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Browser Extensions · head to head

Honey vs uBlock Origin

Honey logo

Honey

Browser Extensions

Automatically find and apply coupon codes

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
uBlock Origin logo

uBlock Origin

Browser Extensions

Free, open-source ad content blocker

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Honey browser extension requires permission to access browsing and shopping data; uBlock Origin cNAME uncloaking of third-party trackers disguised as first-party is only available on Firefox, because the required DNS API does not exist in Chromium
  • They diverge on capability: Honey covers Automatic coupon codes, uBlock Origin covers Ad blocking.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Honey and uBlock Origin actually diverge.

Attributes where Honey and uBlock Origin differ
AttributeHoneyuBlock Origin
Pricing modelUnknownfree
PlatformsChrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, EdgeChrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera
Founded20122014

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

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 Honey

  • Automatic coupon codes
  • Price history
  • Honey Gold rewards
  • Price drop alerts
  • Safari support

Only in uBlock Origin

  • Ad blocking
  • Tracker blocking
  • Malware domain blocking
  • Custom filter lists

Both cover

  • Chrome support
  • Firefox support
  • Edge support
  • Opera support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Honey

No use cases recorded yet. See the Honey review.

uBlock Origin

  • Blocking advertisements and third-party trackers in the browsernot Honey
  • Running a default-deny policy on third-party scripts and resourcesnot Honey
  • Element picking and cosmetic filtering of unwanted page contentnot Honey

Where each one falls short

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

Honey

  • Browser extension requires permission to access browsing and shopping data
  • Limited to 30,000+ retailer sites; not all retailers supported

uBlock Origin

  • CNAME uncloaking of third-party trackers disguised as first-party is only available on Firefox, because the required DNS API does not exist in Chromium
  • HTML filtering of response bodies requires the webRequest.filterResponseData API, which is only available in Firefox
  • On Chromium-based browsers uBO is not reliably ready at browser launch, so tracker and advertisement payloads can reach already-open tabs before filtering starts
  • Pre-fetch blocking is not reliable on Chromium-based browsers because they give websites precedence over user settings
  • The Chromium build does not use the WebAssembly filtering code paths, because the extra manifest permission would create friction publishing to the Chrome Web Store
  • LZ4 storage compression is Firefox only, and on Chromium in incognito mode IndexedDB resets, so uBO launches with out-of-date filter lists

Pricing, plan by plan

Honey

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Honey review.

uBlock Origin

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Ad blocking
    • Tracker blocking
    • Custom filter lists

Which should you pick?

Choose Honey if

  • You need automatic coupon codes.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, Edge.
  • You also want price history.
Honey review

Choose uBlock Origin if

  • You need ad blocking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera.
  • You also want tracker blocking.
uBlock Origin review

Questions people ask

Is Honey or uBlock Origin better?
Neither clearly leads. Honey starts at Free and uBlock Origin at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Honey or uBlock Origin?
Honey starts at Free and uBlock Origin at Free.
Does Honey or uBlock Origin run on more platforms?
Honey runs on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, Edge. uBlock Origin runs on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera.
Can I use Honey for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What can Honey do that uBlock Origin cannot?
Honey covers Automatic coupon codes, Price history, Honey Gold rewards, Price drop alerts. uBlock Origin covers Ad blocking, Tracker blocking, Malware domain blocking, Custom filter lists. Both handle Chrome support, Firefox support, Edge support, Opera support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Honey: Is Honey free to use?

Yes, Honey's browser extension is completely free to use with no subscription fees. Users can earn rewards through purchases on participating sites and redeem points for gift cards.

Source
Honey: What browsers does Honey support?

Honey is available for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, and Edge browsers on desktop. iOS users can enable the extension for mobile Safari through the PayPal mobile app, but Android does not currently support the mobile extension.

Source
Honey: How does Honey search for coupon codes?

Honey automatically searches for and tests available coupon codes at checkout on 30,000+ popular sites. If a working code is found, Honey applies the one with the biggest savings to your cart.

Source
Honey: Can I track price drops with Honey?

Yes, Honey's Droplist feature allows you to add items and receive notifications about price drops, helping you find the best time to purchase.

Source
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