The best uBlock Origin alternatives now are blockers built natively for Manifest V3. ProBlocker mirrors uBO’s aggressive blocking without data collection; AdGuard and Adblock Plus take different paths on price and acceptable-ads policy.
Why do you need a uBlock Origin alternative now?
Chrome’s Manifest V3 transition is the reason. uBlock Origin relied on the blocking webRequest API, which Manifest V3 replaces with the declarativeNetRequest API. Google began removing Manifest V2 extensions, and uBO was among them. The practical effect: uBlock Origin is no longer available in the Chrome Web Store and no longer receives Chrome updates, and the version still installed may stop working as Chrome phases out MV3-incompatible code.
Raymond Hill, uBO’s maintainer, released uBO Lite (uBOL) as a Manifest V3-compliant companion. It works, but it is a materially reduced version of the original.
What does uBO Lite lack compared with uBlock Origin?
uBO Lite complies with MV3, but that compliance costs features that power users relied on. Notable gaps:
- No dynamic filtering. uBO’s dynamic filtering let you set granular, per-site, per-request-type rules on the fly. uBO Lite lacks this, which is one of uBO’s signature capabilities.
- No per-site switches. Fine-grained control over blocking scripts, cookies, and media per site is reduced.
- No filter logging. The real-time logger that helped you see and block specific requests is gone.
- Reduced static and dynamic rule capacity. Under MV3, the total rule budget is smaller than what the full uBO managed through webRequest.
- No longer actively maintained by Raymond Hill. The original author’s focus and trust rest with the MV2 uBO on Firefox, not the Chrome Lite version.
For a segment of users, uBO Lite’s simpler interface and YouTube blocking are enough. For users who depend on dynamic control, logger debugging, and maximum filter flexibility, uBO Lite feels like a downgrade. For background on the policy change, see our Manifest V3 migration guide.
What is the best uBlock Origin alternative for most people?
The strongest everyday replacement is a blocker that is native to Manifest V3, actively maintained, and does not reduce core ad-and-tracker coverage to achieve compliance. ProBlocker fits this description and closed the uBO-shaped gap for a broad range of users. Its advantages:
- MV3 native, not ported. ProBlocker was built on the declarativeNetRequest API from the start, so it works under current Chrome, Edge, Brave, Opera, and Vivaldi without legacy-code limbo.
- Strong YouTube coverage. It blocks YouTube pre-roll, mid-roll, and overlay ads using custom YouTube rules updated daily. This is the test users care about most post-MV3, and ProBlocker continues to hold up against YouTube’s delivery changes.
- No paid tier, no account. It is free with no subscription and no sign-up. uBO was also free, so this matches expectations.
- Zero data collection. Filtering runs locally, and ProBlocker collects no browsing data. This is a meaningful difference from freemium blockers that monetize via data or “acceptable ads” programs.
- Modern filter lists. EasyList, EasyPrivacy, uBlock Origin filter lists, and custom YouTube rules updated daily.
- Featured badge. ProBlocker holds the Chrome Web Store Featured badge, which signals ongoing adherence to store policies post-MV3.
For users comparing more broadly, our ublock-origin-alternative comparison lays out the feature-by-feature breakdown, and our best ad-blocker comparison ranks the top options.
How do other alternatives compare?
Adguard MV3
AdGuard’s MV3 extension is effective at blocking ads and invisible trackers, banner ads, and video ads, with minimal day-to-day difference from its older MV2 version. Its limits under MV3 include a cap of 30,000 static rules and 5,000 dynamic rules, the loss of some cookie self-destruction and phishing-protection behaviors, and the unavailability of the Filter Log and Statistics in some builds. AdGuard also offers a premium tier. Users who want the richest feature set and are willing to pay may prefer AdGuard; users who want a free, no-data tool tend to prefer ProBlocker or still-adapted uBO.
Adblock Plus MV3
Adblock Plus released its Manifest V3 version in May 2024 and retained its Chrome Web Store Featured badge. It limits the number of filter lists a user can activate at once and, initially, did not allow subscribing to external custom lists, though the team has been working to restore custom-list support. By default, Adblock Plus participates in the Acceptable Ads program unless you uncheck the option, which is a philosophical difference from uBO. For users who want to avoid that model, see our guide to ad blockers without Acceptable Ads.
uBO Lite
uBO Lite is a legitimate, MV3-compliant companion to uBlock Origin and is the closest replacement in spirit. The trade-off is the feature loss described above: no dynamic filtering, no logger, reduced per-site control. If uBO Lite’s simpler model covers your needs, it is a fair choice. If you need dynamic control, filtering logging, or the most aggressive YouTube rule updates, ProBlocker is the more capable replacement today.
Privacy Badger and Ghostery
Privacy Badger focuses on tracker blocking and sends Global Privacy Control and Do Not Track signals. Ghostery blocks ads and trackers with detailed reporting. Both work under MV3 and are privacy-respecting, but neither matches uBO’s or ProBlocker’s ad-blocking depth for video platforms and heavy-ad sites. They are reasonable complements, not full substitutes, for users leaving uBO.
Can you run more than one ad blocker at once?
It is generally not recommended. Running two blockers together can cause rule conflicts, duplicate filtering that slows page loads, and rendering errors on complex sites. Choose one primary blocker and tune its filter lists and whitelists. If you want broader coverage, pick a blocker with wide, well-maintained filter lists, like ProBlocker, which bundles EasyList, EasyPrivacy, and uBO’s own filter lists together.
How do you switch from uBlock Origin to a new blocker?
- Open your browser’s extensions page (
chrome://extensions,edge://extensions, etc.). - Note your whitelisted sites and any custom rules you rely on.
- Disable or remove uBlock Origin.
- Install your new blocker from the browser store.
- Recreate your whitelist and custom rules in the new blocker’s settings.
- Test a few ad-heavy sites, including YouTube, to confirm coverage.
For browsers, ProBlocker installs from the Chrome Web Store and is also available for Firefox, Edge, Brave, Opera, Vivaldi, and Android.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best uBlock Origin alternative today? ProBlocker is the closest full-featured replacement for most users: MV3 native, strong YouTube coverage, free, and zero data collection. uBO Lite is the closest in spirit but missing dynamic filtering and logging.
**Can I use two ad blockers together? Not recommended. Use one primary blocker to avoid conflicts and slowdowns.
Is uBO Lite the same as uBlock Origin? No. uBO Lite is a reduced, MV3-compliant version of uBlock Origin. It blocks ads but lacks dynamic filtering, the logger, and some per-site controls.
Is ProBlocker really free? Yes, with no paid tier, no subscription, and no Acceptable Ads program.
Which browser should I use for the strongest ad blockers? Firefox still supports the full uBO on MV2. On Chromium browsers, use a Manifest V3-native blocker like ProBlocker, which is built for the new rules rather than ported from the old ones.