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Browser Extensions · head to head

uBlock Origin vs WhatFont

uBlock Origin logo

uBlock Origin

Browser Extensions

Free, open-source ad content blocker

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
WhatFont logo

WhatFont

Browser Extensions

Identify fonts on web pages

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; WhatFont can only detect web-safe fonts and fonts loaded via web font services
  • They diverge on capability: uBlock Origin covers Ad blocking, WhatFont covers Font detection.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where uBlock Origin and WhatFont differ
AttributeuBlock OriginWhatFont
Pricing modelfreeUnknown
PlatformsChrome, Firefox, Edge, OperaChrome, Firefox, Arc
Founded20142011

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 WhatFont

  • Font detection
  • Typography info
  • Service detection
  • Hover inspection
  • Safari 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.

uBlock Origin

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

WhatFont

  • Identifying typefaces used on competitor websites for design researchnot uBlock Origin
  • Sourcing font inspiration from high-performing landing pagesnot uBlock Origin
  • Discovering web font services like Google Fonts or Typekit on sitesnot uBlock Origin

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

WhatFont

  • Can only detect web-safe fonts and fonts loaded via web font services
  • Does not work on images with embedded text or rasterized typography
  • Limited to inspecting single text elements at a time

Pricing, plan by plan

uBlock Origin

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

WhatFont

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Font inspection on any website
    • Font family identification
    • Font size and weight detection

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 WhatFont if

  • You need font detection.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Chrome, Firefox, Arc.
  • You also want typography info.
WhatFont review

Questions people ask

Is uBlock Origin or WhatFont better?
Neither clearly leads. uBlock Origin starts at Free and WhatFont at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, uBlock Origin or WhatFont?
uBlock Origin starts at Free and WhatFont at Free.
Does uBlock Origin or WhatFont run on more platforms?
uBlock Origin runs on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera. WhatFont runs on Chrome, Firefox, Arc.
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 ad and tracker blocking in web browsers, privacy protection while browsing the web, reducing bandwidth usage by blocking ads, users seeking open-source browser extensions. Of those, ad and tracker blocking in web browsers and privacy protection while browsing the web are not what WhatFont is typically brought in for.
What can uBlock Origin do that WhatFont cannot?
uBlock Origin covers Ad blocking, Tracker blocking, Malware domain blocking, Custom filter lists. WhatFont covers Font detection, Typography info, Service detection, Hover inspection. Both handle Chrome support, Firefox support, Edge support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
WhatFont: How do I use WhatFont to inspect fonts?

Click the WhatFont icon in your browser toolbar to activate it, then hover over any text on a webpage to see the font name and details in a pop-up. Click the text to reveal additional information like font style, weight, color, and font samples.

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
WhatFont: What browsers does WhatFont support?

WhatFont works on Google Chrome, Firefox, and Arc browser. It is available as a free extension in each browser's extension store.

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
WhatFont: Is WhatFont free?

Yes. WhatFont is a completely free browser extension with no paid tier or premium features. It is maintained as a free tool for designers and developers.

Source
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