Ghostery

Active

Country: Germany (DE)
Founded: 2009
Developer: Cliqz International GmbH
Pricing: Freemium
Open source: Yes
Platforms: Firefox, Chrome, Brave, Edge, Opera, Safari, iOS, Android

Indexes

Ad Blockers

Overview

Ghostery is a browser extension and mobile application that detects, blocks, and neutralizes trackers and ads on web pages to protect user privacy. It identifies JavaScript tags and trackers from over 5000 sources, interrupts data collection, and provides transparency via a panel showing active trackers. Targeted at users seeking control over online tracking, it stands out with its extensive proprietary tracker database, anti-tracking heuristics that anonymize personal data, and educational profiles of tracking companies.¹²⁴

Key Features

Tracker Detection & Blocking - Monitors web requests, matches against a library of over 5000 trackers, and blocks communication with selected companies.²
Ad & Popup Blocking - Blocks ads, popups, and intrusive elements across websites including YouTube and Facebook.³⁴
Anti-Tracking - Analyzes requests for personal data, strips identifiable information, and replaces it with random values.²
Never-Consent - Automatically denies tracking requests in cookie consent pop-ups.⁴
Tracker Panel - Displays identified trackers on pages for user review and control.²⁸
Whitelisting - Allows customization by whitelisting trusted sites and trackers.³
Browsing Assistant - Detects and alerts on site breakage caused by blocking, with automatic fixes.⁵

Pricing

Plan	Price	Includes
Free	Free	Core ad and tracker blocking, anti-tracking, Never-Consent on all platforms.⁶
Ghostery Privacy Suite (Premium)	Paid (details on site)	Advanced features in full suite including private browser and enhanced protections.⁷

Platforms & Requirements

Available as extensions for Firefox, Chrome, Brave, Edge, Opera, Safari, and apps for iOS, Android. iOS version optimized for Safari on iPhone, iPad, Mac; no specific minimum requirements listed beyond standard browser support. Functions on desktop and mobile without noted platform limitations.¹³

Integrations & Ecosystem

WhoTracks.Me database
Browser extensions integration
Safari content blocker
Firefox for Android
Automatic breakage detection
Cookie consent automation

Alternatives

App	Difference
uBlock Origin	Open-source ad blocker focused on efficiency and custom filters, less emphasis on tracker transparency.¹
Privacy Badger	Learns tracking behavior automatically without predefined lists, from EFF, simpler interface.¹
AdBlock Plus	Popular ad blocker with acceptable ads list, broader ad focus over tracker neutralization.⁴
DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials	Combines tracking protection with private search, integrated ecosystem from search provider.⁴

Reputation

Ghostery is recognized as a popular privacy tool, endorsed by Edward Snowden in 2014 for online protection and noted for its large tracker database and transparency features.¹ Users appreciate its detailed tracker insights and effectiveness against ads and tracking, with over 100 million downloads.³ Criticisms include past ownership changes and potential breakage on sites, addressed via community reports and assistant features.⁵ Perceived as reliable for privacy-conscious users balancing control and usability.¹²

Sources (9)