Compare New Tab Notes and AdGuard AdBlocker: Which Extension is the Best?

Transform your new tab into a distraction-free notepad with New Tab Notes. Offering rich text formatting, auto-sync, and customization, it's a handy tool for seamless note-taking.
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.
Key Features
  • Rich Text Formatting: Use markdown and shortcuts for easy text styling.
  • Auto-Sync: Notes are saved and synced across devices without an account.
  • Customization: Adjust fonts, zoom, and toggle between dark/light themes.
  • Export Options: Download notes as Markdown, HTML, or plain text.
  • 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.
Our Rating
8.6
9.0
Total users
1,232
26,844,851
Total ratings
16
78,338
Average rating
4.7 ⭐
4.3 ⭐
Entry Level PriceFreeFree
Chrome
Chrome Web Store logo
4.4
4.62
15 ratings
1.0K+Users
Chrome Web Store logo
4.7
4.19
65.1K+ ratings
14.0M+Users
Edge
Microsoft Edge Store logo
5.0
5.0
1 ratings
232Users
Microsoft Edge Store logo
4.8
4.23
6.6K+ ratings
11.4M+Users
Firefox
-
Mozilla Firefox Add-ons Store logo
4.7
4.44
6.6K+ ratings
1.5M+Users
Safari
-
-
Features
8.7

New Tab Notes offers a range of functions for quickly and effectively storing information and ideas in a structured manner. Headings are generally used to achieve a clear structure of the notes so that you can return to the notes you are looking for on the note sheet, which is always updated.

Overview

The Markdown and shortcut support are particularly worth mentioning here, as they allow users to format the notes effectively and quickly. Anyone who already has experience with Notion, for example, will find it easy to use. However, new users may miss out on this function, as the markdowns are not described again in the extension itself and must be learned on the website. A small manual at the beginning should help new users to be able to use them as well. In addition to the headings, formats such as bullet lists, numbered lists, and codes can also be embedded.

Headings

Other functions such as highlighting notes or integrating links can also be very helpful. For advanced users, a few functions may still be missing here, for example, to highlight them visually using different font colors.

links

The automatic synchronization by the browser is used by the extension to synchronize data across devices. A big difference from other competitors is that the data is not stored on separate servers. Furthermore, the saved notes can be exported in various file formats so that they can be sorted and saved elsewhere later if necessary.

export

Overall, the extension offers all the essential functions for general users to create structured notes. For advanced users, however, additional organizational tools could be beneficial.

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.

Performance
8.8

In our tests, New Tab Notes works reliably and without any significant noticeable reduction in browser performance.
When opening a new tab, the extension loads quickly and smoothly. There may be short delays with large notes that need to be synchronized, but these are hardly noticeable.
Overall, the performance should be sufficient for most basic users without any performance problems, although there could still be room for improvement for advanced users.

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.

Design
8.5

The design of New Tab Notes is clean and minimalistic. It creates a distraction-free environment where you can easily take structured notes without getting distracted.
Since the design is specifically meant to be distraction-free, this is good. However, there could be a few more customization options, especially when it comes to the color design, including the notes. Overall, the design fulfills its purpose, but it does not win a beauty award.

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.

Value for Money
8.7

As a free extension, New Tab Notes offers excellent value for money. For the basic user, the range of functions should be sufficient, considering that it is a free tool. For advanced users, there are still a few functions missing that other providers already have. If these were also added free of charge, the price-performance ratio would be unbeatable.

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.

Ease of Use
8.5

New Tab Notes was easy to install in the test and the learning curve was very fast. Even Basic users should have no problems finding and using most of the functions straight away. However, one suggestion for improvement would be a small tutorial for new users on advanced features such as markdowns and shortcuts. Everyone who installs but doesn't see the website with instructions may not know about these features.

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
Security & Privacy
8.2

New Tab Notes is an extension that stores all data exclusively via the browser. This approach is ideal for the user, as it eliminates the need for an account and reduces the risk of data breaches associated with other external cloud storage. This was apparent to us in our tests, but it is not clear whether the basic user is aware of this, as we were unable to find a privacy policy from the provider either in the store or on the website.

This would be an important point of improvement to allow every user to read the extension's guidelines.

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.

Conclusion

With New Tab Notes, ideas, and information can be quickly and easily noted and saved directly in the browser without distractions.

Text formatting features such as headings and the accompanying markdowns and shortcuts make it quick and easy to write them down in a structured way. The design is very user-friendly, but the extension could still benefit from additional export options and possibly more advanced functions.

Overall, it is the perfect choice for anyone looking for a simple and effective solution to quickly save notes.

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
Our Recommendation

In our comparison between New Tab Notes and AdGuard AdBlocker, 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, New Tab Notes has the highest user rating in the Chrome Web Store at 4.70, 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, New Tab Notes lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.7.
  • Need top performance? AdGuard AdBlocker stands out with a rating of 9. On the other hand, New Tab Notes lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.8.
  • Design lovers, take note: AdGuard AdBlocker stands out with a rating of 9.2. On the other hand, New Tab Notes lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.5.
  • Want to get the most for your money? AdGuard AdBlocker stands out with a rating of 9.2. On the other hand, New Tab Notes lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.7.
  • If you hate complicated tools, AdGuard AdBlocker stands out with a rating of 9.5. On the other hand, New Tab Notes lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.5.
  • With privacy and security becoming ever more important, New Tab Notes stands out with a rating of 8.2. 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.