uBlock Origin Lite vs Couchside
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
uBlock Origin Lite
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.
- Efficient content blocking
- Declarative filtering
- Customizable rulesets
- Low resource consumption
- Browser integration
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uBO Lite (uBOL) is a reliable and efficient content blocker. The default ruleset corresponds to uBlock Origin's default filterset: - uBlock Origin's built-in filter lists - EasyList - EasyPrivacy - Peter Lowe’s Ad and tracking server list You can enable more rulesets by visiting the options page -- click the _Cogs_ icon in the popup panel. uBOL is entirely declarative, meaning there is no need for a permanent uBOL process for the filtering to occur, and CSS/JS injection-based content filtering is performed reliably by the browser itself rather than by the extension. This means that uBOL itself does not consume CPU/memory resources while content blocking is ongoing -- uBOL's service worker process is required _only_ when you interact with the popup panel or the option pages.
Couchside
Transform your iPhone into a remote console, game launcher, and controller for your Linux gaming PC. Monitor system health, fix issues without a keyboard, and launch games directly from your couch.
- Live system monitoring dashboard
- One-tap runbook actions for troubleshooting
- Browse system logs remotely
- Launch Steam games and custom applications
- Virtual Xbox 360 game controller
- Trackpad and swipe control modes
- Easy QR code pairing
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Couchside turns your iPhone into a dashboard, remote, game launcher and controller for your living-room Linux gaming PC: SteamOS, Bazzite, a docked Steam Deck, or another supported systemd Linux box. WHAT TO PLAY NEXT Find your next game with suggestions from your box’s game history. See what is running, choose another suggestion, and launch after confirming. The Play tab keeps recent content ready as you move between tabs. Optional demo mode lets you explore sample games away from your box. YOUR STEAM COMPANION Connect Steam on your box for profile and library stats, playtime trends, achievement progress, wishlist discounts and price-drop alerts. Add an optional IsThereAnyDeal integration for historical-low price comparisons. These opt-in features contact Steam and IsThereAnyDeal. Background wishlist notifications are best-effort and need your phone to reach the box. LIVE CONSOLE Check CPU temperature, load, memory, storage, uptime and service health. Supported handhelds also show battery and power information. See what is playing and manage multiple boxes from unified cards with live vitals and connection controls. When the TV is black, inspect the box from your phone. FIX IT FROM THE COUCH Read recent service logs, restart the display session, switch between Desktop and Game Mode, or reboot and shut down with confirmation. Available actions depend on your box’s capabilities and permissions. GAMES, STREAMING AND CONTROLS Browse installed games with cover art, search and filters. Launch a game on the TV or start Steam Remote Play from another PC. Use a virtual gamepad, swipe navigation, trackpad with two-finger gestures, or keyboard input. Landscape controls give you more room when you need it. TV AND LIGHTING Control power, volume and input on supported TVs, including compatible LG and Google TV models. Compatible HDMI-CEC hardware lets the box control the TV. On supported lighting hardware, adjust strip effects, reactive meters and artwork-inspired Game Aura presets. Create custom sequences with frame-by-frame timing and true on/off strobe effects. EASY PAIRING A welcome guide introduces Couchside and optional integrations. Install the free Couchside service on your box, then scan its QR code or enter its pairing PIN. Refined animations can be turned off in Preferences and respect Reduce Motion. Your phone and box must be on the same local network. WAKE FROM THE COUCH Wake supported Ethernet-connected boxes with progress and reconnection confirmation. On iPhone, waking may require another awake Couchside box on the same network to relay the request. Hardware, firmware and network settings must support Wake-on-LAN. PRIVATE LOCAL CONTROL Remote-control traffic stays on your local network, with no cloud relay or Couchside account. Pairing supports an encrypted, pinned connection. Optional online features, store purchases and update checks contact their respective services. No analytics. The Linux service is open source and the app is source-available. TRY FREE FOR 7 DAYS, PAY ONCE Download free and try the full app for 7 days. A one-time purchase unlocks continued use; there is no subscription. Existing unlocks carry forward. REQUIREMENTS • A supported Linux gaming box on your home network • The free Couchside service installed on that box • Your iPhone and box on the same LAN • Optional integrations and hardware for Steam account features, TV control and lighting
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: uBlock Origin Lite at none against Couchside's 1. uBlock Origin Lite also leads on ratings volume (937 vs 8). Couchside's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 78%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). On price, ads, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Couchside sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. uBlock Origin Lite asks for nothing beyond the download.
Couchside holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: uBlock Origin Lite has 937 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of uBlock Origin Lite's written reviews are positive against 100% of Couchside's.
uBlock Origin Lite ships an update weekly, Couchside every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | uBlock Origin Lite | Couchside |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (937 ratings) | 5.0 (8 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 77.9% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 937 — better | 8 |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18.5 | 16.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 50 MB | 57 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Raymond Hill | Taylor Emery |
Customer experience
uBlock Origin Lite
Couchside
Bugs and requests
uBlock Origin Lite
Reported bugs
2 issues- Unable to turn on extension on laptop Safari after installation
- Fails to load when enabling in Safari
Requested features
2 requests- Import third-party filter lists
- Improved dashboard and settings access
Couchside
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
uBlock Origin Lite
No in-app purchases
Couchside
- Couchside Forever Unlock$4.99
Questions
Is uBlock Origin Lite free?
Is Couchside free?
Which has better reviews, uBlock Origin Lite or Couchside?
Do uBlock Origin Lite or Couchside have ads?
Which is updated more often, uBlock Origin Lite or Couchside?
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