My Dual Adblocking Setup: AdGuard + ControlD = Champion Browsing

Recently, I decided to overhaul my approach to adblocking and tested several options. After a bit of trial and error, AdGuard emerged as my go-to solution on iPhone — especially because content blocking is limited to Safari due to iOS restrictions. Chrome (and every browser other than Safari, really) just can’t do native or extension-based content blocking on iOS, which is super annoying for anyone who prefers Chrome’s syncing ecosystem.

For Windows and Mac, I stuck with Chrome — paired with the AdGuard Chrome extension. This combo has been genuinely effective so far. My web is noticeably quieter, cleaner, and faster.

Still going strong in the background is ControlD as my DNS provider, which contributes an extra layer of ad/tracker blocking across all my devices. ControlD costs just $20/year (hard to beat for the broad privacy protections and fine-tuned filtering). Between AdGuard and ControlD, the online experience is pretty fantastic — fewer interruptions, less tracking, and cleaner pages all around.

Cost Breakdown & Tips

• AdGuard License: At some point, I picked up a lifetime AdGuard license (honestly, can’t recall exactly what I paid), but it’s currently $80 for individuals. They’re known to roll out massive sales, so if you’re interested, keep an eye out around Black Friday and other holidays. You might snag lifetime access for half price!

• ControlD: Standard pricing is $20/year. Offers lots of customizable blocking beyond the standard DNS-level ads, including trackers, malware, and parental controls.

Quick Tips for Adblocking Pros

• iOS = Safari Only: No real way around this. If you love Chrome on mobile, stick with DNS-based blocking like ControlD for best results.

• Layering Works: DNS blocking + browser-based extension = much higher success rate, fewer annoying circumvention attempts from advertisers.

• Holiday Sales: Perfect time to score lifetime deals; bookmark vendor sites and sign up for email alerts!

• Bonus: Better security posture, fewer malvertising risks, and WAY less tracking.

If you’re interested in wholesale blocking at the network layer, I wrote an article earlier this year specifically about ControlD here.

Update: I've discovered that AdGuard often provides significant discounts—sometimes up to 90% off on lifetime licenses. These deals are typically available through resellers rather than directly on AdGuard’s official site, so it's worth keeping an eye out if you're interested in purchasing.

If you have any recent experiences or tips with other adblockers or DNS services, let me know — I’m always hunting for better privacy and performance tweaks.