Adblock Fast vs Adblock Plus

Adblock Fast is a free ad blocker for desktop computers and mobile browsers. It uses 12 optimized filtering rules derived from EasyList and Bluhell Firewall; the maker says these rules are intended to speed page loading while using less CPU, memory and storage. On Android it blocks ads in Samsung Internet 4.0 and later, and on iOS it works in Safari. The maker lists support for Windows 7 and later and a Chrome desktop extension; the repository marks Opera support as discontinued. In Chrome, the toolbar button can disable blocking for a site, and the choice is remembered when a user returns. Mobile users can choose the default Fast rules or an experimental Faster mode with more comprehensive, current rules. The maker says Faster mode anonymously crawls common websites using background bandwidth without cookies or other personal information. The blocker intercepts HTTP traffic and injects CSS and JavaScript into visited pages to block requests and hide ad elements. Its code is open source under the GNU General Public License version 3 or later, subject to listed exceptions. The app does not block ads in other Android or iOS apps.

Adblock Plus is a browser extension and mobile ad-blocking product that filters ads, third-party tracking requests and malicious domains using lists such as EasyList and EasyPrivacy. It blocks formats including video ads, banners, pop-ups and pop-unders, and can disable social buttons. Acceptable Ads are enabled by default, but users can turn that feature off. Users can also remove default filter lists, add other lists or create their own. EasyPrivacy targets tracking domains, fingerprinting scripts, analytics requests and data-collection domains. The desktop add-on supports Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge, Opera and Yandex Browser. Mobile options include a Safari app for iOS, a product for Samsung Internet on Android and the separate Adblock Browser. The extension can access page URLs and content to block or hide ads; it does not track browsing history, record form typing or alter submitted data. Free ad blocking is available. Premium is listed at $4 a month or $40 a year.