Ads On Spotify and How to Block Them

Published on 22.05.2024 by TF

Spotify offers an unmatched streaming experience. However, if you are on the free platform, one of the concerns you might have is the uncountable number of ads. You stream your favorite playlist, but now and then, it's interrupted by numerous ads. 

That may also leave you wondering if blocking the ads and enjoying a seamless music streaming experience is possible. In this article, we will guide you on how to stream music or podcasts on Spotify while avoiding annoying ads.

 

Is It Necessary to Block Ads on Spotify?

Ads are not only annoying, but they can affect your productivity. Here are several reasons why you may need to block Spotify ads. These are:

  • Uninterrupted music streaming. While ads are acceptable, if you have ever streamed on Spotify, you understand how annoying their ads can be. After every few songs, you have an ad interrupting your stream. To solve that problem, consider blocking ads on Spotify.
  • Save battery life. The more ads you listen to, the more your battery will be spent. By blocking ads, you can reduce the power spent playing ads and maximize the time spent playing music.
  • Save on data. Most ads you are shown on Spotify are things you have little or no interest in. This is even though they will still use your data. By blocking ads, you can save money you would otherwise have spent on data.
  • Increase productivity. If you are following a podcast on Spotify, you want to keep the conversation flowing. You don’t want an ad popping up and interrupting the flow.  

How to Block Ads on Spotify

You now understand why it is essential to block ads on Spotify. Now, let us look at how to block ads on Spotify. Here are the methods to use to block ads on Spotify.

Use an Ad Blocker

An ad blocker will help you block ads on Spotify. One of the top options you can consider is Total Adblock.

Here are the steps you need to follow:

  1. Download the ad blocker. 
  2. Install the app to your device and create a free personal account.
  3. Find the ad-blocking feature and activate it.

Use Chrome Extension

If you use Spotify on Chrome, you cannot use an app to hide ads. In that case, consider using a Chrome extension as an ad blocker. However, this method can have a downside in that it can be unreliable. Besides, some extensions may have malware that can infect your PC.

Brave Browser

If you want to use Spotify on a browser without ads, Brave browser will enable you to do that. It blocks all kinds of ads, no matter the source, and provides a seamless streaming experience. You don't need extra tools to block the ads if you use the browser.

Muting Apps

Some muting apps will not block ads but will mute them once detected. This ensures that you don't have to worry about spoiling your enjoyment. One of the top apps is Mutify. The app works well on Android and IOS systems, providing a great streaming experience.

Buy Spotify Premium

This is the best and only legal way to block Spotify ads. The packages are affordable and cost a single user as little as $9.999 monthly. If you choose the duo user package, it will cost you $12.99, while Spotify family will cost you $15.99 per month and provides access for up to six users.

If you are a student, you can use the Spotify student plan, which will cost you $4.99 per month. However, you should study full-time and provide your student card to qualify for this package.

Why There Are So Many Ads On Spotify

One of the questions on many people's minds is why there are so many ads on Spotify. Here are some reasons:

  • Make people upgrade. The free Spotify premium package provides the same music library as the paid version. However, the free users compensate with the ads. Therefore, to ensure that people upgrade to the paid packages, Spotify includes many free package ads.
  • Make money. The fact that you can stream music free of charge means that someone will be paying for the services. The advertisers pay on your behalf while you pay the cost but must tolerate the ads when viewing. With over 500 million users, Spotify is an excellent platform for advertisers.
  • Content creator’s ads. While we can blame Spotify for most ads users encounter, they aren't entirely to blame. We have some content creators who also include ads in their content. That means when streaming such a creator’s content, you must listen to their ads and those of Spotify. The result will be that you will have too many ads to listen to.

How to Choose the Best Spotify Ad Blocker

You need to consider several factors when finding a good Spotify ad blocker. These include:

  • Efficiency. The only reason why you need an ad blocker is to help you block ads.  Unfortunately, some ad blockers don't work as well as they purport to. You download them but later realize you are still getting bombarded with ads. Such tools are useless as they will not serve your intended purpose. We recommend that you test the ad-blocking capability of an ad blocker using tools such as Adblock Test and Can You Block It.
  • Extra Security. Ensure the ad blocker has additional features like whitelisting or blocking malicious sites. It can even be better if your ad blocker has extra tools such as VPN or antivirus.
  • Compatibility. Some ad blockers are made for different devices. Some apps are for Android, while others are for IOS devices. Some online ad blockers work on PCs. Therefore, before you install an ad blocker, ensure it will be compatible with your device.
  • Price. Ad blockers aren't that expensive. Therefore, ensure that the tool's charges are within the market rates.

Top 7 Best Spotify Ad Blockers

If you would like to use another ad blocker, here are the top five options you need to consider.

Total Adblock

On top of ad blocking, Total AdBlock is one of the most popular Total Adblockers. It offers excellent protection against malicious websites. Whether it's Spotify ads, YouTube ads, or any other site, Total Adblock will help you block ads from such sites. When you subscribe to the paid version, you will be provided unlimited blocking capabilities using the TotalAV antivirus protection.

It is easy to use and has among the top scores in ad blocking. Even on YouTube, where the music-sharing platform has pushed to stop the ad-blocking capabilities, Total Adblock still manages to block ads.

 

Pros

  • Very effective in ad-blocking.
  • Excellent user experience with a short setup time.
  • Ability to whitelist and support your favorite creators.

Cons

  • The free version doesn't block ads on the top 15,000 websites.
  • Free has many pop ups requiring you to subscribe.

SurfShark

If you need a desktop ad blocker to block ads and pop-ups on your browser, app, or even TV, you should consider SurfShark. The tool also effectively blocks ads and malware using its CleanWeb 2.0. If there are data breaches and malware, Surfshark will provide alerts. On top of that, the tool offers you a budget-friendly VPN.

When you use SurfShark on a streaming service like Spotify, you can be assured that it will act well against ads. With prices starting from $1.2 per month and allowing simultaneous connections, you can be assured of an ad-free experience on all your devices.

Pros

  • Effective in ad-blocking.
  • Works without a VPN connection.
  • Affordable.

Cons

  • It's only available as a browser extension.

Ublock Original

As an open-source ad blocker that is effective in saving CPU and memory usage, it is also a great ad blocker for Spotify and other streaming sites. Ublock Origin supports web browsers like Chrome, Opera, and Safari. Besides its ad-blocking ability, Ublock can filter and block other content like Mine Blockers and Coin Miner.

Besides, Ublock also has a custom content filter that enables users to create custom content. This feature allows you to block media with a particular qualifier, such as cloud storage or size. The tool will also provide a preselected filter list to block ads, malware sites, and more.

Pros

  • Effective in blocking most ads.
  • Open software with lots of customization options.

Cons

  • Not easy to use.

AdGuard

With its user-friendly interface and easy navigation, Adguard is another excellent choice for blocking ads and adult sites. It is, therefore, a good choice for blocking children’s access to adult sites. With the paid version, you can use other tools on unlimited devices. With the Stealth Mode feature of the tool, you can prevent sites from tracking you, hide search queries, and strip URL tracking parameters.

Pros

  • It has an easy-to-use interface.
  • Device speed remains unaffected.
  • Great for parental control.

Cons

  • Don't hide your IP, and therefore, you might get blocked.

AdLock

AdBlock is an effective tool for blocking banner ads, Spotify ads, YouTube ads, and follow-along videos. The tool has a great extension that is compatible and can be used with many big browsers. Its premium plans are compatible with Android, IOS, and MacOS. The free plan is effective in blocking most of the other ads and trackers. Under the paid plans, you also get malware and spam-blocking tools.

Adlock is an excellent choice for blocking social media trackers that keep track of your social media activity. It can also help block your cookie activity.

 

Pros

  • Great for blocking cookie collection.
  • Lots of customization options.
  • Don't share or sell your data.

Cons

  • The social media tracker blocker is only available for paid plans.
  • There are a few payment options.

Ghostery

With a wide range of features that makes it effective in blocking ads, Ghostery is also a top option you should consider. It has various features, such as private browsing and in-depth analytics of the sites you visit. The tool is highly rated, award-winning, and free.

When sites request cookies, it will automatically decline. That means you don't need to worry about reading the unnecessary cookie policies or toggling off the cookie policy. Under the paid plan, you can create custom themes to customize the blocking capabilities.

Pros

  • Ability to automatically decline cookies.
  • Effective on Chrome or Firefox.
  • The free version comes with many features.

Cons

  • Doesn't work with the Safari browser.
  • No synced setting across different settings.

NordVPN

NordVPN is an antivirus that also has ad-blocking features. Not only will it help you hide your internet protocol, but it will also constantly scan the files you download. The tool will also block ads and trackers for a seamless Spotify streaming experience. Besides, if there are any phishing attempts, the VPN will also block them.

Pros

  • Combines malware protection with ad blocking.
  • It can be used without a VPN.

Cons

  • It's more malware protection than an ad blocker.

Conclusion

Annoying ads on Spotify can spoil your streaming experience. If you have ever used the streaming platform, you can recall how annoying ads constantly interrupted your experience. By using ad blockers, you can easily enhance your streaming experience.

However, before you do that, you should remember that content creators and musicians also make money from the advertising revenue. Therefore, when you block ads, you inhibit their ability to earn and continue creating content. Thus, we recommend you upgrade to Spotify Premium if you want an ad-free streaming experience. As for the ad blockers we have discussed above, you can use them to block malware and phishing attempts.