Softwr

Browser Extensions · head to head

SimilarWeb vs uBlock Origin

S

SimilarWeb

Browser Extensions

Website traffic and competitive analysis

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: SimilarWeb browser extension data accuracy is lower than full platform; 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: SimilarWeb covers Traffic analytics, uBlock Origin covers Ad blocking.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where SimilarWeb and uBlock Origin differ
AttributeSimilarWebuBlock Origin
Pricing modelfreemiumfree
PlatformsWeb, Browser ExtensionChrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera
Founded20072014

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 SimilarWeb

  • Traffic analytics
  • Audience insights
  • Competitor research
  • Industry analysis

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.

SimilarWeb

No use cases recorded yet. See the SimilarWeb review.

uBlock Origin

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

Where each one falls short

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

SimilarWeb

  • Browser extension data accuracy is lower than full platform
  • Full platform pricing is not transparent and requires quote-based inquiry

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

SimilarWeb

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Traffic overview
    • Engagement metrics
    • Similar sites

uBlock Origin

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

Which should you pick?

Choose SimilarWeb if

  • You need traffic analytics.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Browser Extension.
  • You also want audience insights.
SimilarWeb 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 SimilarWeb or uBlock Origin better?
Neither clearly leads. SimilarWeb 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, SimilarWeb or uBlock Origin?
SimilarWeb starts at Free and uBlock Origin at Free.
Does SimilarWeb or uBlock Origin run on more platforms?
SimilarWeb runs on Web, Browser Extension. uBlock Origin runs on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera.
Can I use SimilarWeb for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What can SimilarWeb do that uBlock Origin cannot?
SimilarWeb covers Traffic analytics, Audience insights, Competitor research, Industry analysis. 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

SimilarWeb: Is the SimilarWeb browser extension free?

Yes. The SimilarWeb browser extension is completely free to install and use with no paid tiers and no credit card required.

Source
SimilarWeb: How many websites does SimilarWeb cover?

SimilarWeb provides access to intelligence from 1B+ websites and 8M apps, tracks 5B search terms and 250M display ads across 190 countries and 210 industries.

Source
SimilarWeb: How accurate is SimilarWeb extension data?

Browser extension data accuracy is lower than the full platform, but it is adequate for ballpark figures of traffic estimates.

Source
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Related pages

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