Netflix with ads

08 Jul, 2025

I've been running away from internet ads for a while now. They're everywhere - every corner is packed with ads, and it's almost impossible to escape them. That just makes you more creative in figuring out how to block them. I'm aware that advertising is usually the main source of income for digital businesses, which is why the term marketing now feels more connected to the digital world than to everyday life.

There's only one service I pay for that I feel is truly worth every cent: YouTube Premium. My main reason for subscribing is to get rid of ads, which alone makes it worth it for me. But it also comes with a couple of extras that I really enjoy: background playback¹ and YouTube Music, which is a pretty solid music streaming service. So yes, I'm happy to pay to avoid ads.

However, one thing I've never accepted is websites flooded with ads, pop-ups, and forms that interrupt content. That's why I have a small setup that helps keep me somewhat free from ads.

My Setup

Here’s what I use to block ads:

• NextDNS: I use it to block ads at the source. It works by preventing any device configured with it from accessing known ad domains.
• Tailscale: This is a recent addition. I've configured NextDNS inside my Tailscale VPN, so I just connect all my devices to the VPN and don't have to mess with individual settings.
• AdGuard: I install it in my main browser to hide the blank spaces where ads would've appeared. It's more for visual polish.

As you can see, it's a free and simple setup. If I ever need to do something important that might trigger a false positive, I temporarily disable the VPN and if I forget, AdGuard still helps.

Netflix

Now, to the main topic. I used to like Netflix. Paying a monthly fee to watch movies in whatever quality tier (720p, HD, 4K) felt fair, almost idealistic. But then came greed: no more account sharing, and even worse, ads.

Wait, let me get this straight - you pay for the platform, and you still get ads? That's exactly what I try to avoid!

The worst part is that my setup doesn't work. You can't block those ads via DNS, and even browser ad blockers are useless. Sure, I could pay double for the ad-free plan but it just feels like they're playing us for fools.

Amazon did the same thing. Prime used to include series and movies. Now they've added ads, and for just 2$ extra, you can get rid of them. What a scam!

In the end, ads are here to stay, and the content is just the Trojan horse - sugarcoated, waiting for the right moment to rob you.

#2025