I made Safari a better browser with these extensions
Description
If Safari is your primary browser, like it is for me, it’s certainly one of the most important apps on the Mac. But did you know you can make it do more? You can with browser extensions.
If you aren’t familiar with browser extensions, they are software add-ons that add functionality to Safari. Safari doesn’t have as many extensions as Google Chrome, but there are several that you can take advantage of. Safari extensions are available through the App Store.
You can find extensions for Mac Safari by selecting Safari > Safari Extensions in the Safari menu bar. Then click on the Browse Extensions button. An overview page will then open in the Mac App Store. Free and paid extensions are available; installed plug-ins are also automatically made available on iOS and iPadOS. You can manage the installed extensions on the Mac under Settings > Extensions. On the iPhone and iPad, each extension usually comes with its own app.
Looking for some guidance on which ones to try? Here are a few of my favorite Safari extensions.
Block annoying ads with Wipr 2
In the App Store, the Wipr 2 extension is one of the more popular paid extensions–rightly so, in my opinion. For $4.99, you can use it to block ads and other annoying page elements on macOS and iOS Safari.
What sets Wipr apart from other tools is its very active developer: Its block lists are updated twice a week. A highlight is the additional “Wipr Extra” list, which goes beyond the standard. Wipr not only provides more convenience, but also offers practical special functions, such as blocking annoying cookie banners and support for YouTube.

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Wipr 2 has its blocklists updated twice a week.
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Although some banners were not taken into account in an initial test, the tool makes a good impression. A new version called Filtr is already planned, which will make it possible to block disruptive content in all of your apps, not just Safari. This is based on an upcoming new system function of macOS 26 and iOS 26 called URL Filtering.
Collect articles with Obsidian
At first glance, the note manager Obsidian may seem a little off-putting. The app’s interface design looks a little like it was designed specifically for nerds and programmers. The multi-column view is also practical, but confusing at first. However, it’s worth giving this free tool a chance.

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Obsidian for Safari can be very helpful if you perform a lot of research on the web.
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Foundry
One of its strengths is the webclipper, which allows you to save entire web pages in Blogger Markdown format. Synchronization between iOS and macOS is possible via iCloud, but the clipper seems to work more reliably on the Mac platform. The paid version can also publish articles on the web and offers additional functions.
Protect against malware: Antivirus One
The Antivirus One extension is designed to protect against dubious sites with malware and phishing attacks. The tool is part of the Antivirus One antivirus app from Trend Micro. If you download the reasonably-priced antivirus program for the Mac, the browser extension will also be installed. After installation, you still need to activate the extension via the app, then every website accessed in Safari is compared in a database, and known phishing and malware sites are blocked.

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The Antivirus One app includes a Safari extension that checks for malware.
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Safari already offers its own protection function, but the extension from Trend Micro is an interesting addition. The Antivirus One can also be used free of charge for manual scans of the Mac, while the full version offers automatic virus definition updates and live virus protection for $20 a year. Learn more about antivirus protection of your Mac.
Tune YouTube with Vinegar
Vinegar ($1.99) is designed to make YouTube videos more convenient. It replaces YouTube’s playback function with its own. A picture-in-picture feature makes it possible to surf other sites at the same time as a YouTube video is being displayed. The mini-video player can be moved to the top or bottom of the screen and enlarged or reduced in size.

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Vinegar tunes up the YouTube player
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Stephan Wiesend