Overview

Ghostery is a free browser privacy extension that combines ad and tracker blocking with cookie controls and tracker visibility. It is a strong fit for people who want these protections without a subscription, though mobile users need to choose a supported browser.

Ghostery blocks banners, video ads, pop-ups, and sponsored content. Its tracker protection replaces personal identifiers with random values and masks identifying signals, aiming to make it harder for trackers to recognize users. The combination makes Ghostery broader than an ad blocker alone, while custom filter lists and an element picker give users more control over page content.

Key features

Blocking and cookie controls

Ghostery’s free core includes ad blocking, tracker blocking, cookie consent handling, and tracker insights. Never-Consent automatically rejects tracking cookies and sends opt-out signals on supported websites. That automation can reduce repetitive consent prompts, but its opt-out behavior is limited to supported sites.

The Tracker Panel shows trackers Ghostery identifies and neutralizes on a page. WhoTracks.Me adds information about tracking companies and the wider tracking industry. Ghostery integrates this information into its privacy tools and reports observed tracking information to WhoTracks.Me under its stated policy, a trade-off worth considering for readers who want tracker context alongside blocking.

Privacy and support

Ghostery says its extension telemetry is non-personal; additional telemetry is sent if users opt in. For phishing and malware protection, it says it sends a partial URL checksum to its backend rather than the full URL. Users can consult the FAQs, contact support, report bugs, and submit tracker data requests.

Ghostery Private Search is in closed beta, so it should not be treated as a generally available part of the current offering.

Pricing

The Ghostery Tracker & Ad Blocker plan is free. All features are free, with no subscription required. That is unusually straightforward for readers who want the core protections without a paid tier, trial, or device cap: Ghostery says it can be installed on as many devices as users like.

There is no paid plan to weigh against the free one. Ghostery’s core includes ad and tracker blocking, cookie consent handling, and tracker insights, so users do not have to pay to access those features.

Platforms

Ghostery supports Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Safari, and Brave, with extensions across major desktop and mobile browsers. On iOS and iPadOS, it offers Safari protection; on Android, it supports Firefox and Edge. It is unavailable on Chrome for Android because that browser does not allow extensions. Android users who rely on Chrome therefore need a different supported browser to use Ghostery.

Its listed platforms also include Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, and browser extensions, giving it broad desktop and mobile coverage.

Who it's for

Ghostery suits users who want free ad and tracker blocking plus cookie consent controls, especially those who value seeing which trackers a page contains. Its filter lists and element picker also suit people who want more control than basic ad removal offers. It is a less suitable choice for Android users unwilling to leave Chrome, and its private search should not be a deciding factor while it remains in closed beta.

Pros and cons

Pros: Core ad blocking, tracker blocking, cookie handling, and tracker insights are free, with no subscription required.
Pros: Never-Consent rejects tracking cookies and sends opt-out signals on supported sites, reducing the need for manual consent choices.
Pros: The Tracker Panel and WhoTracks.Me provide visibility into trackers and tracking companies, rather than leaving blocking opaque.
Pros: Ghostery says users can install it on as many devices as they like, useful for people protecting several devices.
Cons: Chrome for Android does not support Ghostery extensions, so Android users must use Firefox or Edge for Ghostery protection.
Cons: Never-Consent works on supported websites, so users should not expect automatic opt-outs everywhere.
Cons: Private Search is in closed beta and is not a dependable option for users seeking an available private search service.

Alternatives

For a broader category comparison, browse Ad blockers or Ad Blocking Software.

Consider Disconnect if you want an alternative with a free plan and a paid Premium tier at 5.00 USD per month; Ghostery includes all its features for free. AdBlocker Ultimate offers free and paid plans, including Personal for 3 devices and Family for 10, while Ghostery says it has no device limit.

1Blocker may suit readers looking for a paid monthly option: its Monthly plan costs 2.99 USD per month and includes content-blocking features, multiple blocking categories, and background filter updates. AdLock is another freemium alternative, with plans covering 5 devices.

Blokada offers a free ad blocker for Android 5 or newer, while its Blokada Plus plan costs 5.00 EUR per month. Adblock Plus is a freemium option whose web extension is open source under GPLv3; some versions have different licensing. uBlock Origin is a free, open-source alternative. AdGuard is another freemium alternative, with personal and family plans for multiple devices.

Verdict

Choose Ghostery if you want a no-cost, no-subscription way to block ads and trackers, manage cookie consent, and see what tracking a page contains. Its strongest case is the breadth of those free tools and its unlimited device installs. Look elsewhere if you use Chrome on Android and will not switch browsers, or if you need a private search product that is already generally available.

	AdShield	Ghostery
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Paid from	Free	Free
Open source		Yes
Platforms		Android, extension, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Device coverage	browser-only	desktop-and-mobile
Browser support	major-browsers	major-browsers
Paid from		$1.99/yr
Custom filter lists		Yes
Element picker		Yes
Cookie popup blocking		Yes

AdShield vs Ghostery

AdShield

Ghostery