Compare Screencastify and AdBlock: Which Extension is the Best?
Screencastify is a popular Chrome extension for screen recording. It offers a range of features but has shifted many basic functionalities behind a paywall, affecting its overall value. | AdBlock is a popular browser extension with over 60 million users, designed to block ads, enhance privacy, and improve browsing speed. Read our detailed review to see how it performs. | |
| Key Features A summary of the most important features offered by each extension. |
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| Our Rating Tooltivity's expert review score for each extension, based on hands-on testing and research. | 7.8 | 8.2 Winner in this category |
| Total users Total active users across all major browsers: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari. | 6,000,000 | 76,543,424 Winner in this category |
| Total ratings Total number of user ratings received across all supported browsers. | 11,733 | 295,546 Winner in this category |
| Average rating Average user rating across all browsers, calculated from available store ratings. | 4.0 ⭐ | 4.2 ⭐ Winner in this category |
| Entry Level Price The minimum price required to start using the extension. "Free" means a free tier is available. | Free | Free |
| Chrome User rating and stats for the extension on Chrome browser. |  4.0 3.63 Average Chrome Web Store rating from the last 100 reviews 6.0M+Users | 4.5 2.43 Average Chrome Web Store rating from the last 100 reviews 58.0M+Users Winner in this category |
| Edge User rating and stats for the extension on Edge browser. | - |  3.8 3.62 Average Microsoft Edge Store rating from the last 100 reviews 17.3M+Users Winner in this category |
| Firefox User rating and stats for the extension on Firefox browser. | - |  4.2 3.73 Average Mozilla Firefox Add-ons Store rating from the last 100 reviews 1.3M+Users Winner in this category |
| Safari User rating and stats for the extension on Safari browser. | - | - |
| Features Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Features' aspect of each extension. | 8.8 Screencastify offers a robust set of features, including screen and webcam recording, video editing and interactive questions. Leaving aside the fact that many features are only available for a fee, it's fair to say that it offers a lot of features. While recording, you can easily add spotlights and draw on the screen. The drawing tools offer a nice range of options, so you should have everything you need:  The subsequent editor also offers many functions where you can cut the video to your needs. Here is what the basic editor looks like:  It recently also added an AI feature that automatically adds captions, transcripts, titles, and descriptions. Furthermore, Screencastify offers another video editor when clicking "Edit Video" in the top right corner. This will open up another editor where you can do some more video editing. Here is how it looks like:  In our opinion, this editor isn’t necessary if you already have your own video editing software, but it could be useful for some people. We’re not entirely sure if this is just an older version of the original editor. However, we did discover that you can export videos to MP4 for free, thanks to an "Export" button that lets you do so without any limitations. We’re not certain if this is intentional, but at least it works for us. Winner in this category | 8.5 Ad blocking: The free version blocks annoying advertisements on websites. With the premium version, additional functions such as the blocking of cookie banners or pop-ups can also be activated.  Privacy and Security: AdBlock blocks third-party trackers on every Website and protects your privacy. It also blocking malicious ads with malware, scams, and cryptocurrency miners.  Sync & Backup: With the Premium version, whitelists and user-defined rules can be synchronized across Chrome profiles. |
| Performance Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Performance' aspect of each extension. | 7.5 The speed has deteriorated considerably with the latest updates. This is probably because more and more functions, such as the AI function, are being added. The tool has become slower, and creating links or accessing older videos takes longer than before. Many users have also complained about the performance in the reviews. | 8.0 The ad blocker extension generally works without slowing down the browser on most websites. However, recent changes at YouTube have meant that AdBlock has not yet managed to ban ads from YouTube again. Winner in this category |
| Design Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Design' aspect of each extension. | 9.0 The design is intuitive and user-friendly. We think that navigation is very intuitive despite the many functions. Winner in this category | 8.5 The user interface is clearly laid out. With the premium version, you can also use functions to make individual adjustments. You're in control of the look, feel, and font size of AdBlock with easy-to-use controls. There is also the Image Swap function, which will still block ads, but it will replace some ads with pretty pictures of cats, dogs, and nature. |
| Value for Money Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Value for Money' aspect of each extension. | 5.0 As already mentioned, we are somewhat shocked by the limitations of the free version. Especially if you have used the app in the past and can export videos for free. In addition, even with the starter package for $7, you are limited to 10 exports. We find that many other providers offer much more for the money. | 7.5 The free version offers good value for money. Compared to other competitors, the premium functions may be somewhat more expensive. Some premium functions are offered free of charge by other providers. Winner in this category |
| Ease of Use Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Ease of Use' aspect of each extension. | 8.5 Screencastify is easy to use, with a minimal learning curve. Even beginners can quickly get the hang of it. However, we find that recent updates have introduced some complexities that are not absolutely necessary for a screen recorder. Winner in this category | 7.8 Installation is done in one click. However, you are immediately redirected to a website that informs you that payment is required to use it. However, this is only a voluntary donation.  |
| Security & Privacy Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Security & Privacy' aspect of each extension. | 8.0 Unfortunately, an account is required, which in our opinion is not necessary for Screen recorder. However, Screencastify's privacy policy is very comprehensive and complies with standard data protection practices, including compliance with the GDPR and PCI-DSS certification for payment data. Screencastify takes reasonable security measures but, like all online services, cannot guarantee absolute protection. | 9.0 Strong privacy protection through the premium feature malware blocking. The privacy policy is transparent without any indication of data being passed on. Winner in this category |
| Conclusion A summary of our findings and final thoughts for each extension. | Screencastify was a fantastic tool in the past, and we used to use it daily. Unfortunately, recent updates have made it less user-friendly by hiding key features behind a paywall. For people who need a wide range of features, the tool is still an option. For others who just want to make a recording every now and then to export a video, Screencastify is unfortunately no longer an option. | AdBlock is a reliable tool for blocking basic ads. While it blocks most ads and still protects your privacy by preventing tracking, recent updates have failed to prevent ad videos on YouTube. It's a good choice for anyone looking for a simple and reliable adblock extension. |
| Our Recommendation | In our comparison between Screencastify and AdBlock, AdBlock came out on top, scoring 8.2. AdBlock is the most widely used, with over 77 million users and 296k+ reviews—and it also delivered the strongest performance in our tests. User reviews reflect our findings. Notably, AdBlock has the highest user rating in the Chrome Web Store at 4.17, 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.
If you want a quick recommendation, AdBlock is our top pick. But as always, the best choice depends on what matters most to you. | |
