If you’ve ever looked at any “best ad blocker” thread on Reddit, you’ve heard of uBlock Origin. It’s beloved by redditors and the open-source community. For good reasons too. uBlock Origin is an excellent, lightweight ad blocker that makes sure no ads pass through your system. It’s completely supported by the open-source community, with no large corporations backing it. In fact, many other popular ad blockers borrow features and blocklists from uBlock all the time.
uBlock is more popular among users with a bit of technical know-how. Now what does it mean for everyone else? How good is uBlock Origin really? Should you use it or go for an alternative? This review will answer these and more.
Our Recommended Ad Blocker
Quick Overview
| 🌟 Feature | ✨ Details |
| ⭐ Rating | 100/100 |
| 💵 Price | It’s free! #FOSS |
| 🆓 Free Version | Yes. There’s no paid version. |
| ▶️ YouTube Ads | Yes! All of them. |
| ⛔ Blocks Trackers | Yes |
| 💻Compatibility | Firefox and most Chromium-based browsers (not Chrome though) |
Overall Score
uBlock Origin Scored a perfect 100 on Adblock Tester. This is an improvement over the previous score we got about 5 months ago. The last score was 99, and it was already quite impressive to begin with.
Testing Parameters
Adblock Tester checks ad blockers based on four categories. The four horsemen of digital advertising.
- Contextual Advertising: In other words, targeted ads. Basically everytime you think an ad is too specific to you, it’s not a coincidence. These ads can identify you based on your internet behaviour and serve you personalised content.
- Analytics Tools: So there are tools like Google Analytics and Hotjar, that are used to track your on-site activities. So these help collect information on you and build an ad profile for you.
- Banner Ads: These are not necessarily targeted ads, but they’re annoying as well. They take up screen real-estate and take away from the browsing experience. And they’re not always static, which makes them even more intrusive.
- Error Monitoring Servises: Web devs often use tools like Sentry and Bugsnag to find bugs and other errors within their site. They’re not necessarily used to show you targeted ads. But you don’t have to let them use your resources and share findings.
Key Result Highlights
- uBlock Origin gets a perfect score. 100/100
- Some checks for Contextual Ads and Analytics came back inconclusive, but uBO likely passed them, so it did not affect the score.
- We tested uBlock on Microsoft Edge and Zen Browser (a Firefox Fork). All default browser specific tracker protections were disabled during the tests.
Pros & Cons
uBlock has a lot of pros, but some cons too. Let’s have a look.
Pros
✔️ Free and open-source.
✔️ Lightweight, easy on the CPU and memory.
✔️ Fighly customisable.
✔️ Lots of included filters.
✔️ Auto updates filters and blocklists.
Cons
❌ No system-wide support.
❌ Doesn’t work on Google Chrome anymore.
Our Recommended Ad Blocker
Compatibility and Platform Availability
uBlock’s weakest suit is its list of compatible platforms. First of all, it’s a browser only ad blocker. So there’s no app for it. You can only use it on desktop browsers and Firefox on Android. It hasn’t worked on Safari for a while now. And it recently lost support on Chrome due to their transition to Manifest v3 extension platform. While many other Chromium-based browsers plan on switching to Manifest v3, uBlock does not intend on upgrading. It still works on Edge and Opera, just fine. And it’s the perfect pair with Firefox and any of its forks.
| Platform | Availability |
| Chromium Extension | ✔️ Yes |
| Firefox Add-On | ✔️ Yes |
| Safari Extension | ❌ No |
| MV3 Compliance (Chrome) | ❌ No |
| Windows App (System-wide) | ❌ No |
| macOS App (System-wide) | ❌ No |
| Android App (System-wide) | ❌ No |
| iOS App (System-wide) | ❌ No |
Manifest v3, makes it difficult for ad blockers to run the way they used to. Because of this platform update, ad blockers need to pre-define what gets blocked. Which means, no more real-time filtering. And there’s a limit on how many rules each extension uses. Which also greatly limits functionality for ad blockers.
And unlike others, uBlock does not want to compromise on performance. However, they did release an MV3 compliant version with fewer options and filters. It’s called uBlock Origin Lite.
Core Features of uBlock Origin
Beyond its primary function of ad blocking, uBlock Origin offers a suite of features that aim to provide you with comprehensive control over your web content. All while maintaining peak performance.
Dynamic Filtering
One of the best things about uBlock Origin is its dynamic filtering. This lets you control which scripts and domains can run on a webpage in real-time. Accessible right from the extension’s interface, dynamic filtering is super useful for advanced users who want fine grain control over their browsing environment. By allowing or blocking specific elements you can tailor your web experience to your liking and improve both security and performance.
Element Picker and Zapper
uBlock Origin gives you tools to manage webpage elements:
- Element Picker Mode: This lets you select and create custom filters to remove unwanted elements permanently from webpages. A powerful tool to personalise and declutter your browsing.
- Element Zapper Mode: For temporary removal of annoying elements the Element Zapper is a quick solution without creating permanent filters.
These tools let you modify webpages to your needs and have a cleaner and more focused browsing session.
Comprehensive Filter Lists
uBlock Origin comes with several filter lists enabled by default:
- EasyList: Blocks general ads.
- EasyPrivacy: Prevents tracking.
- Peter Lowe’s Blocklist: Blocks known ad servers and tracking sites.
- Online Malicious URL Blocklist: Blocks malicious websites.
You can customise further by enabling additional filter lists or importing third party ones to block content that suits your preferences.
Resource Efficiency
One of the best things about uBlock Origin is its CPU and memory efficiency. Unlike some extensions that can eat up a lot of system resources uBlock Origin is designed to be lightweight so your browser remains responsive. This is achieved through optimised code and selective loading of resources so it’s perfect for users who care about their system’s performance.
Advanced User Features
For those who want more control uBlock Origin has:
- Dynamic URL Filtering: Flexible and adaptive control over URL permissions.
- Logging: To monitor and analyse blocked content.
- DOM Inspector: To examine the structure of webpages for precise element blocking.
These are for users who have technical skills and want to fine tune their content blocking. uBlock Origin blocks tracking methods like hyperlink auditing and link prefetching. This reduces the amount of data leaked.
Usability and Installation
uBlock Origin has a legendary reputation as one of the most powerful, lightweight and privacy focused ad blockers out there. It doesn’t play favorites, doesn’t allow “acceptable ads” and even bypasses some soft paywalls. Which is a dream for those who want an ad free and open internet. But does all that power come at the cost of usability?
Quick and Easy Installation
Installing uBlock Origin is super easy. Just search for it in your browser’s extension store, click install and you’re done. No sign-ups, no pop-ups begging you to upgrade and no suspicious permissions asking for access to your entire browsing history.
Once installed there’s no flashy welcome screen or unnecessary walkthroughs. Just reload your tabs and boom! Ads are gone. It’s refreshing. If all you want is a set it and forget it ad blocker you’re all set. But if you’re the type who likes to tweak settings there’s a whole world of customization waiting under the hood. More on that in a bit.
Surprisingly Easy To Use
At its core uBlock Origin is as user friendly as you need it to be. If you just want to block ads and trackers you don’t have to touch a single setting. It just works out of the box. The extension sits quietly in the top right corner of your browser doing its job without getting in your way.
Click on the uBlock Origin icon and you’ll see a simple toggle to turn it on or off. That’s all most people will ever need. But if you’re curious about what’s being blocked you’ll find a color coded breakdown showing exactly what’s happening behind the scenes.
Now if you’re the “I want total control over my browsing” type this is where uBlock Origin shines.
- The Element Zapper lets you temporarily remove annoying elements from a webpage.
- The Element Picker lets you permanently block those elements forever.
- You can even block JavaScript, large media files and web fonts to make websites load faster and cleaner.
Too much? Maybe. But it’s all organized so you can’t go wrong. And if you do go wrong there’s a reset button. But we’ve only seen the tip on the iceberg here. uBlock Origin’s customisation goes much deeper.
Endless Customisation
If there’s one thing that sets uBlock Origin apart it’s how customisable it is. Unlike many ad blockers that hide customization behind a paywall, uBlock Origin gives you full control over what gets blocked and how.
Want to add your own custom filter lists? You can.
Want to tweak individual scripts and elements on a site? You got it.
Want to build an advanced rule set that blocks only certain scripts on specific pages? Go for it.
For power users the My Rules section is where the magic happens. Here you can create dynamic filters, block specific tracking scripts, and fine tune how ads and elements load on different websites. This is the kind of control you won’t find in most paid ad blockers.
Of course if that all sounds like way too much work don’t worry. Everything is enabled by default so casual users never have to touch the settings. But knowing the options are there if you ever want them? That’s just the cherry on top.
Pricing and Free Version
If you’re tired of ad blockers with hidden paywalls, premium tiers, and sneaky “free trials” that make you enter your credit card info, then uBlock Origin is perfect for you. It’s free, forever, and for everyone. No subscription fees, no feature restrictions, and no upgrade nags.
No Premium Tiers
uBlock Origin isn’t just free, it’s open-source, so its development is driven by community efforts, not corporate profits. And while most paid ad blockers charge extra for things like syncing settings across devices, uBlock Origin gives you that for free. You can install it on as many devices as you like, tweak your settings once, and even sync them across browsers without paying a dime.
The best part? It outperforms many paid ad blockers, with a huge selection of filters, including dozens of localised lists to block region-specific ads and trackers.
They Don’t Even Want Donations
Most free projects rely on donations to stay afloat. But uBlock Origin straight-up refuses donations. Instead, they encourage users to donate to the maintainers of the filter lists that power the extension. That’s a rare level of ethics and transparency in the ad-blocking space.
So yes, uBlock Origin is free, but if you feel guilty about not paying for such a great tool, consider donating to the volunteers maintaining the blocklists. They’re the real heroes here.
Is uBlock Origin Worth It?
Yes! If we could rate it higher than 10/10, we would. There are no hidden catches, no premium upsells, and no compromises on features. The free version is the only version, and it’s the most powerful version. No strings attached.
Customer Support
If you’re the kind of person who expects quick customer support, uBlock Origin is going to disappoint you. There’s no email support, no phone line, no live chat, and definitely no “speak to a representative” option. In fact, if you try looking for official support, you’ll find nothing, because it doesn’t exist.
But here’s the thing: that’s by design. uBlock Origin is an open-source project. It’s developed and maintained by volunteers, not a company looking to upsell you on a premium tier. That means there’s no dedicated customer service team, and you won’t find a neatly categorised FAQ page on a polished corporate website.
So… How Do You Get Help?
If you run into a problem, have a weird bug, or just want to tweak something advanced, your best bet is the community. And luckily, uBlock Origin has a very active one.
The uBlock Origin Subreddit (r/uBlockOrigin)
This is where you’ll find other users, moderators, and sometimes even the developer answering questions. If you’re trying to troubleshoot a website that’s blocking uBO or figuring out a custom rule, someone has probably already asked the same thing and the answer is waiting for you.
GitHub Knowledge Base
uBlock Origin’s GitHub page is where the real deep-dive answers live. There’s an extensive wiki filled with guides, explanations, and advanced setup tips. If you’re running into a technical issue or need to understand how a specific feature works, GitHub is the place to go.
Tech Forums & Privacy Communities
Because uBlock Origin is so widely used, it has a presence in other tech and privacy forums like:
- r/privacy (Reddit’s privacy-focused community)
- Tech forums like Linus Tech Tips & Tom’s Hardware
- Various cybersecurity blogs and websites
There’s a very good chance that if you have a question or problem, someone else has already solved it and posted about it.
You have to take the DIY route
Since there’s no direct support, you have to do the research yourself. If you’re not comfortable troubleshooting yourself, this might be a problem. There’s no one-click solution when something doesn’t work. You’ll have to read through forum threads, GitHub discussions and community posts.
It’s the price of a free, open-source ad blocker. The developers spend their time on the code, not on answering support emails.
Why uBlock Origin Stands Out in 2025?
uBlock Origin is one of the best out there in 2025 because of its commitment to the community.
It’s efficient
uBlock Origin has always been lightweight. Minimal resource usage means faster page loads and less CPU and memory usage. As websites get more complex uBlock Origin remains a reliable tool to keep your browsing smooth and fun.
It’s let’s the user decide what they want
One of uBlock Origin’s best features is customization. Users can choose from a huge list of filter lists, create dynamic filtering rules and use the element picker to remove unwanted page elements. This level of control is for both casual users and tech enthusiasts to fine tune the extension to their needs and have a personalised and secure online experience.
It doesn’t compromise on performance
While uBO’s move to not update their extension for Manifest V3 might seem like a bad move, it’s in protest to Chrome’s crackdown on ad blockers. While Google claims Manifest v3 it’s proposed changes are to make extensions more secure, it only seems to affect ad blockers, and uBlock won’t nerf their extension for that. While this limits platform availability, this also means, unlike others, uBlock won’t compromise on their performance.
It’s community-driven
As an open source project uBlock Origin is driven by the community. This means regular updates, fast issue resolution and features that reflect the needs and concerns of its users. The transparency and collective effort behind the development builds trust and reliability, making it a user centric tool in the ad blocking world.
Is uBlock Origin Safe?
Yes, uBlock Origin is one of the safest ad blockers out there. Unlike some ad blockers that have corporate backing or a “freemium” model that collects user data, uBlock Origin is open-source, community-driven and transparent.
What Makes uBlock Origin Safe?
- It’s open-source: One of the main reasons uBlock Origin is so safe is that it’s open-source. Unlike closed-source software where you have to trust the company’s word, anyone can inspect uBlock Origin’s code. It means, no hidden tracking or data collection, and no secret corporate agenda.
- It’s maintained by a privacy-focused community: Since no single company controls uBlock Origin, the community keeps it in check. Developers and privacy advocates audit the code. And if a security flaw appears, it gets fixed quickly.
How uBlock Origin keeps your data safe?
- It blocks trackers before they load: Most websites are filled with tracking scripts that try to collect data about you. What you click, how long you stay, what sites you visit next. uBlock Origin blocks these trackers before they even load, so your browsing behavior is private.
- It protects you from malicious websites: Many online ads and pop-ups pose grave security risks. Malvertising (malicious advertising) can inject malware into your system just by loading the page. uBlock Origin blocks known malicious domains, so you’re protected from: malware injections, cryptojacking scripts, and fake phishing websites that try to steal your credentials.
- Gives you full control over what’s blocked: For advanced users, uBlock Origin offers more customizability than most ad blockers. So you’re not just relying on preset rules, and you can fine-tune your browsing security to your needs.
How Does uBlock Origin Stack Up Against The Competition?
uBlock Origin vs AdGuard
AdGuard Price: Starts at $39.99/year
AdGuard has free and paid versions with system-wide protection on multiple platforms, including mobile. But uBlock Origin wins at browser level. It’s lighter, faster and free. AdGuard has better support and more filters but if you want a no-cost no-nonsense ad blocker, uBO is the winner.
uBlock Origin vs Total Adblock
Total Adblock Price: Starts at $19.99/year
Total Adblock is a paid ad blocker with nice UI, bundled antivirus and priority support. But it’s behind a paywall. uBlock Origin doesn’t charge you a dime and still outperforms it at ad blocking. If you don’t mind paying for a polished experience, Total Adblock is fine. But for raw blocking power? uBO every time
uBlock Origin vs Adblock Plus
Adblock Plus Price: $4/month or $40/year
Adblock Plus used to be the ad blocker to beat, until it started allowing “acceptable ads” which means some ads still pass through. uBlock Origin has no such nonsense, it blocks everything unless you tell it otherwise. If you want a real ad-free experience without compromises, uBlock Origin is the champion.
Final Verdict
uBlock Origin is free, powerful, lightweight, and fully transparent. All this makes it the go-to choice for anyone serious about blocking ads and protecting their privacy.
Now yes, it lacks official support and system-wide protection. But it more than makes up for it with superior performance, deep customization, and a no-compromise approach to ad blocking. If you want the best free browser-based ad blocker in 2025, this is it.
Adblock Tester Score: 100/100
Our Recommended Ad Blocker