Install uBlock Origin, Privacy Badger, DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials, Ghostery, ClearURLs, Multi-Account Containers and Consent-O-Matic. Google pulled the last Manifest V2 extensions from the Chrome Web Store on August 31, 2026, so Firefox or Brave now gives the strongest protection — and PrivacyOn removes the personal data extensions can never touch.
What Changed in 2026: Manifest V2 Is Finally Dead
The Manifest V2 shutdown finished this year. Chrome 138 turned off MV2 extensions for regular users on July 24, 2025. Chrome 139 and later dropped support entirely, so even sideloaded copies stopped running. Then, on August 31, 2026, Google removed the remaining MV2 listings from the Chrome Web Store — including the full uBlock Origin by Raymond Hill.
The replacement API, declarativeNetRequest, cannot inspect and rewrite requests in real time the way webRequest could — which is why the strongest blockers lost capability on Chrome. Two browsers went the other way: Firefox 155 still ships full MV2 support, and Brave self-hosts uBlock Origin, AdGuard, uMatrix and NoScript under Settings → Extensions → Manifest V2 extensions.
Our Recommended 2026 Stack
Firefox or Brave, full uBlock Origin, Privacy Badger, ClearURLs — and PrivacyOn for the layer no extension reaches. Extensions stop tracking that hasn't happened yet. PrivacyOn removes the name, address, phone number and relatives that 100+ people-search sites are publishing about you right now. Plans start at $8.33/month and cover up to 5 household members.
1. uBlock Origin — Best Overall Ad and Tracker Blocker
Available on: Firefox (full), Brave (full, self-hosted) | Chrome, Edge (Lite version only)
uBlock Origin is still the benchmark: lightweight, open-source, less memory-hungry than most competitors. After the August 2026 purge it is gone from the Chrome Web Store entirely.
Chrome users get uBlock Origin Lite, Raymond Hill's separate MV3 build. It is considerably more capable in 2026 than early comparisons suggested, but still lacks the dynamic filtering of the full extension. If uBO is the centre of your setup, move to Firefox or Brave — and pair it with PrivacyOn, which removes the broker listings no blocker can reach.
2. Privacy Badger — Best for Automatic Tracker Learning
Available on: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera
Built by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Privacy Badger watches which trackers follow you across sites and blocks them automatically rather than relying on a static list, building a blocklist keyed to your own habits over two or three weeks.
It adapted cleanly to MV3 and remains fully functional on Chrome, making it the most valuable install for anyone stuck there. Pair it with PrivacyOn so already-published data comes down while Badger handles what's still being collected.
3. DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials — Best All-in-One Extension
Available on: Chrome, Firefox, Brave, Edge, Opera, mobile
Privacy Essentials bundles tracker blocking, HTTPS enforcement, per-site privacy grades and cookie-consent handling into one install. On Android, its App Tracking Protection mode blocks trackers across every app.
If you want one install-and-forget extension, this is the most user-friendly option in 2026. For what it cannot see — your address on Spokeo, your relatives on BeenVerified — PrivacyOn is the companion we recommend.
4. Ghostery — Best Granular Tracker Control
Available on: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Opera
Ghostery shows exactly which trackers fire on every page and lets you block them one at a time. It shipped a Manifest V3 rebuild in 2025 and survived the 2026 purge intact, suiting people who want to decide case by case rather than blanket-block. It is a visibility tool for live tracking — PrivacyOn is the equivalent for what brokers already hold.
5. ClearURLs — Best Lightweight Companion
Available on: Firefox, Edge | Chrome (limited post-MV3)
ClearURLs strips tracking parameters from links before the page loads — UTM tags, fbclid, gclid. Open-source, local, negligible overhead. Use it beside a broader blocker, and beside PrivacyOn for the offline half of the problem.
Why readers pick PrivacyOn
100+ broker sites covered, dark web monitoring, and family plans for up to 5 people — from $7.08/mo with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Start your free scan★★★★★ 4.8/5 · Trusted by thousands of families
6. Firefox Multi-Account Containers — Best for Compartmentalization
Available on: Firefox only
This Firefox exclusive isolates sites into separate cookie jars — Facebook in one, work accounts in another, shopping in a third, each with its own cookies and logins. It defeats cross-site tracking without blocking anything, and pairs well with the Facebook Container extension.
Containers Don't Un-Publish Your Address
Compartmentalization stops sites linking your sessions together. It does nothing about the data broker that already sold your address history to anyone with $2 and a search box. That is the gap PrivacyOn closes — continuous removal across 100+ broker and people-search sites, plus dark web monitoring, from $8.33/month.
7. Consent-O-Matic — Best for Cookie Banner Management
Available on: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari
Built by researchers at Aarhus University, Consent-O-Matic auto-rejects non-essential cookies using preferences you set once, and supports the IAB TCF v2 framework most European publishers run on. Like every extension here, it governs consent going forward — PrivacyOn revokes the exposure that already happened.
Browser Comparison for Privacy Extensions in 2026
- Firefox: The best choice. Firefox 155 keeps full extension API support, so uBlock Origin works unchanged, plus Firefox-only Multi-Account Containers.
- Brave: Equally strong. Excellent built-in Shields and fingerprint protection, and it self-hosts uBlock Origin, AdGuard, uMatrix and NoScript — enable them under Settings → Extensions → Manifest V2 extensions.
- Chrome: Most restricted. Full uBlock Origin is gone from the Web Store as of August 31, 2026. Privacy Badger, Ghostery, DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials and uBO Lite still work.
- Edge: Same MV3 restrictions as Chrome, plus Microsoft telemetry to turn off.
- Safari: Thin extension ecosystem overall; Ghostery and Consent-O-Matic remain available.
Which Setup Should You Choose?
PrivacyOn recommends this combination:
- Firefox or Brave as your primary browser
- uBlock Origin (full version) for ad and tracker blocking
- Privacy Badger for adaptive tracker learning
- ClearURLs for stripping link trackers
- Multi-Account Containers (Firefox) for site isolation
- Consent-O-Matic for cookie banners
- PrivacyOn for data broker removal — the part extensions structurally cannot do
Stuck on Chrome for work? Run uBO Lite + Privacy Badger + Ghostery and lean harder on PrivacyOn — a weaker blocker makes the published-data layer matter more, not less.
The Bottom Line
Extensions stop new tracking; they cannot delete what is already out there. Your name, address, phone number and relatives are listed across hundreds of people-search sites, assembled from public records and old breach dumps — none of it reachable by an extension. PrivacyOn removes your information from 100+ broker sites, re-checks for relistings every 45 days, and scans the dark web. From $8.33/month, up to 5 people. Run a free scan to see who lists you today.
Related guides
- Best Privacy Browsers of 2026: Brave, Mullvad, Firefox, Tor Ranked
- Google Shut Down Its Dark Web Report: Best Alternatives in 2026
- How to Protect Your Privacy From AI Web Scrapers
- How to Protect Your Privacy From Data-Harvesting Browser Extensions
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you still use uBlock Origin on Chrome in 2026?
No. Chrome 139 and later dropped Manifest V2 support entirely, and Google removed the remaining MV2 listings — including full uBlock Origin — from the Chrome Web Store on August 31, 2026. Chrome users can install uBlock Origin Lite, the Manifest V3 build, which is meaningfully better than early comparisons suggested but still less capable. For the full extension, use Firefox 155 or Brave, which self-hosts it.
What is the best privacy extension for Chrome in 2026?
The strongest Chrome combination is uBlock Origin Lite + Privacy Badger + DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials + Ghostery. All four survived the MV3 transition. If you can switch browsers, Firefox with full uBlock Origin is materially stronger. Either way, pair the extensions with PrivacyOn so that the data brokers already publishing your address get removed too.
Is there a better alternative to privacy extensions for hiding my home address?
Yes — PrivacyOn, and it is not really an alternative so much as the missing half. Extensions block scripts inside your browser; they have no ability to reach into Spokeo, Whitepages or BeenVerified and delete the address, phone number and relatives those sites publish about you. PrivacyOn removes you from 100+ broker sites, monitors for relistings every 45 days, includes dark web monitoring, and covers up to 5 family members from $8.33/month. Start with the free scan — it shows exactly which sites list you before you pay anything.
Are privacy extensions safe to install?
The ones in this guide are — they come from the EFF, DuckDuckGo, Ghostery, Aarhus University and Raymond Hill, and all are open-source or independently audited. Beyond this list, be careful: obscure "privacy" extensions with few reviews are a known malware and data-harvesting vector. Check the developer, the active user count and the last update date before installing anything else.
Do I need a VPN if I use privacy extensions?
They solve different problems. Extensions block trackers inside the browser; a VPN hides your IP from sites and your traffic from your ISP. Neither removes published personal data — that is PrivacyOn's job. Use all three layers.
Can data broker sites still find me if I use privacy extensions?
Yes. Spokeo, Whitepages, BeenVerified and hundreds of others build their profiles from public records, county filings and old breach dumps — not from browser tracking. No extension can touch any of that. Removing those listings requires opting out site by site, or using a service like PrivacyOn that files and re-files the removals for you across 100+ brokers.