uBlock Origin vs. Adblock Plus 2025: Which Ad Blocker Is Right for You?

Sifting through the best ad blockers available and picking the right one for your needs can be challenging. For those seeking advanced customization and powerful filtering capabilities, uBlock Origin stands out as an excellent choice.

This free, open-source tool provides comprehensive control over what content you block, typically suiting the tech-savvy.

In contrast, Adblock Plus is suitable for users seeking a straightforward solution. It’s available across more platforms, including iOS, and offers a user-friendly interface, making setup and using the service a breeze.

Whether you prioritize advanced features or ease of use, our comparison will help you determine which ad blocker best suits your needs.

Best Premium Ad Blockers for Any Browser or Device

uBlock Origin vs. Adblock Plus compared

uBlock Origin’s customization and filtering options make it suitable for anyone looking for advanced control over their ad-blocking experience. Meanwhile, Adblock Plus offers a far more user-friendly interface.

	Our Pick
Best for	Tech-savvy users	Casual users
Price	Free	Free with premium options starting at $3.33/mo (billed annually)
Ads blocked on Forbes	14	30
Does it block YouTube ads?
Compatibility	Edge, Firefox, Opera	Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Safari
Mobile compatibility	Only as an add-on for Firefox on Android	Available for Android and iOS
Learn more	Get uBlock Origin Read uBlock Origin Review	Get Adblock Plus Read Adblock Plus Review

uBlock Origin pros and cons

Adblock Plus pros and cons

uBlock Origin vs. Adblock Plus: prices

	Our Pick
Price range	Free	$3.33-$4.00/mo
Best value plan	Free version	Yearly plan for $3.33/mo (billed annually) (billed at $40/year)
Free version available
Money-back guarantee	N/A	Yes — 60 days
Learn more	Get uBlock Origin Read uBlock Origin Review	Get Adblock Plus Read Adblock Plus Review

When comparing the costs of uBlock Origin and Adblock Plus, uBlock Origin stands out as a completely free ad blocker, offering robust features without subscription fees.

While Adblock Plus also offers a free version, it provides additional premium features, such as blocking floating videos and cookie consent pop-ups, for a monthly fee of $4.00/mo or an annual fee of $40.

The yearly plan is the best value for those looking to enhance their browsing experience with extra features.

Although Adblock Plus requires payment for its premium features, the added benefits might justify the cost for users who want more comprehensive ad blocking and privacy options. Meanwhile, uBlock Origin is ideal for those who prefer a no-cost solution that still performs effectively.

uBlock Origin vs Adblock Plus: features

Feature	Our Pick
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 uBlock Origin Read uBlock Origin Review	Get Adblock Plus Read Adblock Plus Review

uBlock Origin and Adblock Plus both offer essential features, such as whitelisting, blocking various types of ads (including pop-ups, video, banner, and push ads), and blocking trackers.

One key difference is that uBlock Origin includes both whitelisting and blacklisting features, allowing users to dynamically filter content and block specific elements on web pages. This advanced capability makes uBlock Origin more versatile for users who need granular control over their ad-blocking settings.

Both ad blockers have counters to show the number of ads blocked, which is a helpful feature for users to gauge the effectiveness of their chosen tool. However, neither ad blocker can bypass hard paywalls, a limitation common across most ad blockers. But uBlock Origin can bypass softwalls, which can allow you to read local news articles.

While the core features of both ad blockers work well, uBlock Origin's additional customization options make it a more powerful tool for those who require more control over their browsing experience.

uBlock Origin vs Adblock Plus: test results

Feature	Our Pick
Adblock Tester score	96/100	100/100
Cover Your Tracks score	2/3	0/3
Can You Block It score	3/3	1/3
YouTube ads blocked
Paywalls bypassed
Learn more	Get uBlock Origin Read uBlock Origin Review	Get Adblock Plus Read Adblock Plus Review

Through rigorous testing, we found significant performance differences between uBlock Origin and Adblock Plus.

uBlock Origin scored 96/100 on the Adblock Tester, demonstrating its capability to block various forms of ads, including contextual advertising, analytics tools, and banner ads. However, Adblock Plus received 100/100.

In the Cover Your Tracks test, uBlock Origin also outperformed Adblock Plus, achieving a score of 2/3, indicating its strong protection against tracking ads and invisible trackers.

Adblock Plus, however, failed to block these trackers, resulting in a score of 0/3.

Both ad blockers successfully blocked YouTube ads, enhancing the streaming experience by removing pre- and mid-roll ads. However, neither uBlock Origin nor Adblock Plus could bypass hard paywalls, a common limitation among ad blockers.

uBlock Origin vs Adblock Plus: compatibility and customer support

		Our Pick
Windows
macOS
Android	Yes (Firefox only)
iOS
Linux
Browser extensions	Edge, Firefox, Opera	Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Safari
24/7 customer support
Customer support options	Online guides, forums	Email, forums, online guides
Learn more	Get uBlock Origin Read uBlock Origin Review	Get Adblock Plus Read Adblock Plus Review

Adblock Plus offers extensive compatibility across multiple operating systems and browsers. uBlock Origin supports Linux and browser extensions for popular browsers, including Edge, Firefox, Opera. However, Google Chrome has actively removed the free ad blocking browser, and uBlock Origin's mobile support is limited to Firefox on Android, with no support for iOS. For Safari users, you'd have to use uBlock Origin Lite.

In contrast, Adblock Plus is available on Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Safari, making it a more versatile choice for users who need ad-blocking across all their devices.

Neither ad blocker offers 24/7 customer support, which can be a downside for users needing immediate assistance. uBlock Origin relies on community-based support through GitHub and a subreddit, supplemented by online guides.

This setup might be sufficient for tech-savvy users, but it could be daunting for those less familiar with technical forums. Adblock Plus offers email support, forums, and online guides, providing a more traditional and user-friendly approach to customer service.

During our testing, we found that both ad blockers had intuitive interfaces, but uBlock Origin’s extensive customization options could be overwhelming for beginners. Adblock Plus, with its simpler and straightforward settings, is easier to use for those who prefer a plug-and-play solution without needing to delve into advanced configurations.

Free ad blocker alternatives compared

Ad blocker
Best for	Overall	Designed for iOS	Automatically blocking cookies	Making money
Star rating	4.9 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.8 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.1 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.3 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
Price	Free or $1.59/mo	Free or $1.25–$2.99/mo	Free	Free
Does it work on YouTube?
AdBlock Tester score	100/100	100/100	99/100	100/100
Cover Your Tracks score	2/3	1.5/3	0.5/3	2/3
Can You Block It score	3/3	2.5/3	3/3	3/3
Compatibility	Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge, Safari	macOS, iOS, Safari	iOS, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Safari	Chrome, Edge, Opera, Safari
Learn more	Get Total Adblock Read Total Adblock Review	Get 1Blocker Read 1Blocker Review	Get Ghostery Read Ghostery Review	Get Pie Adblock Read Pie Adblock Review

FAQs

uBlock Origin vs Adblock Plus: Which is better?

Although both uBlock Origin and Adblock Plus offer robust ad-blocking capabilities, in our experience, uBlock Origin is the better free ad blocker.

uBlock Origin is an excellent open-source solution that excels at customization and advanced filtering options. It is ideal for tech-savvy users who want detailed control over their ad-blocking settings. However, its extensive features can be overwhelming for beginners, and its mobile support is limited to Firefox on Android.

Adblock Plus offers a more user-friendly experience, providing an easier setup and straightforward settings. It’s also available on a broader range of devices, including iOS, making it a better choice for users looking for a simple and effective ad blocker across multiple platforms. But the biggest downside is that it requires a premium subscription to access advanced features, such as blocking floating videos and site notifications.

But if you're going to pay for an ad blocker, we recommend Total Adblock. It's one of the best ad blockers based on our extensive in-house testing, and it includes the award-winning antivirus software TotalAV at a super low starting rate.