Compare Stands Adblocker and Instapaper: Which Extension is the Best?
Stands AdBlocker offers a comprehensive ad-blocking solution for Chrome and Edge users, enhancing browsing speed and safety by blocking intrusive ads and potential threats. | Instapaper lets you save, organize, and highlight articles, videos, and web pages for offline reading. Features include folders, Kindle sync, text-to-speech, and mobile apps | |
| 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. | 8.5 Winner in this category | 8.2 |
| Total users Total active users across all major browsers: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari. | 4,363,886 Winner in this category | 214,048 |
| Total ratings Total number of user ratings received across all supported browsers. | 307,151 Winner in this category | 657 |
| Average rating Average user rating across all browsers, calculated from available store ratings. | 4.5 ⭐ Winner in this category | 4.1 ⭐ |
| 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. |  4.8 4.61 Average Chrome Web Store rating from the last 100 reviews 2.0M+Users Winner in this category | 3.8 2.67 Average Chrome Web Store rating from the last 100 reviews 200.0K+Users |
| Edge User rating and stats for the extension on Edge browser. |  4.7 4.75 Average Microsoft Edge Store rating from the last 100 reviews 360.0K+Users Winner in this category | - |
| Firefox User rating and stats for the extension on Firefox browser. |  3.8 3.91 Average Mozilla Firefox Add-ons Store rating from the last 100 reviews 3.9K+Users | 4.4 4.39 Average Mozilla Firefox Add-ons Store rating from the last 100 reviews 14.0K+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. | 8.5 Stands AdBlocker offers a wide range of features, for everyone. In addition to the basic blocking of all types of advertising, there are also features such as help with online security. In the settings, you can individually define whether only advertising or, for example, all tracking on websites and more should be blocked.  Another interesting function is the option to allow only a certain number of ads on websites. This is called fairness settings. So if you don't want to be flooded with ads, but still want to support the website, this is a good option.  | 8.8 Instapaper's feature set is impressive in its core functionality. The service excels at its primary purpose of saving and reading web content offline. The text view feature provides an excellent reading experience, stripping away distractions and presenting content in a clean, readable format. The highlighting and note-taking capabilities are useful tools for active readers, though they could benefit from some refinement. The Kindle integration works seamlessly, making it easy to transfer articles to your e-reader. Mobile apps offer reliable synchronization across devices, ensuring your reading list is always up to date. However, the service lacks some modern features like social sharing that competitors offer. The search functionality in the free tier is somewhat basic, and customization options are more limited compared to other services in this space.  Winner in this category |
| Performance Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Performance' aspect of each extension. | 8.5 The extension runs without any problems. No impairment of browser performance was detected during the test. Ad blocking worked without any problems on various websites during the test. The reviews mention problems with the whitelist, which we did not encounter. Winner in this category | 8.0 Instapaper’s performance is strong overall, but the initial setup leaves much to be desired. After installing the Chrome extension, there was no response or prompt—no indication that any further action was needed. It wasn’t until we read a user review that we realized we had to manually visit the Instapaper website and log in. Without that information, we likely would have assumed the extension was broken and uninstalled it. Once past that rocky start, however, the service works reliably. Web pages save quickly, and saved content loads without issue. Offline access is stable, and synchronization across devices keeps your reading list up to date. The mobile apps offer smooth performance and quick navigation, while the text view provides a responsive and comfortable reading experience. The search function is usable, though slightly slow at times. Despite the poor onboarding, Instapaper delivers solid functionality once everything is properly set up. |
| Design Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Design' aspect of each extension. | 8.0 The design is very simple and therefore intuitive to use. The pop-up displays relevant data, such as whether ads are blocked on the website. Overall, the design is designed to be user-friendly without overwhelming the user with information. | 8.5 The design of Instapaper focuses on simplicity and readability. The interface is clean and minimalist, putting the content front and center. The text view is particularly well-designed, offering a comfortable reading experience with good typography and spacing. The mobile apps follow their respective platform design guidelines, providing a native feel on both iOS and Android. The browser extension maintains this simplicity with a straightforward interface. However, some UI elements feel dated and could use a refresh. While the reading experience is consistent across platforms, the navigation could be more intuitive in some areas. The limited customization options might disappoint users who prefer more control over their reading environment. Winner in this category |
| Value for Money Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Value for Money' aspect of each extension. | 9.5 Stands AdBlocker is free of charge. For this, the extension offers excellent value for money. Users get comprehensive ad blocking features, with individual options to customize these for themselves too. Winner in this category | 8.0 The pricing structure of Instapaper offers a basic free tier that's functional but limited. The premium features are reasonably priced, offering good value for heavy readers. The pricing is competitive compared to alternatives in the market. However, some features that are currently premium could potentially be included in the free tier to provide more value to basic users. The annual subscription offers good savings for committed users. While the premium features are well-implemented, the free tier could offer more value to attract new users and provide a better experience for casual users. |
| Ease of Use Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Ease of Use' aspect of each extension. | 9.0 Stands AdBlocker is very easy to set up. Once installed, the basic user doesn't have to do anything else and can start surfing straight away. For the other features, anyone who invests a minute should be able to learn the remaining settings, as these have also been presented very simply to make it possible for everyone to use them. Winner in this category | 7.0 Instapaper’s setup process is not beginner-friendly. After installing the browser extension, there was no response or guidance—no prompt, login window, or confirmation. We had to manually visit the website and log in, something we only discovered thanks to a tip in another user’s review. Without that, we likely would have uninstalled the extension, assuming it didn’t work. However, once logged in, the service functions smoothly. Saving content is quick, the interface is clean and intuitive, and managing your reading list is simple and efficient. |
| Security & Privacy Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Security & Privacy' aspect of each extension. | 7.5 While Stand's AdBlocker increases online security by blocking malicious ads and phishing threats, the data collection that Stand's AdBlocker performs could be a problem for users who place a high value on privacy. | 9.0 Instapaper takes user privacy and security seriously. The service maintains a clear and transparent privacy policy, explicitly stating that user data is not sold to third parties. The company has demonstrated a strong commitment to user privacy through its GDPR compliance and Privacy Shield certification. Data storage is secure, and the service regularly updates its security measures. The data collection practices are transparent, with clear explanations of what information is collected and how it's used. This high level of attention to privacy and security makes Instapaper a trustworthy choice for users concerned about their data. Winner in this category |
| Conclusion A summary of our findings and final thoughts for each extension. | Stands AdBlocker is a very powerful tool for anyone who wants a free way to surf the Internet without constant ads. We can confirm the high ratings in the Web Store. In particular, the simple design and user-friendliness are a major positive point. | Instapaper is a reliable “read-it-later” service that is characterized by its core features. The service has maintained its position in the market by focusing on what matters most to readers: a clean, distraction-free reading experience and reliable offline access to stored content. While it doesn't offer the breadth of features of some newer competitors, its simplicity and reliability make it a solid choice for those who primarily want to save articles and read offline. Recent issues with the Chrome extension and some user complaints about the save feature need to be addressed, but the core service remains stable and useful. For users who appreciate a simple, straightforward approach to saving and reading web content, Instapaper remains a good choice. However, those looking for advanced features or a more modern interface should look for alternatives. |
| Our Recommendation | In our comparison between Stands Adblocker and Instapaper, Stands Adblocker came out on top, scoring 8.5. Stands Adblocker is the most widely used, with over 4 million users and 307k+ reviews—and it also delivered the strongest performance in our tests. User reviews reflect our findings. Notably, Stands Adblocker has the highest user rating in the Chrome Web Store at 4.52, 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, Stands Adblocker is our top pick. But as always, the best choice depends on what matters most to you. | |
