AdGuard vs uBlock Origin

Updated October 2026 · AppBreakup editorial

AdGuard

Paid ad blocker apps for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS that filter ads in every browser and app.

Paid

Visit AdGuard AdGuard profile

uBlock Origin

Free, open-source, low-overhead content blocker for ads, trackers and malware sites, best on Firefox.

Open source

Visit uBlock Origin uBlock Origin profile

The short answer

uBlock Origin suits people who only need blocking in the browser, especially on Firefox, and want it free. AdGuard suits people who want ads and trackers blocked across every browser, app and game on their devices, and are willing to pay for a licence. The biggest difference is scope: uBlock Origin is a browser extension, while AdGuard's paid apps filter traffic for the whole device.

AdGuard or uBlock Origin: our take

uBlock Origin is a free, GPLv3-licensed extension built by volunteers. It blocks ads, trackers, coin miners, pop-ups and anti-adblock scripts with EasyList, EasyPrivacy and its own lists, uses little CPU and memory, and gives advanced users custom filters, an element picker and dynamic filtering. It seeks no donations and has no acceptable-ads programme. AdGuard makes standalone apps for Windows, Mac and Android that filter traffic system-wide, covering every browser plus apps and games, with hundreds of filter lists, custom rules, a stealth mode and per-app settings. On iOS it works through Safari content blocking and DNS. AdGuard also has free browser extensions.

The Manifest V3 changes push some people toward AdGuard. uBlock Origin has been removed from the Chrome Web Store and is being phased out on Edge, so on Chromium browsers most people now use uBO Lite; the full version works best on Firefox. Because AdGuard's desktop apps filter outside the browser, they sidestep extension limits altogether.

The trade-offs are cost and trust. AdGuard's apps are paid, sold as Personal (3 devices) or Family (9 devices) licences, yearly or lifetime, with a 14-day trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Local HTTPS filtering requires trusting a root certificate, and the full Android app is installed from AdGuard's site rather than Google Play. uBlock Origin costs nothing but stays inside the browser, so it cannot touch ads in apps.

Pick uBlock Origin if you browse mainly in Firefox and want strong, free blocking. Pick AdGuard if you use Chrome or Edge and want full-strength filtering, or you want ads blocked in apps and games across a household's devices. Some people run AdGuard system-wide and keep uBlock Origin in Firefox as well.

Choose AdGuard if…

People who want ads blocked in every app and browser on their devices
You need Windows, macOS, Linux and iOS, which uBlock Origin doesn't list
System-wide filtering in browsers, apps and games
Lifetime licence option

Choose uBlock Origin if…

Firefox users who want the most capable, lightweight browser blocker available
You want open-source software
You want a free option (AdGuard is paid only)
Very efficient on CPU and memory
Deep controls: custom filters, element picker, dynamic filtering

What is AdGuard?

AdGuard makes standalone ad-blocking apps that filter traffic for the whole device rather than living inside one browser. On Windows, Mac and Android it blocks ads, trackers and phishing in every browser and in apps and games, which also sidesteps the limits Manifest V3 places on browser extensions. On iOS it works through Safari content blocking and DNS. You get fine control: hundreds of filter lists, custom rules, a stealth mode against tracking, and per-app settings. There are free browser extensions, but the desktop and mobile apps are paid, sold as Personal (3 devices) or Family (9 devices) licences, yearly or lifetime, with a 14-day trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee. The Android app with full system-wide filtering isn't on Google Play and is installed from AdGuard's site. AdGuard also runs AdGuard DNS and a VPN as separate products.

What is uBlock Origin?

uBlock Origin is the content blocker most power users recommend. It blocks ads, trackers, coin miners, pop-ups, anti-adblock scripts and malicious sites using EasyList, EasyPrivacy and its own filter lists, and it is known for using little CPU and memory. Beginners can install it and forget it; advanced users get element pickers, custom filters, per-site switches and a dynamic filtering mode that works like a firewall for scripts and frames. It is completely free, GPLv3-licensed, developed by volunteers, and does not seek donations or run an acceptable-ads programme. The big change is Manifest V3: Chrome removed the classic version from its web store in August 2026 and Edge is phasing it out, so on Chromium browsers most people now use uBO Lite instead. Full uBlock Origin remains available and works best on Firefox, including Firefox for Android.

Side by side

Attribute	AdGuard	uBlock Origin
Pricing	Paid	Open source
Open source	No	Yes
Self-hostable	No	No
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Browser extension	Browser extension, Android
Best for	People who want ads blocked in every app and browser on their devices	Firefox users who want the most capable, lightweight browser blocker available
Status	Active	Active