UniFi Native Ad Blocking (Is It Any Good?)

UniFi native ad blocking is starting to roll out with the new UniFi OS version 3 and UniFi network version 7.3.76. We took this new feature for a ride and this video will cover our experience.
UniFi native ad blocking is a relatively new feature that has been introduced in the UniFi OS 3 and network controller version 7.3.76. The new UniFi OS and network controller are bringing plethora of new features and improvements but the new UniFi native ad blocking feature is one of the most noteworthy features.
With the new UniFi native ad blocking feature right off the bat you will see that it is a very different experience to setup compared to other ad blocking product like pihole for example. In UniFi, at least currently, the ad blocking feature is just a simple turn on or turn off button.
If you are use to product like Pihole, you know that setting up and customizing the product to your specific satisfaction takes time and some effort. Managing your blocking lists and whitelists is a process. Ubiquiti tried to simplify the process, and maybe took it several steps too far. the UniFi native ad blocking gives the users zero customizing options.
We are sure that the new UniFi native ad blocking has the power to actually block ads for you and since it runs on the firewall level, it will provide a whole network ad blocking service right off the bat but will this be enough to make tech savvy user ditch their Piholes? Time will tell.
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[@TechMeOut5]

*Are you going to use UniFi ad blocking? Let us know in a comment*

[@QuikTechSolutions]

Excellent video Avi! I love the way you compared Unifi Ad Blocking to PiHole. Well explained. Hopefully, future software releases will add some customization options. Have a great day.

[@TechMeOut5]

Thanks for watching Tony. I'm sticking to Pihole at this point in time

[@WunderTechTutorials]

Loved the video, Avi! Didn't even know you could do this on UniFi devices!

[@TechMeOut5]

Actually you still can't officially untill the new firmware is released. Thanks for watching Frank!

[@cristobalortizortiz]

nice one less thing to run on my server :) but lioe you say hopefully they expand capability

[@steve2020]

It did work for me. Good stuff.

[@TechMeOut5]

Thanks for sharing.

[@macb.631]

Big Advantage from UniFi Ad Blocking is, that hardcoded devices cannot circumvent it. With Pi Hole connected to your UniFi Network (and UDM Pro/Se) you have to SSH to the router and create iptables and run a script and so on.

[@hawks48]

Wondering here if these tests would be more accurate if you flushed dns between tests instead of disconnecting and reconnecting….

[@tlteal]

I"m using the new OS now. We'll see if it works or not. not sure.

[@TechMeOut5]

Let us know how it goes for you

[@huzbub]

Things have changed since this video and the Ad Block has been moved to another location. Any tips on how to get it to work now? Turning it on seems to do nothing in and of itself so I wonder if I'm missing a step. Their current documentation is pretty useless.

[@bjtaudio]

Its does not work that well, it does not block all adds and breaks websites, youtube adds still get through. It blocks some sites completely. too basic, cannot be configured.

[@mixedd69]

Not gonna use it, untill they manage to fix it. While adds are blocked and page opens its fine, but whe it refuses to open page at all its way different story. Tried it, disabled it, dedusted old Pi Zero and put AdGuard on it

[@perovic96]

Performed same test on UDR and got 45%. Guess not all controllers are the same

[@TechMeOut5]

Its not about the contollers. ad servers are not static, all the time more servers are being added to service and it takes tome for the lists to include them, different countries have local ad servers that might not make to any list at all so doing the test in the United States and in France for example, will yield different results

[@Tom4ick]

Doesn't block anything for me, strange

[@TechMeOut5]

Have you tried to do a restart to your device or at least ipconfig /renew + ipconfig /renew if its a windows computer?

[@Tom4ick]

@@TechMeOut5 yeah, even changed dns servers to auto (in unifi) and restarted everything

[@JanVokas]

Another "sweet" unifi feature which is performed as bad as it could be (unfortunately usual thing for unifi these days). I'm getting the feeling that there are only idiots employed in unifi :( Nice video indeed!

[@richarddenham6058]

"I'm going to keep this short" - 8:32 video...