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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 https://brave.com (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 https://www.mozilla.org/firefox (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 https://www.opera.com. 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 https://vivaldi.com. 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 https://librewolf.net. 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
-
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.
-
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 https://addons.mozilla.org → 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.
-
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.
-
Test that it’s unrestricted:
- Visit https://adblock-tester.com or https://adblockplus.org/en/features#test 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.
-
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) | https://brave.com / https://www.mozilla.org/firefox |
| 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 | https://librewolf.net |
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.
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