Title: Tiny Simple AdBlock Detector
Author: MythThrazz
Published: July 5, 2016
Last modified: March 30, 2026
---
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# Tiny Simple AdBlock Detector
By [MythThrazz](https://profiles.wordpress.org/myththrazz/)
[Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/tiny-simple-adblock-detector.1.2.0.zip)
* [Details](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/tiny-simple-adblock-detector/#description)
* [Reviews](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/tiny-simple-adblock-detector/#reviews)
* [Installation](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/tiny-simple-adblock-detector/#installation)
* [Development](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/tiny-simple-adblock-detector/#developers)
[Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/tiny-simple-adblock-detector/)
## Description
Over 40% of internet users run an ad blocker. **Tiny Simple AdBlock Detector** gives
you the power to respond — politely ask visitors to whitelist your site, gate premium
content, or simply track awareness — all without touching a line of JavaScript yourself.
### How it works
The plugin loads a tiny decoy script with a filename that ad blockers love to block.
When the script gets blocked, a lightweight CSS class swap kicks in — revealing
or hiding any element you’ve marked up. That’s it. No jQuery, no external services,
no tracking pixels, no cookie banners.
### Two CSS classes. Infinite possibilities.
* `class="show-only-when-adblock"` — Element appears **only** when an ad blocker
is active.
* `class="hide-only-when-adblock"` — Element disappears when an ad blocker is active.
Add them to any HTML element: a ``, a Gutenberg block, an Elementor section,
a WooCommerce notice — anything.
### Real-world examples
* **“Please whitelist us”** — Show a polite banner only to ad-blocking visitors
* **Content gating** — Hide exclusive articles or downloads from users blocking
your ads
* **Alternative monetization** — Show a “Support us on Patreon” box only when ads
are blocked
* **Analytics** — Pair with your analytics tool to track ad-blocker adoption rates
on your site
### Why this plugin?
* **Zero configuration** — Activate it and it works. No settings page, no wizard,
no API key.
* **Ridiculously lightweight** — Under 2 KB of JavaScript. Your visitors won’t
notice.
* **No external requests** — Nothing leaves your server. Fully GDPR-friendly.
* **Works with all major ad blockers** — uBlock Origin, AdBlock Plus, AdBlock,
AdGuard, Brave Shield, Opera built-in blocker.
* **Page builder compatible** — Works with Gutenberg, Elementor, Divi, WPBakery,
Beaver Builder — anything that lets you add a CSS class.
* **Built-in debug mode** — Append `?tsad_debug=1` to any URL to see live detection
results.
* **Translation-ready** — Includes Polish translation. PRs welcome for others.
### From the maker of WP Multi Tool
This plugin is built by the same developer behind [WP Multi Tool](https://wpmultitool.com/)—
the Swiss Army knife for WordPress developers and site administrators. If you manage
multiple WordPress sites, check it out.
## Screenshots
* [[
* Zero-config admin page — plugin works immediately after activation
* [[
* Built-in debug mode showing real-time ad blocker detection on the frontend
## Installation
1. Install through the WordPress plugin directory, or upload to `/wp-content/plugins/`.
2. Activate the plugin. That’s it — it’s already running.
3. Add `class="show-only-when-adblock"` or `class="hide-only-when-adblock"` to any
HTML element.
4. (Optional) Visit the plugin’s admin page for a quick reference and debug link.
## FAQ
### Which ad blockers does it detect?
Tested and confirmed with: uBlock Origin, AdBlock Plus, AdBlock, AdGuard, Brave
Shield, and Opera’s built-in blocker. It works by exploiting how ad blockers filter
script filenames — so it catches most blockers that follow standard filter lists.
### Does it slow down my site?
No. The total JavaScript payload is under 2 KB (two tiny files), loaded asynchronously.
It makes zero external HTTP requests. Your PageSpeed score won’t budge.
### Is it GDPR compliant?
Yes. The plugin doesn’t collect, store, or transmit any user data. It doesn’t set
cookies, fingerprint browsers, or phone home. It’s pure client-side CSS class toggling.
### How do I test if it’s working?
Append `?tsad_debug=1` to any page on your site. A debug panel will appear at the
bottom showing detection status in real-time. You can also find this link on the
plugin’s admin page.
### Can I use it with Elementor / Gutenberg / page builders?
Absolutely. Just add the CSS class in your page builder’s “Advanced” “CSS Classes”
field. Works with Gutenberg, Elementor, Divi, WPBakery, Beaver Builder, and any
builder that supports custom CSS classes.
### What if someone uses a blocker you don’t detect?
The detection relies on ad blockers blocking scripts with “ad-like” filenames (like`
showads.js`). Very aggressive blockers or custom filter lists will definitely get
caught. Very minimal or niche blockers might slip through — but those cover a tiny
fraction of users.
### Can I style the elements differently instead of show/hide?
The plugin uses `display: none` and `display: initial` by default. You can override
this in your own CSS by targeting `.show-only-when-adblock` and `.hide-only-when-
adblock` with higher specificity.
## Reviews
There are no reviews for this plugin.
## Contributors & Developers
“Tiny Simple AdBlock Detector” is open source software. The following people have
contributed to this plugin.
Contributors
* [ MythThrazz ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/myththrazz/)
[Translate “Tiny Simple AdBlock Detector” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/tiny-simple-adblock-detector)
### Interested in development?
[Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/tiny-simple-adblock-detector/),
check out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/tiny-simple-adblock-detector/),
or subscribe to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/tiny-simple-adblock-detector/)
by [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/tiny-simple-adblock-detector/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss).
## Changelog
#### 1.2.0
* Tested and verified with WordPress 7.0
* Fixed hardcoded localhost URL in admin page — now uses dynamic site URL
* Added proper version strings to enqueued scripts for cache busting
* Updated plugin headers (Requires PHP, Requires at least)
* Completely rewritten readme with real-world usage examples
* Added plugin icon and banner
* Added screenshots
* Code cleanup: removed broken .min.js references
#### 1.1.0
* Tested the functionality with the latest version of WordPress
* Improved the UI
* Added more complex testing
#### 1.0.1
* Fixed the bug with the styling for class=”hide-only-when-adblock”
#### 1.0.0
* Initial release
## Meta
* Version **1.2.0**
* Last updated **5 days ago**
* Active installations **10+**
* WordPress version ** 5.0 or higher **
* Tested up to **7.0**
* PHP version ** 7.4 or higher **
* Language
* [English (US)](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tiny-simple-adblock-detector/)
* Tags
* [ad blocker](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/ad-blocker/)[adblock](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/adblock/)
[ads](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/ads/)[content](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/content/)
[detect](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/detect/)
* [Advanced View](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/tiny-simple-adblock-detector/advanced/)
## Ratings
No reviews have been submitted yet.
[Add my review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/tiny-simple-adblock-detector/reviews/#new-post)
[See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/tiny-simple-adblock-detector/reviews/)
## Contributors
* [ MythThrazz ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/myththrazz/)
## Support
Got something to say? Need help?
[View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/tiny-simple-adblock-detector/)
## Donate
Would you like to support the advancement of this plugin?
[ Donate to this plugin ](https://marcindudek.dev/)