uBlock Origin is the most powerful and efficient ad blocker available. It blocks 90%+ of ads, trackers, and malware while using less memory than competitors. Trusted by 10 million+ developers and privacy-conscious users worldwide.
Blocking Efficiency: uBlock Origin blocks over 90% of ads, trackers, and malware across all websites — including YouTube pre-roll ads, pop-ups, and intrusive overlays.
Unlike AdBlock Plus and other commercial ad blockers that accept "acceptable ads" (paid whitelisting), uBlock Origin is 100% free and blocks everything by default. It's also significantly more efficient:
Blocks display ads, video ads, pop-ups, pop-unders, and auto-playing videos. Works on YouTube, Twitch, news sites, and more.
Stops 3rd-party trackers from following you across websites. Blocks Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, and 500+ tracking scripts.
Blocks access to known malicious domains. Protects against phishing, cryptojacking, and drive-by downloads.
Pages load 2-3x faster without ads and trackers. Saves bandwidth and reduces data usage by 30-50%.
Create custom rules to block specific elements. Perfect for developers who want precise control over page content.
See how many ads and trackers were blocked per site and globally. Tracks bandwidth saved and performance gains.
For maximum protection, enable comprehensive filter lists:
Prevent uBlock Origin from interfering with local development:
localhost:3000 (or your dev port)localhost:8000, staging domains, etc.Block specific elements on any website:
Example custom filters:
youtube.com##.ytp-ce-element (removes YouTube end cards)twitter.com##[data-testid="sidebarColumn"] (hides Twitter sidebar)reddit.com##.promotedlink (removes Reddit promoted posts)| Feature | uBlock Origin | AdBlock Plus | AdGuard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free (with "acceptable ads") | $24/year |
| Memory Usage | 70MB | 140MB | 110MB |
| Ad Blocking Rate | 90-95% | 75-80% (allows paid ads) | 85-90% |
| Open Source | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Custom Filters | ✅ Advanced | ⚠️ Basic | ✅ Advanced |
| Element Picker | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| YouTube Ad Blocking | ✅ 100% | ⚠️ 60% (some slip through) | ✅ 95% |
Verdict: uBlock Origin is the clear winner for developers — free, lightweight, open source, and most effective at blocking ads and trackers.
Many users worry that ad blockers slow down their browser. uBlock Origin actually makes browsing faster:
Page Load Speed: Pages load 2-3 times faster with uBlock Origin because ads and tracking scripts are blocked before they download.
Memory Savings: With uBlock Origin blocking 50+ trackers per page, Chrome uses 30-50% less memory on ad-heavy news sites.
uBlock Origin isn't just an ad blocker — it's a comprehensive privacy tool:
For developers handling sensitive code or working with proprietary algorithms, uBlock Origin prevents corporate surveillance and data exfiltration attempts.
Yes, uBlock Origin blocks 100% of YouTube ads including pre-roll, mid-roll, and banner ads. It's the most reliable YouTube ad blocker as of 2025.
Some websites detect ad blockers and show warnings. uBlock Origin includes anti-adblock filters that bypass most detection scripts. For stubborn sites, add custom filters or temporarily disable uBlock Origin.
Yes, uBlock Origin is completely safe. It's open source, regularly audited, and maintained by a trusted developer (Raymond Hill). Unlike shady "free VPN" extensions, it doesn't collect or sell your data.
No, uBlock Origin actually speeds up browsing by 2-3x on ad-heavy sites. It uses only 70MB of RAM (50% less than competitors) and has zero CPU overhead.
Yes, you can whitelist specific domains by clicking the uBlock Origin icon and using the power button to disable blocking for that site.
For complete privacy protection, combine uBlock Origin with:
Install uBlock Origin now and experience faster, cleaner, more private browsing. Join 10 million users who block ads without slowing down their browser.