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In OS X I can use extensions in most browsers to block ads. This offers an distraction free browsing experience.

For example: In Safari, Chrome and Firefox I can use Adblock or Adblock Plus. Both extensions use filter lists which you can find here. You can also manually add filters and add sites on which you accept to see ads (e.g. apple.stackexchange.com).

What options exists for ad free web browsing in iOS?

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Almost all 3rd party browsers have adblock capabilities. Or jailbreak and modify the /etc/hosts file and then Safari and all the apps will have ads blocked. – mankoff Apr 10 '12 at 15:16

8 Answers

up vote 3 down vote

Try the Diigo Webbrowser. It recently added an Ad Blocking feature that's off by default.

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Looking at the app description, this seems to require an in-app purchase. – gentmatt Apr 10 '12 at 18:42
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Check out the Weblock app ($1.99). I use it and it really works like a charm.

enter image description here

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The problem with Weblock is that works only on WiFi and you need to configure for each and every WiFi network. – Abhishek Sha Mar 16 at 18:21
up vote 3 down vote

If you use the free, regularly updated hosts file at iOSAdblock.webs.com, you can block ads EVERYWHERE in apps, safari and even cydia.

Note: jail breaking is necessary

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up vote 2 down vote

If you have a jailbroken device, you can use the tweak "Adblocker" ($2) to block ads in Mobile Safari. It includes options for pre-defined blacklists and user-defined blacklists. Here's one blog post demonstrating the tweak and another one.

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up vote 0 down vote

There is a Kickstarter project for a hardware device called AdTrap which is supposed to solve this problem by filtering ads out in between them coming from your router and arriving at your device.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/600284081/adtrap-the-internet-is-yours-again

You could set up a profile/VPN to route your traffic through a filtering service or device so that you could keep using Safari and all the usual web browsing tools in iOS without needing to jailbreak or confine your browsing to one application.

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What options *exist* for ad free web browsing on iOS? – Dunhamzzz Nov 16 '12 at 14:35
@Dunhamzzz This actually is the only solution I would entertain for this dilemma. I use many apps that use web browsers embedded and not using mobile Safari and those apps to browse the web is a non-starter for me. I do appreciate the iOS apps that look to be a fuller featured Safari - but am willing to set up more of an infrastructure for the reasons stated here. – bmike♦ Nov 18 '12 at 21:37
@bmike I was getting at the fact this product currently doesn't exist, it's scheduled for release in Feb '13 and that's only if they pass their goal. – Dunhamzzz Nov 19 '12 at 9:19
@Dunhamzzz I totally get that - but we also are a place for even wrong answers - as long as the answerer is moving the discussion forward. What may be down voted / unuseful to some since it doesn't ship - might still be the best answer for others. Your comment is proper, correct and in the right place - just wanted to reinforce that despite some downvoting it - it's also worth supporting for others. – bmike♦ Nov 19 '12 at 14:40
up vote 0 down vote

the easiest way to adblock on the iDevices is a modified DNS-server or a DNS-Resolver. For instance it is possible to modifie the hostfile or DNS-Entrys on your router. This will only work with wifi. i dont know if it is possible to modify your DNS server for 3G connection. i think it was possible via APN settings iin ios4/5. But with iOS6 i was not able to find any solution.

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up vote 0 down vote

Use Privoxy as an ad-stripping proxy server on a Linux box such as the inexpensive Raspberry Pi featured in this article: http://kimondo.co.uk/raspberry-pi-as-an-adblock-server-for-ipad-iphone-android-and-anything-else-on-your-network/

I have tried this and it works well. (Obviously no jailbreaking is required for this solution).

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How do you set this as a proxy to all the Wifi and 3G connections you make? – Mark Mar 21 at 12:41
up vote 0 down vote

iCab mobile contains an adblock-like filter mechanism

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