Best ad-blockers for Twitch in 2023

Want to stop ads on Twitch slowing you down? In this guide, we explain what you should look for in a Twitch ad-blocker, which ones we’ve found do the best job, and why you should consider using a VPN to access Twitch and bypass those annoying ads.

What are the best ad-blockers for Twitch in 2023?

Here’s a quick summary of the best ad-blockers for Twitch. For more information as to why we chose these services, keep scrolling for our in-depth analysis.

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What should I look for in an ad-blocker for Twitch?

The single most important thing to look for in any ad-blocking or VPN solution for Twitch is that it actually works – blocking adverts without also subjecting you to the dreaded purple screen of doom! The services we recommend here have been personally tested by the ProPrivacy team, and we can confirm that they do, indeed, work with Twitch in 2023, allowing you to view your favourite streams without being subjected to unskippable advertising.

The best Twitch ad-blockers | Detailed analysis

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What are the best ways to block ads on Twitch in 2023?

In order to block Twitch ads, you can either use a VPN, or install a dedicated ad-blocking app or extension. Both of these methods have their own pros and cons:

VPN

• Can spoof your location to be in a country that doesn’t show adverts
• Some VPNs also include their own ad-blocker
• The best services require a paid subscription
• Can introduce a small speed loss in your network as your traffic is being routed through the VPN provider’s server

Adblocker

• Low impact on system resources
• Cheap (often free)
• Doesn’t secure any of your other communications
• Doesn’t open up any other streaming libraries or geo-locked content
• Twitch actively looks to prevent them from working

Why should I use an ad-blocker for Twitch?

Twitch is notorious for serving a lot of ads. In fact, during particularly long ad breaks, some viewers are served up to 9 adverts in a row. Twitch viewers consider this to be less than ideal, understandably. The same ad sometimes even plays repeatedly at regular intervals throughout a stream in certain countries!

Locations like the USA, UK, Germany, and Sweden are some of the worst offenders when it comes to Twitch adverts. Thus, if you have an IP address belonging to one of those countries, you will need to either spoof your location using a VPN, or if you’d rather not commit to a paid subscription, use a reliable ad-blocker.

Why should I use a VPN for Twitch?

Twitch is unusual because it does not serve ads in all countries. As a result, one of the best way to block ads on Twitch is to use a VPN to pretend to be in a different part of the world entirely. Places that are known to have either no ads (or fewer ads) include Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, Colombia, and Costa Rica.

Of course, this is all subject to change, seeing as Twitch could begin dishing out ads in these locations at any point. Right now, the countries listed above (and probably some others) are ad-free. This makes a VPN the best way to block ads on Twitch and secure the safety of your browsing sessions and identifiable information, too.

A VPN works by concealing your real IP address from Twitch. By connecting to a server in a country where there are no ads, you can stream and enjoy live content without worrying about the purple screen or annoying pre-roll ads.

Best VPNs for gaming (and streaming)

How to use a VPN to block ads on Twitch

Using a VPN to block ads on Twitch is by far the easiest and most reliable method. Simply follow the steps below to get your VPN up and running with the streaming platform:

What is the Twitch purple screen error and how do I fix it?

If you have ever been watching your favorite streamer on Twitch only to be suddenly and rudely interrupted by the purple screen of death – you know firsthand how frustrating this issue is. But what is the purple warning, and why do users encounter it?

Twitch wants users to watch adverts because it’s how the platform generates its revenue. Without advertisers, Twitch wouldn’t be able to operate for free and still make a profit. That is why it works hard to prevent people from bypassing its ads with an ad-blocker.

The purple screen is Twitch’s way of fighting back against people who use ad-blockers.

If Twitch detects that a user is running a third-party ad-blocker or script filtering tool, then it’ll serve them with the purple warning – so you might come across this screen if the site figures out that you’re using an ad-block extension. The purpose of the warning is to get you to turn your ad-block off.

The good news is that you should be able to stream Twitch without ads, or the purple screen, as long as you use a reliable ad-blocker for Twitch.

How to bypass the Twitch purple screen error

Disable or uninstall your ad-blocker and try a different one

The best way to prevent the purple screen is to disable (or uninstall) your ad-blocker and try a different one. Not all ad-blockers are able to do their job without being detected by Twitch. That is why we recommend using one of our recommended Twitch ad-blockers – or, better yet, a VPN!

Stream Twitch on the main Twitch website

You might also come across the purple screen when watching Twitch content via a third-party website. Ultimately, Twitch will be concerned that you’re avoiding the ads that power the service – so it’s generally a better idea to support your favorite Twitch streamers via the main site.

My ad block stopped working with Twitch?

If your ad blocker used to work with Twitch, but it has recently stopped working, it might be time to switch.

Twitch is constantly looking for ways to prevent ad blockers from working. This is because ads are an important part of how the platform creates a revenue stream. Unfortunately, this means that an ad blocker could suddenly stop working.

Even the ad blockers recommended on this page could potentially stop working at some point in the future – either temporarily, or for good. If you are using one of the ad blocks on this page, but it has stopped working, feel free to leave a message below to let other users know (and to let us know that we should update the page!)

The best ad blockers for Twitch know how to get around the purple error message. At the time of testing, all the ad blockers on this page worked to watch Twitch free of adverts on any streamer’s channel. 

What features do the best ad blockers for Twitch have?

The best ad blockers for Twitch should have the following features:

1. Compatibility. First and foremost, the ad blocker must be compatible with Twitch. This means it must block ads on the Twitch website and preferably also while using the Twitch mobile app.
2. Effectiveness. The ad blocker should be able to block all types of Twitch ads, including pre-roll, mid-roll, and on-screen display ads.
3. Customization. The best Twitch ad blockers make things easy by allowing you to whitelist certain channels or ad types. This gives you additional control over how the ad block works with the channels you watch.
4. User-friendly interface. We try only t recommend ad blockers for Twitch that make it easy and intuitive to block ads, while still allowing you to watch Twitch channels and engage in chat without any stress. 
5. Reliability. The ad blocker should work without causing a drain on system resources, and without causing the Twitch website or your browser to crash.

Final thoughts

While there are specialized ad-blockers available for only Twitch, many of these only seem to work for a short time, or intermittently at best. The services suggested in this guide work with Twitch as well as a long list of other in-demand streaming sites, so we feel like they’re a better investment in the long run. Here’s a reminder of the providers we recommend:

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