Ad-blockers are a growing market, with PageFair estimating they will cost publishers nearly $22 billion during 2015. German tabloid bild, owned by the company Axel Springer, announced on 13 October that adblock users would be banned from the site or pay a monthly fee to browse ad-free.
Assuming the bild model doesn’t catch on for a while, CBR has rounded up some of the best ad-blockers for mobile.
1. Adblock Plus for Android
Adblock software is available on the major desktop browsers such as Firefox and Google Chrome, so an Android version is a natural fit. There are a range of features such as disabling tracking, malware domains and social media buttons.
Unfortunately Google has blocked AdBlock from the Google Play Store, so the app is only available for download from Adblock’s own site.
2. Weblock
Weblock is the most popular ad blocking solution on iOS, launched in 2012 and used by over 500,000 people worldwide. There is a basic version for free or a Pro version for a one-off payment of $2.99 that adds the ability to remove social media widgets and other features.
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The application works on browsers such as Chrome and Mercury, not just Apple’s own Safari. It works while you are connected to wi-fi only, not on cellular networks.
3. Ad Clean & Antivirus Security
The app helps you to find apps with aggressive ads, such as anonymous and floating ads. These include push ads, shortcut ads, float ads and popup ads on the home screen. However, it does not block normal in-app ads, allowing it to be listed on Google Play.
Unlike other apps on this list, this one provides real-time protection from viruses, Trojans, malware and spyware.
4. Crystal
Launched on 9 October, this content blocker for iOS installs directly into the Safari browser, blocking adverts and user tracking. The app costs $0.99 from the App Store.
The British founder, Dean Murphy, created the software in an effort to boost page performance on the mobile web. Crystal claims on its website that it can boost web performance by 4 times and slash data use by 50 percent.
5. TrustGo Ad Detector
Ads can collect information from you and then use it for targeted marketing campaigns. Methods can include pushing ads to the notification bar or creating unauthorised shortcuts on the home screen.
This app for Android can detect ads from over 100 mobile advertising networks around the world. It scans your phone for potential privacy violations and identity leaks. It is free and available from Google Play.
