# uBlock

32 Hacker News commenters recommended uBlock and 4 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 12 of 13 months. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** Free ad blocker that people say blocks ads, cookie banners and page clutter; its main caveat is that some sites, including YouTube on Firefox, break while it is enabled.

## Why people recommend it

- Blocks ads and cookie banners (4 comments): "Firefox with uBlock which blocks the cookie banners" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47234180)) "uBlock which blocks the cookie banners" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47234329)) "I use uBlock to block the ads" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45879928))
- Works well in Firefox and on mobile (4 comments): "X is far better with Firefox+uBlock on mobile." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46029581)) "Firefox + uBlock is pretty much standard now." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46187082)) "Enjoying Orion with uBlock on the iPhone" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46555071))
- Pairs well with other privacy tools (3 comments): "If you install a ton of privacy extensions like Privacy Badger, uBlock" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45880452)) "these days i prefer the mix uBlock Stripped + 3P-Matrix-lite" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49310622)) "firefox, ublock and canvasblocker seems to be enough for me" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50050529))
- Removes recommendations and Shorts clutter (3 comments): "uBlock rules for recommendation elements is a good adjunct for things like YouTube" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45794114)) "uBlock is so handy at removing shorts, already-watched recommendations, etc." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48308333)) "I recommend to block the Linkedin feed with uBlock." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47566102))

## What people warn about

- Some ads still get through (2 comments): "despite having uBlock installed" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48556768)) "it looks like with the latest Chrome it does not block" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48587953))
- Breaks some sites and videos (2 comments): "I haven't been able to watch youtube videos on Firefox without disabling uBlock." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45906745)) "every request returns an error and they enter a constant request loop" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47624799))
- Past ad blocker sellouts concern users (2 comments): "Most adblocker developers throughout history have routinely taken millions of dollars to weaken their adblockers" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46300985)) "a version that was sold to advertising companies many years ago" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48754487))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [uBlock Origin](https://hackerapproved.com/p/ublock-origin.md): 765 recommend
- [uBlock Origin Lite](https://hackerapproved.com/p/ublock-origin-lite.md): 148 recommend
- [AdGuard](https://hackerapproved.com/p/adguard.md): 78 recommend
- [Wipr 2](https://hackerapproved.com/p/wipr.md): 41 recommend
- [AdBlock](https://hackerapproved.com/p/adblock.md): 18 recommend

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "uBlock", https://hackerapproved.com/p/ublock/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).