How to block ads on iPhone — for free

A person holding a blue iPhone 13 in both hands
(Image credit: Shutterstock)

If you want to block ads on iPhone, we don't blame you. They're super annoying at the best of times, getting in the way of watching your favorite content on a mobile screen that's already pushed for space. 

It's annoying that the iPhone's built-in browser, Safari, only comes with a pop-up blocker and not an ad blocker. Thankfully, there's still a way you can block ads on iPhone without purchasing third-party ad blocking software, and that comes in the form of Opera browser.

Opera is a free-to-download browser that, in my eyes at least, is a bit of a silent hero, as a lot of people still don't seem to know it exists. I've been using Opera on my desktop devices for years now and absolutely love it.

So why Opera? It's streamlined, reliable, beautiful and offers some really cool built-in features for desktop users, including social and messaging app extensions by default, a frickin' free VPN and, as you may have guessed, pop up and ad blocking.

There's also a crypto wallet feature, as well as a bespoke gaming version of the browser on PC and mobile called Opera GX. It's no surprise that we put Opera browser on our list of the best ad blockers

Now, the mobile version of Opera doesn't feature the social extensions (which wouldn't really make sense on a smartphone anyway). Unfortunately, it doesn't feature the VPN either. However, it does feature the ad blocker, allowing you to browse without intrusive adverts for free. In trying out Opera, you may also find you absolutely love it, and therefore come away with a shiny new browser to boast about to your friends and look niche. 

If that all sounds good to you, here's how to block ads on iPhone for free with Opera.

How to block ads on iPhone for free using Opera browser

1. Swipe down on your Home Screen to open Search and type "opera browser". Then tap the Get icon or the iCloud icon if you've already downloaded it in the past. Download the application.

(Image credit: Future)

2. Open the Opera browser. If this is your first time using Opera, tap Continue on the first welcome screen, then tap Next to agree to the data collection notice. On the next screen, toggle on Ad Blocking and tap Start browsing. And that's it.

Note: you can change the data collection preferences in the Privacy Consent section of the browser settings later on. I'd advise you do this to limit what data Opera collects and uses.

(Image credit: Future)

3. If this isn't your first time using Opera, or you want to change your ad blocking settings, tap the three lines icon in the bottom right of your screen, then tap Settings.

(Image credit: Future)

4. Tap Ad Blocking.

(Image credit: Future)

5. Toggle on Ad Blocking.

(Image credit: Future)

Consider those ads blocked. If you'd like more tips for using your iPhone, we have you covered with our wide range of tutorials. We can help you switch to a new iPhone with our guide on how to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone. We can show you how to speed up a sluggish iPhone with our tutorial on how to clear RAM on iPhone. We can walk you through how to change the iPhone stopwatch to analog. And we can also show you how to give your contacts book a clean by teaching you how to delete multiple contacts on iPhone.

TOPICS
Peter Wolinski
Reviews Editor

Peter is Reviews Editor at Tom's Guide. As a writer, he covers topics including tech, photography, gaming, hardware, motoring and food & drink. Outside of work, he's an avid photographer, specialising in architectural and portrait photography. When he's not snapping away on his beloved Fujifilm camera, he can usually be found telling everyone about his greyhounds, riding his motorcycle, squeezing as many FPS as possible out of PC games, and perfecting his espresso shots. 

Read more
iPhone 16 Pro Max shown in hand
You can change your iPhone's default browser — here's how
Free iPhone VPN
Best free iPhone VPN app in 2025
Apple iPhone 16 held in the hand.
You can speed up your iPhone by clearing its cache — here's how to do it
Apple iPhone 16 held in the hand.
How to block a number on your iPhone
iOS-style app icon displaying the best iOS VPN for iPhone
Best iPhone VPN for iOS in 2025
iPhone 16 Pro shown held in hand
How to block no caller ID on iPhone — 5 simple steps
Latest in iPhones
Render of the alleged design of the iPhone 17 Pro
New iPhone 17 Pro dummy leak highlights redesigned camera and part glass body
Siri in iOS 18 on iPhone
Users complain that Siri can’t answer even the most basic questions — here’s what we know
iPhone 16 next to samsung galaxy watch 7 and bose wireless earbuds on a composite image
Apple's walled garden is crumbling — EU orders iOS to open up to third-party devices
Apple iPhone 16 & 16 Plus hands-on.
Forget USB-C — a truly portless iPhone just got the all-clear from the EU
iPhone Flip render
iPhone Flip could solve one of the biggest problems with foldable phones — here's how
iPhone 17 Air concept image
iPhone 17 Air just tipped for exclusive upgrade regular iPhone 17 won't get
Latest in How To
a photo of a woman out for a walk
Forget running — doing this one thing boosted the calorie burn on my daily walks
ChatGPT on iPhone
I use ChatGPT every day — here's 7 prompts I can't live without
Woman changing bedding
How to get rid of bed bugs and dust mites from your bedding and pillows if a hot wash isn’t an option
Ring Battery Doorbell next to door
Hate it when your Ring doorbell alerts you all the time? Here's how to schedule motion detection
How to delete TikTok
TikTok has rolled out a vital new security feature — here's how to use it
a woman's abs
Forget sit-ups — this standing ab exercise targets your obliques and boosts your balance