# BlockBear! vs Block advertising

The clearest difference is review sentiment: BlockBear! at 79% against Block advertising's 19%. BlockBear! also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 18 months). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

BlockBear! holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BlockBear! has 2.8K ratings behind it against 22, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of BlockBear!'s written reviews are positive against 19% of Block advertising's.

BlockBear! ships an update every 3 months, Block advertising every 18 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BlockBear! | Block advertising |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (2.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blockbear/id1023924541/reviews)** | [4.4 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/block-advertising-ad-remover/id1052603710/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.8K** | 22 |
| Positive reviews | **79.3% of reviews** | 18.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 18 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 19 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TunnelBear, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/555344986) | [Giacomo Guglielmi](https://appshunter.io/developer/507748829) |

## What reviewers say

### BlockBear!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blockbear/id1023924541)

Browse the web without annoying ads and reclaim valuable screen space. This app significantly speeds up website loading times, conserves bandwidth, and protects your privacy from online trackers. Easily manage ad blocking preferences and whitelist favorite sites.

**Highlights:** Blocks all ad types, Removes website clutter, Speeds up website loading, Saves bandwidth, Protects privacy from tracking, Customizable blocking options, Safari extension for whitelisting

**Features:** Safari Extension, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Effective ad blocker
- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🐻 Cute bear theme
- 🔒 No data collection
- 💰 Free app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Blocks legitimate links/content
- 🔍 Ineffective at blocking some ads
- 🗓️ App not updated in years
- ⚠️ Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

**Reported bugs**

- Whitelist functionality not working as expected
- Causes Safari pages to load blank
- Blocks YouTube ads inconsistently

**Requested features**

- Dark mode app icon
- Ability to easily enable/disable on specific sites
- Integration with other browsers (e.g. Chrome)


### Block advertising

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/block-advertising-ad-remover/id1052603710)

Eliminate intrusive pop-ups, banner ads, and trackers across all browsers. Enjoy faster, smoother browsing and enhanced privacy with a single tap. Experience an improved online journey free from unwanted advertisements.

**Highlights:** Powerful ad blocking system, Removes pop-ups and banner ads, Blocks prying trackers, One-tap privacy protection, Faster, smoother browsing, Ad-free online experience

**Features:** Safari Extension, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BlockBear! free?

BlockBear! is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Block advertising free?

Block advertising is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, BlockBear! or Block advertising?

BlockBear! is rated higher. BlockBear! averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2.8K ratings, while Block advertising averages 4.4 from 22 ratings.

### Do BlockBear! or Block advertising have ads?

Block advertising shows ads; BlockBear! does not.

### Which is updated more often, BlockBear! or Block advertising?

BlockBear! ships an update every 3 months, and Block advertising every 18 months. Most recently, BlockBear! was updated on November 1, 2026 and Block advertising on November 2, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*