uBlock Origin review
Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
uBlock Origin is the pick for readers who want ad blocking they never have to pay for, since the free plan is yes, the model is free and the build is open source. It has shipped since 2014 across Firefox, Firefox for Android and Microsoft Edge, and the logging policy collects nothing.
Key facts
- Best for
- Readers who want free, open-source ad blocking with nothing to renew.
- Free plan
- Yes (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Free plan limits
- No paid tiers; free open-source build, no donations or financing accepted (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Platforms
- Firefox, Firefox for Android, Microsoft Edge, Opera, Thunderbird, Chromium (manual install) (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Logging policy
- No data collected; no home server, no analytics or telemetry; only remote connections are filter list updates (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Open source
- Yes (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Privacy tool type
- Ad-blocker (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 2014 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Community, Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Pricing model
- Free
- Official website
- github.com
Apps and profiles
- Elsewhere
- reddit.com
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free plan: yes, and free is the only model listed, so there is no subscription to renew.
- Open source: yes, so the blocking code can be read and checked by anyone.
- The logging policy collects nothing, runs no home server, no analytics and no telemetry, and reaches out only for filter list updates.
- Runs on Firefox, Firefox for Android and Microsoft Edge, covering desktop and mobile browsers plus Thunderbird.
Cons
- Support runs on community and help centre only, so there is no staffed desk behind it.
- Chromium appears on Firefox, Firefox for Android and Microsoft Edge as a manual install, so setup takes extra steps.
Who it suits
- Readers who want blocking without a subscription, since the free plan is yes and the model is free.
- People who read filter lists and can handle their own setup, since support runs through community and help centre.
- Users of the browsers and mail client on Firefox, Firefox for Android and Microsoft Edge, including Firefox for Android.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone after email aliases: Apple Hide My Email provides aliases free with an Apple Account, with forward to address changes held for iCloud+.
- Readers who want a paid data removal service with a support team, since EasyOptOuts has no free plan.
How uBlock Origin compares
9.0 vs 9.1
9.0 vs 8.8
9.0 vs 8.5
9.0 vs 9.5
9.0 vs 9.4
9.0 vs 9.1
9.0 vs 9.2
9.0 vs 9.4
9.0 vs 9.2
9.0 vs 8.8
9.0 vs 9.3
9.0 vs 9.0
9.0 vs 9.0
9.0 vs 9.4
Frequently asked questions
How much does uBlock Origin cost?+
The free plan is yes and free is the only model listed, so there is nothing to pay at entry or at renewal. The free plan limits note a free open-source build with no paid tiers, and donations and financing are not accepted. For context, ad-blockers on the site show a median monthly price of €7.02.
Is there a free plan, and what does it include?+
The free plan is yes, and the free plan limits describe a free open-source build with no paid tiers. free is the only model listed, so the complete extension is the free one. Donations and financing are not accepted, which keeps the project on its own terms.
What data does uBlock Origin collect?+
The logging policy states that nothing is collected, with no home server, no analytics and no telemetry. The only remote connections are filter list updates. As an ad-blocker by ad blocker, the filtering runs from your own copy on Firefox, Firefox for Android and Microsoft Edge rather than from a remote service.
Which browsers and apps does it support?+
Firefox, Firefox for Android and Microsoft Edge is the platform list. Firefox and Firefox for Android cover desktop and mobile, Microsoft Edge and Opera are included, Thunderbird is there for mail, and Chromium is a manual install. Nothing on that list needs a paid tier.
How do I get help if something breaks?+
Support runs on community and help centre, so answers come from other users and the help centre rather than a staffed desk. For context, help centres appear on 95.4% of the brands listed here, and email support on 82.2%.
Is it open source?+
Open source: yes, and the project has been running since 2014. Open-source builds account for 56.6% of the brands listed here. Because free is the only model, the open build is also the whole product.
How does it compare with paid ad-blockers on price?+
Paid ad-blockers on the site run a median monthly price of €7.02 and a median long-term price of €4.28. 77.8% of them are free models. uBlock Origin is one of the free models, and it takes no donations.
Who should pick a different tool?+
Anyone who wants email aliases rather than ad blocking: Apple Hide My Email provides them free with an Apple Account, with forward to address changes held for iCloud+. Readers after a paid data removal service can look at EasyOptOuts, whose free plan is no. uBlock Origin stays an ad-blocker by ad blocker.
Sources
- addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/ublock-origin checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Free plan, Open source
“Free. Open source with public license (GPLv3) For users by users.”
- github.com/gorhill/uBlock checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Pricing model, Platforms, Privacy tool type, Support channels
“Free. Open-source. For users by users. No donations sought.”
- github.com/gorhill/uBlock/wiki/Privacy-policy checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Free plan limits, Logging policy
“uBO doesn't accept donations or any other form of financing.”
- ublockorigin.com checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded
“First released as uBlock in 2014”
Compiled from 4 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Price from.
Related by the facts
uBlock Origin
Readers who want free, open-source ad blocking with nothing to renew.