Wipr vs. uBlock Origin 2024: The Battle of the Cost-Effective Solutions

Best for apple users

4.1

AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Editorial Rating

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On Wipr's website

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Ad Blocker

Wipr

• Lightweight ad blocker that doesn't weigh your device down
• One-time low cost of $1.99
• Compatible with other ad blockers for max protection
• Lacks standard ad blocker features like malicious link blocking and ad blocking statistics

Best free ad blocker

4.8

AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Editorial Rating

Learn More

On uBlock Origin's website

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Ad Blocker

uBlock Origin

• One of the best totally free ad blockers available
• Highly customizable, open-source ad blocker that's compatible with multiple browsers
• Can block advertising and analytics tools, including banner ads, video ads, and trackers, and can even bypass soft paywalls
• Better suited for advanced users because some features require technical knowledge

If you’re an avid Apple user, Wipr may be a great solution since it’s built specifically for macOS and iOS. It’s also a no-frills ad blocker, so there’s not much to fiddle with once you’ve installed it on your device.

uBlock Origin is also limited, but it’s limited to browser extensions, so you cannot install the ad blocker onto a device. However, uBlock Origin is extremely customizable, with plenty of filter lists you can use to block all types of content.

Let’s compare Wipr and uBlock Origin to see which ad blocker may be best for you.

Wipr vs. uBlock Origin

uBlock Origin and Wipr are effective ad blockers, but they differ when it comes to compatibility and customization.

Wipr is solely available for macOS and iOS devices and costs $1.99 one-time fee. It’s a low-key app with limited features, so you can set and forget it.

uBlock Origin is a completely free ad blocker, but it’s available only as a browser extension. There are no uBlock Origin apps for mobile or desktop at this time. Unlike Wipr, uBlock Origin provides extensive filter lists to block ads, maintain privacy online, protect against malware, and more.

Best for	Apple users	Free ad blocker
Price	$1.99 one-time fee	Free
Ads blocked on Forbes	9	18
Does it block YouTube ads?
Compatibility	Safari	Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera
Mobile compatibility	iOS, macOS
Learn more	Get Wipr Read Wipr Review	Get uBlock Origin Read uBlock Origin Review

Wipr pros and cons

uBlock Origin pros and cons

Wipr vs. uBlock Origin: prices

		Our Pick
Price range	$1.99 one-time fee	Free
Free version available
Money-back guarantee
Learn more	Get Wipr Read Wipr Review	Get uBlock Origin Read uBlock Origin Review

If you’re looking to save money on an ad blocker, uBlock Origin and Wipr are both good solutions. Wipr costs $1.99 one-time fee and you can purchase it from Apple’s App Store.

uBlock Origin is completely free, so you won’t have to worry about the cost.

Although Wipr doesn’t offer a trial or money-back guarantee, you can reach out to Apple support within 14 days for a refund.

Wipr vs uBlock Origin: features

Feature		Our Pick
Whitelisting
Blacklisting
Ads blocked counter
Bypasses paywalls
Blocks pop-up ads
Blocks tracking
Blocks video ads
Blocks banner ads
Blocks push ads
Learn more	Get Wipr Read Wipr Review	Get uBlock Origin Read uBlock Origin Review

uBlock Origin offers more ad blocking features than Wipr; however, to get the most out of it, uBlock Origin may require some research. If you open the settings, you can find lists filters you can check on or off. These include filters for: blocking multiple types of ads, protecting against tracking, blocking cookie notices, removing annoyances, and more.

You can also add trusted sites to whitelist websites or set specific rules. For further information, you can review uBlock Origin’s GitHub. Thus, uBlock Origin provides much more flexibility if you research how to customize it to your needs.

Wipr is a simpler solution, but it doesn’t offer as many opportunities to customize. You can still whitelist sites where you don’t want ads blocked, but you can’t blacklist websites. There’s also no ads blocked counter, so it’s hard to check how well it works.

Wipr vs uBlock Origin: test results

To better understand each ad blocker's effectiveness, we ran them through several tests: AdBlock Tester, Cover Your Tracks, and Can You Block It. We also test how well ad blockers can block ads on YouTube and bypass paywalls.

		Our Pick
AdBlock Tester score	100/100	100/100
Cover Your Tracks score	1/3	2/3
Can You Block It score	3/3	3/3
YouTube ads blocked
Paywalls bypassed
Learn more	Get Wipr Read Wipr Review	Get uBlock Origin Read uBlock Origin Review

uBlock Origin and Wipr both received AdBlock Tester scores, which evaluates ad blockers based on factors including contextual advertising, analytic tools, banner advertising, and error monitoring.

We also referenced Can You Block It for each ad blocker’s capabilities. It tests how effective ad blockers are at disabling ad blocker warnings, blocking banner ads, and stopping interstitial ads. Wipr and uBlock Origin both received perfect scores on this test as well.

The Cover Your Tracks test determines how effective your browser is at stopping tracking and fingerprinting.

uBlock Origin passed 2/3 Cover Your Tracks tests, proving it can block tracking ads and invisible trackers. However, our browser had a unique fingerprint, meaning that tracking sites could effectively piece together our user data to form a profile of us.

On the other hand, Wipr provided only partial protection against tracking ads and invisible trackers. If you’re more focused on privacy, then Wipr may not be the best blocker.

Wipr vs uBlock Origin: compatibility and customer support

		Our Pick
Windows
macOS
Android
iOS
Linux
Browser extensions	Yes — Safari	Yes — Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Edge
24/7 customer support
Customer support options	Email, online guides	Online guides, forums
Learn more	Get Wipr Read Wipr Review	Get uBlock Origin Read uBlock Origin Review

Wipr and uBlock Origin both have limitations with compatibility and support. Wipr is available only on macOS and iOS operating systems and in-browser on Safari.

uBlock Origin is available on more browsers, but it’s not available as an app you can download on your device. You can use it as a browser extension with Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera.

uBlock Origin offers several unique support options including a GitHub, the open-source code, and a Reddit user community. However, there’s no way to contact a person for support. Considering how technical uBlock Origin is, this could be a pain point if you’re not tech savvy.

Wipr has minimal support offerings like a support page, but you can reach out to the developer via email.

Wipr vs uBlock Origin FAQs

Wipr vs uBlock Origin: Which is better?

It’s a tough decision between Wipr and uBlock Origin because both platforms have unique limitations. If you’re looking for on-device ad blocking, Wipr is a good solution for Apple product users.

But overall, uBlock Origin provides a more robust solution with more flexibility when compared to Wipr. uBlock Origin is completely free and you can use it on most devices with its browser extension options.

4.8

AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Editorial Rating

Learn More

On uBlock Origin's website

Ad Blocker

uBlock Origin

• One of the best totally free ad blockers available
• Highly customizable, open-source ad blocker that's compatible with multiple browsers
• Can block advertising and analytics tools, including banner ads, video ads, and trackers, and can even bypass soft paywalls
• Better suited for advanced users because some features require technical knowledge

Wipr vs uBlock Origin alternatives

If you’re looking for an ad blocker that better suits your needs, then you should review the following recommended ad blockers:

Ad blocker
Best for	Best for blocking YouTube ads	Best overall	Best for parental controls
Price	Paid plan costs $1.59/mo (billed annually)	Starts at $3.99/mo (billed every two years)	Paid plans start at $2.49/mo
Blocks YouTube ads
Learn more	Get Total Adblock	Get NordVPN Threat Protection	Get AdGuard

Best Basic Adblocker — Including YouTube Video Ads

4.9

AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Editorial Rating

Learn More

On Total Adblock's website

Ad Blocker

Total Adblock

Special deal: Save 80% off

• Instantly blocks distracting ads on millions of websites, including YouTube video ads
• Blocks third-party trackers to protect your privacy and information
• Improves page load times and enables faster browsing

Author Details

Andrew Adams

About the Author

Andrew Strom Adams is a freelance writer focused on online privacy and digital security. He writes on various topics to help individuals protect themselves on the internet. Andrew has worked in legal marketing, technology, and startups. He has more than 12 years of experience in marketing and communications. He holds an M.B.A. from Westminster College and a B.A. in journalism from Oklahoma Baptist University. When he’s not writing, he’s playing with his two kids or watching reality TV.