Compare AdGuard AdBlocker and Recall: Which Extension is the Best?

AdGuard Adblocker is a browser extension with over 14 million users, designed to block ads, enhance privacy, and protect against online threats. Read our detailed review to see how it performs.
With Recall, you can capture, summarize, and organize articles, PDFs, and videos with AI, spaced repetition, browser extensions, and strong privacy controls.
Key Features
  • Block Ads: Blocks video ads, pop-ups, banners, and text ads on all websites.
  • Privacy Protection: Blocks third-party trackers and protects your privacy.
  • Customizable: Offers allowlists and custom user rules.
  • Malware Protection: Blocks malicious websites and spyware.
  • Crypto-jacking Protection: Blocks known crypto-jackers for added security.
  • AI Summarization: Instantly summarizes articles, PDFs, YouTube videos, and more.
  • Personal Knowledge Base: Saves and organizes your summaries for easy retrieval.
  • Spaced Repetition & Active Recall: Helps you actually remember what you save, not just store it.
  • Augmented Browsing: Highlights related content as you browse, surfacing connections in your knowledge.
  • Browser Extensions: One-click saving and summarizing directly from Chrome or Firefox.
  • Editable Notebook: Add notes, highlights, and customize your saved content.
  • Tagging & Organization: Automatic and manual tagging, with support for nested tags.
  • Cross-Platform Sync: Works on desktop and mobile, keeping your knowledge base up to date.
Our Rating
9.0
8.9
Total users
26,844,851
73,229
Total ratings
78,338
95
Average rating
4.3 ⭐
4.1 ⭐
Entry Level PriceFreeFree
Chrome
Chrome Web Store logo
4.7
4.19
65.1K+ ratings
14.0M+Users
Chrome Web Store logo
4.2
4.14
78 ratings
70.0K+Users
Edge
Microsoft Edge Store logo
4.8
4.23
6.6K+ ratings
11.4M+Users
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Firefox
Mozilla Firefox Add-ons Store logo
4.7
4.44
6.6K+ ratings
1.5M+Users
Mozilla Firefox Add-ons Store logo
3.9
3.94
17 ratings
3.2K+Users
Safari
-
-
Features
9.3

Ad Blocker:

In our tests, ad banners and ad videos were blocked on all websites, including YouTube and Twitch. Blocked ads also include social media widgets and pop-ups, among other things.

Ad Blocking

Privacy and Malware Protection:

The extension blocks tracking by blocking third-party trackers on all websites and protects your personal data. It also detects and blocks malicious websites and spyware.

personal data

Customizable

AdGuard Adblocker offers the option of activating or deactivating all functions yourself.
It also offers an allow list and user-defined rules. This means that you can make adjustments to the rules or allow advertising on certain websites that you want to support.

9.2

Recall's range of functions is impressive for a relatively new tool. The AI summary works on a wide range of content, from articles to YouTube videos with a running time of several hours. We particularly liked the personal knowledge base and the way Recall automatically links related content. Spaced Repetition and Active Recall are outstanding features for students. However, some features are still in beta or will be available soon. The functions in the free version are severely limited in the number of users per day, and there is an upper limit for free use.

Performance
9.0

A recent user complained in a review that it had YouTube problems that affected the performance and speed of the website. In our test, we did not notice any performance problems. The extension generally works quickly and reliably. There are also regular updates, so the problem may already have been solved.

9.0

Retrieval is fast and reliable in most cases. The summary is fast, even with very extreme examples such as a 9-hour news show that we had summarized in our test. Occasionally, we encountered errors or slowdowns, especially when asking further questions about the summarized content via the wizard. The team is actively working on performance improvements and there are regular updates. Overall, the tool feels stable and is suitable for everyday use.

Design
9.2

The design is very clear and well-organized. The display of the settings is significant for adblockers. Here, great importance has been attached to user-friendliness and highlighting the customizable settings.

9.0

The user interface has a clear and modern design. The focus is on user-friendliness. We found the browser extension intuitive and easy to navigate. The tagging and organization system can be used flexibly, and some users mentioned minor bugs in the user interface, but these were only minimally noticeable in the test.

Value for Money
9.2

The free browser extension offers numerous functions that worked perfectly in the test. Compared to competitors, you get many functions here that others offer for a fee.
If further functions are required that can also be used outside the web browser, AdGuard Adblocker also offers an app that is subject to a charge. We consider the current lifetime prices to be fair for the services offered.

8.1

The free tariff is suitable for infrequent users who do not need all the functions, as you will quickly reach the map limit. However, if you want to use the extension on a day-to-day basis, you cannot avoid the
extension. The paid plan is competitively priced, especially with the student discount. We appreciate that some features will remain free forever, and the team is open to feedback on pricing. Compared to alternatives, Recall offers good value for money for those who need advanced knowledge management features, but casual users may find the limitations too restrictive and stop using the extension.

Ease of Use
9.5

Installation is quick and easy. What impressed us in comparison to other competitors was that AdGuard Adblocker clearly shows which functions it offers and explains them in the introduction, and you can activate them directly if you wish. The extension therefore attaches great importance to ensuring that every user recognizes and uses the options. With competitors, some functions were somewhat hidden in the settings.

Configure
8.0

An account is required to use Recall. However, due to the integration with a Google and Apple login, this should be easy for everyone.
Saving and summarizing content is a one-click process that is well explained at the beginning. However, mastering all functions (e.g., nested tags, links, and spatial repetitions) requires some time and some searching, which can lead to many users not being able to exploit the full potential.

Security & Privacy
8.0

Strong privacy protection by preventing tracking. Also features malware detection and blocking, although public complaints could raise concerns.
Overall, AdGuard provides transparency in its privacy policy and limits data collection. Some practices, such as filing public complaints and reviewing website visits, should be critically questioned.

9.9

Recall is characterized by its privacy-friendly approach. User data is not used by the extension for advertising, profiling, or AI training. All content is stored securely, and users retain full control over their data. Data can be exported for inspection or deleted at any time. The data protection guidelines are transparent, and support is always available to answer questions about data protection. We were unable to identify any uncertainties during our review.

Conclusion

AdGuard Adblocker is, in our opinion, a very good ad-blocking tool compared to its competitors, offering a range of features in the free extension that you often have to pay for. In our test, all ads were blocked. Other ad blockers currently fail because of YouTube's advertising videos, but AdGuard currently seems to have this fully under control. Overall, it is the choice for a free browser extension with many features.

Finally, we would like to point out that our test is about the browser extension. If you work in different browsers and don't want to install a new extension in each one, or if you work a lot in apps that carry out advertising and tracking, AdGuard Adblocker offers an app for comprehensive security outside the browser.

The AdGuard app allows you to block advertising in other apps outside of your web browser, for example, and keep your data secure. Here is an overview of the additional functions:

Comparison

Currently, you have the opportunity to purchase the app as a lifetime plan. Here you can decide whether the app should be installed on 3 or 9 devices.

Pricing

Recall impressed us with its useful intelligent use of AI and its focus on helping users in their everyday lives, especially when learning. The browser extension makes it easy to capture content, and the revision features with auto-generated questions are a real bonus for learners.

For occasional users, the free version may be enough, but if you want to use the extension, you can't avoid the paid version. The extension is not yet perfect and has small bugs, but the team reacts quickly to these and feedback, and many new functions are currently being introduced.

Overall, Recall is a good choice for anyone looking to do more than just bookmark cards and build a personal knowledge base. If you're tired of forgetting what you've read online and want to save time, it's a must!

Our Recommendation

In our comparison between AdGuard AdBlocker and Recall, AdGuard AdBlocker came out on top, scoring 9.

AdGuard AdBlocker is the most widely used, with over 27 million users and 78k+ reviews—and it also delivered the strongest performance in our tests. User reviews reflect our findings.

Notably, AdGuard AdBlocker has the highest user rating in the Chrome Web Store at 4.28, which supports its strong performance in our review.

In the end, the differences between these extensions are minimal, so your choice may come down to personal preference or specific features.


  • Looking for the richest feature set? AdGuard AdBlocker stands out with a rating of 9.3. On the other hand, Recall lags behind in this area with a rating of 9.2.
  • Performance-wise, both deliver: AdGuard AdBlocker and Recall. In the Performance category, AdGuard AdBlocker has scored a highly impressive 9. It performs very well, meeting high standards with ease.
  • Design lovers, take note: AdGuard AdBlocker stands out with a rating of 9.2. On the other hand, Recall lags behind in this area with a rating of 9.
  • Want to get the most for your money? AdGuard AdBlocker stands out with a rating of 9.2. On the other hand, Recall lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.1.
  • If you hate complicated tools, AdGuard AdBlocker stands out with a rating of 9.5. On the other hand, Recall lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.
  • With privacy and security becoming ever more important, Recall stands out with a rating of 9.9. On the other hand, AdGuard AdBlocker lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.

If you want a quick recommendation, AdGuard AdBlocker is our top pick. But as always, the best choice depends on what matters most to you.