Softwr

Browser Extensions · head to head

uBlock Origin vs ColorZilla

uBlock Origin logo

uBlock Origin

Browser Extensions

Free, open-source ad content blocker

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ColorZilla logo

ColorZilla

Browser Extensions

Advanced color picker and eyedropper

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 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; ColorZilla the vendor's own homepage as captured by the Internet Archive on 2 January 2022 describes ColorZilla only as a free browser extension for Firefox and Chrome (eyedropper, color picker, gradient generator) with no paid tier, pricing page, or subscription mentioned anywhere on the site
  • They diverge on capability: uBlock Origin covers Ad blocking, ColorZilla covers Color picker.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where uBlock Origin and ColorZilla differ
AttributeuBlock OriginColorZilla
PlatformsChrome, Firefox, Edge, OperaChrome, Firefox, Edge
Founded20142007

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 uBlock Origin

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

Only in ColorZilla

  • Color picker
  • Eyedropper tool
  • Gradient generator
  • Palette analyzer

Both cover

  • Chrome support
  • Firefox support
  • Edge support

What people use each for

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

uBlock Origin

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

ColorZilla

No use cases recorded yet. See the ColorZilla review.

Where each one falls short

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

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

ColorZilla

  • The vendor's own homepage as captured by the Internet Archive on 2 January 2022 describes ColorZilla only as a free browser extension for Firefox and Chrome (eyedropper, color picker, gradient generator) with no paid tier, pricing page, or subscription mentioned anywhere on the site

Pricing, plan by plan

uBlock Origin

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

ColorZilla

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Color picker
    • Eyedropper
    • Gradient generator

Which should you pick?

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

Choose ColorZilla if

  • You need color picker.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Chrome, Firefox, Edge.
  • You also want eyedropper tool.
ColorZilla review

Questions people ask

Is uBlock Origin or ColorZilla better?
Neither clearly leads. uBlock Origin starts at Free and ColorZilla at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, uBlock Origin or ColorZilla?
uBlock Origin starts at Free and ColorZilla at Free.
Does uBlock Origin or ColorZilla run on more platforms?
uBlock Origin runs on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera. ColorZilla runs on Chrome, Firefox, Edge.
Can I use uBlock Origin for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is uBlock Origin best used for?
uBlock Origin is most often used for blocking advertisements and third-party trackers in the browser, running a default-deny policy on third-party scripts and resources, element picking and cosmetic filtering of unwanted page content. Of those, blocking advertisements and third-party trackers in the browser and running a default-deny policy on third-party scripts and resources are not what ColorZilla is typically brought in for.
What can uBlock Origin do that ColorZilla cannot?
uBlock Origin covers Ad blocking, Tracker blocking, Malware domain blocking, Custom filter lists. ColorZilla covers Color picker, Eyedropper tool, Gradient generator, Palette analyzer. Both handle Chrome support, Firefox support, Edge support.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on uBlock Origin

More on ColorZilla

Keep looking

Other head to heads