The 5-10 extensions worth installing in 2026. We test for security, open-source preference, performance impact, cross-browser support.
Score: 9.7
uBlock Origin is the **ad-blocker we recommend to everyone using Firefox or Brave**. Free, open-source, no monetization, no tracking. Made by Raymond Hill solo, maintained for over a decade.
Score: 8.9
Dark Reader is the **universal dark mode extension** for readers who do extensive web work at night or with eye strain.
Score: 8.5
Privacy Badger is the **complementary tracker blocker** to uBlock Origin, from EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation), the leading digital rights non-profit.
| Purpose | Pick |
|---|---|
| Ad + tracker blocking | uBlock Origin |
| Behavioral tracker learning | Privacy Badger (EFF) |
| Dark mode universal | Dark Reader |
| Password manager | Bitwarden or 1Password |
Best browsers in 2026 for full extension power: Firefox + Brave (Manifest V2 preserved).
uBlock Origin: open-source, blocks everything by default, no monetization. AdBlock Plus: accepts payment from advertisers to whitelist 'acceptable ads'. uBlock Origin is strictly better. Migrate.
Yes, Google's Manifest V3 limits ad-blocker capabilities. Solutions: 1) Switch to Firefox (preserves V2 compatibility). 2) Use Brave (has ad-blocking built-in, plus extension support). 3) On Chrome, install uBlock Origin Lite (reduced power but functional).
Use BOTH. uBlock Origin uses static filter lists (proactive). Privacy Badger learns from your browsing patterns (reactive). Together they catch what one misses. Both free + open-source.
No major concerns. Dark Reader open-source, analyzed multiple times. Settings sync optional (requires account). Skip account, use locally. Adds CSS injection per site -- no network requests, no telemetry.
Bitwarden Watchtower (in Bitwarden extension): scans saved passwords for reuse, weak, breached. Have I Been Pwned extension: per-site breach lookup. Both free, both should be active.