
To install YouTube Vanced, start by downloading and installing the Vanced Manager APK through your mobile browser. Once installed, open the app, select the “Nonroot” installation option, and first install Vanced MicroG (required for Google login).
Then, proceed to install YouTube Vanced. After everything is set up, you’ll see the YouTube Vanced icon on your home screen—tap it to start enjoying an ad-free YouTube experience.
YouTube Vanced Can Block All Types of Ads
YouTube Vanced effectively blocks almost all types of ads, offering a completely ad-free viewing experience from the moment you open the app to the end of each video. It delivers a near YouTube Premium-like experience without any interruptions, including pre-roll, mid-roll, and banner ads.
YouTube Vanced Pros and Cons
YouTube Vanced is not officially supported by Google and must be installed from third-party sources, which come with potential security risks.
That said, it’s completely free to use, and the development team has emphasized that the app is non-profit—no subscription is required to access any of its features, making it an ideal choice for users on a budget.
It includes premium-like features such as background play, so you can keep watching or listening even when your screen is off or while using other apps.
Vanced also bypasses network speed limitations, allowing you to manually select 1080p or higher resolution even on slower connections.
It can also automatically skip sponsored segments within videos, offering a smoother and more seamless viewing experience.
Tip: YouTube Vanced Has Stopped Updating
YouTube Vanced officially stopped receiving updates in March 2022. This means it is no longer compatible with future YouTube interface changes, which could eventually lead to broken features or incompatibility with YouTube’s services as their APIs evolve.
However, you can switch to YouTube ReVanced as an alternative. ReVanced is a community-driven successor to Vanced, created by independent developers to continue maintaining and improving the features that made Vanced popular.
In summary, YouTube Vanced is a third-party modified YouTube app that offers premium features like ad-free playback, background play, and forced picture-in-picture mode, allowing users to enjoy a YouTube Premium-like experience without a paid subscription.
But what about iOS users? Since this method only works on Android, how can they block YouTube ads?
Blocking YouTube Ads with AdGuard
You can use AdGuard to block ads on iOS. It’s a powerful ad-blocking tool available across multiple platforms, including browser extensions, desktop apps, and mobile devices (iOS and Android).
This section focuses on how to use AdGuard on iOS to enjoy ad-free YouTube playback.
AdGuard Installation Guide for iOS
First, download and install AdGuard from the App Store. Then go to your device settings, enable AdGuard, and set its permissions to “Allow” or “Ask.” Next, open Safari, tap the puzzle icon, and enable AdGuard from the extensions menu.
AdGuard Can Block All Kinds of Ads
AdGuard can effectively block a wide range of digital ads, including banner ads, pop-ups, pre-roll and mid-roll video ads, as well as tracking ads that collect user behavior data across websites. It can also use DNS filtering to block certain in-app ads, such as promotional pop-ups in games.
However, it's important to note that deeply embedded native ads and sponsored segments added by creators may be difficult to fully block.
AdGuard Pros and Cons
Due to limitations of the iOS platform, AdGuard’s ad-blocking capabilities are primarily focused on ads within the Safari browser. It cannot directly block ads inside apps, and users need to share videos to the AdGuard player to enjoy ad-free playback.
AdGuard Premium requires a paid subscription—\$0.99 per month, \$4.99 per year, or a one-time lifetime purchase for \$12.99. AdGuard Pro is a separate one-time purchase, typically priced around \$9.99.
Although it is relatively expensive and has platform limitations, the iOS version of AdGuard combines content filtering with DNS filtering to provide system-level ad blocking.
It features a comprehensive set of filter rules that effectively block both web and in-app ads, while also stopping online trackers.
Enabling advanced protection significantly boosts AdGuard’s effectiveness, offering more robust defense against intrusive ads and tracking scripts.
To sum up, AdGuard is a powerful ad-blocking tool that effectively blocks various types of digital ads, including banner ads, pop-ups, video ads, and tracking ads that collect user behavior data. It also uses DNS filtering to block certain in-app ads, such as promotional pop-ups in games.
Blocking YouTube Ads with VPNs
A VPN acts as a secure proxy for your internet connection by rerouting your traffic through its servers. This not only helps bypass geo-restrictions but also protects your data from being monitored or throttled by your local internet service provider.
By filtering or redirecting internet traffic, a VPN can also reduce the number of ads that load on your device, offering a cleaner browsing experience.
VPN Setup Guide
On Android devices, you can download and install a popular VPN like NordVPN from the Google Play Store. After logging in, simply enable the ad-blocking feature and connect to a server.
iPhone/iPad users can download a VPN app from the App Store and follow the prompts to allow VPN configuration.
Windows users can install a VPN client from the official website or Microsoft Store, log in, and connect to any server.
MacOS users can download a VPN app from the official website or the Mac App Store, log in, and connect to a server.
VPN Can Block Display Ads
While a VPN can effectively block static banner ads, sidebar ads, tracking ads, and region-specific ads, it typically cannot block pre-roll ads, mid-roll ads, sponsored content from creators, or promoted videos in the feed, as these are embedded directly into the video stream.
VPN Pros and Cons
While a VPN can effectively block some display ads and pop-ups on websites, it’s largely ineffective against pre-roll and mid-roll video ads, and may also slow down your connection.
Compared to dedicated ad blockers, VPNs generally offer lower value for ad-blocking purposes and may even pose potential data privacy risks depending on the provider.
VPN pricing varies widely in a competitive market, typically ranging from $1.50 to $15 per month, depending on the service and plan. Some providers also offer “lifetime” subscriptions, with a one-time payment of around $80 to $300—an option suited for long-term users looking to invest upfront.
All in all, using a VPN can help block some YouTube ads, such as banner and pop-up ads, by routing traffic through secure servers. However, it can't block in-video ads like pre-roll or mid-roll ads. While VPNs offer privacy and security benefits, they may slow down your connection and are less effective than dedicated ad blockers.
What’s the Best Way to Block YouTube Ads in 2025?
We’ve explored various methods for blocking YouTube ads, each with its pros and cons. To help you choose the most effective option, we’ve created the table below.
We’ve also provided overall recommendations for blocking YouTube ads in the summary below.
| Method | Monthly Cost | Recommendation Index |
| Subscribe to YouTube Premium | About $18.90 | ★★★★★ |
| Use AdBlock | Free | ★★★★ |
| Use YouTube Vanced | Free | ★★★★ |
| Use AdGuard | Free | ★★★ |
| Use VPN | No fixed price | ★★★ |
Conclusion
When watching YouTube videos, there are several ways to avoid ads—tools like AdBlock, YouTube Vanced, and AdGuard can block nearly all types of ads, while VPNs can help filter out display ads.
However, if you're looking for the best overall experience, YouTube Premium remains the top choice. And by purchasing it through a sharing platform, you can enjoy all the benefits at a much more affordable price.
FAQ about How to Stop YouTube Ads
How do I disable personalized ads on YouTube?
You can turn off personalized ads through your Google Account settings. Simply visit the Google Ads Personalization page and toggle off the "Ad Personalization" option. However, this will not completely block all ads. For a fully ad-free experience, consider subscribing to YouTube Premium or using browser extensions and ad-blocking apps.
How do I remove YouTube ads on a Mac?
On macOS, you can block YouTube ads by enabling AdBlock Pro or a similar video ad-blocking extension in the Safari settings. If you’re using iOS/iPadOS 15 or later, you can also access YouTube via Safari with ad-blocking enabled. For iOS/iPadOS 14 and earlier versions, a standalone ad-blocking app may be necessary.
How can I remove YouTube ads completely?
The most straightforward way to watch YouTube without ads is to subscribe to YouTube Premium, which provides an ad-free experience across YouTube and YouTube Kids. Alternatively, you can use free methods like ad blockers, VPNs, or modified apps like YouTube ReVanced and NewPipe, though these approaches may come with certain limitations and risks.
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