Survey reveals the most popular way to block ads on Android

Source: Android Authority

Ads are the bitter pill of the internet, and blocking them can help you regain some sanity while you’re online. While ad blockers are fairly common among desktop users, they are relatively less common among mobile users. Blocking ads not only helps you escape ads that eat up screen space on websites and apps, but it also prevents you from unknowingly falling into an online scam. Among the users who do, one method is hugely popular.

The ad‑blocking method that outshines others

Survey results

• About 65 % of our readers said they preferred using a Private DNS.
• Less than 19 % said they used third‑party apps like Blokada.
• A much smaller percentage said they didn’t rely on any service to block ads.

Setting up a Private DNS

Setting up an ad‑blocking Private DNS is straightforward and can also be used to get rid of potentially scammy or inappropriate content. Another benefit is that it does not hog resources or slow down your internet as a VPN would.

Using a Private DNS also doesn’t limit services like Android Auto, unlike a VPN, as our reader Jeremy Parkinson pointed out.

Other ad‑blocking options

• Browsers with built‑in or supported ad‑blocking features

  • Roland Stiner recommends the uBlock Origin extension with Firefox.
  • Joe Engell suggests using the native web browser on Samsung phones.

• Dedicated ad‑free browsing apps

  • One reader, Chaldon Pretorius, notes that third‑party apps play nicely with enterprise apps, which might be a point worth considering.

All in all, Private DNS with services like AdGuard remains the chief pick for blocking ads on Android, though you might find additional benefits or greater control with other approaches.