What is EasyList?

EasyList is the most widely used filter list for ad blockers. Adblock Plus, uBlock Origin, AdBlock, AdGuard, Brave, Opera, and Vivaldi all use it, often turned on by default. It is maintained on GitHub together with its companion lists: EasyPrivacy blocks trackers and analytics, and Fanboy's Annoyance List removes cookie notices, social media widgets, pop-ups, and newsletter prompts.

Unlike a hosts file or a DNS blocklist, EasyList is made of filters in the Adblock Plus syntax. A filter can block every request to a host (||ads.example.com^), block only some URLs or pop-ups, block requests only on certain sites ($domain=example.com), or hide elements on a site (example.com##.sponsored). Exception filters starting with @@ or containing #@# allow what other filters would block.

Tool description

This tool checks a hostname or website address against Fanboy's Ultimate List, the one file built from the EasyList repository that combines EasyList, EasyPrivacy, and Fanboy's Annoyance List. It shows whether requests to the host are blocked and lists every filter that names the hostname, one of its parent domains, or a hostname under it, with what each filter does.

Features

  • Accepts bare hostnames and full URLs; the path, port, and query are ignored
  • Checks nearly 200,000 filters for ads, trackers, cookie notices, social widgets, and other annoyances
  • Tells apart filters that block the whole host, block only some URLs or pop-ups, block requests on the site, or hide elements on the site
  • Marks exception filters that allow content again
  • Honors excluded domains (~sub.example.com) and wildcard domains such as example.*
  • Lists filters for hostnames under the checked domain
  • Shows the number of filters in the list and when it was last updated

How it works

Filters apply to the domain they name and all of its subdomains, so a filter for doubleclick.net also covers ad.doubleclick.net. A host counts as blocked only when a ||host^ filter without a site restriction names it or a parent domain; a filter that only blocks pop-ups or some paths makes it partly blocked. For a website, the most useful rows are usually the site filters: they show which elements EasyList hides on the site and which requests it blocks there.

Limitations

  • Only filters that name a domain are checked. Generic filters, such as /ad-banner. or ##.ad-slot, apply to every site and can still affect yours.
  • The tool doesn't evaluate whether a filter matches a specific URL, resource type, or third-party request; read the filter text for those details.
  • Regional lists such as EasyList Germany or Liste FR are separate and not included.
  • The list is refreshed regularly but not in real time.