# Ad-blockers The web-browsers that still let you run ad‑blocking extensions (or have equally‑effective built‑in blockers) without the restrictions that Chrome and many Chromium‑based browsers impose are: | Browser | How ad‑blocking works | Why it’s “unrestricted” | How to get it | |---------|----------------------|------------------------|---------------| | **Brave** | Built‑in ad‑ and tracker‑blocking (Shields) + can also install Chrome‑store extensions (including uBlock Origin, AdGuard, etc.) | No “extension‑API throttling” – Brave runs extensions exactly as they were written. | Download from (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS). Turn on **Shields** for all sites or add extra extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | | **Mozilla Firefox** (desktop & Android) | Full‑featured WebExtension API; all major blockers (uBlock Origin, AdGuard, Ghostery, etc.) work exactly as on Chrome before the API cut‑off. | Mozilla has never limited the APIs that ad‑blockers need, so they can filter network requests, block scripts, and modify page content without limitation. | Download from (or the Play Store for Android). Install extensions from the official **Firefox Add‑ons** site. | | **Opera (stable)** | Comes with a native ad‑blocker that can be toggled on/off; also supports Chrome‑store extensions via the “Install Chrome Extensions” add‑on. | The native blocker is unrestricted, and the Chrome‑extension bridge works because Opera still exposes the full WebExtension API. | Get it from . Enable **Block ads** in Settings → Privacy & security → Block ads & trackers, or add uBlock Origin via the Chrome‑extension bridge. | | **Vivaldi** | Supports Chrome‑store extensions (including ad‑blockers) and has its own **Vivaldi Ad‑Block** feature. | Vivaldi has not adopted Chrome’s recent “manifest‑v3‑only” policy, so classic extensions like uBlock Origin still work fully. | Download from . Turn on **Vivaldi Ad‑Block** in Settings → Privacy → Block Ads, or install extensions from the Chrome Web Store. | | **Kiwi Browser (Android)** | Chromium‑based but **does not enforce** the Manifest‑V3 restrictions; you can install any Chrome‑store extension, including uBlock Origin. | Because Kiwi runs an older Chromium version and keeps the legacy extension API, ad‑blockers work exactly as they did before Chrome’s cut‑back. | Install from the Google Play Store. Open the Chrome Web Store, add uBlock Origin (or any other blocker). | | **LibreWolf** (Firefox fork) | Same as Firefox, but with privacy‑hardening defaults and built‑in ad‑blocking lists. | No API restrictions; the fork even ships with uBlock Origin pre‑installed on many builds. | Download from . No extra steps needed – ad‑blocking is on by default. | --- ## Why Chrome‑based browsers are now “restricted” - **Manifest V3** (introduced in Chrome 88, enforced in Chrome 111) removes the ability for extensions to use the powerful **webRequest blocking** API. - Extensions are forced to use **declarativeNetRequest**, which limits the number of filter rules (≈30 k) and prevents dynamic rule creation. - As a result, popular blockers like **uBlock Origin** can no longer block as many resources, leading to the “ad‑blockers don’t work as well as they used to” perception. The browsers listed above either **don’t use Manifest V3** (Firefox, Brave, Vivaldi, Opera, Kiwi) or provide **their own native blocking** that isn’t subject to Chrome’s policy. --- ## Actionable steps to get an unrestricted ad‑blocking experience 1. **Pick a browser** from the table that matches your platform (desktop vs. mobile) and privacy preferences. - *Best all‑round choice*: **Brave** (built‑in shields + extension support). - *If you already love Firefox*: stick with it and add uBlock Origin. 2. **Install a high‑quality blocker** (if you want more control than the native blocker): - **uBlock Origin** – free, lightweight, >10 million users. - **AdGuard** – free version works well; premium adds extra filters. - **Ghostery** – focuses on trackers as well as ads. *How to install*: - **Desktop Firefox** → go to → search “uBlock Origin” → click **Add to Firefox**. - **Brave/Opera/Vivaldi** → open the Chrome Web Store (or the browser’s own store) → search for the extension → click **Add to …**. - **Kiwi (Android)** → open the Chrome Web Store inside Kiwi → add the extension. 3. **Configure the blocker** (optional but recommended): - Enable **“EasyList”** and **“EasyPrivacy”** filter lists (default in uBlock Origin). - Add **regional lists** (e.g., “Fanboy’s Annoyance List”) if you see ads slipping through. - Turn on **“Block element hiding”** or **“Cosmetic filtering”** for stubborn page‑specific ads. 4. **Test that it’s unrestricted**: - Visit or while your blocker is active. - The page should report **“All ads blocked”**. If you see many “blocked” warnings, double‑check that the extension is enabled and not in “read‑only” mode. 5. **Keep the blocker updated**: - Most extensions auto‑update, but you can manually check for updates in the extension’s options page. - Periodically refresh filter lists (uBlock Origin does this automatically once a day). --- ## Quick “cheat‑sheet” for each platform | Platform | Recommended Browser | Extension (if needed) | Install Link | |----------|--------------------|-----------------------|--------------| | Windows / macOS / Linux (desktop) | **Brave** or **Firefox** | uBlock Origin (or AdGuard) | / | | Android (phone/tablet) | **Brave** (built‑in) **or** **Kiwi** (Chrome‑store extensions) | uBlock Origin (via Chrome Web Store) | Play Store – Brave / Kiwi | | iOS (iPhone/iPad) | **Brave** (built‑in) **or** **Firefox** (supports content‑blocking extensions) | uBlock Origin (via App Store) | App Store – Brave / Firefox | | Linux (lightweight) | **LibreWolf** (Firefox fork) | uBlock Origin pre‑installed on many builds | | --- ### Bottom line - **Brave, Firefox (and its privacy‑focused forks), Opera, Vivaldi, Kiwi, and LibreWolf** all let you run ad‑blocking extensions without the limitations imposed by Chrome’s Manifest V3 policy. - Choose the one that fits your device and workflow, install a reputable blocker (uBlock Origin is the gold standard), and you’ll regain the “complete, unrestricted” ad‑blocking experience you used to have.