AdGuard for Windows Questions

C

Cascade

New Member
Hi,

I have been using the free Firefox and Chrome AdGuard extensions and they are great. However, I have a few quick questions about "AdGuard for Windows", the paid version of AdGuard (with 14-day free trial):

1) Is there any advantage to using the free Firefox/Chrome browser extensions with the paid version?

2) Does the paid version support JavaScript rules in Firefox? (This is not supported in the free Firefox extension obtained from AMO.)

3) Is blocking of YouTube ads (in browser) and Spotify ads (in Spotify Windows app) possible with the paid version that works outside of the browser?

4) Can AdGuard for Windows be used alongside a VPN, such as ProtonVPN or Windscribe?

5) If buying multiple licenses through a deal such as StackSocial (below), is it possible to install on a device at a later date or transfer from one device to another? I am hoping to buy a new Windows 10 PC soon. :)

https://stacksocial.com/sales/adguard-premium-lifetime-subscription-4

Many Thanks.
 
TheHasagi

TheHasagi

Quality Assurance / Support Commando
Staff member
Administrator
Moderator
@Cascade

Hello!

It is necessary to use the free extension with a paid version of AdGuard (It will work in integration mode), paid version supports JS rules in Firefox - yes.

Yes, it is possible, ads from Youtube and Spotify will be blocked and yes, it works fine with ProtonVPN and Windscribe (tested by myself).

If you choose Premium plan you gain 1 PC/Mac and 1 Android device. So you can move it from any of these platforms from your account:)
 
Boo Berry

Boo Berry

Moderator + Beta Tester
Moderator
To elaborate upon what @TheHasagi posted above, AdGuard for Windows is more "powerful" than ad blocking browser extensions for a lot of reasons, but here's a few;

1) AG for Windows isn't subject to a web browser's extension API limitations which all ad blocker browser extensions use. Each browser supports different things in their extension API, so the level of effectiveness for the browser extensions varies between each browser. There's some stuff in Firefox for example that improves ad blocking quality (by supporting filterResponseData, which allows $replace and $$ rules to work in Firefox). Chrome/Opera/Vivaldi (and other Chromium-based browsers) currently lacks support for this, so those type of rules won't work in Chrome. AG for Windows on the other hand works is a standalone application which works with any web browser and isn't subject to any of those limitations, so all rules work.

2) Dealing with anti-adblock scripts is easier, like Instart Logic. In addition, rules dealing with Instart Logic (and other anti-adblock scripts) can be added and updated through filter updates. With ad blocker browser extensions the level of support for dealing with anti-adblock scripts varies between each browser. For example as I mentioned above Firefox recently added support for filterResponseData, so anti-adblock script rules that use $$ will work in Firefox (and the AdGuard Adblocker browser extension for Firefox). Chrome/Opera/Vivaldi (and other Chromium-based browsers)? Well, those either a) need the rule(s) hard coded into the ad blocker extension itself (which then would require constant updates to the browser extensions) or use of an extra "helper" extension, e.g. uBlock Origin Extra and Nano Defender. AG for Windows doesn't need this to handle anti-adblock scripts.

3) AG for Windows intercepts traffic at the network level, allowing a savings of bandwidth because the ads are never loaded to begin with. Ad blocker browser extensions on the other hand typically load the ads and then remove them from view. This is why sometimes, depending if you're using a home page in a web browser and and what site you're using you might see ads and ad placeholders appear for a second before the ad blocking browser extension kicks in and removes the ads/placeholders from view. But AG for Windows doesn't have this issue.

4) AG for Windows will work for other applications, not just web browsers. For example, very useful for the Windows 10 Metro/Modern apps with ads built into them, e.g. MSN News, Microsoft Solitaire Collection, etc.
 
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