1Blocker vs. uBlock Origin 2024: Not Sure Which To Use? We Have the Answer

Ad blockers like 1Blocker and uBlock Origin provide a cleaner online experience and protection against spam, scams, and identity theft. Many consider uBlock Origin the best content blocker, but we feel it works best on Windows and Android devices since it isn’t compatible with updated forms of Safari.

For Safari users either on macOS or iOS, 1Blocker provides powerful content blocking against ads, trackers, and nuisances, including the ability to automatically deny cookies.

If you aren’t sure about which one is the best choice for you, we’ve compared them side by side below. Check out how each performed in testing as well as compatibility and support options.

1Blocker vs. uBlock Origin

Essentially, ad blockers work by not allowing the scripts that show ads to work. 1Blocker and uBlock Origin are both considered extremely powerful content blockers. We found that 1Blocker, which was created exclusively for Apple operating systems, is the better choice for macOS and iOS users.

Comparatively, uBlock Origin, which is browser-specific rather than operating-system-specific, can work on any browser, but Apple users may find it difficult since it doesn’t support anything later than Safari 12.

Best for	Apple users	Windows and Android users
Price	Free or Free–$2.99/mo	Free
Ads blocked on Forbes	10	18
Does it block YouTube ads?
Compatibility	macOS, Safari	Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari (prior to 13), Opera, Chromium
Mobile compatibility	iOS	Only as an add-on for Firefox on Android
Learn more	Get 1Blocker Read 1Blocker Review	Get uBlock Origin Read uBlock Origin Review

1Blocker pros and cons

uBlock Origin pros and cons

1Blocker vs. uBlock Origin: prices

		Our Pick
Price range	Free–$2.99/mo	Free
Best value plan	Lifetime plan for $38.99	Free
Free version available
Money-back guarantee	Yes — Apple’s discretion	N/A
Learn more	Get 1Blocker Read 1Blocker Review	Get uBlock Origin Read uBlock Origin Review

uBlock Origin is always free because it’s open source. It has the advantage of being reviewed by an online community, which means that it’s powerful even though there’s no charge for the product itself.

1Blocker, on the other hand, allows you to use one feature at a time on its free version, but you’ll need to upgrade to use multiple features at once. Even so, the prices for 1Blocker are extremely reasonable. We suggest a Lifetime subscription for anyone planning to use 1Blocker long-term.

1Blocker vs. uBlock Origin: features

Whitelisting
Blacklisting
Ads blocked counter
Bypasses paywalls
Block pop-up ads
Block tracking
Block video ads
Block banner ads
Block push ads
Learn more	Get 1Blocker Read 1Blocker Review	Get uBlock Origin Read uBlock Origin Review

Respectively speaking, these are equally matched. 1Blocker only works on iOS and macOS, while uBlock Origin works on multiple browsers (with the exception of Safari 13 or later). As long as you choose the right content blocker for your browser, you’ll get the same powerful blocking capabilities offered by either of these products.

If you’re frustrated by either product’s lack of compatibility, remember that the more specific the software, the more likely it is to work well. We love OS or browser-specific products due to their customization and useability. Having an effective ad blocker that’s specific is way more valuable than an ad blocker that just kind of works everywhere.

1Blocker vs. uBlock Origin: test results

		Our Pick
AdBlock Tester score	100/100	96/100
Cover Your Tracks score	2.5/3	2/3
Can You Block It score	2/3	3/3
YouTube ads blocked
Paywalls bypassed
Learn more	Get 1Blocker Read 1Blocker Review	Get uBlock Origin Read uBlock Origin Review

To test ad blocking performance, we used AdBlock Tester, Cover Your Tracks, and Can You Block It.

AdBlock Tester and Can You Block It collectively allow you to see how well your ad blocker works against contextual ads, banner ads, pop-ups, interstitial ads, and more. The Cover My Tracks test, on the other hand, measures the effectiveness of tracker blocking with each of the products. This evaluates how easy it is to build a profile of you across the web.

Both 1Blocker and uBlock Origin are nearly matched as far as blocking capabilities. While both scored 96/100 on AdBlock Tester, uBlock Origin performed better with Can You Block It. 1Blocker was unable to block interstitial ads (ads that display while the webpage loads). 

But both 1Blocker and uBlock Origin did a fairly good job of hiding you online, although neither was perfect. However, we’re yet to see an ad blocker — free or premium — that's able to totally conceal our digital fingerprint.

1Blocker vs. uBlock Origin: compatibility and customer support

		Our Pick
Windows
macOS
Android		Only as an add-on for Firefox on Android
iOS
Linux
Browser extensions	Yes — Safari	Yes — Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari (prior to 13), Opera, Chromium
24/7 customer support
Customer support options	Live chat, email, online guides	Online guides, forums
Learn more	Get 1Blocker Read 1Blocker Review	Get uBlock Origin Read uBlock Origin Review

uBlock Origin offers more broad compatibility because it works with browsers rather than operating systems, but it doesn’t offer any user-friendly support options, and it flat out won’t work with Safari 13 or later. 1Blocker only works with iOS or macOS, but it does offer a user-friendly interface and legitimate support options.

As far as compatibility is concerned, uBlock Origin works on multiple platforms and is, therefore, better for people actively using those platforms. However, it’s essentially unusable for iOS or macOS users unless you use a compatible browser like Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Opera. This means that compatibility will be specific to your unique situation.

1Blocker vs. uBlock Origin FAQs

1Blocker vs. uBlock Origin: Which is better?

uBlock Origin edges out 1Blocker because of compatibility. Both content blockers are excellent at blocking ads, trackers, and other nuisances across the web. Depending on what browsers you’re using, however, you may not be able to use uBlock Origin at all. People using the most up-to-date versions of Safari will find 1Blocker is the best option for them.

Whichever one ends up being the best choice for you, you should absolutely use it. The best ad blockers not only clean up your online experience but also block trackers that can lead to increased spam, scams, and even identity theft. Using a quality content blocker keeps you safer.

1Blocker vs. uBlock Origin alternatives

Depending on your needs, 1Blocker and uBlock origin may not be what you’re looking for in a content blocker. If you think you’d like to explore other options, we’ve vetted and tested the following top ad blockers.