By default, uBlock Origin ("uBO") works with a set of block lists, it does not block javascript -- out of the box you can't compare NoScript to uBO, they are two different things, it's not a case of "which one to use?".
Given the symptoms you describe, it seems you went to a site which launched popups. This is usually addressed by filters in the default block lists (EasyList, etc.), but when there is no filter, unwanted popups may occur. One solution is to report to block lists maintainers, so that they can add a filter. There is also a per-site switch in uBO to unconditionally block all popups for a given site -- so no need to wait for a filter.
That said, you can block scripts by default with uBO if you want. It also allows to block specifically all inline script tags on a page without disabling all javascript.
uBO works well with NoScript, and many people use it in concert with NoScript, they consider they complement well each others.
Given the symptoms you describe, it seems you went to a site which launched popups. This is usually addressed by filters in the default block lists (EasyList, etc.), but when there is no filter, unwanted popups may occur. One solution is to report to block lists maintainers, so that they can add a filter. There is also a per-site switch in uBO to unconditionally block all popups for a given site -- so no need to wait for a filter.
That said, you can block scripts by default with uBO if you want. It also allows to block specifically all inline script tags on a page without disabling all javascript.
uBO works well with NoScript, and many people use it in concert with NoScript, they consider they complement well each others.