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uBlock Origin alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave uBlock Origin: removed from the Chrome Web Store; Chromium support is ending, and advanced mode is easy to misconfigure. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces uBlock Origin, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. uBlock Origin Lite currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1uBlock Origin Lite logouBlock Origin LiteOpen sourceYesBrowser extension, iOS, macOS3 of 366.5
2AdGuard logoAdGuardPaidNoWindows, macOS, Linux +34 of 462.6
3Ghostery logoGhosteryFreeYesBrowser extension, iOS, Android4 of 459.6
4NextDNS logoNextDNSFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +34 of 457.2
5Privacy Badger logoPrivacy BadgerFreeYesBrowser extension, Android3 of 355.3
  1. uBlock Origin Lite logo

    1. uBlock Origin LiteTop pick

    Best for: Chrome, Edge and Safari users who want uBlock Origin's filtering after Manifest V3

    Open sourceBrowser extension, iOS, macOS

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from uBlock Origin

    The same team's Manifest V3 version, the practical choice on Chrome and Edge now.

    Pros

    • Works on Chrome and Edge under Manifest V3
    • No background process, so near-zero resource use
    • Same team and core filter lists as uBlock Origin

    Cons

    • Less flexible than full uBlock Origin
    • MV3 rule limits weaken some cosmetic filtering
    • Fewer advanced controls for power users
    Visit uBlock Origin Lite 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 Lite a good uBlock Origin alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Extension platform
    Manifest V3
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Background resource use
    None while filtering
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Browsers
    Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari
    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 uBlock Origin

    Paid desktop app that filters ads in every browser and app, unaffected by Manifest V3.

    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 Compare with uBlock OriginDetails 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 uBlock Origin 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 uBlock Origin

    Open-source blocker that still offers full features on Chrome with automatic cookie-banner rejection.

    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 uBlock Origin 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)
  4. NextDNS logo

    4. NextDNS

    Best for: People who want Pi-hole-style blocking on all devices without running a server

    Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from uBlock Origin

    Blocks ads and trackers at DNS level across every device, without an extension.

    Pros

    • Works everywhere, including on mobile data
    • All features available on the free plan
    • Very cheap paid plan with unlimited queries

    Cons

    • Free plan stops blocking after 300,000 queries a month
    • DNS queries are handled by a third party
    • Can't remove ads served from the same domain as content
    Visit NextDNS Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    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 NextDNS a good uBlock Origin alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    300,000 queries/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026nextdns.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Over quota
    Resolves without blocking
    Checked Oct 25, 2026nextdns.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Paid plan
    Unlimited queries
    Checked Oct 25, 2026nextdns.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Payment methods
    Cards, PayPal, crypto
    Checked Oct 25, 2026nextdns.io(opens source in a new tab)
  5. Privacy Badger logo

    5. Privacy Badger

    Best for: People who want automatic tracker blocking from a trusted non-profit

    FreeOpen sourceBrowser extension, Android

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from uBlock Origin

    Lighter, automatic tracker blocker from the EFF that needs no configuration.

    Pros

    • Made by the EFF, a digital rights non-profit
    • Works with no settings or configuration
    • Sends Global Privacy Control signals

    Cons

    • Doesn't block non-tracking ads
    • Overlaps heavily with full content blockers
    • Learning approach can occasionally break embeds
    Visit Privacy Badger Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    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 Privacy Badger a good uBlock Origin alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Developer
    Electronic Frontier Foundation
    Checked Oct 25, 2026privacybadger.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Approach
    Algorithmic tracker detection
    Checked Oct 25, 2026privacybadger.org(opens source in a new tab)
    License
    GPL v3 or later
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best uBlock Origin alternative for…

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

uBlock Origin Lite logo

Best uBlock Origin alternative for most people

uBlock Origin Lite

The same team's Manifest V3 version, the practical choice on Chrome and Edge now.

Ghostery logo

Best uBlock Origin alternative for a free option

Ghostery

Open-source blocker that still offers full features on Chrome with automatic cookie-banner rejection.

NextDNS logo

Best uBlock Origin alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

NextDNS

Blocks ads and trackers at DNS level across every device, without an extension.

Privacy Badger logo

Best uBlock Origin alternative for open source

Privacy Badger

Lighter, automatic tracker blocker from the EFF that needs no configuration.

AdGuard logo

Best uBlock Origin alternative for Mac

AdGuard

Paid desktop app that filters ads in every browser and app, unaffected by Manifest V3.

AdGuard logo

Best uBlock Origin alternative for Windows

AdGuard

Paid desktop app that filters ads in every browser and app, unaffected by Manifest V3.

AdGuard logo

Best uBlock Origin alternative for Linux

AdGuard

Paid desktop app that filters ads in every browser and app, unaffected by Manifest V3.

AdGuard logo

Best uBlock Origin alternative for iPhone and Android

AdGuard

Paid desktop app that filters ads in every browser and app, unaffected by Manifest V3.

NextDNS logo

Best uBlock Origin alternative for working in the browser

NextDNS

Blocks ads and trackers at DNS level across every device, without an extension.

uBlock Origin alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to uBlock Origin?

uBlock Origin Lite ranks first right now. The same team's Manifest V3 version, the practical choice on Chrome and Edge now. AdGuard and Ghostery follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to uBlock Origin?

Yes. uBlock Origin Lite (open source), Ghostery (free), NextDNS (free plan + paid) and Privacy Badger (free) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to uBlock Origin?

Yes: uBlock Origin Lite, Ghostery and Privacy Badger.

Which uBlock Origin alternatives work on Linux?

AdGuard and NextDNS run on Linux.

Why do people switch from uBlock Origin?

The complaints we hear most: 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.

How is this list ranked?

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