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What are the best uBlock Origin alternatives now that Chrome killed Manifest V2?
The best uBlock Origin alternatives after Chrome killed Manifest V2 are uBlock Origin Lite for Chrome, the full uBlock Origin on Firefox, and Brave's built-in Shields. Chrome disabled all Manifest V2 extensions in July 2025, so Chrome users need either uBO Lite or a different browser to keep blocking ads.
The short version
- Per Chrome's developer docs, Manifest V2 was disabled for all users on Chrome 138 (July 24, 2025) and the enterprise opt-out policy is removed with Chrome 139.
- uBlock Origin Lite (uBOL) is the Manifest V3 version and is entirely declarative, which the project says comes 'at the cost of limitations beyond those intrinsic to MV3'.
- The full uBlock Origin still runs on Firefox, which keeps the blocking webRequest API that powers dynamic filtering.
- Brave blocks ads and trackers natively through Shields, so it needs no extension at all.
Why did Chrome break uBlock Origin?
Chrome moved its extension platform from Manifest V2 to Manifest V3. Manifest V3 replaces the blocking webRequest API that the original uBlock Origin relies on with a more restricted, declarative system. According to Chrome's Manifest V2 deprecation timeline, on July 24, 2025 all users on all channels of Chrome 138 had Manifest V2 extensions disabled and could no longer turn them back on.
Chrome's docs add that the ExtensionManifestV2Availability enterprise policy, which let managed organizations keep MV2 running, is removed with Chrome 139. After that release, the classic uBlock Origin stops loading for anyone who updates. Chromium-based browsers like Microsoft Edge and Opera track the same upstream changes, so the same deadline reaches them.
What is uBlock Origin Lite?
uBlock Origin Lite (uBOL) is the Manifest V3 build of uBlock Origin made by the same developer. It is the official path for Chrome users who want to stay on a Google-sanctioned extension. Per the project's uBOL FAQ, it was built to be "entirely declarative" so it needs no broad read/modify permissions and runs without a persistent background process.
That design has a tradeoff. The same FAQ states uBOL is declarative "at the cost of limitations beyond those intrinsic to MV3," and lists filtering capabilities that cannot be ported to Manifest V3 at all. So uBOL is lighter and more permission-friendly, but it does not match the filtering depth of the original extension.
Best uBlock Origin alternatives by browser
- Stay on Chrome with uBlock Origin Lite — the lowest-effort move. Install uBOL from the Chrome Web Store and accept the MV3 filtering limits.
- Switch to Firefox for the full uBlock Origin — Firefox keeps the blocking webRequest API, so the complete extension still runs there with its full feature set.
- Use Brave for zero-setup blocking — Brave blocks ads and trackers through its built-in Shields, so you do not depend on any extension surviving a platform change.
AdGuard is another name people reach for in this category; check its current Chrome support before relying on it, since any Chrome extension is bound by the same Manifest V3 rules.
uBlock Origin vs uBlock Origin Lite: what you lose
The decision usually comes down to staying on Chrome with a lighter blocker versus moving to Firefox to keep the full one. The original uBlock Origin on Firefox supports dynamic filtering, response-body filtering through filterResponseData(), and CNAME uncloaking — capabilities the project's Firefox wiki page documents and notes are not all reliably available in Chromium.
uBlock Origin Lite drops to a declarative ruleset. For most everyday browsing the difference is small, but power users who write custom dynamic rules or rely on advanced cosmetic and scriptlet filtering will notice the gap.
Who should switch browsers, and who should stay?
- Stay on Chrome + uBOL if you need Chrome for work, sync, or specific extensions and you only want mainstream ad and tracker blocking.
- Move to Firefox + full uBO if blocking quality is your priority and you use advanced filtering or custom rules.
- Pick Brave if you want blocking handled by the browser itself with nothing to install or maintain.
There is no setting that restores Manifest V2 in current Chrome, so doing nothing means the original uBlock Origin simply stops working after you update.
At a glance
| uBlock Origin on Firefox | uBlock Origin Lite on Chrome | Brave (built-in) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extension model | Manifest V2, blocking webRequest | Manifest V3, fully declarative | Built into the browser (Shields) |
| Filtering depth | Full: dynamic filtering, response-body filtering, CNAME uncloaking | Limited — some capabilities can't be ported to MV3 | Built-in lists, no custom extension engine |
| Runs on Chrome 139+? | No (MV2 removed) | Yes | Separate browser |
| Cost | Free, open source | Free, open source | Free browser |
| Best for | Users who want maximum blocking control | Chrome users who want a maintained blocker | Users who want blocking with zero setup |
FAQ
Is uBlock Origin still available on Chrome?
The original uBlock Origin no longer runs on current Chrome. Chrome disabled all Manifest V2 extensions on Chrome 138 in July 2025, and the enterprise opt-out is removed with Chrome 139. Chrome users should install uBlock Origin Lite instead.
Is uBlock Origin Lite as good as uBlock Origin?
Not quite. uBlock Origin Lite is fully declarative for Manifest V3, which the project says brings limitations beyond MV3 itself, and some filtering capabilities cannot be ported to MV3. For everyday blocking it works well, but advanced filtering is reduced.
Does uBlock Origin work on Firefox?
Yes. Firefox keeps the blocking webRequest API, so the full uBlock Origin runs there with dynamic filtering, response-body filtering, and CNAME uncloaking intact. Switching to Firefox is the way to keep the complete extension.