Adblock Plus vs AdBlock
They are sister products from the same company. eyeo owns both, they share open-source code, and both work on Chrome's Manifest V3. Both have an Acceptable Ads setting that lets some ads through. It is on by default in both, so some ads still show until you switch it off. Neither wins on blocking. Pick Adblock Plus for the older name. Pick AdBlock if you want its extra data sharing documented as opt-in.
Adblock Plus vs AdBlock at a glance
| Feature | Adblock Plus | AdBlock |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | eyeo GmbH | eyeo (bought AdBlock, Inc. in April 2021) |
| Started | 2006, as a Firefox add-on | 2009, for Chrome |
| Code | Open source (GPL v3), in eyeo's public repository | Same repository, same licence |
| Manifest V3 | Yes. First MV3 build was version 4.0 (30 April 2024) | Yes. First MV3 build was version 6.0.0 (23 April 2024) |
| Acceptable Ads | On by default. Turn it off from the gear icon, General tab | A setting lets some non-intrusive ads through. Its help center says it is on by default. You can turn it off in the Filter lists tab |
| Extra data collection | See Adblock Plus's privacy policy | Opt-in and off by default, per its help center |
| Paid plan | Optional Adblock Plus Premium | Optional AdBlock Premium |
| Core product | Free | Free |
| Best for | The longer-established name | Clear opt-in wording on data |
Which is better, Adblock Plus or AdBlock?
Neither is clearly better. Both come from eyeo, are built on the same open-source code, and use the same kind of Chrome permissions. Pick Adblock Plus if you want the longer-established name. Pick AdBlock if you want its filter-list usage data to be opt-in. We did not test speed or blocking rate, so we make no claim on those.
Are Adblock Plus and AdBlock the same thing?
No, but they are close. eyeo, the company behind Adblock Plus, announced in April 2021 that it had bought AdBlock, Inc. The two teams combined, and the two products stayed separate. Both extensions are built in eyeo's one public code repository. They started apart: Adblock Plus in 2006 for Firefox, AdBlock in 2009 for Chrome.
Does AdBlock block every ad?
No. AdBlock has its own Acceptable Ads program, and its help center says the setting that allows some non-intrusive ads is on by default. Adblock Plus has the same setting, also on by default. To change it in AdBlock on Chrome or Edge, open the Filter lists tab and turn the option off.
Do Adblock Plus and AdBlock work with Manifest V3?
Yes, both. Adblock Plus shipped its first MV3 build in April 2024 (version 4.0). AdBlock shipped its own a week earlier (version 6.0.0). Both manifests ask for Chrome 127 or newer. Both also need access to all sites, because that is how an ad blocker works on every page you visit.
What does each one collect?
AdBlock's help center describes its anonymous filter-list usage data as opt-in and off by default. If you turn it on, it can include which rules fired and the domain names of sites you visit. For Adblock Plus, read its privacy policy before you install; our Adblock Plus safety check covers it. We don't rank one as safer than the other.
Good to know
Pick one ad blocker, not both. They share code and do the same job, so a second one adds permissions without adding much. If you'd rather not deal with an Acceptable Ads setting, look at uBlock Origin Lite, or read our uBlock Origin Lite vs AdGuard AdBlocker comparison. Limit of this page: we compare what each company publishes. We don't run speed or blocking tests, and the store version may be newer than the repository version.
FAQ
Is AdBlock owned by Adblock Plus?
Both are owned by eyeo. eyeo announced it bought AdBlock, Inc. in April 2021. The products stay separate.
Is Adblock Plus free?
The core blocker is free. A paid Premium plan is optional. We don't list prices because we can't verify them.
Can I use AdBlock and Adblock Plus together?
We don't recommend it. They do the same job from the same code. Pick one.
Read more
Both are third-party extensions, not built by Xplorekit. We link to the official Chrome Web Store listings. We don't show ratings or user counts because we can't verify them.