Network-wide and Browser-based Adblockers are two popular ways of managing ads and trackers on the Internet. While both can reliably remove ads on your system, each has its own strengths and weaknesses. In this article, I will go through what Network-wide and Browser-based Adblock are, how they stack against each other, and determine the right approach for you.
How Does Network-wide Ad-blocking Works
Network-wide adblocking is a way to prevent ads and trackers from loading across an entire network. It works by using the DNS protocol to redirect known domains to an unreachable IP address, such as 0.0.0.0.
The benefit of this approach is that you can block ads even on devices that don’t natively support ad blocking. For instance, a network-wide ad blocker can remove ads from smartphones, smart TVs, and even IoT gadgets.
Another benefit of network-wide ad-blocking is that it prevents your machines from connecting to a malicious host in the first place. Not only does this increase the security and privacy of your devices, but it also reduces the overall bandwidth that they consume. This is especially helpful if you’re running on a metered data plan on your mobile device.
On a side note: still undecided on what network-based ad blocker to use? Check out the reasons why my colleague thinks AdGuard is better Pi-Hole.
How Does Browser-based Ad-blocking Works
Browser-based ad blocking takes a different approach to removing ads. Instead of DNS, it uses a combination of HTTP request blocking and CSS filtering to prevent unwanted assets from loading on a website. It’s also very easy to install and doesn’t come with any maintenance costs.
One key feature of browser-based ad-blockers is that they can detect and remove individual website elements on a page. This gives you finer control over which ads to remove, making them useful if you only want certain elements to appear on a website. In my experience, I find browser-based ad blockers useful for removing obtrusive CSS elements on a webpage.
On top of that, some browser-based ad-blockers also come with tools for managing trackers. For example, uBlock Origin can remove cookies and privacy-invasive JavaScript code from running on a website. As a privacy-conscious individual, I find this an important part of keeping myself safe over the internet.
The Difference Between Network-wide and Browser-based Ad-blockers
Now that we have an idea on what Network-wide and Browser-based ad-blockers are, we can now look at how they stack against each other.
Setup Difficulty and Ease of Use
One of the hurdles to running a network-wide ad blocker is that it requires either an always-on machine or a container to get started. The ad blocker also needs to run 24/7 since your network will rely on it for DNS resolution.
Having said that, network-wide ad blockers are a “set and forget” experience. If you’ve set it as your network’s upstream DNS server, every device in that subnet will automatically receive ad-block support.
On the other hand, a browser-based ad blocker is very easy to set up. Most web browsers today come with a handy “plugins store” where you can quickly install a modern ad blocker such as uBlock Origin.
However, one downside of using a browser-based ad blocker is that you need to install it every time you reinstall your web browser. That said, some browsers do offer features to mitigate this issue. For example, Firefox Sync allows you to synchronize your addons between installs automatically.
In addition, browsers, like Chrome, have been constantly updated to prevent ad-blocking addons from working. This constant battle between Google (who makes most of its money from ads) and developers has made it difficult to find out which ad-blocker is still working and which is not.
Device Scope
The main selling point of a network-wide ad blocker is that it is platform-agnostic. From desktop machines to embedded gadgets, a network-wide ad blocker will protect any internet-enabled device inside your local network. This makes it a valuable asset if you regularly use smart appliances at home.
Meanwhile, a browser-based ad blocker can only prevent ads and trackers running on your web browser. This severely limits your ability to block and remove unwanted content on your device. For example, a browser-based ad blocker won’t remove ads and trackers on an Electron-based web app such as Spotify or Discord.
Ad and Tracker Granularity
By default, a network-wide ad blocker isn’t content-aware. This means that while it can remove ads and trackers across devices, it can only do it by preventing a domain from resolving on a device.
One consequence of this heavy-handed approach is that a network-wide ad blocker can’t prevent the ads that come from the same domain as the site’s content. For example, AdGuard Home and Pi-Hole won’t block in-video ads on YouTube and Twitch.
In contrast, a browser-based ad blocker is both granular and dynamic. It can detect and remove ads from the same domain along with JavaScript-enabled browser popups and popunders.
Furthermore, browser-based ad blockers are also highly customizable. For instance, uBlock Origin comes with a custom feature where you can remove ads based on their relationship with the content on the page.
Good to know: are you an Edge user? Check out some of the best ad blockers for Microsoft Edge today.
Privacy and Security
Despite its limitations, network-wide ad blockers are usually more secure compared to browser-based solutions. This is because a network-wide ad blocker only handles DNS requests. It doesn’t read your browsing data and HTTP headers between you and the remote server.
In addition to that, network-wide ad blockers are also designed to be dedicated network appliances. As such, most guides that feature them usually run them as an isolated program on a machine or container. This can prevent bad actors from controlling your network should they hack your ad blocker.
Browser-based ad blockers, on the other hand, can introduce some security risks. Its ability to modify and remove webpage elements means that it’s possible for a malicious ad block addon to trick you into providing sensitive data. As such, you should only install a browser-based ad blocker once you’re certain that it’s completely safe to use.
Network-wide vs Browser-based: Which One Should I Use?
Ultimately, choosing between a network-wide and a browser-based ad-blocker depends on your needs and whether your device supports it.
- If you’re looking for a “one size fits all” solution that’s reasonably secure, a network-wide ad blocker is a great choice. While the initial setup can take time, enrolling additional devices is both seamless and painful. This makes it useful if you have a lot of devices connected to your network.
- If you’re looking for a customizable and extensive ad blocker, a browser-based solution can be the right one for you. Despite being platform-limited, these give you the most control over how to manage ads and trackers on your system.
Exploring the differences between a network-wide and a browser-based ad-blocker is just the first step in protecting yourself online. Learn how you can improve your digital privacy by checking out some of the best privacy-focused web browsers available today.
Image credit: Grok via x.ai. All alterations and screenshots by Ramces Red.
