What Adblock Plus is
The extension blocks pop-ups, banners, video ads, and many third-party trackers using filter lists, with per-site pausing and custom rules. Its developer documents that Acceptable Ads is on by default and can be switched off in settings; Premium adds cookie-banner and distraction blocking rather than stronger ad blocking.
Feature coverage
- Filter-list ad and tracker blocking
- Per-site pause and allowlisting
- Acceptable Ads toggle in settings
What stands out
- Enormous adoption over many years
- Free and open source, per the developer
- Updated October 2026
Tradeoffs to know
- Acceptable Ads on by default
- Cookie-banner hiding is Premium-only
- Broad page access is central to blocking
Is Adblock Plus safe to use?
Adblock Plus is safe to use: it is open source, declares no data collection on its listing, and has one of the largest public records in the store. Its access is broad because blocking needs it. The real caveat is policy rather than safety: Acceptable Ads are allowed by default, so some ads remain until you opt out.
Page access Broad
Requests page-content access across sites. Broad access is not itself a red flag — the question is whether the job justifies the reach, and whether the publisher's record earns it.
Blocking requests and hiding page elements requires access to every site you load. The listing itself notes that Chrome's install prompt mentions access to browsing history and data and calls that message standard. Pausing on specific sites or limiting site access trades blocking coverage for less access.
Store-disclosed data
The listing carries the developer’s declaration that it will not collect or use your data.
The listing carries the developer's declaration that it does not collect or use user data. eyeo's privacy policy describes what does reach its servers: filter-list downloads and update checks send browser and extension versions with an IP address, which it hashes for statistics. Preferences and custom filters stay in your browser.
Does Adblock Plus show some ads by default?
Yes. Adblock Plus says Acceptable Ads is on by default, allowing ads that meet the Acceptable Ads Standard. In Chrome you can turn it off from the extension's settings, on the General tab, by unchecking Allow Acceptable Ads.
Does Adblock Plus collect my browsing data?
The listing declares no data collection. eyeo's privacy policy says filter-list updates send technical details such as browser version and IP address, which it hashes for usage statistics, while your settings and custom filters stay in the browser.
Why does Adblock Plus need access to all websites?
To block ad and tracker requests and hide ad elements on whatever page loads. That access is inherent to a full content blocker; uBlock Origin Lite is the option in our catalog that filters by default without reading page content.
How we judge this: our extension safety guide · how we rate
Pricing
Free and open source; optional paid Premium adds cookie-banner and distraction blocking. Pricing and plan limits change more often than store metadata, so use the linked developer page as the final check before subscribing.
Alternatives
Head-to-head comparisons
Sources
We used the official Chrome Web Store listing and first-party developer material. Public metrics can change after the fact-check date.
- Chrome Web Store listing
Rating, rating count, public users, version, update date, and publisher disclosures verified 2026-10-12.
- Adblock Plus product documentation
First-party product, feature, support, or project documentation used for workflow context.
- Extension Reviewer methodology
How public claims, permissions, evidence, and tradeoffs are reviewed.
Read next
More in Privacy & security
- 1Password
- Bitwarden
- Dashlane
- Decentraleyes
- Disconnect — Tracker Protection
- DuckDuckGo Search & Tracker Protection
- Keeper Password Manager
- LastPass
- Malwarebytes Browser Guard
- Proton Pass
- Proton VPN
- RoboForm
- Windscribe