Softwr

Browser Extensions · head to head

uBlock Origin vs Wappalyzer

uBlock Origin logo

uBlock Origin

Browser Extensions

Free, open-source ad content blocker

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Wappalyzer logo

Wappalyzer

Browser Extensions

Identify web technologies

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; Wappalyzer cannot detect server-side or hidden technologies without client-side footprints
  • They diverge on capability: uBlock Origin covers Ad blocking, Wappalyzer covers Technology detection.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where uBlock Origin and Wappalyzer differ
AttributeuBlock OriginWappalyzer
Pricing modelfreeUnknown
PlatformsChrome, Firefox, Edge, OperaChrome, Firefox, Edge, Web
Founded20142009

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 uBlock Origin

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

Only in Wappalyzer

  • Technology detection
  • CMS identification
  • Framework analysis
  • Analytics tracking

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 Wappalyzer
  • Running a default-deny policy on third-party scripts and resourcesnot Wappalyzer
  • Element picking and cosmetic filtering of unwanted page contentnot Wappalyzer

Wappalyzer

No use cases recorded yet. See the Wappalyzer 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

Wappalyzer

  • Cannot detect server-side or hidden technologies without client-side footprints
  • Went closed-source in 2023; self-hosting now difficult without maintaining community forks
  • Data export features locked to Business plan ($450/month) minimum

Pricing, plan by plan

uBlock Origin

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

Wappalyzer

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Wappalyzer review.

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 Wappalyzer if

  • You need technology detection.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Web.
  • You also want cms identification.
Wappalyzer review

Questions people ask

Is uBlock Origin or Wappalyzer better?
Neither clearly leads. uBlock Origin starts at Free and Wappalyzer at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, uBlock Origin or Wappalyzer?
uBlock Origin starts at Free and Wappalyzer at Free.
Does uBlock Origin or Wappalyzer run on more platforms?
uBlock Origin runs on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera. Wappalyzer runs on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Web.
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 Wappalyzer is typically brought in for.
What can uBlock Origin do that Wappalyzer cannot?
uBlock Origin covers Ad blocking, Tracker blocking, Malware domain blocking, Custom filter lists. Wappalyzer covers Technology detection, CMS identification, Framework analysis, Analytics tracking. Both handle Chrome support, Firefox support, Edge support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Wappalyzer: Does Wappalyzer have a free version?

Yes. Wappalyzer's browser extension is completely free and provides unlimited technology lookups with no account required. The free tier includes basic website technology detection across all categories.

Source
Wappalyzer: What are the paid pricing tiers for Wappalyzer?

Wappalyzer's paid plans start at $250/month for Pro (5,000 lookups, 1 user), $450/month for Business (20,000 lookups, 5 users, API access), and $850+/month for Enterprise (200,000+ lookups, 25+ users). Annual billing offers 17% discount.

Source
Wappalyzer: Can Wappalyzer detect all website technologies?

Wappalyzer detects over 1,000 technologies but cannot detect server-side or hidden technologies, backend infrastructure, internal databases, or ERP systems with no client-side footprint.

Source
Wappalyzer: Can Wappalyzer be self-hosted?

Wappalyzer went closed-source in 2023 when the GitHub repository was taken down. It can be deployed via Docker or npm, but the community-contributed fingerprint database is now part of the commercial product. Open-source forks are available but not officially maintained.

Source
Wappalyzer: What integrations does Wappalyzer offer?

Wappalyzer integrates with CRM systems like Salesforce and HubSpot, and supports lead list exports and API access for business users on paid plans.

Source
Wappalyzer: When does Wappalyzer data export become available?

Data export and lead list generation features are only available on the Business plan ($450/month) and above, not on the Pro tier.

Source
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Related pages

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