--- title: Ghostery canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/ghostery/ category: Ad Blockers points: 82 rank: 2 of 12 facts_checked: 2026-10-08 --- # Ghostery Free open-source browser extension that blocks ads and trackers and rejects cookie pop-ups. 82 points out of 100. #2 of 12 ad blockers. Vendor: Ghostery GmbH. Website: https://www.ghostery.com/ - The ad and tracker blocker is free to install; the vendor lists no paid plan, only optional contributions [1][2]. - Extensions are listed for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera and Brave [2][8]. - Its Never-Consent feature automatically declines tracking in cookie consent dialogs [4]. - The extension is open source under GPL-3.0 on GitHub [3]. - Ghostery removed user accounts on 1 October 2025; no login is needed [8]. Verdict: Ghostery suits people who want a free, open-source blocker that also handles cookie pop-ups and works in most browsers [2][3][4]. There is no paid plan, only optional contributions [1]. The catch: it is a browser extension only, so it does not filter other programs, and the vendor's pages do not document custom filter rules [4][9][10]. Best for: People who want a free, open-source blocker with cookie pop-up handling. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Where it blocks | Windows browsers | Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera | 12/12 | The vendor says Ghostery is supported in Chrome, Safari, Opera, Firefox, Edge and Brave [8]. | | Where it blocks | Blocks outside the browser | No | 0/5 | Ghostery is described as a browser extension; no Windows app or system-wide mode is listed [2][3]. | | Where it blocks | Phone protection | iOS, Android | 6/6 | Safari app for iPhone and iPad [5]; extension for Edge or Firefox on Android [6]. | | Blocking | Still works in Chrome after Manifest V2 | Yes | 4/4 | The Chrome page says Ghostery is fully compatible with Chrome's Manifest V3 [4]. | | Blocking | Your own block rules | Not published | 0/7 | Not published on the vendor's Chrome, Firefox or product pages [4][9][10]; they cover only blocking individual trackers. | | Blocking | Malicious site blocking | Yes | 5/5 | The privacy policy lists Phishing and Malware protection as a feature; the Firefox page says it blocks known malicious domains [7][9]. | | Blocking | Cookie pop-up blocking | Yes | 4/4 | Never-Consent automatically declines tracking in cookie consent dialogs [4]. | | Blocking | No ad allow-list on by default | Not published | 0/6 | Not published on the vendor's product page [10]; it mentions allowlists you create but not default settings. | | Privacy and trust | Open source | Yes | 10/10 | The extension is on GitHub under GPL-3.0 [3]. | | Privacy and trust | No browsing history kept | Yes | 6/6 | The Firefox page says its permissions do not mean Ghostery collects your browsing activity; the policy says data is non-personal [9][7]. | | Privacy and trust | Works without an account | Yes | 4/4 | The FAQ says Ghostery removed user accounts on 1 October 2025 and needs no login [8]. | | Price | Free plan | Yes | 12/12 | The FAQ says the ad blocker installs without a subscription and core features stay free [2]. | | Price | Cheapest paid plan | $0 | 12/12 | No paid plan is listed; the pricing page offers only optional donations [1][2]. | | Price | Devices on one paid plan | 99 | 4/4 | No paid plan, so recorded as 99 under the rule [1]. | | Price | Money-back guarantee | Yes | 3/3 | No paid plan, so nothing to refund; recorded as true under the rule [1]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | Free | Free [1][2] | $0 | The pricing page lists only donations ($1.99 to $11.99 a month, $23.90 to $143.90 a year, $5 to $20 once); the vendor says donations give no extra products or services [1]. ## Strengths - Free to install, with every core feature free [2]. - Open source under GPL-3.0 [3]. - Manifest V3 compatible in Chrome [4]. - Never-Consent handles cookie dialogs automatically [4]. - Works on iPhone and iPad through Safari, and on Android through Edge or Firefox [5][6]. ## Limits - Browser extension only; the pages describe no Windows app or system-wide blocking [2][3]. - Chrome on Android does not allow add-ons, so Android use is through Edge or Firefox [6]. - The vendor says results on YouTube ads can vary [4]. - In 2018 Ghostery emailed users with hundreds of addresses visible to all recipients [11]. ## Vendor claims (not scored) - Ghostery says it can block many YouTube pre-roll and mid-roll ads, with results that can vary [4]. ## Concerns - On 25 May 2018, Ghostery sent a GDPR email that put hundreds of recipients in the CC line, exposing their addresses to each other, as reported by Gizmodo [11]. ## Sources 1. [Ghostery contributions](https://ghostery.com/pricing), Ghostery, accessed 2026-10-08 2. [Ghostery Tracker & Ad Blocker](https://www.ghostery.com/), Ghostery, accessed 2026-10-08 3. [ghostery/ghostery-extension](https://github.com/ghostery/ghostery-extension), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-08 4. [Ghostery ad blocker for Chrome](https://www.ghostery.com/ghostery-ad-blocker-chrome), Ghostery, accessed 2026-10-08 5. [Ghostery ad blocker for Safari](https://www.ghostery.com/ghostery-ad-blocker-safari), Ghostery, accessed 2026-10-08 6. [Ghostery ad blocker for Android](https://www.ghostery.com/ghostery-ad-blocker-android), Ghostery, accessed 2026-10-08 7. [Ghostery privacy policy](https://www.ghostery.com/privacy/policy), Ghostery, accessed 2026-10-08 8. [Ghostery FAQ](https://www.ghostery.com/faq), Ghostery, accessed 2026-10-08 9. [Ghostery ad blocker for Firefox](https://www.ghostery.com/ghostery-ad-blocker-firefox), Ghostery, accessed 2026-10-08 10. [Ghostery ad blocker](https://www.ghostery.com/ghostery-ad-blocker), Ghostery, accessed 2026-10-08 11. [Ad blocker Ghostery celebrates GDPR day by revealing hundreds of users' email addresses](https://gizmodo.com/ad-blocker-ghostery-celebrates-gdpr-day-by-revealing-hu-1826338313), Gizmodo, accessed 2026-10-08