Brave ships with its own ad and tracker blocker, so the obvious question is: why would you install uBlock Origin on top of it? For most people, you don’t have to. But there’s a specific group of power users who still benefit. Here’s the honest answer for 2026 — plus how to install uBO on Brave if you decide you want it.
Short answer: most Brave users don’t need uBlock Origin
Brave’s built-in Shields blocks ads and trackers natively using Brave’s open-source Rust engine. Crucially, that engine parses the same EasyList and EasyPrivacy filter syntax that uBlock Origin uses — so out of the box, Brave is already doing most of what uBO does, without an extension.
For everyday browsing, Shields alone is enough. Adding uBlock Origin on top is redundant for the average user and can occasionally cause two blockers to fight over the same page.
When uBlock Origin still adds something on Brave
uBlock Origin is worth installing on Brave if you’re a power user who wants tools Shields doesn’t fully replicate:
- The element zapper and element picker — click to remove any on-page element on the fly, and create your own cosmetic/network filters from it.
- The network request logger — inspect in real time exactly what’s being requested and blocked on a page, which is invaluable for troubleshooting.
- Per-site dynamic filtering — uBO’s advanced matrix lets you allow/block specific domains and request types per site, far more granular than Shields’ toggles.
- Your own custom filter lists — if you maintain or subscribe to niche lists, uBO gives you fuller control over them.
If none of those sound like you, stick with Shields.
How to install uBlock Origin on Brave
A key 2026 detail: uBlock Origin is a Manifest V2 extension, and Chromium has been phasing those out. Brave, however, continues to host a small set of MV2 extensions on its own backend specifically so they keep working. As of June 2026 that list includes uBlock Origin, AdGuard, NoScript, and uMatrix.
To install it:
- Open Brave and go to Settings → Extensions → Manifest V2 extensions.
- Enable/download uBlock Origin from there (Brave serves it through its own backend so it keeps functioning despite the broader MV2 deprecation).
- Pin the uBO icon to your toolbar so you can reach the dashboard and picker quickly.
You can also install uBO from the Chrome Web Store on Brave, but using Brave’s own MV2 path is the more future-proof route.
Should you run Shields and uBlock Origin at the same time?
You can, but be deliberate about it. Running both fully overlapping is usually unnecessary and can cause:
- Double-blocking quirks — pages that break in ways that are hard to diagnose because two blockers are acting at once.
- Confusing troubleshooting — when something is blocked, you won’t know which tool did it.
Two sensible approaches:
- Keep Shields as your main blocker and treat uBO as a power-user toolkit (zapper, logger) you reach for occasionally.
- Or lean on uBO for sites where you want its dynamic filtering, and relax Shields’ ad blocking on those specific sites to avoid conflicts.
Pick one as the primary engine rather than letting both go full force everywhere.
The bottom line
For the vast majority of Brave users, Brave Shields is all you need — it uses the same filter lists as uBlock Origin and requires zero setup. Install uBlock Origin only if you want its advanced tools: the element zapper, network logger, dynamic filtering matrix, and custom lists. And if you do, get it through Brave’s Manifest V2 extensions page so it keeps working.
Frequently asked questions
Is uBlock Origin better than Brave Shields?
Not for everyday blocking — they use the same EasyList/EasyPrivacy filters. uBO wins on advanced, hands-on control; Shields wins on simplicity and zero setup.
Does uBlock Origin still work on Brave in 2026?
Yes. Brave hosts uBO (and a few other MV2 extensions) on its own backend so it keeps functioning despite Chromium’s MV2 phase-out.
Will running both slow Brave down?
The performance hit is minor, but redundant blocking can cause page-breakage that’s annoying to debug. Designate one as your primary blocker.
Trying to kill Twitch’s stubborn in-stream ads? That’s a special case — see our guide to blocking Twitch ads with uBlock Origin.
Extension availability and Brave’s Manifest V2 support are accurate as of June 2026 and may change.
