Both a virtual private network, or VPN, and an ad blocker are essential parts of your digital privacy toolkit, but they protect you in different ways. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and hides your public IP address to help protect your online privacy from snoopers such as your internet service provider, network administrators and other third parties. 

An ad blocker, on the other hand, protects you from the ads, trackers and potentially malicious content you encounter online. It can block things like banner ads, pop-ups and trackers, helping reduce unwanted advertising while also limiting some of the ways advertisers can track you across the web and cybercriminals can target you with phishing attempts.

The good news is that you don’t need to pay for or manage two separate apps to get both. Many of the top VPNs already bundle ad and tracker blocking into their subscriptions, including NordVPN, Surfshark, Proton VPN and Windscribe. This can save you money and make managing your online privacy and security easier, while also letting you get more from a VPN subscription.

How VPN ad blockers work

Most VPN ad blockers are DNS-based, meaning they filter your internet traffic at the Domain Name System, or DNS, level. When you visit a website or use an app, the DNS request checks the domain against a list of known ad, tracker and malicious domains. Some VPN ad blockers even let you blacklist a custom list of specific domains. If the DNS ad blocker finds a match, it stops your device from connecting to that domain, preventing the ad from being requested in the first place.

This also means a VPN ad blocker can apply its protection across all your apps and browsers, rather than being limited to a single browser like a browser-based ad blocker. 

When your VPN is switched on, the ad blocker works alongside it. Depending on the VPN, the ad blocker may be available through the VPN app, its browser extension or both. However, additional functionality is often limited to the extension. Surfshark’s CleanWeb, for example, blocks YouTube ads through its browser extension, not via the app.

Your VPN’s ad blocker may block more than just ads

Some VPN companies offer broader threat protection that includes ad blocking alongside additional cybersecurity benefits, such as malware protection, tracker blocking and phishing warnings. NordVPN’s Threat Protection, Proton VPN’s NetShield and Surfshark’s CleanWeb can all block malware and malicious sites at the same time as blocking ads. 

NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro is a particularly strong example of just how comprehensive a high-quality VPN’s internet security suite can be. It’s available with NordVPN’s Complete and Prime plans and gives you more protection for a higher subscription price. It provides a top-notch antivirus with its VPN, alongside an email link scanner that flags potentially malicious URLs in Gmail or Yahoo in real time, as well as a scam and fraud alert and a search results safety indicator. It works at both the JavaScript and URL levels and doesn’t require an active VPN connection. 

Windscribe’s Robert, meanwhile, offers several premade categories of content to block or allow, such as social networks, gambling, clickbait and crypto. It’s included with a Windscribe subscription, although you’ll need to add it separately if you choose the Build a Plan option. 

You may be able to save money and be more efficient with VPN ad blocking

If you’re already subscribed to a VPN, a built-in ad blocker can help you save money you would spend on a premium third-party ad blocker. 

There are several excellent free ad blockers available, but a VPN’s built-in ad blocker doesn’t cost you any extra money anyway, offers the same, if not more, protection than free tools and comes with the simplicity of being integrated into the same VPN app or extension. You don’t have to download, configure and keep track of a separate app, and can easily manage everything from one place. 

Which VPNs offer built-in ad-blocking?

Screenshot by CNET

Many of the top VPNs today, including NordVPN, Proton VPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN and Windscribe, offer a built-in ad blocker that typically restricts a variety of browsing-based threats.

Proton VPN’s NetShield gives you multiple levels of protection, which you can choose between according to your specific session needs. One only blocks malware, so it doesn’t interfere with you trying to access any resources. The others are more comprehensive, blocking ads, online trackers, malware and adult sites. However, NetShield isn’t available in the browser extension.

CleanWeb by Surfshark blocks ads, trackers and malware. It also blocks video ads on YouTube and other platforms if you’re using it through Surfshark’s browser extension. Because Surfshark covers an unlimited number of devices,  you can protect all the devices in your household, including smart TVs, Fire TV devices and PCs or mobile devices.

NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro, available with the provider’s more advanced plans, offers scam, phishing and malware protection on certain platforms, including Windows and MacOS. The standard Threat Protection feature on the Basic tier is less comprehensive, but still offers robust protection through DNS-based filtering that blocks ads, trackers and known malware-hosting domains while connected to the VPN. NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro gives you more control through allowlisting, letting you enable ads on specific websites or pages. 

Windscribe’s Robert is one of the few VPN ad blockers that gives you control over what you can block or allow. You can choose from several premade content categories to block or allow, or create your own custom rules, including adding specific domains to block.

What to look for in a VPN with ad blocking

When choosing an ad-blocking VPN, don’t let a low price or a long list of features be the deciding factor. There are plenty of VPNs promising the world for very little money, but a VPN is still a privacy tool first and an ad blocker second. You want to make sure the provider has a clear-cut no-logs policy, regular independent audits, solid VPN encryption protocols and a good track record for privacy and security before worrying about its ad blocking capabilities.

Avoid free VPNs that claim to offer ad-blocking. At their best, they come with severe limitations, and at their worst, they may log your data and sell it to third parties for profit. Remember, you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a reliable VPN. Providers such as Surfshark and Windscribe cost less than $80 a year, while still offering built-in ad and tracker blocking.

Krishi specializes in making complex tech topics, like VPNs, cybersecurity, and online privacy, clear and accessible. With 5+ years of writing experience, his work appears in outlets such as TechRadar, Tom’s Guide, and TechReport. When he’s not crafting in-depth guides or testing VPNs firsthand, Krishi hustles away trying to day trade, plays cricket, and unwinds with a good movie.

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