uBlock Origin alternative · updated October 2026
Best uBlock Origin alternative for Chrome
uBlock Origin was removed from the Chrome Web Store during Google's Manifest V3 rollout. ProBlocker is a free ad blocker built for Chrome under MV3, featuring the same network-level blocking, no Acceptable Ads, and no data collection.
ProBlocker uBO uBlock Origin Why uBlock Origin was removed from Chrome
Chrome Stable began disabling Manifest V2 extensions in October 2024. Manifest V3 replaced
the webRequest blocking API, which uBlock Origin used to cancel ad requests,
with a more restricted declarativeNetRequest API that applies pre-compiled
rule sets rather than dynamic programmatic filtering.
uBlock Origin's developer Raymond Hill concluded that the MV3 API's limitations made a faithful port impossible without compromising the extension's core capabilities. Rather than ship a degraded version, uBlock Origin was not updated to MV3 for Chrome. The Chrome Web Store then removed MV2 extensions.
Firefox is not affected. Mozilla does not impose Google's MV3 restrictions, and uBlock Origin works fully on Firefox. Full Manifest V3 explainer →
ProBlocker vs uBlock Origin: feature comparison
| Feature | ProBlocker | uBlock Origin (Chrome) | uBlock Origin (Firefox) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available on Chrome | Yes | Removed during October 2024 rollout | N/A |
| Available on Firefox | Yes | N/A | Yes (fully functional) |
| Manifest V3 native | Yes | No | Not applicable |
| Network-level blocking | Yes | Yes (was) | Yes |
| Acceptable Ads | No — never | No | No |
| Data collected | None | None | None |
| YouTube ad blocking | Yes | Was (Chrome) | Yes |
| Advanced cosmetic filters | Basic | Advanced | Advanced |
| Dynamic filtering rules | No | No (MV3 removed this) | Yes |
| Account required | No | No | No |
| Price | Free | Free | Free |
Rows with marks are where they differ. Last verified October 2026. Report an error
What is uBlock Origin?
uBlock Origin is a free, open-source ad blocker browser extension created by Raymond Hill (gorhill). It uses filter lists (EasyList, EasyPrivacy, and others) to block ad and tracker requests at the network level. uBlock Origin is widely regarded as one of the most effective ad blockers due to its low memory footprint and thorough blocking. It does not participate in the Acceptable Ads program.
Following Google's MV3 enforcement, uBlock Origin is no longer available on the Chrome Web Store. It remains fully functional on Firefox. A separate project, uBlock Origin Lite (a MV3 port with reduced capabilities), is available on Chrome.
Other uBlock Origin alternatives for Chrome
| Extension | Acceptable Ads | MV3 native | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ProBlocker | No | Yes | Recommended uBlock Origin alternative for Chrome |
| uBlock Origin Lite | No | Yes | Reduced capabilities vs full uBlock Origin; same developer |
| AdGuard (extension) | No | Yes | Free, open-source extension; paid desktop/mobile apps are separate |
| Ghostery | No | Yes | Tracker-focused; blocks ads by default |
Last verified October 2026. Report an error
Frequently asked questions
Install ProBlocker on Chrome
ProBlocker installs in under 30 seconds from the Chrome Web Store. It requires no account or setup and begins blocking ads and trackers immediately.