Your three options on a phone
| Do nothing | Free routes† | Total Adblock | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | $0 | $0 | ~$19 year one, then $99/yr |
| Setup | None | Varies: new browser or manual setup | One switch |
| Banner & pop-up blocking | No | Varies | Yes (100/100 test score) |
| Keep your usual browser | Yes | Not always | Yes (Safari on iPhone) |
| Scam & phishing site blocking | No | Some | Yes |
| Support | — | Usually forums | Email & live chat |
† Free routes = switching to a browser with built-in ad blocking, or setting up a free content blocker yourself. Results depend on which one you pick.
What you get by paying
Benchmark-level blocking
It passed every one of Adblock Tester’s 22 checks, covering banners, pop-ups, video ads and analytics scripts.
You keep your habits
No new browser to learn. On iPhone it works right inside Safari; on Android it filters on the device itself.
Protection, not just tidiness
Known phishing and malware sites are blocked, along with trackers that follow you between sites.
Zero maintenance
No filter lists to update or rules to write. An allow list lets you support the sites you like.
A real company behind it
Built by Total Security, maker of TotalAV, with live-chat support when something doesn’t work.
Where it’s less convincing
The renewal jump
The first-year price is introductory; auto-renewal is around $99 a year.
iPhone apps aren’t covered
Apple limits content blockers to Safari, so in-app ads stay on iOS.
No free mobile tier
The app is free to download, but blocking requires a subscription.
What it costs per month
Our view: year one is clearly worth trying. Before renewal, decide whether ad-free browsing is worth the full price to you, and cancel in advance if it isn’t.
Who should pay, who should stay free
Worth paying if you…
- want ads gone today without changing browsers
- care about scam and phishing protection
- use Android and want blocking beyond one browser
- value support when something misbehaves
Free is probably enough if you…
- are happy switching to a browser with built-in blocking
- enjoy configuring tools yourself
- mostly need ads removed inside iPhone apps
Before you decide
How do I know I’m installing the real app?
On the App Store, check that the developer is Total Security Limited; look-alike apps with similar names exist. On Android, download only from the official Total Adblock website.
Can I avoid the renewal price?
Yes: turn off auto-renew after purchase (iPhone: Settings › your name › Subscriptions; web purchases: your Total Adblock account), or cancel before the renewal date.
Does it slow the phone down?
Blocking ads means loading less, so pages typically feel quicker rather than slower.
What about YouTube?
On iPhone it applies to YouTube in Safari, not the YouTube app, because iOS content blockers only work in Safari.
Try it at the year-one price
Strong blocking, scam protection and no setup. Mark your renewal date and decide again in a year.
Check today’s Total Adblock price*Introductory first-year price, renews at about $99/year.