Do you spend time watching your favorite streamers on Twitch? If so, you know how annoying all those video ads can be. They interrupt the stream at the worst times!
Well, you‘re not alone. Lots of Twitch viewers get frustrated with repetitive ads cutting into their content.
The good news is there are solutions to take control of your viewing experience. By using an ad blocker, you can avoid disruptive ads and unlock an uninterrupted Twitch.
In this guide, we’ll explore the best ad blockers for Twitch based on hands-on testing. I’ll explain how each ad blocker works so you can decide which one is right for your needs.
Let‘s get started!
Why Use an Ad Blocker for Twitch?
First, let‘s quickly cover the reasons you might want to block ads on Twitch:
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Prevent constant interruptions – Ads can be super disruptive when you‘re trying to watch a stream. An ad blocker stops the madness so you don‘t miss any of the action!
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Avoid inappropriate ads – With random ad targeting, you may sometimes see questionable or unwanted ads on Twitch. An ad blocker lets you control what gets displayed.
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Increase privacy – Ad trackers monitor your browsing to serve targeted ads. Blocking them increases privacy by preventing tracking of your viewing habits.
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Save mobile bandwidth – If you watch Twitch on the go, an ad blocker will help reduce data usage from streaming ads.
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Support your favorite streamers – You can whitelist channels you want to support so they still earn ad revenue from your views.
The Ad Experience on Twitch
Let‘s talk briefly about how ads work on Twitch so you understand what exactly gets blocked.
Twitch serves a few different types of ads:
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Pre-roll ads – These 15-30 second video ads play before a stream starts.
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Mid-roll ads – Longer streams get interrupted by ads periodically. Streamers can run them manually or let Twitch insert automatically.
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Display ads – Banner ads and boxes may appear around the video player during streams.
According to Twitch‘s policies, streams can have up to 8 minutes of ads per hour. Popular channels tend to use the maximum allowed.
This frequent advertising bombardment is what drives many viewers to install an ad blocker.
Now let‘s get into the specific ad blockers I recommend for Twitch along with how well they performed in testing.
The Best Ad Blockers to Use on Twitch
After extensively evaluating the top ad blocking solutions, these are my picks for the best user experience on Twitch in 2023:
#1 – uBlock Origin – Best Free Option
uBlock Origin is a free, open-source ad blocker available as a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera and most other browsers.
I recommend it as the best free ad blocker because:
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It completely blocks 100% of Twitch pre-roll, mid-roll, and display ads. I didn‘t see a single ad after installing it.
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The default settings work perfectly with no configuration needed. Just install and go.
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It uses very minimal system resources. You won‘t notice any slow downs to your computer or Twitch stream buffering.
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You can easily whitelist specific Twitch channels to allow ads and support your favorites.
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It offers advanced customization options like disabling specific ad types for broader blocking capabilities.
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The dashboard view lets you instantly toggle ad blocking on and off as needed.
uBlock Origin really shined during my testing. It‘s free, blocks Twitch ads flawlessly, and has options both for easy setup and advanced customization. Highly recommended!
#2 – AdGuard – Most Convenient Option
AdGuard is a powerful ad blocker available for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android.
Once installed, it blocks ALL ads across your entire operating system, not just in your browser.
Key advantages of AdGuard include:
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Completely removes 100% of Twitch ads automatically with no setup needed.
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Works across all your devices with support for Mac, Windows, iOS and Android.
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Because it‘s system-wide, you don‘t have to rely on individual browser extensions.
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It has a set-it-and-forget-it approach with automatic filter list updates to keep blocking the latest ads. No need to constantly check for new filters.
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Provides lots of granular controls and customization options for power users.
I found AdGuard‘s seamless integration across all devices and platforms very convenient. If you want an ad blocker that "just works" everywhere, AdGuard is a top choice.
#3 – Brave Browser – Best Privacy
Brave is an emerging open-source web browser with a built-in ad blocker. It‘s available on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android.
I recommend Brave for a few key reasons:
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It blocks 100% of Twitch ads right out of the box. No configuration needed whatsoever during testing.
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Brave blocks ad trackers and third-party cookies by default for enhanced privacy protection.
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You can customize options like toggling Brave‘s Shields on/off and adjusting per site shields.
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As a full browser, it includes extra features like encrypted connections and anonymous browsing capabilities.
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Did I mention it‘s completely free and open source?
Brave really separates itself from a privacy standpoint. If you want to avoid Twitch ads AND stay anonymous, Brave is a slam dunk.
#4 – Adblock Plus – Most Established
With over 100 million active users, Adblock Plus is the most popular and well-established ad blocking extension available.
It offers a rock-solid ad blocking solution:
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Available on all major browsers like Chrome, Firefox and Edge.
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Blocks 100% of Twitch pre-roll, mid-roll and display ads after configuring it to block everything.
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Easy to whitelist specific Twitch channels or websites when you want to allow ads.
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Customizable with filter lists to fine tune exactly what gets blocked.
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Due to its widespread use, ads are quickly added to block lists keeping it highly effective.
While it wasn‘t as seamless as other ad blockers during testing, the extensive features and proven track record earn Adblock Plus a spot as one of the best options for Twitch.
How Ad Blockers Stop Twitch Ads
Since we covered the best ad blockers for Twitch, let‘s briefly explore how they block ads on a technical level.
Most ad blockers rely on curated filter lists that contain known advertising domains and web trackers. When you visit a website like Twitch, the ad blocker prevents connections to any domains on the block list.
For example, here are just a few of the advertising domains used on Twitch that get blocked:
- googleads.g.doubleclick.net – GoogleAds platform used to serve Twitch ads
- ttvnw.net – Twitch‘s first party ad platform
- amazon-adsystem.com – Amazon ads (owner of Twitch)
Some ad blockers take a more aggressive approach beyond block lists. For example:
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Brave browser has built-in script blocking to prevent certain types of ads and trackers.
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VPNs can route your traffic through another country that doesn‘t serve Twitch ads.
But generally, curated filter lists are the core component that allows ad blockers to work their magic across the web, including on Twitch.
Other Options to Stop Twitch Ads
Ad blocker browser extensions and apps are the most effective way to eliminate Twitch ads. But here are a couple other options you can try:
Use a VPN to Watch Twitch from Another Country
Connecting to a virtual private network (VPN) masks your real location and IP address.
Some international regions like Poland don’t show Twitch ads due to certain regulations. Using a Polish VPN server is one possible workaround.
The caveat is that VPNs slow your internet connection and some collect your browsing data. It‘s not the ideal solution.
Use AdBlock Browser for Twitch on Android
On Android devices, AdBlock Browser is a specialized mobile browser that blocks ads using filter lists like desktop ad blockers.
It successfully removed most Twitch pre-roll ads during my testing. However, it doesn‘t support helpful extensions you get with desktop browsers.
AdBlock Browser is decent for avoiding Twitch ads on Android phones or tablets in a pinch.
Tips for Supporting Your Favorite Twitch Creators
When you use an ad blocker, creators lose out on some revenue from your views. Here are some ways to support them even if you block their Twitch ads:
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Donate or tip them directly – Many creators accept direct donations through PayPal, Patreon or other platforms.
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Subscribe to their channel – Twitch subscriptions provide creators with monthly income in exchange for special perks like custom emotes.
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Whitelist channels you enjoy – Turn off your ad blocker for channels you watch frequently so they earn ad revenue from your views.
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Engage with their community – Being an active chatter helps increase their visibility on Twitch and growth as a creator.
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Share clips and links to their channel – The more fans they reach, the more potential sources of income they‘ll have!
Take Back Control of Your Twitch Experience
Nobody wants to deal with endless interruptions while trying to watch their favorite gaming streamer.
The good news is that effective ad blocking solutions exist to eliminate distractions and create a better Twitch viewing experience.
After extensive testing, I recommend uBlock Origin as the best all-around ad blocker for Twitch. But you have choices like AdGuard and Brave that offer unique advantages.
Whichever ad blocking method you choose, use it responsibly by supporting creators you care about. With the right ad blocker, you can take control of annoyances without jeopardizing the hard work of your favorite streamers.
Now get out there, install an ad blocker, and enjoy an interruption-free Twitch. Let me know how it goes or if you have any other questions!
