uBlock Origin alternative
The Best uBlock Origin Alternative for Chrome (2026)
uBlock Origin's full version no longer works under Chrome's Manifest V3. NovaBlock is a free, MV3-native ad blocker that still blocks ads, trackers and YouTube ads — with cookie-banner removal built in.
All core protection is free, forever. No account, no config.
What changed: MV3 and uBlock Origin Lite
Chrome's Manifest V3 (MV3) is the new extension platform. It removes the powerful webRequest blocking API that classic uBlock Origin relied on and replaces it with a declarative, static rule model. The result: the full uBlock Origin can't run its dynamic filtering, scriptlet injection or advanced per-request logic on Chrome anymore.
uBlock Origin Lite is the same author's MV3 successor. It's excellent — but intentionally minimal. It doesn't handle cookie banners on its own, has no dedicated YouTube module, and requires more manual filter management if you want coverage on par with the classic version.
NovaBlock was built for MV3 from day one. Instead of squeezing MV2-era workflows into a static rule budget, we designed the engine, YouTube module and cookie-banner logic around the platform Chrome now ships. The result is fewer surprises and more coverage out of the box.
NovaBlock vs uBlock Origin Lite
| Feature | NovaBlock | uBO Lite |
|---|---|---|
| Blocks ads, trackers, pop-ups | ||
| Cookie banner removal | Built-in module | Filter-list only |
| YouTube ad blocking | Dedicated module | Filter-list dependent |
| Dynamic filtering | N/A (MV3-native) | No (MV3 limits) |
| Scriptlet injection | N/A | No under MV3 |
| Zero-config out of the box | ||
| Free forever core | ||
| Manifest V3 native |
How to switch in 30 seconds
- Open
chrome://extensionsand remove uBlock Origin (or uBO Lite). - Click Add to Chrome.
- Reload any tab. Ads, trackers, pop-ups and cookie banners disappear automatically.
Prefer to compare more options? See our full compare hub, our NovaBlock vs uBlock Origin head-to-head, or read the details on our features page.
FAQ
Is uBlock Origin dead?+
Not entirely. It still works on Firefox. On Chrome, the classic MV2 uBlock Origin is being deprecated as Chrome phases out Manifest V2. The maintained MV3 successor is uBlock Origin Lite, which is intentionally more limited.
Why doesn't uBlock Origin work on Chrome anymore?+
Google's Manifest V3 removed the webRequest blocking API that classic uBO relied on. uBO can't do its dynamic filtering, scriptlet injection or advanced per-request logic under MV3.
Is uBlock Origin Lite the same as uBlock Origin?+
No. Same author, different capabilities. Lite is declarative-only — it can't do everything the full version did.
Is NovaBlock a fork of uBlock Origin?+
No. NovaBlock is an independent MV3 codebase. It uses the same style of EasyList-based filter lists that most blockers use.
How do I switch from uBlock Origin to NovaBlock?+
1) Remove uBlock Origin from chrome://extensions. 2) Install NovaBlock from the Chrome Web Store. 3) That's it — no account, no config, ads and trackers are blocked by default.
Is NovaBlock really free?+
Yes. All core protection — ads, trackers, cookie banners, YouTube — is free forever. Premium adds AI tracker protection, advanced anti-fingerprinting, sync across devices and priority support.
Get the uBO-Lite experience — with cookie banners and YouTube handled.
Free forever. MV3-native. One click.