Ghostery icon

Ghostery

An open-source tracker and ad blocker that also removes cookie pop-ups and shows tracker info for each site.

Reviewed by Xplorekit's independent developer · Last checked · How we choose

Add to Chrome Open source · Chrome Web Store

Why it's a strong pick

Ghostery bundles ad blocking, tracker blocking and cookie pop-up removal in one open-source extension. Its privacy policy says the extension needs no name, email or account and that the data it handles is non-personal. The trade-off: Ghostery's own posts say Chrome's Manifest V3 rule limits constrain what blockers can ship.

What it does

Ghostery's README describes a tracker and ad blocker. It blocks ads, including on YouTube and Facebook, and stops trackers. It also removes cookie pop-ups automatically, shows tracker information for each site and previews tracker information on search result pages. It is made by Ghostery GmbH, and its code is under GPL-3.0.

Key features

  • Ad blocking. The README lists ads on sites including YouTube and Facebook.
  • Tracker blocking. Backed by a tracker database that Ghostery maintains.
  • Cookie pop-up removal. Pop-ups are removed automatically, per the README.
  • Per-site tracker information. See which trackers a page has.
  • Search result previews. Tracker information appears on search result pages.
  • Open source. GPL-3.0, with the code on GitHub.
  • Free features, says Ghostery. Ghostery says all features are free, with no premium tiers, and that it is funded by optional contributions.

Who it's for

Ghostery suits people who want one extension for ads, trackers and cookie pop-ups and who like seeing what is on each page. If you want a learning tracker blocker from a nonprofit, look at Privacy Badger. If blocking strength on Chrome matters most, read our Manifest V3 guide first.

Does Ghostery need an account?

Ghostery's privacy policy says the extension needs no name, email or account. It also says the extension handles only non-personal data and does not share data with third parties. Ghostery says users who accept the policy report anonymous tracker information to WhoTracks.Me, which it says never includes data about the user. Read the policy for the details.

Does Ghostery work with Chrome's Manifest V3?

Ghostery says its extension is compatible with Manifest V3 and uses Chrome's declarativeNetRequest. Its own posts say Chrome's rule limits restrict blocklists and updates. So it may not match older blockers on Chrome. Our Manifest V3 guide explains the limits, and uBlock Origin Lite is another MV3 blocker.

What permissions does Ghostery ask for?

Check the install prompt on the Chrome Web Store before you add it. A blocker needs access to the pages you visit to work, and permissions can change between releases. We could not verify the current list, so we have not printed it here.

FAQ

Is Ghostery free? Ghostery says all its features are free and that it has no premium tiers. Check its site for current details.

Does it replace a dedicated ad blocker? It blocks ads, but see the Manifest V3 note above. Compare it with AdGuard AdBlocker and our Adblock Plus alternatives.

Does it handle cookie banners? The README says it removes cookie pop-ups automatically. For a banner-only tool, see I Still Don't Care About Cookies.

Good to know

Because Chrome's rule limits apply to every Manifest V3 blocker, Ghostery may block less than older blockers did on Chrome. Test it on the sites you use most.

Other vpn & privacy tools to compare

Ghostery is one of 12 picks in our VPN & Privacy Tools guide, which compares them side by side and explains how to choose. The other picks:

  • ExpressVPN: A browser extension with two modes: a browser-only proxy, or a remote for the ExpressVPN desktop app. It needs a subscription.
  • NordVPN: A proxy extension that routes your browser traffic through NordVPN. It needs a NordVPN subscription.
  • Proton VPN: A browser VPN extension from Proton AG, the company behind Proton Mail. It has a free plan and covers browser traffic only.
  • Surfshark VPN: A lightweight Surfshark extension that protects browser traffic and adds ad, tracker and breach-alert tools. The 7-day trial needs payment details first.
  • Privacy Badger: A tracker blocker from the EFF that learns which third parties track you as you browse.
  • DuckDuckGo Search & Tracker Protection: Tracker blocking and HTTPS upgrades from DuckDuckGo. It also makes DuckDuckGo your default search engine.
  • I Still Don't Care About Cookies: An open-source community fork that removes cookie banners on most sites. It hides or accepts them. It does not reject them.
  • ZeroOmega: Open-source proxy switcher for proxies you supply. Not a VPN: it provides no servers.
  • FoxyProxy: Open-source proxy switcher with per-site rules for proxies you supply. Not a VPN: it provides no servers.
  • JShelter: Browser privacy hardening: limits what sites can read from your browser APIs and helps against fingerprinting. Not a VPN and does not hide your IP address. Open source.
  • NoScript: An open-source script blocker that stops JavaScript, embedded objects and media until you allow a site.

Collection: Best Chrome extensions for privacy

This is a third-party extension, not built or maintained by Xplorekit. We link to the official Chrome Web Store listing — install and permissions are entirely between you and the extension's own publisher.