ClearURLs

Active

Country: Germany (DE)
Founded: 2019
Developer: Kevin Röbert
Pricing: Free (open-source)
Open source: Yes
Platforms: Firefox, Chrome, Chromium-based browsers

Indexes

Ad Blockers

Overview

ClearURLs is a browser extension that automatically removes tracking elements from URLs to protect user privacy during web browsing. It uses over 250 rules to detect and strip unnecessary tracking parameters from links, preventing sites from monitoring user activity. Targeted at privacy-conscious users, it stands out with its comprehensive rule set and community-maintained catalog compared to simpler link cleaners.

Key Features

Automatic URL Cleaning - Removes tracking elements from URLs in the background as links are loaded.
Bulk URL Cleaner - Built-in tool to paste and clean multiple URLs at once.
Ad Domain Blocking - Optionally blocks common ad domains.
Search Result Protection - Prevents Google and Yandex from injecting tracking into search results.
Context Menu Integration - Adds option to copy clean links directly from right-click menu.
Hyperlink Auditing Block - Blocks ping tracking via hyperlink auditing.
Logging and Statistics - Optional local logging of cleaned URLs and usage stats with badges.
History API Protection - Prevents tracking injection through browser history API.

Pricing

Plan	Price	Includes
Free	Free	All features including automatic cleaning, bulk tool, and ad blocking.

Platforms & Requirements

Runs as a WebExtensions-based add-on on Firefox and Chromium browsers like Chrome, Edge, and Opera. No minimum requirements beyond browser support for WebExtensions. Chrome Web Store listing was temporarily removed by Google in the past but remains available via sideloading or Firefox Add-ons.

Integrations & Ecosystem

Firefox Add-ons store
Chrome Web Store (sideloading)
GitHub repository for source code
Community-contributed rules catalog
Browser context menu
Local logging export
Settings import/export

Alternatives

App	Difference
uBlock Origin	Broader ad and tracker blocking beyond just URLs, with filter lists and cosmetic filtering.
uMatrix	Manual control over requests, domains, and resources rather than automatic URL cleaning.
Privacy Badger	Learns and blocks hidden trackers dynamically without predefined URL rules.
URL Clean	Simpler tool with fewer rules focused only on basic parameter removal.

Reputation

ClearURLs is regarded as a reliable privacy tool by users on Firefox, praised for its extensive ruleset and automatic operation. It faced scrutiny when Google removed it from the Chrome Web Store in 2022 without explanation, raising concerns about platform censorship. The open-source nature allows community verification, though some users note it requires manual installation on Chrome post-removal.

Sources (7)