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Adblock Plus vs uBlock Origin Lite

Adblock Plus and uBlock Origin Lite are both free Chrome ad blockers, but our top pick is uBlock Origin Lite: it is a lightweight, Manifest V3-native content blocker built for efficient filtering with minimal permissions. Adblock Plus is older and includes an opt-out 'acceptable ads' program by default.

Last reviewed · 1 listing · Independent, not affiliated with Google

Choose Adblock Plus if…

Choose Adblock Plus if you want broad filter list support and don't mind its default acceptable ads setting.

Choose uBlock Origin Lite if…

Choose uBlock Origin Lite if you want a lightweight, Manifest V3-native blocker with minimal permissions.

Adblock Plus vs uBlock Origin Lite: feature comparison
FeatureAdblock PlusuBlock Origin Lite
Chrome extensionYesYes
FreeYesYes
Manifest V3 nativeVariesYes
Acceptable ads by defaultYesNo
YouTube ad blockingVariesYes
Custom filter listsYesLimited
Minimal permissionsLimitedYes
Open-sourceNoYes

Our picks

  1. uBlock Origin Lite

    Lightweight Manifest V3 content blocker.

    Free Security & Privacy ✓ Open source✓ Manifest V3

    Review Add to Chrome

Chrome's move to Manifest V3 changed how ad blockers work, limiting the dynamic filtering older extensions relied on. Adblock Plus and uBlock Origin Lite both block ads under these new rules, but they take different approaches to filtering and default behavior.

Adblock Plus filtering approach

Adblock Plus blocks ads using standard filter lists and includes an 'acceptable ads' feature enabled by default, which allows certain non-intrusive ads through unless you turn it off in settings. It has broad filter list support and works across most websites, including YouTube ad blocking to varying degrees.

uBlock Origin Lite under Manifest V3

uBlock Origin Lite is built specifically for Manifest V3, using Chrome's declarative filtering system rather than reading and modifying every request. It requests fewer permissions than older-style blockers and focuses on efficient, static filter lists rather than acceptable ads or built-in exceptions.

Choosing between Adblock Plus and uBlock Origin Lite

If you want blocking with no ads allowed through by default and minimal permissions, uBlock Origin Lite fits better. If you want a long-established extension with broad filter list options and don't mind an opt-out acceptable ads default, Adblock Plus is the alternative.

Adblock Plus vs uBlock Origin Lite: FAQs

Which is the best free adblock extension for Chrome?

uBlock Origin Lite is a strong free pick because it is built natively for Manifest V3, uses fewer permissions and does not allow ads through by default, unlike Adblock Plus's acceptable ads setting.

Does Adblock Plus block all ads?

No. Adblock Plus enables an 'acceptable ads' feature by default, which lets certain non-intrusive ads through. You can turn this off in the extension's settings if you want all ads blocked.

Is uBlock Origin Lite as effective as the original uBlock Origin?

uBlock Origin Lite trades some of the original's dynamic filtering power for compliance with Manifest V3's stricter rules, so it can block fewer edge-case ads while still handling most standard ad blocking well.

Does uBlock Origin Lite block ads on YouTube?

Yes, uBlock Origin Lite can block many YouTube video ads using its filter lists, though YouTube periodically changes its ad delivery, which can affect blocking effectiveness over time.

Is Adblock Plus safe to use?

Adblock Plus is a long-established extension that requires broad permissions to read and block content on web pages, which is expected for an ad blocker. Install it only from the official Chrome Web Store.

Why did my old ad blocker stop working in Chrome?

Chrome's Manifest V3 changes limited the dynamic request-blocking older extensions used, so many ad blockers were rebuilt as 'Lite' versions, like uBlock Origin Lite, using Chrome's newer declarative filtering system instead.

Can I turn off acceptable ads in Adblock Plus?

Yes, Adblock Plus lets you disable the 'acceptable ads' feature from its extension settings, which blocks all ads rather than allowing certain non-intrusive ones through.

Is uBlock Origin Lite open-source?

Yes, uBlock Origin Lite is open-source, meaning its code is publicly available for review, unlike some closed-source ad blocker extensions.

Do adblock extensions work on Edge and Brave?

Adblock Plus and uBlock Origin Lite both work on Chromium-based browsers such as Microsoft Edge, though Brave includes its own built-in ad blocker and may not need an additional extension.

What permissions does an adblock extension need?

Ad blockers typically need permission to read and modify content on the pages you visit so they can hide or block ad elements. uBlock Origin Lite requests narrower permissions than many traditional blockers under Manifest V3.

Is there a free adblock extension without ads allowed by default?

Yes, uBlock Origin Lite is free and does not include an acceptable ads exception by default, unlike Adblock Plus, which enables one unless you turn it off.