uBlock Origin Lite Beta for Safari iOS

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

uBlock Origin Lite iOS/Mac Beta: Functionality & Impressions

  • Many report that the TestFlight build “just works” on iOS and macOS and is fast, but some still see unblocked ads on certain sites.
  • A few wish the main settings were exposed more clearly in the app UI.
  • Some note it lacks advanced features like custom rules and cosmetic filtering that they rely on in other tools.
  • The constant Safari “puzzle piece” extension icon is seen as mildly annoying but is a general Safari behavior, not specific to uBOL.
  • Requirements (iOS 18, macOS 15, Apple Silicon) are mentioned as constraints.

Comparison with Other Ad Blockers (AdGuard, 1Blocker, Wipr, etc.)

  • AdGuard:
    • Praised for effectiveness, DNS offering, and support for third‑party lists.
    • Some users say it works better/more consistently than uBOL Lite today.
    • Origin in Russia / Cyprus registration leads some to cancel or avoid on political/trust grounds; others remain comfortable.
  • 1Blocker:
    • Long‑time users strongly satisfied, especially with “set and forget” reliability.
    • Price ($15/year) triggers a long debate:
      • One side calls it overpriced given volunteer-maintained lists and limited iOS capabilities.
      • Others argue price should follow perceived value, not dev cost; $1–1.25/month is seen as trivial for a good blocker.
  • Wipr / Wipr 2:
    • Widely recommended as a fast, “install and forget” paid blocker; some report slowdowns on older iPhones.
  • Hush:
    • Recommended by some, but others report cookie banners not blocked, breakage, and apparent lack of recent maintenance.

Browsers & Extension Ecosystem on iOS

  • Safari is seen as the main beneficiary because iOS alternatives are limited.
  • Firefox on iOS is criticized for lacking third‑party content filter support and being more brand showcase than real Firefox.
  • Orion is highlighted for supporting browser extensions (including uBlock), but multiple reports describe it as buggy and inconsistent, though some daily‑drive it happily.

Apple Platform & Sideloading Frustrations

  • Many hit the “beta is full” limit and joke about the hurdles to self‑build: Mac required, $100/year dev account, or EU “sideloading.”
  • Others point out free options using Apple’s free signing (weekly re‑provisioning) or third‑party tools, though these are still clunky.

DNS‑Level Blocking vs Extensions & Apple’s Network Settings

  • Some rely on DNS blockers (Mullvad DNS, NextDNS, AdGuard DNS) and see few ads, but:
    • DNS can’t reliably block YouTube ads and some in‑app ads.
    • Corporate VPNs, network policies, and national restrictions can make DNS/VPN approaches impractical.
  • Apple’s handling of DNS/DoH profiles is criticized as obscure, brittle, and hard to toggle for non‑experts; users resent needing extra apps just to manage DNS.

Trust, Open Source, and Willingness to Pay

  • uBlock’s open-source nature and long‑term maintainer integrity are emphasized as major trust advantages, especially vs products that might be paid to whitelist ads.
  • There’s a broader philosophical split:
    • Some see paying $5–15/year for a clean web as obvious value, comparable to trivial consumer purchases.
    • Others argue that when equivalent open‑source options exist, high recurring prices for “wrappers around free lists” feel exploitative.