Android

You can easily use private DNS settings on your android without installing anything!

dns.adguard.com is simple and works well nextdns allows more configuration, stats and blocklists

Honestly, I should probably set up a system-wide adblocker, but I just use uBlock in Firefox and avoid apps that shove ads in my face.

I set up an account with NextDNS and set them as my DNS server. It blocks ads, trackers, malicious websites. You can set up custom blocks, rewrites, and it has logging.

I'm surprised that I haven't seen anyone mention this, but Firefox for Android lets you install from a list of compatible extensions. You can use uBlock Origin as normal.

I've been using AdGuard on my phone (OnePlus 6T) and tablet (Tab S7 FE) for quite some time now. Neither device is rooted. I got AdGuard lifetime license on sale from StackSocial a while back. The app isn't on the Play Store (if you look for it, you will instead find an extension for the Samsung browser or something). They have you download the .apk from their site, and then you can set up the blocking how you prefer. It works by setting up a local VPN. I think there's other ways to use it but I didn't feel the need to tweak further. Because it acts like a VPN, all app traffic flows through it so ads are blocked pretty much system-wide. Browsers, social media apps etc. Honestly I'd highly recommend it.

If you're coming from Blokada, check out AdAway. It works the same way unrooted, setting itself as a VPN that can be toggled on and off. So if you're coming from Blokada, it's like that, but without the recent-ish subscription stuff - so you'll feel right at home.

https://www.f-droid.org/packages/org.adaway/

Adguard works by setting up a virtual VPN and blocking adds that go through it.

Personally I use a VPN (Proton vpn but there are loads) that blocks ads.

At home I use a pihole, which is fantastic.

Private DNS. I use https://nextdns.io/, and then just change my phone's private DNS address to match.

Works great, easy enough to toggle off if needed.

I use DNS66 downloaded from F-Droid. It registers itself as a VPN, but it's actually a DNS filter, not a VPN. It works to filter ads on most apps, and you can individually disable it for specific apps if needed.

I also use the Firefox app, which supports a few add-ons (much less than the desktop version), including uBlock and some similar options

I'd recommend one or both. They're working great for me on a non-rooted Pixel 4a 5G

AdAway is what I use on my rooted devices. It does have a rootless mode as well and if it's anywhere near as good as the root mode I would absolutely recommend it. I haven't tested it though so give it a shot.

NextDNS (free up to 300k queries/month, doesn't require any additional apps) or AdGuard (paid but has cosmetic filtering, they have their own app available on their website). Both are fast and don't require root.

I use TrackerControl. It doesn't block ads in browsers, however, so I use Firefox and ublock origin there.

Blokada used to be recommend a lot in the past, what happen to them in the past 2 years?

Adaway is the go to thing for me, it's FOSS and Supports VPN as Well as Root Mode. Also it already has some Blocklists integrated and you can easily add more and the battery drain is near to negligable.

I use paid Adguard on my s23 and my ipad and I love it

I use Mullvad VPN and so far it's been fantastic.

I use Fennec (fork of Firefox stable) as my main browser and it has uBlock Origin, which has tons of filters. They even added specific mobile ones for annoyances like cookie banners. On top of that, I set my private DNS to dns.adguard.com. Ads aren't getting thru my defenses!

I've used DNS66 from F-Droid. Worked like a charm.

try setting up your private dns to: adblock.doh.mullvad.net

Trackercontrol on Fdroid

I use private dns p3.freedns.controld.com

You can set up private DNS like others have suggested here, dns.adguard.com

I've found it's pretty handy removing ads overall. The first few links on Google, the sponsored section often doesn't work (since sponsors are ad based)

I just setup AdGuard Home and use DNS as adblocking. (A PiHole alternative, not the android app)

Adguard is the best option for system-wide, rootless ad blocking on Android IMO.

It's the best because it also performs cosmetic filtering to reclaim the empty space that most other blockers leave behind after removing an ad from a web page. This makes web pages look much cleaner and is something that I value in any adblocker, mobile or otherwise. The free version works across any browser or embedded webview instance within apps, and the paid version filters all ads within apps as well. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Completely negligible impact on battery life as well.

Been using Rethink DNS for awhile now. It has a lot of custom blocklists and can even block apps from having WiFi and Mobile Data access.