Where can you play games without ads?
Published
You can play games without ads on small ad free arcades like VanillaBits, on nonprofit sites, and on paid services that charge a flat fee instead of showing ads.
At a glance
- Most free games pay for themselves with ads or in app purchases
- A few free sites skip ads because a person or a nonprofit covers the cost
- Paid services like Apple Arcade and Netflix Games have no ads inside the games
- Check the store labels before you download to avoid surprises
Why So Many Free Games Have Ads
Games cost money to make and to host. When a game is free to download, the money has to come from somewhere. For most free games it comes from two places.
- Ads. A banner at the bottom, a video between levels, or a
watch an ad to keep going
button. - In app purchases. Extra lives, coins, skins or a way to skip waiting.
Ads pay a tiny amount each time one is shown. So a game that runs on ads has a reason to show a lot of them. That is why some free games feel like more ad than game.
Free Places to Play Without Ads
Ad free and free at the same time is rare, but it is real. These are the kinds of places to look.
- Small handmade arcades. VanillaBits is one. Every game here is free and has no ads at all. Not between levels and not to earn extra lives. We made that choice on purpose and we plan to keep it.
- Nonprofit and open source games. Lichess, the free chess site, is a well known example. It runs on donations and shows no ads.
- Classic games built into your device. Some computers and phones still ship with simple games that have no ads.
- Hobby projects. Many people share small browser games just for fun. They often have no ads because the maker never wanted any.
Paid Options That Skip Ads
If you would rather pay a little than watch ads, a few services charge one fee and keep the games clean.
- Apple Arcade is a subscription for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Its games have no ads and no in app purchases.
- Netflix Games come with a Netflix plan. The games themselves have no ads or in app purchases.
- Buy once games. Many games on phones and computers cost a few dollars up front and then never show ads.
- Remove ads upgrades. Some free games sell a one time upgrade that turns ads off. Read the reviews first, because some still show offers after you pay.
How to Spot Ads Before You Download
App stores tell you more than most people notice.
- Google Play shows the labels
Contains ads
andIn app purchases
under the game name when they apply. - The Apple App Store shows
In App Purchases
next to the Get button. Ads are not labeled, so check the reviews and screenshots. - Browser games do not have labels. Play for two minutes. If an ad shows up before the first level ends, more are coming.
Reviews are often the best clue. Search the reviews for the word ads and see what people say.
What You Get on VanillaBits
Every game on VanillaBits runs in your browser. There is nothing to download and nothing to install. Your progress and best scores are saved in your own browser, so they are there when you come back.
| Game | What kind |
|---|---|
| Princess Genevieve's Quest | Platformer for 1 or 2 players |
| Chip Jam Session | Rhythm game |
| Wort and Wane | Cozy strategy |
| Runeshatter | Match 3 puzzle |
| Tap Hatch | Tap and collect for little hands |
| Bubble Catch | Arcade catch game |
No ads, not now, not ever. That line is in our footer and we mean it.
Is Ad Free Always Better?
Not always. Ads pay for a lot of good free games, and some studios handle them fairly. A single ad after a long session is not the same as a video after every level.
The games worth avoiding are the ones built around ads. You can tell because the game seems designed to make you fail, so you will watch an ad to continue. For kids, that design is worth skipping. Our guide to games without in app purchases covers the same problem from the money side, and how to block ads in games covers what you can do about games you already have.
Questions
Are there any free games with no ads?
Yes. Small arcades like VanillaBits, nonprofit sites like Lichess and many hobby browser games are free with no ads. They are less common than ad supported games, but they exist.
Why do free games have so many ads?
Each ad pays a very small amount, so games that rely on ads have a reason to show many of them. In app purchases are the other common way free games make money.
Do Apple Arcade games have ads?
No. Apple Arcade is a paid subscription and its games have no ads and no in app purchases.
How can I tell if a game has ads before downloading?
On Google Play, look for the Contains ads label under the name. On the Apple App Store, read the reviews and screenshots. For browser games, play for a couple of minutes and watch for ads.
Do VanillaBits games have ads?
No. Every game on VanillaBits is free with no ads, and your scores and progress are saved in your own browser.