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Software · head to head

uBlock Origin vs WhatFont

uBlock Origin logo

uBlock Origin

Software

Free, open-source ad content blocker

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
WhatFont logo

WhatFont

Software

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.

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 (Unknown).

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

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

WhatFont

No use cases recorded yet. See the WhatFont 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

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 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 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

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
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
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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Related pages

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