Adblock Detector

**How to integrate Adblock Detector with Webflow **

Adblock Detector helps you understand your audience and adapt your content strategy. When you detect ad-blocking tools, you can segment analytics to measure their impact on engagement metrics, offer alternative support options, such as subscriptions, to users already seeking ad-free experiences, and troubleshoot user-reported issues caused by blocking extensions that interfere with legitimate site functionality.

Use custom JavaScript detection

Implement ad block detection using custom JavaScript in Webflow's Project Settings.

Step 1: Add detection script to Webflow

Navigate to Project Settings > Custom Code > Footer Code section. Add detection JavaScript that tests for ad blocker presence using the bait element technique. This approach creates a hidden div with ad-like properties, then checks if the element remains visible after page load. If the element is hidden, a blocker is likely active.

Note that modern AI-powered ad blockers increasingly bypass bait-element detection, so detection rates may vary.

Example detection pattern to customize for your implementation:

• Create a test element with class names like "ad-banner" or "advertisement"
• Check element visibility after page load
• If hidden, blocker likely active

Step 2: Configure consent management through Google Tag Manager (EU/EEA traffic)

For sites with EU/EEA visitors, GDPR compliance requires obtaining consent before detection scripts access browser properties. Direct CMP embedding without Google Tag Manager can violate GDPR ePrivacy Directive Article 5(3).

For compliant implementation:

• Install Google Tag Manager on your Webflow site
• Configure a Consent Management Platform (CMP) through GTM with script-blocking capability
• Set up CMP with jurisdiction-specific rules
• Create a separate consent purpose specifically for ad block detection (cannot bundle with other tracking purposes per GDPR Article 4(11))

Step 3: Implement GPC detection (California traffic)

For California users, honor Global Privacy Control automatically. Note that GPC browser support is currently limited to Firefox, Brave, and DuckDuckGo. Chrome and Safari do not support GPC.

if (navigator.globalPrivacyControl === true) {
  // Block third-party data sharing
  // Process detection data first-party only
  // Do not load external analytics with user identification
}

California Code § 7025 requires automatic GPC honoring without user prompts.

Step 4: Handle detection results

When you detect an active ad blocker, display a non-intrusive message explaining your ad-supported content model, offer subscription or donation alternatives, segment analytics data by blocker status, and track conversion rates for alternative monetization.

Avoid these prohibited practices:

• Cookie walls that block content until the blocker is disabled (violates GDPR consent requirements)
• Pre-consent script execution (violates ePrivacy Directive)
• Sharing detection data without CCPA disclosure

Step 5: Update privacy policy

Add disclosures covering the detection mechanism and data collected, legal basis (consent for EU, notice-and-opt-out for California), retention periods (30-90 days recommended), third-party recipients if applicable, and user rights procedures (access, deletion, opt-out).

Example privacy policy language:

Ad Block Detection Processing:

[Your Company] detects whether ad blocking software is active to understand 
content engagement patterns and provide alternative support options.

Legal basis: [Select one:]
- This information is processed based on consent, which can be withdrawn 
  at any time by [specify method].
- This information is processed based on legitimate interest in sustaining 
  the free content model. Users have the right to object to this processing.

Data collected: Browser properties, JavaScript execution status, element 
visibility data

Recipients: [Name third-party services or describe categories]

Retention: [Specify period, e.g., "30 days" or "until consent is withdrawn"]

User rights: Users can access, rectify, erase, restrict, object to, and request 
portability of ad block detection data. Contact [email] to exercise these 
rights or email the Data Protection Officer at [DPO email].

Privacy compliance requirements

Before implementing ad block detection on Webflow, review privacy regulations affecting your user base.

For EU/EEA users, obtain user consent before detection scripts access browser properties (required by GDPR Article 5 and ePrivacy Directive Article 5(3)). Users must provide explicit consent before scripts execute.

For California users, provide notice at collection disclosing categories of personal information gathered. Honor Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal automatically without user prompts. The CCPA requires transparent disclosure of data practices and functional opt-out mechanisms.

For all jurisdictions, document legal basis, retention periods, and user rights in privacy policy. Maintain consent records for regulatory audit.

Learn about GDPR | Learn about CCPA

What you can build

Implementing ad-block detection in Webflow lets you understand your audience's behavior and create alternative revenue strategies for visitors using blockers.

• Subscription conversion for ad-blocking visitors: Detect ad blocker presence and display targeted subscription messaging to users already demonstrating preference for ad-free experiences, then track conversion rates comparing ad-blocking vs non-blocking visitor subscription uptake
• Analytics segmentation by blocker status: Identify whether ad blocking tools interfere with analytics tracking and compare behavior patterns between blocking and non-blocking visitors to find experience improvement opportunities
• Alternative support messaging: Present donation, membership, or alternative content options to users blocking advertisements without forcing blocker disabling (avoid cookie walls as they violate GDPR)
• Diagnostic troubleshooting: Use detection data to diagnose whether ad blocking extensions interfere with legitimate site functionality like forms, checkout, or embedded content