The internet continues to get riddled with pesky ads trying to get your attention for money. The need for an adblocker is growing more and more each day. However, with a plethora of choices, which adblocker do you choose?
In this article, we’re comparing uBlock Origin and Adblock Plus to help you decide which one is the better adblocker for you.
Ad detection efficiency
First, we’re comparing the ad detection efficiency of the two adblockers. While both uBlock and AdBlock seem to do a decent job blocking any ads you might see, uBlock slightly pulls ahead as it not only blocks ads but also removes the empty spaces left behind. AdBlock does a good job detecting and removing ads but often leaves jarring white spaces behind.
Another thing to consider here is the detection of the adblockers themselves. Removing ads from a website means the website’s owner takes a hit from ad revenue as the visitor doesn’t see any. Most websites have adblocker detection scripts running that detect any adblockers and ask the user to remove them. In this regard, uBlock and AdBlock both get detected equally easily.
Also read: What is WhatsApp Plus? Everything you need to know
Memory consumption
Memory consumption is the average amount of memory used by both adblockers when actively running on a site. uBlock wins here again and by quite some margin. At times, AdBlock can use up to twice as much memory as compared to uBlock.
Privacy
While both adblockers haven’t been found leaking user data yet, AdBlock is quite vocal about its privacy policies on its official website. uBlock, on the other hand, has no mention of any privacy measures it takes on its website unless you are willing to dig through its privacy policy. AdBlock seems to take privacy more seriously, pulling away from uBlock here.
User interface and settings
uBlock prides itself on being lightweight and fast, which shows in the adblockers setting user interface. It’s somewhat limited in design and does what the user requires it to do without much hassle. However, if you’re looking for finer control over how your adblocker works and an easier-to-navigate UI, AdBlocker is the way to go.
Availability
Availability across browsers plays an essential factor in a user’s choice of adblocker. While both adblockers are available for all major browsers, uBlock misses out on some.
| Browser | uBlock Origin | AdBlocker |
|---|---|---|
| Google Chrome | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Edge | No | Yes |
| Safari | Yes | Yes |
| Opera | No | Yes |
| Firefox | Yes | Yes |
| Android | No | Yes |
| iOS | No | Yes |
Conclusion
While both adblockers do an excellent job of getting rid of those pesky ads on every site you visit, they have their differences in terms of how. If you’re looking for a quick lightweight adblocker that you install and forget, uBlock is the way to go. If you’d like slightly more control and will be tinkering more with your adblocker’s settings, AdBlock seems to be a better choice. Either way, you can’t go wrong with either of them.
Also read: Opera GX vs Chrome: Which one is better?
Contrary to what is stated in the table, uBlock origin is available on Edge
Hey,
Any extension available on Chrome would work on Edge as well because both browsers use the Chromium engine under the hood. That said, uBlock is available in the Edge Add-on store as well. Thanks for pointing that out.
uBlock Origins is committed to user privacy… To be honest their privacy policy is one of the most user-friendly reads out there, because of how lean it is. They do not gather data. You can’t be more private than that.