wBlock

The end of Safari ad-blocking B.S.

Version

A Safari content blocker for macOS, iOS, and iPadOS.
750,000 rules across 5 extensions, Protocol Buffer storage, LZ4 compression, and iCloud sync.

[!NOTE] Looking for a detailed comparison? Check out my comparison guide to see how wBlock stacks up against other Safari content blockers.

Features

Screenshots

Technical Implementation

Support Development

wBlock is free and open source.
If you want to support the project:

FAQ

How does wBlock compare to other ad blockers?

Check out our comparison guide vs uBlock Origin Lite, Wipr 2, and AdGuard's Safari apps.

Should I install wBlock from the App Store or the DMG/Homebrew release?

The App Store version is usually preferred because it handles app updates automatically. The DMG/Homebrew release has the same features and is available for users who prefer installing outside the App Store.

Can I use my own filter lists?

Yes. You can add any AdGuard-compatible filter list by URL, paste rules directly, or import from a file.

Should I enable more filter lists for better blocking?

Usually not. The recommended defaults already cover most ads and trackers, and most other general-purpose lists overlap with them. Enabling more mainly uses up Safari's rule limit and increases the chance of site breakage. The exceptions are Annoyances filters (cookie banners, popups, social widgets) and regional filters for non-English sites, which cover things the defaults do not.

Does wBlock slow down Safari?

No in normal use. wBlock uses Safari's native declarative content blocking API, which applies compiled rules outside the app process. Local idle checks sit around ~40 MB, and page loading stays on Safari's native blocker path.

Do userscripts work on iOS and iPadOS?

Yes. The userscript engine implements common Greasemonkey APIs (GM_getValue, GM_setValue, GM_xmlhttpRequest, GM_addStyle) on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS via Safari Web Extensions.

How do I block Twitch ads?

wBlock bundles the AdGuard Extra userscript, which can help with Twitch ads by talking to Twitch's GraphQL API (gql.twitch.tv) — the same general approach uBlock Origin users rely on. It ships disabled by default, so enable it for Twitch:

1. Open wBlock and go to the Userscripts section.
2. Find AdGuard Extra in the built-in list and toggle it on.
3. Reload any open Twitch tabs.

This is best-effort, community-style ad blocking: Twitch frequently changes how ads are served, so it may occasionally break until the userscript is updated. There is no guarantee every ad is removed.

How often do filters update?

Auto-update intervals are configurable from 1 hour to 7 days, or manually triggered. On macOS, enabling auto-update registers a bundled launch agent that can keep checking while the app is closed through a background update service. On iOS and iPadOS, background checks are best-effort and may wait until the system wakes wBlock or you reopen it. Opening Safari does not trigger updates. Updates use HTTP conditional requests (If-Modified-Since/ETag headers) when servers support them, which reduces unnecessary downloads.

Is the element zapper available on iOS and iPadOS?

Yes. Open the wBlock extension popup in Safari and tap Activate Element Zapper.