Ghostery
Ghostery: A free, open-source blocker with broad platform coverage and detailed privacy controls. Ranked #2 of 49 in Ad Blockers by our editors (9.2/10); pricing: Free plan; best for free privacy-focused blocking across platforms.
At a glance
- Editor score9.2 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forFree privacy-focused blocking across platforms
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Device coverageDesktop-and-mobile
- Founded2009 · Munich, Germany
- Facts checked21 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Blocks ads, trackers, pop-ups, video ads, and cookie consent banners
- Offers tracker reports, custom filters, element picking, and per-site controls
- Available across desktop and mobile platforms as an open-source extension
Where it doesn't
- No paid plans or tiered features are offered
- Mobile availability is limited to Safari, Firefox, and Edge
- Advanced filtering features may require manual configuration
Our verdict on Ghostery
Ghostery Tracker & Ad Blocker is a free, open-source browser extension for people who want to reduce ads, tracking activity, pop-ups, and cookie consent interruptions. It supports Chrome, Safari, Opera, Firefox, Edge, and Brave on desktop, with mobile availability through Safari, Firefox, and Edge. The product is suited to users who want privacy-focused blocking across platforms without choosing a paid plan.
Its strongest distinction is the combination of blocking and visibility. Ghostery can block advertisements, pop-ups, video ads, web trackers, and cookie consent banners, while its browser panel displays reports on detected tracking activity. Users can also apply custom network and cosmetic filters, subscribe to remote filter lists that refresh automatically, and use an element picker to select visual page elements for blocking. Per-site controls, allowlists, and the option to pause protection provide additional control when a site needs exceptions.
The Free plan costs 0 USD and includes ad blocking, tracker blocking, cookie consent blocking, pop-up blocking, and the open-source browser extension. There are no paid tiers to compare, so the product’s scope is focused rather than tiered. Users who want broad blocking, tracker reporting, and customizable controls across desktop and supported mobile browsers should consider Ghostery. It may be less suitable for buyers seeking a paid support structure, multiple service tiers, or mobile coverage beyond Safari, Firefox, and Edge.
Your product? Our editors can test Ghostery in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Ghostery pricing
Ghostery fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Device coverage | Desktop-and-mobile |
| Custom filter lists | Yes |
| Element picker | Yes |
| Cookie popup blocking | Yes |
| Device limit | Not verified |
| Browser support | Major-browsers |
| Deployment | Cloud, Mobile, Browser extension |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome extension |
| Compliance & security | GDPR, 2FA |
| Support | Email, Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | ghostery.com |
| Facts checked | 21 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Ghostery
- AdGuardA broad ad and privacy blocker with browser, app, DNS, and parental controls.9.4
- uBlock OriginA highly configurable free blocker for users who want control over filtering.9.1
- AdBlockA flexible ad blocker with strong platform coverage and Premium extras, including VPN access.8.9
See all Ghostery alternatives →
Ghostery vs the competition
- Ghostery vs AdGuard
- Ghostery vs uBlock Origin
- Ghostery vs AdBlock
- Ghostery vs AdLock
- Ghostery vs Blokada
- Ghostery vs Adblock Plus
Compare Ghostery with any tool side by side →
Also Ranked In
Ghostery is ranked in 6 of our directories.
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Featured on iTechGuides
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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