Advertisements have become a major problem on the internet, and it’s no surprise that many are seeking a solution to this problem. Websites increasingly rely on ads and have focused on monetization over content. It’s now common to find websites with more ads than content, making navigation annoying.
Many people think excessive ads are an inescapable part of the internet, but that’s false. A straightforward solution to this problem is an ad-blocker, a software tool that detects and thwarts ads at their source. The Stands Free AdBlocker is one of the best such tools, and we’re reviewing it to help you decide whether it’s worth adopting. This review will cover its features, pricing, user-friendliness, customer support, and other vital aspects.
Stands Free AdBlocker: Plans and Pricing
The name of this tool already hints that you don’t need to pay to use it. The Stands Free AdBlocker is free to download and use, which is its main selling point. Unlike many rivals, this ad blocker is supported by user donations.
The Stands Free AdBlocker works as a browser extension or Android-only mobile app. With either option, you can enjoy free ad blocking.
(Image credit: Future / Stefan Ionescu)
Stands Free Adblocker: Features
Downloading and installing the Stands Free AdBlocker is noticeably easy. Head to the official website, select your browser, click the download button, and you're ready. Alternatively, you can search for "Stands Free Adblocker" on your relevant browser extension store and download it there. Stands offers Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Vivaldi, and Brave extensions. There’s also an Android app but no iOS app.
We installed the extension for this review, and it was conveniently added to our browser toolbar. To start, we checked Forbes.com to see how many ads the extension would block. Forbes.com is known for serving many ads and true to form, the Stands AdBlocker blocked 22 elements on the web page. We liked that the extension gave details about the number of elements blocked on each page, making it easy to verify that it’s performing its work.
You’ll see a similar report as above when you visit any website with the Stands AdBlocker activated. Simply click the icon on your toolbar, and you can see this report.
If you find any element that Stands AdBlocker can’t block, you can click the + Block Element button and click on the element you want to block. For example, here’s the Forbes.com homepage at the time of our review:
(Image credit: Future / Stefan Ionescu)
Below is the homepage after we blocked several elements. What’s the difference? removed several images and text from the homepage. This feature lets you remove any element you’re uncomfortable with and continue surfing a website as usual.
(Image credit: Future / Stefan Ionescu)
The Stands AdBlocker gives you considerable control over your ad-blocking settings. You might have some trusted websites you want to keep showing ads, e.g., your local news site. In that case, you can add the domain to your list of whitelisted sites, and Stands AdBlocker won’t block ads on it. It’ll keep blocking ads on other domains, but the whitelisted domains are off-limits. This feature is helpful when you have some trusted news sites you want to support by allowing them to keep showing ads.
This ad-blocker also lets you exempt specific domains from popup-blocking. Any domain you add to the "Popup allowed sites" list can keep showing you popups, unlike other websites where the ad-blocker detects and blocks annoying popups.
The Stands AdBlocker doesn't just block display ads and popups. It also blocks sophisticated ads, such as Facebook Ads, Search ads, Webmail ads, and Sponsored Links. You can control what the extension should block and what it shouldn't, and the same goes for the Android app.
This ad blocker offers a “Fair Ads” program that lets you show ads on select sites that have agreed to adhere to strict standards of displaying ads professionally. However, unlike other ad blockers, this feature is optional and switched off by default.
(Image credit: Future / Stefan Ionescu)
Stands Free AdBlocker: Interface and In-Use
The Stands AdBlocker has a neat interface that’s easy to navigate. Everything from download to installation to continuous use is seamless. The interface employs sufficient color contrast and well-spaced elements that enable easy navigation. You can easily find any feature you want and change your configurations.
The drawback we observed in this area is that the Stands AdBlocker lacks an iOS app even though it has an Android app.
Stands Free AdBlocker: Customer Support
The Stands AdBlocker provides significant support resources despite being a free tool. When facing issues, you can contact a dedicated support email for help. You can also send bug reports, such as incorrect blocking, for the developers to fix.
The official website has a FAQ section that contains detailed answers to common questions. You can use this FAQ section to troubleshoot the app when facing any issues. Stands AdBlocker is a free tool, meaning users aren’t entitled to support, but the developers go a long way in helping users solve their problems.
Stands Free AdBlocker: The Competition
There’s no shortage of competition in the ad blocker software sector. Two competitors we’d like to highlight areuBlock Originand Ghostery. These are free ad blockers that provide features similar to the Stands AdBlocker.
The Stands AdBlocker shines above these rivals by having an Android app, which you’ll rarely find in a free ad-blocking tool. Apart from the app, the Stands AdBlocker isn’t much different than uBlock Origin and Ghostery.
Stands Free AdBlocker: Final Verdict
We can confidently recommend the Stands AdBlocker to anyone seeking a tool to improve their browsing experience. This tool blocks ads effectively and without charging users a dime, with a user-friendly interface that makes navigation easy. We only found a few drawbacks, such as the lack of an iOS app, but the advantages greatly outweigh the disadvantages.
Advertisements have become a thorn in the internet’s flesh. Many websites rely on ads to fund themselves, and ads don’t pay so much except for publishers with big numbers. This factor has led many publishers to focus too much on advertisements over content and inadvertently ruin users’ experience.
Ask an internet user about their everyday problems, and you’ll likely hear about ads. Excessive ads have made many cherished websites challenging to use, angering users. Fortunately, there’s a proven solution to this problem: an ad blocker.
Ad blockers detect and restrict ads from their source, allowing you to surf the web without encountering obnoxious content. AdBlock is one of the best ad blockers available, and it’s free to use. We’re reviewing AdBlock to help you decide whether it’s worth adopting, covering its features, interface, customer support, and other essential aspects.
AdBlock: Plans and Pricing
AdBlock is a free browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Samsung Internet. It allows you to enjoy ad-free browsing without paying a dime, but there’s a catch. AdBlock is maintained by Eyeo GmbH, a German company that also offers a paid product called AdBlock Plus.
AdBlock Plus offers more advanced features than AdBlock, e.g., a mobile app. One of the main drawbacks we observed when using AdBlock was frequent popups advertising the AdBlock Plus offering. Sure, AdBlock effectively blocks ads, but showing its own ad felt off-putting. However, we could understand that as the small price for enjoying a free ad blocker.
(Image credit: Future / Stefan Ionescu)
AdBlock: Features
Our test began with downloading the AdBlock extension from the Chrome extension store, and the process was smooth. Downloading and adding the extension took less than a minute, and we began our journey to test every nook and cranny of this app.
AdBlock is a free tool, but after downloading it, we noticed a prompt requesting a possible donation to the development team. This donation is optional, so you don't have to pay any dime, but you're free to chip in a one-off, monthly, or annual contribution if you’re delighted with the app.
Like most ad blockers, AdBlock scans and checks your browser requests against filtering rules. The app has built-in lists of domains known to serve ads and trackers, and it blocks any request to such domains on your browser. Hence, you'll see an empty space in those slots where ads usually appear.
AdBlock gives you details about the advertisements it has detected and blocked. For example, we opened Forbes.com, and AdBlock indicated blocking 8 ads from the browser. You’ll see the stats for every website you visit, helping you verify that AdBlock is doing its job.
Of course, you might not want to block all ads entirely. You may have some trusted sites that you want to permit to show ads. AdBlock lets you customize your configurations, allowing ads to be displayed on specific domains. You can exempt as many domains as you want from ad blocking.
We noticed that AdBlock is one of the few ad blockers we’ve reviewed that allows “Acceptable Ads,” i.e., ads the developers deem non-intrusive. Some publishers participate in the Acceptable Ads program, agreeing to adhere to standards that make their ads non-intrusive. Acceptable Ads are enabled by default, but you can head to the settings page and turn them off if you don’t want to see any ads.
We also observed that the AdBlock extension collects some browsing data, which the developers presumably sell to make money. You can also opt out of this default feature. Despite its effectiveness in blocking ads, we consider the Acceptable Ads program and default data collection drawbacks to using this platform, unlike some free and open-source rivals that have no acceptable ads program or collect any browsing data.
AdBlock is free, but valuable features are hidden behind the AdBlock Plus subscription, such as the cookie consent cutter, custom themes, backup & sync, and image swap (swapping ads with pictures of cats, dogs, and nature). Some ad blockers offer these features for free, but that’s not the case with AdBlock.
(Image credit: Future / Stefan Ionescu)
AdBlock: Interface and In-Use
AdBlock has a user-friendly interface you’ll likely enjoy using. We didn’t face any noteworthy difficulties downloading and using the extension. It works smoothly, and the settings app is designed to be easy to understand. We liked that we could see detailed stats about the ads blocked over time and switch between different settings without hassles.
The main drawback we observed in this criterion is that AdBlock lacks a mobile app. Only AdBlock Plus subscribers can access a mobile app to block ads while surfing the web on their smartphone.
(Image credit: Future / Stefan Ionescu)
AdBlock: Customer Support
AdBlock is a free tool, so don’t expect much customer support. There’s no support team to contact as a free user, so you must figure out most issues yourself. However, we appreciate that AdBlock provides a detailed Knowledge Base and FAQ section on its website. The website contains tutorials about AdBlock features and in-depth answers to customers' common questions. You can always consult it for help if you face any issues with the app.
AdBlock: The Competition
AdBlock has competitors you should know about, such as uBlock Origin and Ghostery. These are two effective ad-blockers you can use free of charge, just like AdBlock. They are suitable alternatives but don’t offer much to make them stand out from AdBlock.
AdBlock: Final Verdict
AdBlock is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a free ad blocker to make your browsing experience more enjoyable. It doesn’t offer much outside ad-blocking (except if you’re on the premium AdBlock Plus subscription). However, it does its job very well and significantly improves your browsing experience.
Given the internet’s current state, we wouldn’t fault you for seeking a tool to block ads from your browsing experience. Many websites have focused too much on monetization over content and contain obnoxious advertisements. You can encounter web pages with half-ads, half-content or even more ads than content. Let’s not talk about those bizarre, clickbaity ads you’d find on some news sites.
Many people assume that annoying ads are an inescapable part of the internet, but that isn’t true. There’s a simple solution to this problem: an ad blocker. AdBlock Plus is a browser extension that detects and removes ads from your browser and allows you to surf the web seamlessly. It’s one of the most prominent ad blockers, and we’re reviewing it to help you decide whether it’s worth adopting. Our review will cover its features, pricing, user-friendliness, customer support, and other essential aspects.
AdBlock Plus: Plans and Pricing
AdBlock Plus offers a free version that blocks typical display ads. However, you need to upgrade to AdBlock Plus Premium to block additional distractions like newsletter popups, cookie consent popups, and floating videos.
The Premium version can be paid for monthly or annually. The monthly plan costs $4, and the annual plan costs $40, a 17% savings compared to paying monthly. You can start with the free plan to test AdBlock Plus's features and upgrade to the premium plan if you're satisfied with what you see.
If you change your mind after paying for a subscription, you can request a full refund within 120 days of payment. 120 days is one of the longest money-back guarantee periods we’ve encountered in any software tool.
(Image credit: Future / Stefan Ionescu)
AdBlock Plus: Features
You can download AdBlock Plus as a browser extension or download the mobile app (iOS and Android). AdBlock offers extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge, Opera, and the Yandex Browser. Having numerous browser extensions plus iOS and Android apps makes AdBlock Plus one of the most widely compatible ad-blockers we’ve encountered.
Our test began with downloading the AdBlock Plus extension on different browsers. Installation was quick and easy, taking less than a minute. We also downloaded the mobile app from the Play Store and App Store, and the process was seamless.
The first thing we observed was that AdBlock Plus gave details about the advertisements it blocked for each website we visited. To test, we opened “Forbes.com,” and the extension showed that it blocked 12 ads. We checked other domains and got relevant statistics about the number of blocked ads, letting us verify that the extension performs its work effectively.
This platform maintains extensive lists of domains known to serve ads and trackers. It scans and checks your browser requests against these lists, blocking any ad or tracker-serving domain from showing or installing anything on your browser.
AdBlock Plus lets you block specific elements on a website that you don’t want to see. Click on the Block element option and click on the element you want to remove– AdBlock Plus will prevent that element from showing henceforth.
Of course, you might have some trusted websites you want to allow to show ads. For example, you might love your local news site and want it to keep showing you ads as a means of support. AdBlock Plus lets you add websites to your allowlist, permitting ads to show on these sites while blocking the rest.
Our testing showed that AdBlock Plus is very good at blocking display ads to improve your browsing experience. However, this tool doesn't block popups and floating videos except you upgrade to the Premium plan. With the advent of constant cookie popups from websites, having a tool to block these popups makes your browsing experience much better.
Another drawback we observed is that AdBlock Plus allows "Acceptable Ads" by default, i.e., ads the platform deems non-intrusive. However, you can switch off acceptable ads from the settings page.
The free version of AdBlock Plus gives you access to complementary features, such as blocking all online trackers, push notifications, and social media icons.
(Image credit: Future / Stefan Ionescu)
AdBlock Plus: Interface and In-Use
AdBlock Plus offers a user-friendly interface we didn’t have any issues navigating. The interface is neatly arranged, with sufficient color contrast and well-placed elements, making it easy to find any feature you want. The configurations page is easy to understand, and you can customize your dashboard to a large extent, e.g., turn off notifications or ad-blocking statistics. You can control AdBlock Plus's filter lists or add custom filters to block ads effectively. AdBlock scores excellently in the user-friendliness criterion.
(Image credit: Future / Stefan Ionescu)
AdBlock Plus: Customer Support
AdBlock Plus offers extensive customer support resources. When facing any issues with the app, you can start with the official Help Center, which contains answers to common questions and guides concerning all AdBlock Plus features. If unsatisfied with the Help Center, you can email AdBlock Plus’s support team and await a response. However, understandably, the support team prioritizes paying users over non-paying ones.
AdBlock Plus also has an official support forum where users often exchange solutions to each other’s problems. Free-tier users can visit this forum to file a complaint and get help from fellow users.
AdBlock Plus: The Competition
uBlock Origin and AdGuard are two prominent competitors to AdBlock Plus. uBlock Origin is a free tool offering similar features as AdBlock Plus, and it’s one of the best ad-blockers you can choose. However, uBlock Origin has no mobile app– it only has browser extensions.
AdGuard is a freemium ad-blocking tool that offers extensions and a mobile app. It’s a good and reasonably priced alternative to AdBlock Plus.
AdBlock Plus: Final Verdict
After testing AdBlock Plus, we can confidently recommend it as an ad-blocking solution to any interested user. It effectively blocks ads and helps you enjoy your browsing experience. We observed a few drawbacks, but the pros outweigh the cons by a huge margin.
Most websites depend on advertisements for monetization. However, many websites focus so much on ad monetization that they, unfortunately, ruin the user experience. You might see a website with ads covering the content you want to read or too many ads and too little text.
Ads can disrupt the browsing experience, but there’s a solution to this dilemma. You can download an ad-blocking tool like Privacy Badger to surf the web without seeing disruptive ads.
We’re reviewing Privacy Badger to help you decide if it’s a good ad blocker to choose. We’ll examine its features, pricing, and other key characteristics so that you can make an informed decision. Follow us as we review this product.
Privacy Badger: Plans and Pricing
The best thing about Privacy Badger is that it’s free to use. Unlike most rival software, you don’t need to pay a dime to block ads and trackers with this tool. Privacy Badger is run by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a prominent American digital rights group. The EFF offers Privacy Badger for free as part of its mission to promote digital privacy.
Privacy Badger is a smart choice if you’re looking for a tool to help brighten your browsing experience at no cost.
(Image credit: Future / Stefan Ionescu)
Privacy Badger: Features
Privacy Badger is available as a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera. You can head to the official website and follow the download link for your specific browser. Alternatively, you can search for “Privacy Badger” directly on your browser’s extension store.
For this review, we first tested Privacy Badger on the Chrome browser. Downloading the software took less than a minute, and we got the work.
Privacy Badger is unique because it doesn’t block ads based on domain lists like most other tools. Instead, it employs algorithms to study your browsing activity and automatically discover trackers based on their behaviour. This method enables Privacy Badger to detect and block trackers that typical ad-blockers can’t find. However, it means that some ads can slip through the cracks, e.g., the software wasn’t able to block YouTube ads during our test.
This software focuses more on blocking web trackers than ad-blocking even though it performs both jobs effectively. Ads are just one part of tracking; Privacy Badger protects you from additional forms.
After downloading the extension, it automatically activates Global Privacy Control on your browser, sending opt-out signals to all sites that you don’t want your data shared or sold. It also activates the Do Not Track signal instructing websites not to track your browsing activity. If any website ignores this signal, Privacy Badger's algorithms can discover and block them. This software is good at detecting sneaky trackers that similar tools might find difficult to discover.
Privacy Badger employs a three-strike rule, wherein it starts blocking once it notices a tracker on three different websites. But, you might sometimes observe the extension breaking a page or feature on a website, e.g., a video. In that case, you can simply disable Privacy Badger for the specific site while protecting your privacy on others. You can also report the error so that the EFF can take a look and implement possible remedies.
A noticeable drawback is that Privacy Badger lacks a mobile app, unlike some prominent ad-blockers like AdGuard and AdLock. It only works directly on a desktop browser or the Android Firefox browser. Outside that, you can’t use Privacy Badger to detect and remove trackers while surfing the web on your mobile phone. This drawback often discourages potential users that want to use the same ad blocking tool on their desktop or smartphone.
To recap, Privacy Badger doesn't focus directly on ads. Instead, it blocks the tracking aspects, which accounts for 99% of today's advertising issues anyway. Some types of ads can slip through, but they're usually the non-intrusive types.
Privacy Badger: Interface and In-Use
Privacy Badger has a simple interface that’s easy to navigate. After downloading the extension, you can pin it at the top of your browser to open every time. Once the extension is installed, it automatically starts detecting and blocking trackers. If you observe any issues on a site, you can click on the extension and then disable the extension for that specific site. You can also tweak the extension’s settings to suit your needs better.
The Privacy Badger extension gives you a live view of the trackers it has detected and blocked. This way, you can easily verify that the tool is performing its job.
(Image credit: Future / Stefan Ionescu)
Privacy Badger: Customer Support
Privacy Badger is a free and open-source tool, so you shouldn’t expect much in the customer support category. There’s no designated support personnel to contact if things go wrong. The best you can do is report the issue to the EFF team and hope for a review.
However, there’s a thriving online community of privacy-focused users on sites like Reddit, Twitter, and Facebook. If you need any help concerning this extension, you can ask online and receive responses from such users. Many skilled developers are willing to contribute their expertise because Privacy Badger gives them something valuable for free.
Privacy Badger: The Competition
There’s no shortage of competition when it comes to ad-blocking tools. Privacy Badger competes with many well-known tools, such as AdLock and AdGuard. Privacy Badger’s selling point is being a free and open-source tool, unlike most rivals you have to pay for.
However, Privacy Badger lacks advanced customer support and a mobile app like AdLock and AdGuard. With Privacy Badger, you’re trading some convenience to use a free tool.
Privacy Badger: Final Verdict
If you’re looking for an effective tool to block ads and third-party trackers, look no further than Privacy Badger. This free tool goes a long way in making your browsing experience safe and convenient. It’s not perfect at blocking all types of ads, but it works 99% of the time.
A common complaint of internet users is the increasing pervasiveness of ads. Websites increasingly rely on advertisements for revenue, and this reliance has caused many publishers to focus on ads above offering valuable content. It’s now common to find websites fit with more ads than content, annoying users in the process.
However, there’s a simple solution to this problem: an ad blocker. Ad blockers detect and block ads from their roots so they can’t appear on your browser. Even then, you’re free to allow ads from trusted websites but disable them from the rest.
Surfshark offers one of the best ad blockers with its CleanWeb feature. We’re reviewing this tool to help you decide whether it’s worth adopting. This review will cover essential aspects, including Surfshark CleanWeb’s pricing, features, user interface, and customer support.
Surfshark CleanWeb: Plans and Pricing
CleanWeb is included in all Surfshark VPN plans. The Surfshark Starter plan costs $15.45 monthly. A good thing about Surfshark is that you get heavy discounts if you pay for 12 or 24 months in one go. For example, 12 months on the Starter plan costs $42 instead of $232 if you pay month-to-month, and 24 months of this same plan costs $59 instead of $417 if you pay month-to-month.
However, note that the heavy discount is only for the initial purchase. Once the 12 or 24 months expire, you’ll pay a higher renewal price. Surfshark offers a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee period. Unfortunately, this platform lacks a free plan.
(Image credit: Future / Stefan Ionescu)
Surfshark CleanWeb: Features
Surfshark is available as a browser extension or desktop/mobile app. You can download and install it seamlessly from the Surfshark website or your relevant app store.
This platform is best known as a Virtual Private Network (VPN), which encrypts browsing activity by creating a tunnel between your device and a remote internet server. A VPN lets you surf the web without revealing your identity to ISPs and third parties. You can control your location and bypass content geo-restrictions; Surfshark has servers in 100+ countries.
You can turn on CleanWeb in the Surfshark VPN settings. Once it’s switched on, the app starts blocking ads and trackers while you surf the web. The good thing is that you can use CleanWeb even while the Surfshark VPN is off.
Surfshark uses sophisticated techniques to block ads. It maintains a database of ad-serving domains and thwarts any browser request from these domains, meaning you won't see ads from them. This platform helps block malicious ads so that you don’t fall victim.
However, you might have trusted websites you want to see ads on. For example, you might love a particular news site and want to support it by allowing it to show ads. In that case, you can add the specific website to the bypass list, and Surfshark will allow its ads to show.
Excessive ads annoy users, use significant bandwidth, and slow down browsing speed. Removing these ads with Surfshark speeds up your browsing experience and makes it more enjoyable.
Another annoyance you’ll often encounter on the web is those incessant pop-ups asking for consent to install cookies on your browser. This annoyance emerged since the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) took effect in 2018, requiring explicit consent to install cookies and trackers. However, Surfshark solves this problem by setting an automatic no-consent response, and you won’t see the constant popups again.
A good thing we observed while testing Surfshark is that it provides details about the ads and trackers it has blocked. You can see how many trackers and ads it discovers and blocks on every web page. These details enable you to confirm that the app does its job effectively.
The extension version of CleanWeb (2.0) includes additional features like a Data breach alert. You can get immediate alerts whenever your email address appears on a breached database.
(Image credit: Future / Stefan Ionescu)
Surfshark CleanWeb: Interface and In-Use
Surfshark scores high in the criterion of user-friendliness. One of the best things about this platform is its widespread compatibility. It offers browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, as well as apps for desktops (Windows, macOS, and Linux) and mobile devices (iOS and Android). It’s compatible with all the popular desktop and mobile operating systems and browsers.
Surfshark has a simple interface that’s easy to navigate. The dashboard is minimal and uncluttered, with sufficient color contrast to highlight features. You can easily find any features you want and change the configurations. The platform offers a user-friendly interface you’ll likely enjoy using.
Surfshark CleanWeb: Customer Support
Surfshark offers extensive customer support resources. You can start with the FAQs and detailed user guides on the official Knowledge Base. These guides cover every aspect of the platform and should be the first place to consult when you face issues.
You can also contact Surfshark’s support team via email and live chat. The company has a large support team that enables it to offer 24/7 service.
Surfshark CleanWeb: The Competition
There’s no shortage of ad-blocking tools competing with Surfshark CleanWeb. Two competitors we’d like to highlight are Ghostery and Adblock Plus. These are two free ad blockers that make your browsing experience better. They’re effective at removing ads and trackers, and you don’t have to pay a dime to use them.
However, Ghostery and Adblock Plus only offer ad-blocking, while Surfshark offers many other features in addition to ad-blocking.
Surfshark CleanWeb: Final Verdict
Surfshark is an excellent choice you’re looking for an all-in-one security tool that offers an ad-blocker, VPN, and other features in one package. It blocks annoying ads effectively and makes your browsing experience easier. However, there are many free alternatives if you only need an ad-blocking tool and no other complementary feature.
Excessive ads are a common issue on the internet. Ask any internet user one of the main problems they encounter, and you’ll likely hear about too many ads when interacting with content.
Websites increasingly rely on ads to fund themselves, and this trend has driven publishers to focus on monetization over content creation. You might encounter a website with half ads and half content, making browsing miserable. Some might have poorly placed ads that make navigating the site miserable. Regardless, there’s a solution to this issue: an ad blocker.
uBlock Origin is one of the most popular ad blockers for web browsers. It’s also free and open-source, enabling you to avoid annoying ads without paying a dime. We’re reviewing this tool to help you decide whether it’s worth adopting. We’ll cover its important aspects, including features, pricing, interface, and customer support.
uBlock Origin: Plans and Pricing
uBlock Origin is a free tool, one of its main advantages. Raymond Hill, a solo developer, released this tool in 2014 and made it open-source, allowing other developers to contribute to its maintenance and upgrades.
You can download and use uBlock Origin anytime without paying a dime, unlike many competitors that charge monthly or annual fees. Being free has played a vital part in uBlock Origin’s growth to over 37 million downloads on Chrome and 7 million+ on Firefox.
For unclear reasons, uBlock Origin refuses donations, unlike other open-source projects. Instead, it advises interested supporters to donate to some vetted developers who maintain the project.
(Image credit: Future / Stefan Ionescu)
uBlock Origin: Features
uBlock Origin does one thing and does it very well: blocking ads from your browsing experience. This tool is available as an extension for different browsers, including Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Brave, and Safari (before version 13). You can download it from your relevant browser store and block ads immediately.
One thing we enjoyed about testing uBlock Origin is the detailed information the extension provides about the ads and trackers it has blocked. You can see the number of ads blocked on every web page you visit and the cumulative number of ads blocked on that page since you installed uBlock Origin. These stats make it easy to verify that uBlock is doing its job.
uBlock works by filtering out web page elements that disrupt your browsing experience with ads. It acts as a filter for your web traffic: when you request a page and the contents drop into your browser, uBlock checks against a database of filters and block domains that host ads and trackers. This platform doesn't receive any payments for "acceptable ads," which some ad blockers do and serves ads deemed in good standing. uBlock blocks all ads equally.
You might have some websites you trust and want to still see ads on them. For example, there might be an ad-funded news site you like and want their ads to keep showing on your browsers to help the site generate revenue. In that case, you can navigate to your settings and add the website domain to your list of “Trusted Sites.” uBlock disables itself for any website on this list.
uBlock maintains various filtering lists for ads, malware domains, and cookie notices. You can add or disable lists that the extension uses to block ads from your browser. There’s an auto-update setting that enables the list to keep up with continuously changing domains from ad servers.
This extension is available in 36 languages, with a separate ad-block list for each one. Hence, you can browse in many languages without worrying about ads disrupting your user experience.
A very good feature of uBlock Origin is that you can back up your settings and install it on another browser. This feature downloads all your custom settings in a text file, which you can upload to another browser where the uBlock extension is installed. In that case, you’ll see all your custom settings in the second browser just like it was in the first.
The main drawback we observed is that uBlock does not have a desktop or mobile app, unlike some other ad blockers. It’s only available as a browser extension, but that’s understandable for a free tool maintained by a small team.
(Image credit: Future / Stefan Ionescu)
uBlock Origin: Interface and In-Use
uBlock Origin is a noticeably easy-to-use tool, starting from the download and installation. You can head to your relevant browser extension store and download the tool within minutes.
This extension breaks down the apps it has blocked, including the origin domains. You can customize your dashboard to a great extent, changing the theme to light or dark or changing the accent colour. You can toggle the ad-blocking feature on and off instantly. uBlock Origin scores very high in ease of use.
uBlock Origin: Customer Support
Because it’s a free tool, don’t expect much customer support for uBlock Origin. There’s no dedicated team to call to help you resolve any issues you have with the app. You have to figure things out yourself, but we appreciate that the team behind uBlock Origin has released detailed technical documentation concerning all its features. You can check this documentation to find solutions to your issues.
uBlock is a very popular tool, so you can also ask for help on IT forums or IT-related subs on Reddit. Many developers and users are willing to help others become familiar with this ad-blocking tool.
(Image credit: Future / Stefan Ionescu)
uBlock Origin: The Competition
We'd like to highlight two competitors to uBlock Origin: Privacy Badger and Ghostery. These are also free extensions you can use to block ads and improve your browsing experience. However, our tests indicate that uBlock is better at blocking ads, owing to its larger database of ad and tracker-serving domains.
uBlock Origin: Final Verdict
uBlock Origin is an ad-blocking tool we’ll recommend to anyone. It works with most popular browsers and allows you to wipe ads away from your browsing experience without paying a dime. It’s also very easy to use and configure, giving it an edge over most other ad-blockers.
Back in June we spotted the upcoming Galaxy S24 FE in the Geekbench online database, rocking Samsung's own Exynos 2400 chipset, and now another version of the phone has been put through the paces of Geekbench.
Judging by the model number, SM-S721N, this seems to be the variant that will be sold in Samsung's native Korea. Like the other model, this too will be powered by the Exynos 2400.
The prototype that ran Geekbench had 8GB of RAM, and booted Android 14 of course. The Galaxy S24 FE could be getting official sooner, rather than later, since it's recently been seen listed on...
A week after the Realme 13 Pro and 13 Pro+ went on sale in India, the company has started teasing the arrival of the vanilla Realme 13 series. The phones will focus on the “speed trinity”: Chipset, Memory and Charging.
Scrolling a little further down the landing page, there is a mention of the Dimensity 7200. Recently, we saw a Geekbench result from the Realme 13+ with the Dimensity 7300 instead, so the 7200 might be for the base Realme 13.
Not that the Dimensity 7200 is bad – it’s a 4nm (TSMC) chip with 2x Cortex-A715 (2.8GHz) and 6x Cortex-A510 (2.0GHz), plus a Mali-G610 MC4...
The Original PRUSA MK4S is the latest iteration of the iconic 3D printer and once again sticks with the standard Cartesian design. PRUSA Research has retained this design, which means there's an easy upgrade path from the previous version to this latest one. In fact, it's great to see PRUSA offering an upgrade kit from the MK4 to the MK4S at an extremely low price of $99.
The upgrades from the MK4 to the MK4S focus on boosting, overhangs, improving surface quality, filament colour consistency, sharp print edges, and, of course, the speed and dimensional accuracy of prints.
These main enhancements focus on print quality, and much of this is due to the new 360° cooling system, which blasts cool air when needed from all directions around the nozzle, which helps to improve the angle of the overhangs that can be printed before supports are required and therefore boosts the complexity of models that can be printed. The biggest challenge for PRUSA is competing with the speed of CoreXY printers, but again, they've maximized the speed of their tried-and-tested design and added a custom high-flow hotend that has been designed in house and developed with Bondtech.
The MK4S also features a native Wi-Fi setup via an NFC chip, making the connection process more integrated and user-friendly. The printer retains the classic PRUSA design but now includes new materials and manufacturing techniques in the construction, such as PC blends with carbon fibre for some 3D-printed parts and an injection-moulded LCD cover. So, while there's still the distinctive maker look to the printer, it is becoming increasingly refined.
A new optional GPIO board enables makers to develop their accessories and enhancements. There's also an option to add an accelerometer, although users' requirements for this will be quite niche. Although upgrades from the MK4 to the MK4S may seem slight, they significantly increase performance and speed. PRUSA's challenge is conveying this message to potential buyers: The MK4S is the machine they need, even with very good cheaper rivals available.
Essentially, the Original PRUSA MK4S is one of the best 3D printers we've reviewed that, for the price, offers one of the most complete solutions on the market. It's one of the most accurate, and the speed is now on par with faster COREXY machines, but it is expensive. However, it should also be seen as a long-term investment, so if you've had a cheaper machine and are looking to upgrade, then this is a great solution; if you need a machine for business or education, then actually, this is far cheaper, even with the optional enclosure than the likes of the Ultimaker and is a far more serviceable machine.
Original PRUSA MK4S: Design
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
The Original PRUSA MK4S is instantly recognizable, not just because of its signature orange accent colours but also because of its consistent design evolution. Despite continuous improvements, the machine's overall look and styling have remained reassuringly similar.
The MK4S strictly follows the Cartesian bed slinger design, meaning the build plate moves back and forth underneath the print head. The machine continues to use lead screws and rails instead of belts, maintaining its robust and reliable structure that's easy to maintain and fix, although if the MK4 is anything to go by, fixing is something your unlikely to need to do. Our MK4 has been running consistently for over a year and is used as a benchmark by which all other machines are measured; and over that time it has required little, if any, attention.
The layout of the machine remains familiar, with filament spools suspended above the machine and a new filament guide to direct the filament into the print head. The main upright structure, lead screws, and associated mechanisms remain largely unchanged from the MK4. However, the real advancements are seen in the print head, where the new 360° cooling system has been developed. This system features a high-pressure fan, which operates most of the time to maintain optimal cooling. Despite the increased prominence of the cooling system, the noise levels remain as low as with the very quiet MK4.
Effective cooling is crucial in 3D printing, as it significantly impacts print quality. The new 360° cooling system, combined with the high-flow nozzle, is a major upgrade, even if it seems small. The high-flow nozzle allows the printer to handle the increased print speeds with the standard high-flow 0.4mm nozzle installed. Compared with the MK4, you can expect a 50% increase in print speed when printing PLA, with similar speed improvements for PETG, ASA, and PC.
One of the common issues faced with Original PRUSA machines is connecting the PRUSA slicer wirelessly to the printer. While many other companies have streamlined this process, PRUSA's approach previously couldn't have been more complex. The MK4S addresses this with a native app setup, making the connection process easier. An NFC chip on the back of the machine allows for a simple tap to start the installation and connection process.
Aesthetically, the MK4S has few changes apart from slight variations in the fan design. However, PRUSA has improved the quality of some parts by opting for injection moulding where it makes sense, such as around the control box. They have also replaced some previously used materials with PC blends and carbon fibre for added strength and quality while retaining other materials where the added expense of PC blends does not justify the benefits.
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Finally, two additional optional parts can be added to the MK4S if required. The first is a GPIO board, which is exciting for makers as it allows them to experiment with the printer and create their electronics or functions. The ability to add an accelerometer will appeal to some, but for the majority of users, this feature will be optional.
Overall, while the upgrades from the MK4 to the MK4S may seem incremental, they significantly enhance performance and speed, reinforcing PRUSA Research as a manufacturer known for producing reliable and high-quality 3D printers and, more importantly, looking after its extensive user base. The challenge remains in conveying these benefits to potential buyers in a competitive market.
One final point to add is that unlike most other machines, the PRUSA is built in Europe, and the parts, including the chips, sensors and boards, are all selected with security in mind and sourced from either Europe or the US. While the machine is wifi and App enabled, it can equally easily not be, so for anyone working on prototypes who is mindful about the security of their designs, this is a major design feature that will be of interest.
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Original PRUSA MK4S: Features
Specs
Print Technology: Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
Build Area: 250 x 210 x 220 mm | 9.84 x 8.3 x 8.6 in
Minimum Layer Resolution: 0.05 mm
Maximum Layer Resolution: 0.30 mm
Dimensions: 500×550×400 mm; 19.6×21.6×15.7 in (X×Y×Z)
Weight: 7 kg
Bed: Magnetic heatbed with removable PEI spring steel sheets
Print Surface: Smooth PEI print sheet
Software: PrusaSlicer (open-source), PrusaControl, PrusaConnect
Materials: PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, Flex, HIPS, PA, PVA, PC, PP, CPE, PVB, NGEN, composites and more
Print Speed: Up to TBC mm/s
Original PRUSA MK4S: Performance
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
One of the great things about the majority of 3D printers coming out at the moment is that it only takes a few minutes to assemble and start printing. Not only is the mechanical build of the printers relatively easy, but with all the advanced software developments, most printers will run through the setup procedures for you, levelling the base and checking that everything is just right. The Original PRUSA MK4S takes this a step further: you literally just pull the machine out of the box, remove the packaging, plug it in, let it run through its checks, and it's ready to print. Well almost, just load the filament, and you're good to go.
When setting up the review sample, it literally arrived at the door, was unboxed on the table, and was ready to print within five minutes. When it comes to setup, this is one of the quickest and easiest printers we've ever used. The USB stick included in the box contained a huge variety of test models to print, which kept us busy for a good 24 hours if not more. Each model printed without issue, and unlike many other printers that need a bit of tweaking or cleaning up after every print, the PRUSA MK4S simply printed flawlessly. Removing prints from the flexible build plate was easy, leaving the printer ready to go for the next model. The amount of mess around the printer was minimal, with just a small test strip used to clean the nozzle and check flow at the front of the build plate being wasted from every model.
When it comes to print speed, the MK4S is fast, though not noticeably so at first. The printer also runs incredibly quietly, especially when compared to what are essentially Tasmanian devil printers that make an incredible amount of noise, and almost jump around with excitement as they print, the Creality K1C is doing that at present. The PRUSA MK4S is quiet and understated, producing immaculate high-quality prints without the noise and fuss.
After exhausting all the test prints, we moved on to a few models of our own using the updated profile for PRUSA Slicer. The quality of the prints was again excellent. Some of the key properties that PRUSA highlighted with the prints included dimensional accuracy, overhang quality, fast, durable prints at speed, smooth surfaces, sharp edges, colour stability for coloured filaments and, of course, speed. In isolation, all the test prints seem to confirm these attributes. However, it was only when compared against the likes of the Creality K1C and Bambu P1P that you can really see why this printer commands the higher price, with the other two printers producing excellent quality prints but struggling with some of the finer details and print quality with overhangs. While both printers have higher maximum print speeds, the combination of settings to get a decent print from all three printers showed that the MK4S consistently printed at the same speed as the other two, if not faster in many cases. The settings on each printer are balanced in order to produce decent prints, with each printer utilising different slicer software - so the slicer settings of each are set to give an even playing field with balanced quality and speed, but all printed with a layer height of 0.2mm with a 0.4mm nozzle.
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Looking at the following three models really proved the point.
The Bowl, designed by Rudolf Krcmar, shows the most marked differences in the print quality between the three machines. The obvious winner here is the PRUSA, with the other two printers struggling to produce usable prints.
Next up is the large corner bracket, and here, all three printers did a great job, with the K1C and the PRUSA matching the quality of the print. There were some slight overhang issues for the Bambu, but it was still a very passable result.
It is worth noting that the price point of the MK4S sits well above the likes of the Creality K1 series and Bamboo Labs P1P series. However, it's difficult not to draw comparisons with these machines. When it came to print speed, the PRUSA was generally on a par, with prints starting faster than the other two machines - all machines we're adjusted for different print speeds for infill set at 15% and Perimeter settings set to the maximum for the printer. Checking over the quality of the prints, it was apparent just how much higher the quality of the PRUSA prints was. While the other two machines completed their models at a similar rate, there was a marked difference in the print quality, with the PRUSA producing decent surface-finished models and the other two showing definite signs of glitches and minor issues.
Running all printers consistently with the same models showed where the PRUSA stands out: complete reliability. With the PRUSA, you simply set the printer going, leave it, come back, remove the print, and start the next. The other two machines, at one point or another, paused during a print or had filament flow issues that needed resolving.
In the ultimate test, we put the Creality K1C and Bamboo Labs P1P up against the Original PRUSA MK4S in a 3D Benchy multiple print showdown. The PRUSA produced all ten prints of exceptional quality, as did the K1C. The P1P, which is ageing, failed to print on this occasion but is usually quite consistent.
The Original PRUSA MK4S is considerably faster than the MK4—over 50% faster. This is surprising, given that it's essentially a very similar machine with almost the same parts. The improvement is due to the 360° cooling system and the high-flow nozzle, which give it a significant boost in performance.
In terms of print quality at these speeds, the MK4S is impressive and markedly better than the prints from the Creality and Bamboo Labs machines. While those two machines produce prints very quickly, they require more maintenance and care than the PRUSA, which simply powers along silently in the background.
Overall, the Original PRUSA MK4S stands out in terms of speed, quality, and reliability, making it a top choice for both enthusiasts and professionals.
Adding up the totals gives a final score of 29 out of 30.
Creality K1C: Final verdict
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
The Original PRUSA MK4S is a considerable upgrade from the MK4, and the $99 upgrade kit makes it a no-brainer for existing MK4 owners. The MK4S is a highly refined 3D printer that promises years of reliable use and easily outlasts many cheaper alternatives. Its durability, upgradability, and ease of repair make it a standout option for serious users.
While there are many great printers available for less, the MK4S is the kind of machine you'll likely upgrade to after gaining initial 3D printing experience. It's particularly suitable for businesses needing a printer that won't let them down. The MK4S delivers consistent, high-quality prints without the hassle of frequent maintenance or unexpected issues.
Due to its price, the MK4S might be out of reach for beginners, but PRUSA offers the MINI, a more affordable entry-level printer. The MK4S, however, sets itself apart with features that bring it in line with the latest market offerings while maintaining unmatched reliability and robustness. If something goes wrong, spare parts and community support ensure minimal downtime.
One important consideration is that the MK4S, like previous PRUSA models, is an open-frame machine. While suitable for many materials, an optional enclosure is recommended for environments like schools or workplaces to prevent accidental contact with the hot nozzle and manage fumes from certain filaments.
PRUSA's commitment to its user base, extensive community resources, and training, along with the ability to upgrade from one generation to the next, make the MK4S a solid investment. It's adaptable for various uses, with expansion opportunities through the GPIO board.
In essence, if you're looking for the best in print quality, reliability, and future-proofing, the Original PRUSA MK4S is a top choice. If you want something quick and easy without the option for future upgrades, a cheaper machine might suit you better until you decide to invest in a PRUSA.
Oppo released the F27 Pro+ in June without AI features despite the company promising AI for all of its smartphone lines.
Today, the company confirmed the Pro+ midranger is getting four Generative AI features on August 22 via a software update. We also learned a vanilla midranger Oppo F27 5G is in the works, and it is "coming soon."
According to the announcement, the F27 Pro+ will receive an OTA update with AI Eraser 2.0, which removes background objects; AI Smart Image Matting 2.0, which crops objects as stickers; AI Studio, which generates images out of drawings, and AI LinkBoost...
