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Browser Extensions · head to head

Rakuten vs uBlock Origin

Rakuten logo

Rakuten

Browser Extensions

Get cash back on every purchase

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: Rakuten minimum withdrawal amount of $5.01 creates friction for light users; 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: Rakuten covers Cash back rewards, uBlock Origin covers Ad blocking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Rakuten and uBlock Origin differ
AttributeRakutenuBlock Origin
PlatformsBrowser Extension (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera
Founded19992014

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (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 Rakuten

  • Cash back rewards
  • Coupon codes
  • In-store offers
  • Price comparisons
  • Safari support

Only in uBlock Origin

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

Both cover

  • Chrome support
  • Firefox support
  • Edge support

What people use each for

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

Rakuten

  • Cash back on online purchases from partner retailersnot uBlock Origin
  • Cash back on in-store purchases using linked cardsnot uBlock Origin

uBlock Origin

  • Ad and tracker blocking in web browsersnot Rakuten
  • Privacy protection while browsing the webnot Rakuten
  • Reducing bandwidth usage by blocking adsnot Rakuten
  • Users seeking open-source browser extensionsnot Rakuten

Where each one falls short

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

Rakuten

  • Minimum withdrawal amount of $5.01 creates friction for light users
  • Quarterly payout schedule only, with months-long delays between earning and receiving payments
  • Amazon cashback limited to specific categories at 1-3% rates
  • Must click through Rakuten link first or cashback does not register

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

Rakuten

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Rakuten review.

uBlock Origin

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Rakuten if

  • You need cash back rewards.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Browser Extension (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge).
  • You also want coupon codes.
Rakuten 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 Rakuten or uBlock Origin better?
Neither clearly leads. Rakuten 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, Rakuten or uBlock Origin?
Rakuten starts at Free and uBlock Origin at Free.
Does Rakuten or uBlock Origin run on more platforms?
Rakuten runs on Browser Extension (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge). uBlock Origin runs on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera.
Can I use Rakuten for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Rakuten best used for?
Rakuten is most often used for cash back on online purchases from partner retailers, cash back on in-store purchases using linked cards. Of those, cash back on online purchases from partner retailers and cash back on in-store purchases using linked cards are not what uBlock Origin is typically brought in for.
What can Rakuten do that uBlock Origin cannot?
Rakuten covers Cash back rewards, Coupon codes, In-store offers, Price comparisons. uBlock Origin covers Ad blocking, Tracker blocking, Malware domain blocking, Custom filter lists. Both handle Chrome support, Firefox support, Edge support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Rakuten: Does Rakuten charge membership fees?

No. Rakuten is completely free to join and use. There are no membership fees, setup fees, or any charges to members. Rakuten's revenue comes from merchant commissions, not user fees.

Source
uBlock Origin: How much does uBlock Origin cost?

uBlock Origin is completely free and open-source software with no licensing fees, subscriptions, or commercial restrictions.

Source
Rakuten: Is there a cost to use the Rakuten browser extension or mobile app?

No, both the browser extension and mobile app are free to download and use at no cost.

Source
uBlock Origin: Is uBlock Origin open source?

Yes, uBlock Origin is distributed under the GPL-3.0 License with source code publicly available on GitHub. The project encourages community review and contribution.

Source
Rakuten: How does Rakuten make money if it's free?

Brands partner with Rakuten and pay commissions to bring them customers. Rakuten shares a portion of these commissions with members as cash back rewards.

Source
uBlock Origin: Does uBlock Origin accept donations?

No, uBlock Origin explicitly does not accept donations. The project instead encourages users to support the developers maintaining the filter lists that power the extension.

Source
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