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Software · head to head

AdBlock Plus vs WhatFont

AdBlock Plus logo

AdBlock Plus

Software

The world's most popular ad blocker

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
WhatFont logo

WhatFont

Software

Identify fonts on web pages

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: AdBlock Plus acceptable Ads allowlist model generates controversy over ad filtering conflicts of interest; WhatFont can only detect web-safe fonts and fonts loaded via web font services
  • They diverge on capability: AdBlock Plus covers Ad blocking, WhatFont covers Font detection.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which AdBlock Plus and WhatFont actually diverge.

Attributes where AdBlock Plus and WhatFont differ
AttributeAdBlock PlusWhatFont
Pricing modelfreeUnknown
PlatformsChrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Safari, Yandex BrowserChrome, Firefox, Arc
Founded20062011

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in AdBlock Plus

  • Ad blocking
  • Acceptable Ads
  • Custom filters
  • Social media blocking
  • Opera support

Only in WhatFont

  • Font detection
  • Typography info
  • Service detection
  • Hover inspection

Both cover

  • Chrome support
  • Firefox support
  • Edge support
  • Safari support

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

AdBlock Plus

  • Acceptable Ads allowlist model generates controversy over ad filtering conflicts of interest
  • Smaller feature set compared to open-source alternatives like uBlock Origin
  • Less customization and dynamic filtering compared to uBlock Origin
  • Mobile version less comprehensive than desktop extension
  • Chrome version increasingly limited due to Manifest V3 migration

WhatFont

  • Can only detect web-safe fonts and fonts loaded via web font services
  • Does not work on images with embedded text or rasterized typography
  • Limited to inspecting single text elements at a time

Pricing, plan by plan

AdBlock Plus

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Ad blocking
    • Acceptable Ads option
    • Custom filters

WhatFont

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Font inspection on any website
    • Font family identification
    • Font size and weight detection

Which should you pick?

Choose AdBlock Plus if

  • You need ad blocking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Safari, Yandex Browser.
  • You also want acceptable ads.
AdBlock Plus review

Choose WhatFont if

  • You need font detection.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Chrome, Firefox, Arc.
  • You also want typography info.
WhatFont review

Questions people ask

Is AdBlock Plus or WhatFont better?
Neither clearly leads. AdBlock Plus starts at Free and WhatFont at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, AdBlock Plus or WhatFont?
AdBlock Plus starts at Free and WhatFont at Free.
Does AdBlock Plus or WhatFont run on more platforms?
AdBlock Plus runs on Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Safari, Yandex Browser. WhatFont runs on Chrome, Firefox, Arc.
Can I use AdBlock Plus for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What can AdBlock Plus do that WhatFont cannot?
AdBlock Plus covers Ad blocking, Acceptable Ads, Custom filters, Social media blocking. WhatFont covers Font detection, Typography info, Service detection, Hover inspection. Both handle Chrome support, Firefox support, Edge support, Safari support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

AdBlock Plus: What does Adblock Plus block?

Adblock Plus blocks banner ads, pre-roll and mid-roll video ads on YouTube, pop-ups, sidebar ads, and most standard display formats. With Acceptable Ads disabled and EasyPrivacy enabled, it achieved a 100/100 score on AdBlock Tester in April 2026.

Source
WhatFont: How do I use WhatFont to inspect fonts?

Click the WhatFont icon in your browser toolbar to activate it, then hover over any text on a webpage to see the font name and details in a pop-up. Click the text to reveal additional information like font style, weight, color, and font samples.

Source
AdBlock Plus: What browsers does Adblock Plus support?

Adblock Plus is available for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Safari, and Yandex Browser.

Source
WhatFont: What browsers does WhatFont support?

WhatFont works on Google Chrome, Firefox, and Arc browser. It is available as a free extension in each browser's extension store.

Source
AdBlock Plus: Is there a premium version of Adblock Plus?

Yes. Adblock Plus Premium costs $40 annually or $4 per month and allows users to block cookie consent pop-ups, while the free version includes core ad blocking.

Source
WhatFont: Is WhatFont free?

Yes. WhatFont is a completely free browser extension with no paid tier or premium features. It is maintained as a free tool for designers and developers.

Source
AdBlock Plus: What is Acceptable Ads?

Acceptable Ads is an opt-in setting that allows advertising Adblock Plus deems unobtrusive to display on websites; it is disabled by default but can be toggled in Settings.

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Related pages

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