AppBreakup
Submit an app

SponsorBlock alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave SponsorBlock: depends on community submissions, and new and small-channel videos often lack segments. We ranked 3 alternatives by how directly each one replaces SponsorBlock, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. uBlock Origin currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1uBlock Origin logouBlock OriginOpen sourceYesBrowser extension, Android5 of 566.5
2AdGuard logoAdGuardPaidNoWindows, macOS, Linux +34 of 462.6
3Ghostery logoGhosteryFreeYesBrowser extension, iOS, Android4 of 459.6
  1. uBlock Origin logo

    1. uBlock OriginTop pick

    Best for: Firefox users who want the most capable, lightweight browser blocker available

    Open sourceBrowser extension, Android

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from SponsorBlock

    Pair with it to remove YouTube's own ads, which SponsorBlock doesn't touch.

    Pros

    • Very efficient on CPU and memory
    • Deep controls: custom filters, element picker, dynamic filtering
    • No acceptable-ads programme, no donations sought

    Cons

    • Removed from the Chrome Web Store; Chromium support is ending
    • Advanced mode is easy to misconfigure
    • Browser-only, so it can't block ads inside apps
    Visit uBlock Origin Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is uBlock Origin a good SponsorBlock alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    License
    GPLv3
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Donations
    None sought
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Chrome Web Store
    Removed 31 August 2026
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Best browser
    Firefox
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Default lists
    EasyList, EasyPrivacy and uBO lists
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. AdGuard logo

    2. AdGuard

    Best for: People who want ads blocked in every app and browser on their devices

    PaidWindows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Browser extension

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from SponsorBlock

    Blocks YouTube ads system-wide, including in apps.

    Pros

    • System-wide filtering in browsers, apps and games
    • Lifetime licence option
    • Detailed filters, custom rules and per-app control

    Cons

    • Full apps are paid
    • Full Android app is installed outside Google Play
    • Local HTTPS filtering requires trusting a root certificate
    Visit AdGuard Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is AdGuard a good SponsorBlock alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free trial
    14 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026adguard.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Licences
    Personal 3 devices, Family 9 devices
    Checked Oct 25, 2026adguard.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Lifetime licence
    Available
    Checked Oct 25, 2026adguard.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Refunds
    30-day money-back guarantee
    Checked Oct 25, 2026adguard.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Ghostery logo

    3. Ghostery

    Best for: People who want ads, trackers and cookie pop-ups handled automatically

    FreeOpen sourceBrowser extension, iOS, Android

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from SponsorBlock

    Free blocker that removes YouTube ads on desktop and Safari.

    Pros

    • Rejects cookie banners automatically
    • Shows which trackers each site uses
    • Open source and free on all major browsers

    Cons

    • Fewer custom filtering options than uBlock Origin
    • Not available in Chrome on Android
    • Past data-monetisation history still worries some users
    Visit Ghostery Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Ghostery a good SponsorBlock alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Cookie pop-ups
    Never-Consent rejects them automatically
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ghostery.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Browsers
    Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera, Brave
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ghostery.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Downloads
    100+ million
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ghostery.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best SponsorBlock alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

uBlock Origin logo

Best SponsorBlock alternative for most people

uBlock Origin

Pair with it to remove YouTube's own ads, which SponsorBlock doesn't touch.

Ghostery logo

Best SponsorBlock alternative for a free option

Ghostery

Free blocker that removes YouTube ads on desktop and Safari.

uBlock Origin logo

Best SponsorBlock alternative for open source

uBlock Origin

Pair with it to remove YouTube's own ads, which SponsorBlock doesn't touch.

AdGuard logo

Best SponsorBlock alternative for Mac

AdGuard

Blocks YouTube ads system-wide, including in apps.

AdGuard logo

Best SponsorBlock alternative for Windows

AdGuard

Blocks YouTube ads system-wide, including in apps.

AdGuard logo

Best SponsorBlock alternative for Linux

AdGuard

Blocks YouTube ads system-wide, including in apps.

AdGuard logo

Best SponsorBlock alternative for iPhone and Android

AdGuard

Blocks YouTube ads system-wide, including in apps.

SponsorBlock alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to SponsorBlock?

uBlock Origin ranks first right now. Pair with it to remove YouTube's own ads, which SponsorBlock doesn't touch. AdGuard and Ghostery follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to SponsorBlock?

Yes. uBlock Origin (open source) and Ghostery (free) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to SponsorBlock?

Yes: uBlock Origin and Ghostery.

Which SponsorBlock alternatives work on Linux?

AdGuard runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from SponsorBlock?

The complaints we hear most: depends on community submissions; new and small-channel videos often lack segments; doesn't block YouTube's own ads.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces SponsorBlock, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.