What is PLS with ad blocker on/off
PLS with ad blocker on/off shows how Perceived Load Speed (PLS) varies depending on whether users have an ad blocker enabled in their browser. Ad blockers can significantly influence how fast a page feels to load, often by removing third-party ads, trackers, and scripts that delay rendering.
This lens helps you understand whether ad-blocked experiences feel faster, and where your performance might suffer when full content (including ads) is present.
Healthy PLS with ad blocker on/off sample
Should you worry
A healthy distribution will show low PLS across both user types — with and without ad blockers. Some variance is expected, but ideally, even users without ad blockers should still experience fast, smooth perceived loading.
If PLS is significantly worse without ad blockers, it suggests ads or tracking scripts are slowing down your visual load experience — potentially frustrating users and increasing bounce risk.
Unhealthy PLS with ad blocker on/off sample
If users without ad blockers experience slower perceived speeds, it usually means third-party content is delaying the loading of core visual elements — like your hero image, title, or product content. This can negatively impact engagement and user trust.
On the flip side, users with ad blockers often see faster PLS — not because your site is faster by default, but because much of the clutter was stripped away. This signals room to improve the base experience for all users.
Resolving unhealthy PLS with ad blocker on/off
Go-to action plan to resolve an unhealthy PLS with ad blocker on/off:
Ask Uxi to analyze your PLS with ad blocker on/off and suggest improvements.
Use Filters to isolate the pages most affected when ads are shown.
Simulate LCP of the suspected lens to see if fixing it will resolve the PLS with ad blocker on/off. If yes, this is where the resolution focus should be.
Use an automated optimization tool like Navigation AI to improve your PLS with ad blocker on/off.
Once you’ve improved PLS, set an alert to be the first to know if it starts worsening again.
Try it yourself
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