uBlock Origin
A free, open-source content blocker for browsers that blocks ads, trackers and malware domains with a small footprint.
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About uBlock Origin
uBlock Origin is a wide-spectrum content blocker for Firefox and other browsers that still support the Manifest V2 extension platform. It uses filter lists such as EasyList and its own lists to block ads, trackers, coin miners and malicious sites, and it is designed to use little CPU and memory.
It is free and open source (GPL-3.0) with no paid version and no data collection. Google Chrome dropped Manifest V2 support, so the full extension no longer runs there; the developer publishes a lighter uBlock Origin Lite for Manifest V3 browsers.
Strengths
- Wide-spectrum blocking of ads, trackers, coin miners, popups and malware sites using EasyList, EasyPrivacy and other lists by default
- Designed to be CPU and memory efficient
- Available for Firefox on desktop and Android, with an advanced per-site dynamic filtering mode
Limitations
- Removed from the Chrome Web Store on 2026-08-31 with the Manifest V2 deprecation
- Microsoft Edge is transitioning consumers away from Manifest V2 extensions starting August 2026
- Should not be used together with another content blocker
Details
- Pricing
- FreeFree and open source; no donations sought
- License
- GPL-3.0
- Developer
- Raymond Hill (gorhill)
- Platforms
- Browser extension
- How it runs
- Browser extension
- Best suited for
- Blocking ads and trackers in Firefox and Manifest V2-capable Chromium browsers
- Categories
- Browser tools
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Selected from the TechWalrus Resource Hub (Ad Blockers & Privacy); facts checked against the developer's own pages, 11 sources on file.
Alternatives to uBlock Origin
Compare allSoftware that can replace uBlock Origin for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.
AdGuard Browser Extension
A browser extension that blocks ads, pop-ups and trackers, with cosmetic filtering of page elements.
AdGuard Browser Extension is also free and GPL-3.0 licensed with cosmetic filtering, and is available for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera and Yandex Browser; system-wide filtering needs AdGuard's separate apps.
Ghostery
Ad and tracker blocker that shows what each page was trying to load.
Ghostery is open source under MPL-2.0, names each page's trackers and their owners, and blocks consent dialogs, but extra features such as private search need an account or subscription.
Privacy Badger
Learns and blocks trackers by watching their behaviour across sites.
Privacy Badger from the EFF learns trackers by their behaviour across sites instead of using lists, but it is not an ad blocker and leaves non-tracking ads alone.
uBlock Origin as an alternative
Listings that name uBlock Origin as an alternative.
NoScript Security Suite
Blocks scripts and active content except on sites you trust.
uBlock Origin blocks ads, trackers and malware domains through filter lists, with an advanced per-site dynamic filtering mode, rather than blocking all scripts by default.
Similar software
Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.
ClearURLs
Strips tracking parameters out of links automatically.
LocalCDN
Actively maintained fork of Decentraleyes with far more bundled libraries.
JShelter
Wraps browser APIs to reduce JavaScript fingerprinting and tracking.
Consent-O-Matic
Answers cookie consent pop-ups according to your stated preferences.
CanvasBlocker
Blocks or fakes the browser APIs most used for fingerprinting.
