This popular ad-blocker is now offering an $11 lifetime subscription. I tried it myself — and this is my honest review

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In the age of the internet, pop-up ads are seemingly everywhere. No doubt they're useful to the companies displaying them - they enhance visibility and can generate leads and revenue. But for the user, it's often a headache that makes surfing the web an unenjoyable experience.

However, there are dozens of software tools and applications out there to fight these spammy ads. AdGuard is an ad-blocker that shields you from excessive pop-ups and banners and even claims to combat phishing and tracking. And in partnership with Stacksocial, you can now get aLifetime subscription to AdGuard's solo plan for $11(with code SOLOPLAN). If you have a whole crew you want to protect, you can sign up for theFamily plan at $15.97(originally $169.99) with code FAMPLAN.

What this deal includes

AdGuard, which has been on the market for about 15 years, offers consumers ad blocking, privacy and malware protection, and parental controls (you can read more about how it all works)here). TheSolo planincludes protection for up to three devices while theFamily Planincludes up to nine.

AdGuard is compatible with iOS, Mac, Android and Windows. Note that this deal is for new users only, and you must redeem your code within 30 days after purchase.

LEARN MORE: AdGuard LifetimeSolo Plan Subscription ($11 with code SOLOPLAN)andFamily Plan ($15.97 with code FAMPLAN))

My experience with AdGuard: The pros and cons

When I saw this deal, I wanted to test it out since I often catch myself rolling my eyes every time a spammy ad pops up on my screen. The Shiro CoprPicks was offered a free trial from Stacksocial, so I signed up for AdGuard’s solo plan and downloaded the app on my Macbook Air.

For someone who isn't particularly tech-savvy, I found its application to my desktop easy. I signed up using my email, set a password and followed the downloading prompts to add it to my Macbook.

Once AdGuard was installed, I visited a number of websites that typically display pop-ups. I checked DailyMail.com, Forbes, New York Post, The Atlantic and YouTube. Not a single ad showed up on any of those sites. I was most surprised to see that the video ads on YouTube were non-existent.

In the AdGuard app that's in my dock (or toolbar), it gives me a report of how many ads AdGuard has blocked since the day I downloaded it. For me, I downloaded it on February 28, and within a week, it's blocked nearly 1,100 ads.

One thing to note: since I downloaded AdGuard, Google Chrome has crashed twice for me. According to AdGuard, this can happen when the application interferes with another browser extension or if the system tries to "self-optimize."

There are also a ton of other well-reviewed options in this space, includingSurfshark, which offers ad-blocking capabilities under a VPN, andTotal Adblock, which helps block unwanted video ads and pop-ups as well.

What do other reviewers say?

With over 9,000 reviews onTrustpilot, 86% of AdGuard users gave it a 5-star review. One user notes that "...this is the best product I've ever used. Installing this on my kid's Fire Tablets has completely stopped the overload of ads and junk promotions they were getting. It actually makes those devices usable again."

And on Stacksocial's website, AdGuard has a 4.9-out-of-5-star rating with over 1,500 reviews, with one verified buyer saying that "AdGuard: Lifetime Subscription is an excellent investment for safe and ad-free browsing. With comprehensive protection and easy setup, it makes internet usage smoother and more secure."

LEARN MORE: AdGuard Lifetime SubscriptionSolo Plan ($11 with code SOLOPLAN)andFamily Plan ($15.97 with code FAMPLAN))