# uBlock Origin Lite vs Merle

The clearest difference is device support: uBlock Origin Lite at 3 against Merle's 1. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | uBlock Origin Lite | Merle |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (949 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ublock-origin-lite/id6745342698/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **949** | — |
| Positive reviews | 78.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 48 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.5 | **17.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Raymond Hill](https://appshunter.io/developer/1811849638) | [Mosa Data Engineering](https://appshunter.io/developer/1847837363) |

## What reviewers say

### uBlock Origin Lite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ublock-origin-lite/id6745342698)

This efficient content blocker utilizes declarative rulesets for reliable filtering without consuming significant system resources. It offers customizable filter lists and integrates seamlessly with browsers.

**Highlights:** Efficient content blocking, Declarative filtering, Customizable rulesets, Low resource consumption, Browser integration

**Features:** Safari Extension, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Lightweight and efficient
- 🔒 Open-source and transparent
- 👍 Effective ad blocking
- 👍 Seamless integration with Safari

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Compatibility issues with latest iOS version
- 🔧 Difficulty accessing settings in private mode

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to turn on extension on laptop Safari after installation
- Fails to load when enabling in Safari

**Requested features**

- Import third-party filter lists
- Improved dashboard and settings access


### Merle

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merle/id6762002283)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is uBlock Origin Lite free?

uBlock Origin Lite is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Merle free?

Merle is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do uBlock Origin Lite or Merle have ads?

Neither uBlock Origin Lite nor Merle shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, uBlock Origin Lite or Merle?

uBlock Origin Lite ships an update weekly, and Merle weekly. Most recently, uBlock Origin Lite was updated on October 15, 2026 and Merle on October 8, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*