uBlock Origin vs AdBlock: Which Ad Blocker After Manifest V3?

Which is better, uBlock Origin or AdBlock?

For most Chrome users, uBlock Origin Lite is the better pick: it blocks more by default, costs nothing and lets no ads through. AdBlock is the easier choice if you want a guided interface, a paid tier with extras, and you are comfortable with 'acceptable' ads being allowed unless you switch that off.

Most comparisons you will find still pit the classic uBlock Origin against AdBlock. That matchup only exists on Firefox now. On Chrome, the Manifest V2 version of uBlock Origin was disabled and then removed, so the practical comparison is its Manifest V3 sibling, uBlock Origin Lite, against AdBlock's Manifest V3 build.

Neither is a bad choice, and both are real ad blockers rather than adware in disguise. The differences are philosophy (strict versus 'acceptable'), how much control you want and what you are willing to grant in permissions. For the full field, see our best ad blocker picks for Chrome.

Is Google banning uBlock Origin?

Google did not single out uBlock Origin; it retired the Manifest V2 extension platform that uBlock Origin is built on. The result for Chrome users is the same: the original extension no longer installs or runs in current Chrome.

Chrome phased Manifest V2 out in stages. Users first saw warnings, then MV2 extensions were disabled with a temporary option to re-enable them, and finally that escape hatch was removed. Google documents the stages on its Manifest V2 deprecation timeline. By the current Chrome 155 stable release, MV2 extensions simply do not load.

Why does this hit uBlock Origin harder than AdBlock? Manifest V3 replaces the old 'inspect and block any request in code' approach with declarativeNetRequest, where an extension hands Chrome a list of rules in advance. uBlock Origin's author has said its full feature set depends on the old dynamic approach, so instead of forcing it into MV3 he built a separate, lighter extension: uBlock Origin Lite. AdBlock's owner rebuilt its existing extension for MV3 rather than splitting it.

How do uBlock Origin Lite and AdBlock differ under Manifest V3?

Both now block through Chrome's rule engine, so the differences are in which lists they ship, how they request permissions and how much tweaking they allow. The underlying blocking mechanism is the same for both.

uBlock Origin Lite's filtering modes

No filtering

Off for that site. Useful as a per-site allowlist.

Basic

Network blocking only, and it works without the 'read and change data on all sites' permission.

Optimal

Adds cosmetic filtering on sites, hiding leftover ad frames and placeholders. Requires site access.

Complete

Adds broader cosmetic and scriptlet filtering for tougher sites, at the cost of occasional breakage.

You set a default mode in the dashboard and override it per site from the toolbar pop-up. That per-site control is the closest thing uBOL has to the original's advanced mode. The trade-off: uBOL's filter lists are packaged inside the extension, so new fixes reach you when the extension updates rather than on a separate list-refresh schedule.

AdBlock's approach

AdBlock asks for access to all sites at install and gives you a friendlier menu: pause on this site, block an element you point at, report an ad, and settings pages for filter lists and allowlisting. It is built on the same eyeo technology as Adblock Plus, which we compare against uBOL in Adblock Plus vs uBlock Origin Lite. To decode the permission warnings both show, use our permissions reference.

Does AdBlock let ads through? Acceptable Ads explained

Yes. AdBlock enables the Acceptable Ads programme by default, which allows ads that meet a set of non-intrusive standards to display. uBlock Origin Lite has no equivalent and never allowlists ads for payment.

Acceptable Ads is run under eyeo. Ads that follow its rules on size, placement and distinguishability can be allowlisted, and large advertising companies pay to take part. The standards are set by a committee, and the idea is to support sites without the worst formats. Whether that is a fair compromise or a conflict of interest is the core of the uBlock Origin vs AdBlock debate on Reddit and elsewhere.

If you want AdBlock to block everything, turn it off:

1. Click the AdBlock icon in the Chrome toolbar (pin it first via the puzzle-piece Extensions menu if it is hidden).
2. Click the gear icon to open Settings (called Options in some versions).
3. On the General tab, uncheck Allow Acceptable Ads.
4. Reload any open tabs so the change applies.

Settings labels shift between releases; if you cannot find the checkbox, AdBlock's help pages on getadblock.com show the current layout.

Which blocks more ads and trackers?

Out of the box, uBlock Origin Lite typically blocks more, mainly because it ships privacy and malware lists enabled and allows no ads. AdBlock can come close once you switch off Acceptable Ads and enable extra lists, but you have to do that yourself.

Blocking strength mostly comes down to filter lists, not the brand. uBOL enables a set that covers ads, trackers and known malicious domains, drawn from community lists such as EasyList and EasyPrivacy plus uBlock's own filters. AdBlock starts from EasyList plus the Acceptable Ads allowlist, with additional lists available in settings, including privacy-focused ones.

• Trackers: uBOL blocks many by default; in AdBlock, add a privacy list in the filter settings.
• Cosmetic leftovers: uBOL needs Optimal or Complete mode to hide empty ad boxes; AdBlock hides them with its standard access.
• Anti-adblock walls: both depend on list maintainers keeping up. Some sites will still nag you to disable your blocker.
• Speed: because Chrome's own engine does the matching in MV3, neither blocker adds much overhead; the page-speed gain comes from ads and scripts that never load.

Rather than trusting any score table, run our ad blocker test with each extension, one at a time, and compare what gets through on the sites you actually visit.

Can YouTube detect uBlock Origin or AdBlock?

Yes, YouTube can detect ad blockers, and it has shown warnings and playback interruptions to users running them. Neither extension can promise uninterrupted ad-free YouTube; it is a moving target where fixes and new detections trade places.

What decides who copes better is how fast countermeasures reach your browser. uBOL's lists ship with extension updates, and AdBlock updates on its own schedule, so either can lag behind a YouTube change for a while. When you see an anti-adblock prompt, first make sure the extension is up to date: open chrome://extensions, switch on Developer mode at top right, click Update, then switch Developer mode off again.

Trying to beat detection by stacking two blockers usually backfires: more breakage, not fewer ads. If YouTube is your main reason for blocking, the reliable options are YouTube Premium or using full uBlock Origin in Firefox, where the original extension still receives frequent list updates.

How do you switch from uBlock Origin to uBlock Origin Lite or AdBlock?

Remove the disabled uBlock Origin, install one Manifest V3 blocker, then set its mode or lists before judging it. The whole move takes a few minutes on Windows, Mac, Linux or ChromeOS.

1. Open chrome://extensions and click Remove on the old uBlock Origin card.
2. Install uBlock Origin Lite (or AdBlock) from the Chrome Web Store; check the developer name matches the official project linked from ublockorigin.com.
3. Click the puzzle-piece Extensions icon and pin the new blocker to the toolbar.
4. For uBOL: right-click the icon → Options, choose your default filtering mode, and grant site access if you pick Optimal or Complete.
5. For AdBlock: open Settings, decide on Acceptable Ads, and review the filter lists tab.
6. Visit a site that broke under the old setup and adjust the per-site mode or allowlist as needed.

Custom rules do not carry over automatically. uBOL does not import a full uBlock Origin backup, and its tools for hand-written filters are far more limited than the original's 'My filters' tab. If you relied on dozens of custom rules or dynamic filtering, that is the strongest argument for staying on Firefox with full uBlock Origin.

Chrome on Android does not support extensions, and Chrome on iPhone and iPad does not either, so neither blocker applies there. On those devices, use a browser or system-level blocker instead.

Is uBlock Origin illegal, and are both safe?

Using an ad blocker is not illegal for individuals in most countries, and both uBlock Origin Lite and AdBlock are legitimate, long-running projects. Some sites forbid ad blocking in their terms and may refuse to serve you, but that is a site policy, not a law you are breaking.

The safety risk is confusion, not the real extensions. Several similar names exist and they are not interchangeable:

• uBlock Origin and uBlock Origin Lite: gorhill's projects, free, no Acceptable Ads.
• uBlock (without Origin): a separate product from a different team.
• AdBlock: the product this guide compares, with a hand icon.
• Adblock Plus: a different eyeo extension with its own interface; also uses Acceptable Ads.
• Clones: listings that copy these names or icons, sometimes to inject affiliate links or collect browsing data.

Always check the publisher and the listing's item ID before installing. Our reviews cover whether AdBlock is safe in detail, and our methodology page explains how we assess permissions, ownership and update history.

Is there a better ad blocker than uBlock Origin, and what should you pair with it?

On Chrome, uBlock Origin Lite remains the strongest free default; the better upgrade is usually a complementary tool, not a second ad blocker. Running two blockers together tends to cause double-blocking, broken pages and harder troubleshooting.

Want to compare more options, including other MV3 blockers? Browse our uBlock Origin alternatives and the Manifest V3 ready collection. If you need precise control above all else, the honest answer is full uBlock Origin on Firefox; on Chrome, uBOL with the right per-site modes is as close as you can get.