Comparison

TabGuard vs PubBlock

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

TabGuard

Take back control of your browsing experience. This tool blocks annoying popups, unwanted new tabs, and sneaky redirect tricks in Safari. Choose from multiple protection modes or set site-specific rules for a cleaner, more focused browsing session.

Highlights
  • Block popup windows
  • Block new tab links
  • Block popunders
  • Three protection modes
  • Site-specific rules
  • Real-time notifications
  • Block history
Features
Read full description

Take back control of your Safari tabs! TabGuard blocks annoying popups and unwanted new tabs while you browse. Tired of websites opening random tabs when you click anything? TabGuard is a powerful Safari extension that stops websites from hijacking your browsing experience with unwanted popups, new tab links, and sneaky redirect tricks. ----------------------------------- WHY TABGUARD? Every day, websites try to force open new tabs, spawn popup windows, and redirect you to ads. TabGuard puts you back in control — block everything, allow trusted sites, or let Smart Mode decide automatically. ----------------------------------- KEY FEATURES ◉ BLOCK POPUP WINDOWS Stop sites from using window.open() to spawn unwanted popup windows in your face. ◉ BLOCK NEW TAB LINKS Prevent links from forcing new tabs to open. Keep browsing in your current tab. ◉ BLOCK POPUNDERS Stop sneaky scripts that try to open tabs behind your current window. ◉ THREE PROTECTION MODES • Block All — Maximum protection, blocks everything • Smart Mode — Allows your clicks, blocks scripts • Allow All — Disable protection when needed ◉ SITE-SPECIFIC RULES Whitelist sites you trust to allow their popups. Blacklist annoying sites to always block them. ◉ REAL-TIME NOTIFICATIONS See exactly what's being blocked with elegant on-page notifications. ◉ BLOCK HISTORY Track everything TabGuard blocks. See which sites are the worst offenders. ◉ INSTANT SYNC Settings sync instantly between the app and Safari extension. ----------------------------------- PERFECT FOR • Stopping ad popups on streaming sites • Preventing shopping sites from opening new tabs • Blocking redirect chains on sketchy sites • Keeping your browsing focused and clean • Protecting yourself from popup spam ----------------------------------- SMART MODE Don't want to block everything? Smart Mode intelligently distinguishes between: • YOUR clicks — allowed (you meant to do that) • Script-triggered popups — blocked (the site is being annoying) It's the perfect balance between protection and usability. ----------------------------------- EASY SETUP 1. Install TabGuard 2. Open Safari Settings → Extensions 3. Enable TabGuard Extension 4. Done! You're protected. ----------------------------------- PRIVACY FIRST TabGuard processes everything locally on your device. No data collection, no tracking, no accounts required. Your browsing stays private. ----------------------------------- Download TabGuard today and browse without interruptions!

About

PubBlock

Features
Read full description

PubBlock cleans up Safari and your apps: no more banners, no more pop-up ads, no more trackers following you from site to site. Pages load faster, use less data and respect your privacy. HOW IT WORKS • Safari content blocker (free): PubBlock hands Safari a compiled rule list, and Safari blocks ads and trackers before they even load. No injected scripts, nothing read from your pages. • Safari extension for youtube.com (free): it removes the site's video ads, including the ones that play before the video, sponsored Shorts and promoted videos in the feed. • Blocking in all your apps (Pro, iOS 26 or later): PubBlock's own encrypted DNS server gives no address to known advertising and tracking domains, so they never load, whatever the app. You select it once in Settings > General > VPN & Device Management > DNS, and PubBlock checks that it really works. WHAT MAKES PUBBLOCK DIFFERENT • No data collection: no account, no analytics. The Safari blocker runs entirely on your iPhone or iPad, and PubBlock's DNS server keeps no logs. • No subscription: PubBlock Pro is a one-time purchase. • A list built for the French-speaking web: on top of the big global ad networks, PubBlock blocks the French and European ad-tech and tracking tools that generic lists often miss. • Your own rules: allow the websites you choose in Safari, and add your own blocked domains. • An honest status: the home screen says exactly what is protected right now, and why when something is off. • Light and quiet: no complicated settings, everything works in the background. KNOWN LIMITATIONS • Ads served from the same domain as the content cannot be blocked by a domain filter: that is a limit of the technique, not an oversight. Video ads inside the YouTube app therefore remain impossible to block; on youtube.com in Safari, the extension handles them. • While a VPN is connected, iOS sends DNS through the VPN, so blocking in your apps pauses; the Safari blocker keeps working. • Some sites show empty spaces where blocked ads used to be. PUBBLOCK PRO One-time purchase, no subscription: blocking in all your apps (iOS 26 or later) plus your own blocked domains. The Safari blocker and the YouTube extension stay free, forever. Privacy: https://calnexia.com/pubblock/privacy Support: https://calnexia.com/pubblock/support

Screenshots

TabGuard4 screens
PubBlock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: TabGuard at none against PubBlock's 1. On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. PubBlock sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. TabGuard asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
TabGuard versus PubBlock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTabGuardPubBlock
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequency—Fortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMAXWELL PAUL VAGLICACIPRIAN ALEXANDRU FRASINESCU

In-app purchases

None

TabGuard

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

PubBlock

One-time1
  • PubBlock Pro$2.99

Questions

Is TabGuard free?
TabGuard is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PubBlock free?
PubBlock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do TabGuard or PubBlock have ads?
Neither TabGuard nor PubBlock shows ads.

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