I’ve been working on Refine, a free content blocking extension for iOS 9, and want to share some screenshots/preview its features.

Refine is now released on the App Store! Download it now.

Refine hides/prevents ads from appearing when browsing Safari on your iPhone/iPad, and allows customization/sharing for more expansive content blocking, such as preventing cookies on all websites, or using the Internet in html and css only mode for a clean and super-fast experience.

Follow @RefineApp on Twitter for updates on the app, or to ask me questions!

Feature 1: Built-in, auto-updating Adblock/Privacy

Refine has two built-in blockers, Classic Adblocking and Classic Privacy, that are immediately available upon app install. They are ports of EasyList subscriptions (https://easylist.adblockplus.org/en/) the subscription lists most commonly used on Adblock Plus. These default blockers will auto-update when the EasyList subscriptions change, and can be activated immediately on app install:

Here, Classic Adblocking is activated by Classic Privacy is not. Multiple blockers can be configured to be active at the same time. Just to show it works, here’s iMore with adblocking off and on:

Feature 2: Fully customizable content blocking

If you want greater control over content blocking, you can create your own blockers via the “+ CREATE NEW” button on the home screen for full customization of content blocking. For example, here is a customized content blocker to prevent me from visiting sports websites:

As you can see, the content blockers are very customizable, allowing regex filters for urls, blocking certain resource types (like javascript or css), and hiding css elements on the webpage. Upon creating the content blocker, it is immediately activated and shows up on the app main screen:

and visiting ESPN sends me to a blank screen:

Feature 3: Share and Download Public Blockers

After building a content blocker you find useful, you can choose to share it with the public by clicking the “SHARE WITH PUBLIC” button on the individual content blocker page. Public content blockers are accessible via the main screen’s “POPULAR BLOCKERS” section, or by searching for public blockers. These public blockers can be easily downloaded. Here, I am searching for content blockers that block javascript, and easily add a blocker called “html and css only” to my list of blockers with the click of the button:

Downloaded public blockers are inactive by default and must be manually activated on the main screen. Just to show the extensibility of Refine, here is the New York Times with html and css only browsing on:

Feature 4: Whitelisting

If you want to support a site by viewing it with ads, or if a site only works with adblocking disabled, Refine offers the functionality to easily whitelist ads. Clicking the settings icon on the main page brings us to the settings page, which includes refresher instructions on how to enable content blocking, and an easy way to whitelist sites by domains. Here, I’ve whitelisted reddit and the mobile site of the New York Times:

and going to the NYTimes now shows ads, even though adblocking is enabled:

Availability

Refine is free on the App Store right now. Download it here, and leave a review! Thanks a lot.