Surfshark CleanWeb Review 2024: A Budget Ad Blocker With VPN Power

Many virtual private networks (VPNs) offer ad blocking features, but Surfshark CleanWeb is a step above the rest. When enabled, it blocks ads, trackers, and malware to help keep your browsing ad-free, anonymous, and safe from cyberthreats.

CleanWeb scored top marks on our ad blocker tests and even blocked YouTube ads. However, it struggled with our online tracker tests and its whitelisting feature is unavailable for macOS and iOS.

In our review, we look deeper at Surfshark CleanWeb’s capabilities and pricing to help you determine if this ad blocker is right for you. 

Surfshark CleanWeb overview

Malware scans	Automatic
EICAR test results	2/3
Firewall	No
Phishing protection	Yes
Ads blocked on Forbes	21
AdBlock Tester score	98/100
Cover Your Tracks score	0.5/3
Can You Block It score	3/3
Does it block YouTube ads?	Yes (Windows and Android only)
Whitelisting available	Yes
Blacklisting available	No
Compatibility	CleanWeb: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Fire TV CleanWeb 2.0: Chrome, Firefox, Edge
Paid version	Starts at $1.99/mo (billed every two years)
Learn more	Get Surfshark CleanWeb

We last tested Surfshark CleanWeb on October 10, 2024. 

Our experience

For testing, we downloaded the Surfshark app on our laptop running Windows 11. The setup was relatively easy overall and the interface was very intuitive. 

If you’re someone who isn’t super familiar with how VPNs or ad blockers work, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by CleanWeb’s simple design. It also provides tips and explanations during the setup process.

One thing we loved during our testing was that there were no more ads. Really! This ad blocker gave us a 100% ad-free experience while watching a TinyDesk concert on YouTube. 

The only problem during setup was that the CleanWeb feature needed to be more obvious. CleanWeb hides in the VPN settings within the Surfshark app when you first go to turn this feature on.

You won’t know where the toggles are or if it’s working unless you go to Settings and then CleanWeb settings. If you find it once though, you’ll know where to go. 

With the Surfshark browser extension, you'll also have to go through the tabs on the lefthand side bar to enable CleanWeb 2.0.

Prices and subscriptions

Surfshark's price ranges from $1.99-$20.65/mo. Unfortunately, there's no free plan for Surfshark CleanWeb. If you want to buy CleanWeb or CleanWeb 2.0, you must buy Surfshark VPN, since it comes bundled automatically.

There are two things to consider when purchasing Surfshark: term length and plan tier. You can subscribe to Surfshark for one month, one year, or two years. The longer the term length, the more money you'll save on your plan.

After Surfshark Starter there are the Surfshark One plans, which come with additional cybersecurity features like breach alerts, a private search engine, and antivirus protection. But regardless of what Surfshark plan you choose, CleanWeb is always included. 

	1 month	1 year	24 months Best Value
Price per month	$15.45/mo	$2.99/mo (billed annually)	$1.99/mo (billed every two years)

When compared to NordVPN, which offers its own ad blocker, Surfshark's 24-month plan is more affordable. Nord's starting price is $2.99/mo (billed every two years) compared to Surfshark's $1.99/mo (billed every two years). Surfshark also allows unlimited device connections, making it a budget-friendly choice if you have multiple devices.

With a Surfshark subscription, you'll get more than just an ad blocker. It comes with 3,200+ servers in 100 countries, the ability to stream geo-blocked content, static and rotating IP, and more.

Whether you opt for the 12-month or 24-month plan, Surfshark provides excellent value, making it a reliable and cost-effective choice for those needing a dependable and budget-friendly VPN service.

Main features

Surfshark CleanWeb is a powerful ad blocker that can help you protect your privacy and security. It blocks malicious ads and websites, trackers, pop-ups, banners, and video ads. It's also easy to use — it’s built-in to the Surfshark VPN, so you can be sure your browsing is always protected.

Surfshark CleanWeb is available as a browser extension and an application. Here’s what CleanWeb can do:

• Blocks ads and trackers to improve browsing speeds and save bandwidth
• Displays the number of blocked ads, trackers, and malware on websites

• Protects against phishing attempts

• Includes a cookie pop-up blocker to manage consent requests
  

• Includes Bypasser feature for allowing ads on specific websites

We confirmed from its customer support that CleanWeb blocks only malicious ads. CleanWeb 2.0, its upgraded version, blocks all ads.

If you are looking for antivirus, real-time protection, or VPN features, Surfshark has an all-in-one product called Surfshark One that combines these things in a single solution. You can also get them individually.

CleanWeb vs. CleanWeb 2.0

CleanWeb is Surfshark's ad blocking feature that blocks browser ads and banners within the Surfshark app and VPN connection. It’s compatible with iOS, macOS, Android, Windows, Linux, and FireTV devices. 

CleanWeb 2.0 is an updated version of Surfshark's ad and malware-blocking feature, available as a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.

Here are CleanWeb 2.0’s key features:

• Ad blocker: CleanWeb removes ads and trackers from the websites you visit, providing a cleaner browsing experience. It even blocks annoying video ads on popular streaming platforms.
• Pop-up blocker: Say goodbye to those frustrating cookie pop-ups. CleanWeb blocks these notifications, eliminating the need to agree or interact with them.
• Data breach alert: This feature keeps you informed about the security of the websites you visit. CleanWeb alerts you if a website has had any data breaches in the past, giving you a warning to be cautious with your personal information.
• Malware alert: With CleanWeb's malware alert, you get protection against malicious website activities. It actively monitors downloads and other potentially harmful actions, notifying you if any malware is detected.

You can easily turn these features on or off according to your preferences. Simply go to the CleanWeb settings in the CleanWeb 2.0 browser extension and find individual toggles for each feature. The Surfshark app has only a single CleanWeb toggle under Settings, so you cannot customize it like you can in the browser.

Don’t have a VPN? No worries. You can use the CleanWeb browser extension without a VPN connection. However, when using the Surfshark app, a VPN connection is required for CleanWeb to function.

Phishing protection

CleanWeb effectively prevents phishing and spam by automatically detecting and blocking websites. It also blocks ads and pop-ups as you browse, which protects you from adware. 

CleanWeb’s anti-phishing feature is automatically enabled by default, requiring no additional settings. By enabling the feature, you’re protected while using Surfshark VPN.

Whitelisting

CleanWeb doesn’t include blacklisting capabilities by itself. If you want to whitelist certain sites to see ads, use the VPN’s Bypasser feature. (This is the same as split tunneling.)

This feature allows you to choose which applications route through the VPN. For example, this feature can be helpful when your bank must verify your location. The only downside? Bypasser is available only for Android and Windows, leaving out Apple users.

Surfshark VPN

One of our top-rated VPNs after hours of hands-on testing, Surfshark encrypts your internet connection so no one (and nothing) can snoop on your web activities. This is especially important if you use a public internet connection like the Wi-Fi at Starbucks or the airport.

The VPN itself stands out for a few reasons:

• 3,200+ servers to choose from in 100 countries worldwide
• A no-logs policy, meaning Surfshark doesn't even collect your data — this was verified by an independent audit agency, Deloitte
• You can connect an unlimited number of devices at the same time
• Didn't significantly slow down our download speeds or upload speeds during testing (some reduced speed is expected)
• Apps for smart TVs, routers, gaming consoles, and more
• Accepts multiple forms of payment, including cryptocurrency

Surfshark CleanWeb's test results

We put Surfshark CleanWeb to the test to see how well it works. We checked whether it blocked different types of ads as well as how well it blocked tracking ads and protected against browser fingerprinting. Lastly, we tested CleanWeb on YouTube ads and paywalls. Below are our scores.

Surfshark CleanWeb ad blocker scores

	AdBlock Tester	Cover Your Tracks	Can You Block It?
Surfshark CleanWeb score	98/100	0.5/3	3/3

For our testing tools, we use AdBlock Tester, the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s (EFF's) Cover Your Tracks, the Can You Block It? test. Here's a breakdown of how these tests work:

• AdBlock Tester checks if your ad blocker effectively blocks contextual ads, analytics tools, banner advertising, and error monitoring.
• Cover Your Tracks assesses browser settings to protect against tracking including invisible trackers and fingerprinting.
• Can You Block It? tests if your ad blocker effectively blocks ad blocker detection warnings, banner ads, and interstitial ads.

When using AdBlock Tester, we found that CleanWeb received a near-perfect score. The tests that weren't a sure pass were listed as most likely passed, so we feel good about CleanWeb's ad-blocking abilities.

CleanWeb also easily passed all of the Can You Block It? tests.

However, we were disappointed that both the browser extension and the app failed to block tracking ads and invisible trackers, but it left a nearly-unique digital fingerprint.

A digital fingerprint is a unique set of characteristics that identify a user, their browser, and their hardware setup. It includes necessary information for accessing websites and seemingly unimportant data collected by tracking scripts. Tracking sites combine these pieces to create a unique picture, or "fingerprint," of your device.

CleanWeb's struggle to block these trackers may be a drawback for privacy-focused users. Websites may still be able to collect your data while you browse instead of creating an anonymous browsing experience.

YouTube ad test

Our tests confirm that Surfshark CleanWeb doesn't block YouTube ads on mobile apps and browsers. So if you're only using the VPN app, you won't be able to block ads on YouTube.

However, CleanWeb 2.0 can block YouTube ads and even ads on streaming services. In order to block video ads and other nuisances on YouTube, you'll need to set up the Surfshark browser extension on Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. 

When we tested CleanWeb with YouTube, it was a breeze and we had no issues with lag. With CleanWeb, you can get straight to your content without those pesky interruptions in the middle of your viewing.

Bypassing paywall test

We've all clicked through an article only to find most of the page blocked by a paywall. If you're trying to stay informed on the latest news, this can definitely be frustrating.

Some ad blockers can bypass paywalls, but not all of them. We opened articles from the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and The Atlantic with CleanWeb toggled on but, unfortunately, the paywalls remained.

EICAR test results

To check Surfshark CleanWeb's antivirus capabilities, we turned to EICAR. These are files created by the European Institute for Computer Antivirus Research that mimic cyberthreats like malware and phishing links. That way, you can safely test the effectiveness of your antivirus software without risking exposure to actual malware.

Test	NordVPN Threat Protection score
Malware detection	Pass
Drive-by malware downloads	Pass
Phishing detection	Fail

Surfshark CleanWeb blocked both malware test files from downloading. However, CleanWeb allowed us to open the phishing test link with no issue, so it may not stand up to actual phishing links.  

What browsers and software is it compatible with?

CleanWeb is available on numerous operating systems while CleanWeb 2.0 is exclusive to the Surfshark browser extension. Here's the compatibility breakdown.

CleanWeb:

• Windows
• macOS
• Linux
• Android
• iOS
• FireTV

CleanWeb 2.0:

• Google Chrome
• Mozilla Firefox
• Microsoft Edge

Surfshark CleanWeb customer support

Surfshark CleanWeb provides various customer support options:

• 24/7 live chat
• Knowledge base
• Email

On the downside, Surfshark doesn't offer phone support as part of its customer service offering.

For personalized assistance, Surfshark's 24/7 live chat support is 10/10. We recently contacted them with questions about configuring CleanWeb. We immediately connected with an agent and they were professional and quick to answer. They provided clear instructions and guided us through the process step by step.

Thanks to their assistance, we quickly and efficiently resolved our issues. Surfshark is doing something right in the customer service category!

How to use Surfshark CleanWeb

Once you've purchased Surfshark, here's how to use it: 

1. Download the Surfshark app to your preferred operating system/device.
2. Once the dashboard is open, select the gear icon from the lefthand side bar.
   

   

3. From the settings menu, click VPN settings.
   

   

4. Find the section for CleanWeb, and turn the toggle on to block ads, trackers, and malware while your VPN is connected.
   

   

5. Once you turn the toggle on, you'll be prompted to restart your VPN connection. Click the Restart button.
   

   

If you prefer to use CleanWeb 2.0, follow these instructions instead:

1. Install the Surfshark browser extension (available for Chrome, FireFox, and Edge).
2. Click on Surfshark icon from your list of extensions. 
3. Select the CleanWeb icon from the lefthand side bar.
   

   

4. Click the Turn on CleanWeb button.
   

   

5. From there, CleanWeb will start blocking ads, trackers, and cookie pop-ups.
   

   

6. If you click on CleanWeb settings, you can find the toggles to turn the ad blocker and cookie pop-up blocker on and off.

Top alternatives

Looking for options besides Surfshark CleanWeb? Consider these alternatives:

FAQs

Bottom line: Is Surfshark CleanWeb good?

Overall, we’re impressed by Surfshark CleanWeb’s effectiveness as an ad blocker. CleanWeb excels at seamlessly removing intrusive ads and malware. Although it struggled against tracker tests, it can be stacked with other ad blockers for more comprehensive protection. 

One of CleanWeb 2.0’s standout features is that it blocks ads on streaming services. It really makes a difference, especially on sites like YouTube. Surfshark also has a beginner-friendly interface with responsive customer support, making it easy to set up and find answers fast.

If you’re looking for an affordable ad blocker solution that offers all-encompassing protection, Surfshark CleanWeb is worth considering. Surfshark CleanWeb 2.0 offers an ad blocker, pop-up blocker, data breach alert, and malware alert — all in one. It's a reliable tool that enhances your online experience by keeping unwanted ads at bay while safeguarding your digital security.

Learn about how Surfshark CleanWeb compares to Total Adblock.