uBlock Origin is one of the best ad blockers out there. It’s open source, community-oriented, and super powerful. Privacy enthusiasts, tinkerers, and even regular users use it. But when Google’s Manifest V3 update dropped a bomb on Chrome extensions, uBlock devs had to act fast. Their answer was uBlock Origin Lite, a stripped-down version of uBlock Origin that is designed to comply with Chrome’s new extension rules.
uBlock Origin Lite keeps most of what made the original so popular but loses some of the deeper, technical features. It’s lighter, easier, and more user-friendly for casual users. But is it a proper replacement or a compromise?
They both block ads well, and both are free. The choice is mainly between maximum control and maximum simplicity. Let’s get into what you gain and lose by choosing one over the other.
Comparison Overview
| uBlock Origin | uBlock Origin Lite | |
| ⭐ Rating | 9.4 out of 10 | 8.1 out of 10 |
| 💵 Price | Free | Free |
| 🏷️ Free version | Yes | Yes |
| ▶️ Blocks YouTube Ads? | Yes | Yes |
| ⛔ Blocks Trackers? | Yes | Yes |
| 💻 Compatibility | Chromium, Firefox, and Edge | Chrome, Safari, Firefox & Edge |
| Read uBlock Origin Full Review | Read uBlock Origin Lite Full Review |
Pros and Cons
Pros and Cons of uBlock Origin
Pros
- Completely free and open-source
- Extremely lightweight and efficient
- Blocks all types of ads, trackers, and scripts
- Highly customisable with support for dynamic filtering and custom rules
- Excellent anti-adblock and paywall handling
- Works well on all Chromium and Firefox-based browsers
Cons
- The interface can feel intimidating to beginners
- Not compatible with Chrome’s Manifest V3, which affects future support
- No mobile app or system-wide filtering
- No formal customer support
Pros and Cons of uBlock Origin Lite
Pros
- Also free and open-source
- Built specifically to comply with Chrome’s Manifest V3
- Even more lightweight than the full version
- Blocks most common ads and trackers effectively
- Great option for casual users who want simplicity
Cons
- No advanced features like dynamic filtering or custom filter rules
- Limited anti-adblock and paywall bypass capabilities
- Not as effective against complex or scripted ad formats
Key Features
Ad Blocking Capabilities
Both uBlock Origin and uBlock Origin Lite do ad blocking well, but the difference is clear soon enough.
uBlock Origin
uBlock Origin is comprehensive and powerful. It blocks all standard ads, including banners, pop-ups, autoplay video ads, sponsored content, and YouTube pre-roll ads. Its strength comes from extensive filter lists, cosmetic filtering, dynamic filtering, and advanced script blocking. If an ad slips through, you can block elements or create custom rules to fix it manually.
uBlock Origin Lite
uBlock Origin Lite, on the other hand, takes a more straightforward approach. Designed to comply with Google Chrome’s Manifest V3, it uses a simplified set of declarative rules. It still blocks most banner ads, pop-ups, and many video ads, but doesn’t support advanced cosmetic filtering, element picking, or dynamic filtering. The Lite version is good enough for everyday browsing, but some advanced ads or tricky video ads might slip through more often than the original version. You might even see a placeholder or two.
To summarize, uBlock Origin Lite is good enough for general users who don’t want complexity. But if you want the deepest, most reliable ad blocking possible, the original uBlock Origin is the clear winner.
Privacy and Security
Privacy and security have always been at the heart of uBlock Origin, and fortunately, the Lite version doesn’t compromise on either.
uBlock Origin
uBlock Origin is excellent at protecting your privacy. It doesn’t just block ads, it blocks trackers, scripts, fingerprinting techniques, and analytics domains. You can enable privacy-focused filter lists and fine-tune privacy protections through dynamic filtering, script blocking, and URL parameter removal. Everything runs locally, and there is no telemetry or data collection. It’s privacy you can trust.
uBlock Origin Lite
uBlock Origin Lite also has privacy features, but with simplified settings. It blocks standard trackers and analytics scripts through built-in declarative rules but lacks dynamic filtering, custom script management, and advanced privacy configurations. It still has a strong baseline of privacy protection but does not have the same level of control as the original.
So, if your main goal is basic privacy without complexity, uBlock Origin Lite is enough. But if you want complete control over privacy settings, trackers, and advanced security protections, uBlock Origin is the more powerful one.
Performance and Resource Usage
Performance is a strength of both uBlock Origin and uBlock Origin Lite, but there’s a slight difference in their performance.
uBlock Origin
uBlock Origin is known for being lightweight and efficient. Even with big filter lists and advanced features enabled, it rarely impacts browsing speed or system resources. Pages load fast, memory usage is low, and CPU overhead is minimal even during heavy browsing. It’s for users who want high efficiency.
uBlock Origin Lite
uBlock Origin Lite takes this even further. Since it’s built for Chrome’s Manifest V3, it’s even simpler and more resource-friendly. Lite requires fewer resources, runs smoother on lower-end hardware, and feels even lighter during daily browsing. This is for casual users or those with less powerful devices.
Both perform great. If absolute minimal resource usage is a top priority, uBlock Origin Lite wins. However, the original uBlock Origin still performs great even with its deeper feature set.
Anti-Adblock & Paywall Handling
Blocking ads is easy. Avoiding anti-adblock detection and soft paywalls is trickier. This is where the differences between uBlock Origin and uBlock Origin Lite appear.
uBlock Origin
uBlock Origin handles anti-adblock detection very well. It can bypass most anti-adblock measures with dynamic filtering, script blocking, and custom rules. You can usually adjust filters or manually block detection scripts if a site detects it. uBlock Origin is also great at bypassing soft paywalls with its script control.
uBlock Origin Lite
uBlock Origin Lite is more limited here. Without dynamic filtering, element picking, and custom scripting, it struggles against sites that aggressively detect ad blockers or put up soft paywalls. It will still bypass simple anti-adblock scripts, but Lite users will have to disable the blocker or switch tools for tougher sites temporarily.
If anti-adblock and paywall bypass is essential to you, uBlock Origin is the winner. Lite works fine against basic detection methods, but full uBlock Origin is the way to go if you encounter aggressive sites.
Usability & Customisability
Installation & Setup
Installing either uBlock Origin or uBlock Origin Lite is quick and easy, but your experience after that depends on your type of user.
uBlock Origin
uBlock Origin installs like any other browser extension. Go to the Chrome Web Store, Firefox Add-ons, or your browser’s extension store and click install. It works right away with default filter lists but also opens up a big dashboard with advanced settings, custom rules, and filter list management. There is no onboarding, so you’ll need to figure things out on your own if you want to use it to the full.
uBlock Origin Lite
uBlock Origin Lite installs just as fast, and because it’s built for Chrome’s Manifest V3, it fits into newer versions of Chromium browsers. Once installed, it runs silently with no setup or configuration required. There is no dashboard, no customisation panel, and no learning curve. You install it, and it starts blocking; that’s it.
So, if you want a lightweight blocker without additional setup, both uBlock Origin and Lite let you do that. But there’s always more you can do.
Ease of Use
Both uBlock Origin and uBlock Origin Lite are easy to use at the basic level, but they’re built for very different types of users.
uBlock Origin Lite
uBlock Origin Lite is as simple as it gets. You install it, and it quietly blocks ads and trackers in the background. There are no buttons to press, settings to configure, or dashboards to mess with. It’s for users who want solid protection with zero effort. If you never want to look at an ad blocker again after installing it, Lite is the way to go.
uBlock Origin
uBlock Origin gives you much more control, which means more complexity. The interface shows blocked requests, site toggles, and filtering options. If you stick to the default setup, it still works great without touching anything. But the moment you open the dashboard or turn on advanced mode, it can get technical. There’s a learning curve if you want to customize or optimize your setu,p but the tradeoff is more power.
uBlock Origin Lite wins for pure simplicity and minimal user input. uBlock Origin offers more functionality, but it assumes you’re willing to learn a bit along the way.
Customisation
Here’s the main difference between uBlock Origin and uBlock Origin Lite: One gives you control, while the other locks it down for simplicity and compliance.
uBlock Origin
uBlock Origin is for users who like to tinker. You can:
- Enable or disable dozens of filter lists
- Write your own cosmetic or network-level rules
- Use the element picker to remove specific items from any page
- Enable dynamic filtering to control scripts, iframes, and third-party domains
- View logs and manually approve or deny specific requests
It’s one of the most customizable browser tools out there.
uBlock Origin Lite
uBlock Origin Lite doesn’t offer the same level of customisability as uBlock Origin. There’s no dashboard, no filter management, no user-created rules. It runs with a fixed set of filter lists in the background. You can choose to enable more included filters, but beyond that, you can’t edit anything. Which is great if you want a clean, automated experience, but it limits you when something slips through or if you’re going to target specific annoyances.
uBlock Origin Lite is perfect if you want a set-it-and-forget-it ad blocker. But if you want to control everything, uBlock Origin gives you full control to customise and fine-tune.
Pricing & Plans
Both uBlock Origin and uBlock Origin Lite are free and open-source, with no premium plans, no upsells, and no hidden features. You get full access to each tool’s functionality without creating an account, subscribing, or donating. Whether you choose the full or Lite versions, you get an ad blocker that respects your privacy and doesn’t charge for core functionality.
Customer Support
Neither uBlock Origin nor uBlock Origin Lite has official customer support. There’s no help desk, no live chat, no email contact. Both projects are maintained by volunteers and supported through community forums, GitHub discussions, and Reddit threads. If you hit a problem, your best bet is to search for existing issues or ask other users. The community around both versions is not polished, but it is active and helpful.
Final Verdict
uBlock Origin and uBlock Origin Lite have the same mission: block ads, protect privacy, be lightweight. But they serve very different users.
uBlock Origin Lite is for you if you want something that installs fast, runs quiet, and requires zero config. It’s for casual users who just want ads gone without touching a single setting. If you’re on Chrome and need a Manifest V3-compliant blocker that works out of the box, it’s a good choice.
uBlock Origin is for advanced users. It’s more powerful, customisable, and effective against tricky ad scripts, trackers, and anti-adblock pop-ups. This is the one to install if you care about total control and deep privacy features.
So for simplicity, go with uBlock Origin Lite. For everything else, uBlock Origin still wins.