Is Brave an alternative to uBlock Origin?

Brave has built-in ad and tracker blocking. No extensions required.

Brave Shields screenshot

Advanced tracking protection built into your browser

Seeing a message that uBlock Origin is no longer available or supported in Chrome? Brave Shields block invasive tracking methods, including third-party ads, trackers, fingerprinting, and cross-site cookies—just like uBlock Origin did, but built directly into the browser.
Brave Shields menu

Comprehensive protection without extra add-ons

Brave Shields provide robust privacy and security features as part of the browser itself—no need to install third-party extensions. From the moment you start browsing, Brave actively blocks unwanted ads, trackers, and invasive scripts, ensuring a smoother, faster experience.
Brave Mobile Shields screenshot

Discover what Brave Shields is blocking

Brave Shields gives you a transparent view of what’s being blocked in real-time. Just click Brave Shields icon in the address bar to see a detailed list of blocked ads and trackers, scripts and fingerprinting attempts, cookies and more. On every webpage you visit.
Brave Mobile Shields screenshot

Take control of your online privacy

Brave Shields offer automatic protection, but you’re always in control. If a site isn’t working properly, you can easily adjust Shield settings for just that site with a simple toggle. No need to switch browsers or disable your whole adblocker.
Brave Mobile Shields screenshot

Comprehensive list of Brave’s built-in protections

With uBlock Origin no longer available in the Chrome Web Store, Brave Shields provide a seamless alternative. Here’s what Brave offers:

Block third-party ads & trackers

  • Automatic ad & tracker blocking on every site you visit.

  • Resource filtering: Brave blocks harmful scripts and tracking elements while maintaining website functionality.

  • Fingerprinting defenses: Prevents advertisers from tracking you through unique device or browser traits.

Block cross-site cookies

  • Prevents cross-site tracking by blocking third-party cookies automatically.

  • Ephemeral storage: Keeps necessary site data temporarily available but auto-deletes it when no longer needed.

Advanced fingerprinting protection

  • Randomizes tracking APIs to make fingerprinting ineffective.

  • Prevents browser language and font-based tracking, ensuring anonymity across sites.

Phishing and malware protection

  • Alerts you to suspicious sites that may attempt phishing, malware distribution, or other malicious activities.

FAQs

  • Brave Shields offer built-in ad and tracker blocking that rivals uBlock Origin, while also integrating additional privacy tools such as fingerprinting protection and cross-site cookie prevention—without needing any extensions.

  • Yes, Brave blocks third-party ads and trackers by default. In addition to advanced customizations, it provides two blocking modes—Standard and Aggressive—so you can adjust based on your needs.

  • Recent Chrome extension policy changes have restricted how ad blockers work, affecting privacy-focused extensions like uBlock Origin. Brave Shields, being built into the browser, are unaffected by these changes.

    If you’re seeing a message that says “This extension is no longer available because it doesn’t follow best practices for Chrome extensions.” or “This extension is no longer supported. Chrome recommends that you remove it.” or simply “This extension was turned off because it’s no longer supported.” you’re likely encountering Google’s policy change for extensions. Switching to Brave is an easy, effective way to continue getting great ad and tracker blocking, no extensions required. Brave will even continue to support some of the extensions affected by Google’s policy change.

    Learn more about extension error or warnings messages in Google Chrome.

    Learn more about Brave’s support for extensions that are no longer supported in Google Chrome.

  • Yes, you can easily turn Shields off for specific sites if needed, while keeping protections active for other sites.

  • Standard mode balances privacy and site compatibility, while Aggressive mode applies stricter rules for even stronger blocking. You can switch modes anytime from the Shields panel.