Have you noticed how a lot of the ads you see online are targeted specifically to you. Like you’ve mentioned that you wanna buy something to a friend, or you have recently visited a place, and suddenly all your ads are about those things. Once is a coincidence, twice is a pattern.
Digital ads use various methods to track you to show you targeted ads. While you may think targeted ads are good, you may not be comfortable with the amount of data they collect. Ghostery promises to block all these trackers alongside ads and annoyances for you. And we’re here to see how well they hold up their end.
Quick Overview
| 🌟 Feature | ✨ Details |
| ⭐ Rating | 96/100 |
| 💵 Price | Free |
| 🆓 Free Version | The whole thing is free, but you can donate. |
| ▶️ YouTube Ads | Absolutely |
| ⛔ Blocks Trackers | Yes |
| 💻Compatibility | Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, and Edge |
Overall Score
Ghostery gets an impressive 96/100 on Adblock Tester. It passed all the checks, but three of the checks were inconclusive. Which it very likely passed. Let’s go through the testing parameters to give you a better understanding of what is tested and why.
Testing Parameters
We put Ghostery to the test against some of the most common and annoying digital ad and tracking threats. Here’s what we checked:
- Contextual Advertising: You know those ads that feel like they’re reading your mind? Those ads use your data to serve you hyper-personalized content. We tested Ghostery’s ability to block those sneaky ads before they even load, so they can’t invade your privacy.
- Analytics Tools: Google Analytics, Hotjar and other tracking tools are always watching, tracking everything from your clicks to how long you’ve been on a page. If Ghostery can block those tracking scripts, it’s a win for your privacy, so your every move isn’t being monitored by those digital spies.
- Banner Ads: Some banner ads are unavoidable, bright, flashy and in your face. We tested Ghostery’s ability to block different types of banner ads like flash banners, GIFs and static image ads. We wanted to see how well it could clean up your browsing experience by removing those distractions.
- Error Monitoring Services: Tools like Sentry and Bugsnag quietly track your activities to help developers fix site bugs. While these services aren’t ads, they collect data about your behavior on the site. We checked if Ghostery could block those scripts, adding an extra layer of privacy protection by stopping unnecessary data collection in the background.
Key Result Highlights
- Ghostery got a 96 out of 100.
- Some of the results were inconclusive, but Ghostery likely passed them.
- The inconclusive results were script loading checks for Google AdSense and Analytics.
While inconclusive results don’t mean it failed, they do bring the score down a bit. And more specifically with Ghostery the only results it couldn’t produce was related to Google ads and analytics. Which is a potential red flag. However, in real world tests, we did not see any issues with blocking Google ads.
Pros & Cons
Pros
✔️ Gives you in-depth analytics of what’s being blocked
✔️ Uses a comprehensive` tracker database as a blocklist
✔️ Very easy to use
✔️ Free and open-source
Cons
❌ No proper customer support.
❌ No system-wide support.
❌ Not the best when removing invisible trackers
Compatibility and Platform Availability
Ghostery can be a bit limited when it comes to platform availability. It’s mainly a browser extension. It works on Chrome, Edge, Opera, Firefox, Safari, and other Chromium, Firefox, and Webkit based browsers. This means, it lacks system-wide support. There’s no dedicate apps for desktop and mobile devices.
| Platform | Availability |
| Chromium Extension | ✔️ Yes |
| Firefox Add-On | ✔️ Yes |
| Safari Extension | ✔️ Yes |
| MV3 Compliance (Chrome) | ✔️ Yes |
| Windows App (System-wide) | ❌ No |
| macOS App (System-wide) | ❌ No |
| Android App (System-wide) | ❌ No |
| iOS App (System-wide) | ❌ No |
However, there is a Ghostery Privacy Broswer, that is available for Android and iOS, alongside Windows, macOS, and Linux. But that still doesn’t count as Ghostery cannot be used on mobile devices outside of their dedicated browser. However, it is compliant with Chrome’s Manifest V3 platform, so you can count on it being supported for a long time.
Core Features of Ghostery
Ghostery is a full-fledged privacy suite that aims to give you control over your digital footprint. While it has a browser, search engine and reports, today we’re focusing on what most users interact with: the Tracker & Ad Blocker browser extension. Here’s why it rocks.
AI-Driven Tracker Blocking & Big Database
At the heart of Ghostery’s magic is the tracker and ad-blocking. While most blockers just stop ads and trackers, Ghostery does it with a little extra oomph. It has a massive tracker database that’s updated by the community. So it doesn’t just block common trackers; it adapts to new ones as they emerge. You can see exactly what it’s blocking in the settings pages. It uses AI tech to prevent trackers from slipping through.
Never-Consent
If you’ve been on the internet recently, you know how annoying cookie consent pop-ups are. Those consent notices, though required by the EU’s GDPR, can be super annoying. Ghostery handles this for you with Never-Consent. It automatically rejects those cookie consent notices so you don’t have to manually click “No” on every single one. It’s a small touch that makes browsing feel a lot less intrusive.
WhoTracks.Me
Ever wonder who’s tracking you on the web? Ghostery lets you pull back the curtain with WhoTracks.Me, a feature that gives you the inside scoop on which companies and trackers are collecting data on your online behavior. Powered by Ghostery’s open-source tracker database, this tool gives you detailed reports on the trackers that have been blocked, their reach and behavior. It’s like having your own personal detective on the trackers.
Experimental & Regional Filters
Ghostery has more filters than just the ones that block trackers. You can turn on experimental filters to help Ghostery fix broken web pages faster and provide feedback to improve the system. It’s like being part of a constant feedback loop where you get to make the tool better. Plus regional filters allow for location-based blocking so you can adapt to different privacy concerns depending on where you are in the world.
Search Engine Redirect Protection
A little-known feature but super useful is Search Engine Redirect Protection. When you search on Google, you might notice that sometimes the search results get redirected through Google’s own servers before you get to the page you actually wanted. This can track your search and add to your data trail. Ghostery blocks the redirect and links you directly to the page you want. It’s just another layer of protection for your online life.
Usability and Installation
Quick and Easy Installation and Set-Up
You’ll find the installation process for Ghostery to be pretty straightforward. Simply head to your browser’s extension store, search for Ghostery, or go straight to their website, which will seamlessly guide you to the right download link.
Once added to your browser, you’ll be welcomed with a user-friendly setup page. It walks you through the process of enabling Ghostery and gives you a quick guide on how to pin it to your browser’s toolbar for easy access. No complex steps here. Just a few clicks, and you’re ready to start blocking trackers.
Ease of Use
Ghostery is designed to be intuitive, even for users with minimal tech experience. The main extension icon is your control center, allowing you to pause or modify protection with just a click. You can choose to pause protection temporarily, either for an hour or a day or disable it indefinitely if you need to. A colorful donut chart shows you the real-time stats, including how many trackers and ads are being blocked or modified, giving you a clear snapshot of what’s happening behind the scenes.
The settings are equally user-friendly. You’ll find the Privacy Protection section, where you can toggle various features like ad-blocking, anti-tracking, and the never-consent option. For users who want a deeper dive, you can enable Search Engine Redirect Protection and toggle Experimental Filters to add an extra layer of privacy. Ghostery even includes a WhoTracks.Me section where you can manage how much information about blocked trackers you want displayed on the main page.
Whether you’re a set-it-and-forget-it kind of person or someone who likes to tweak privacy settings, Ghostery provides the flexibility you need. It’s practically foolproof and very easy to navigate.
Customization
If you’re the type of user who likes to customize their browsing experience, Ghostery offers plenty of options to tailor the ad-blocking and tracking features to your preferences. For instance, the Regional Filters feature lets you block region-specific ads, while the ability to add custom filters ensures you have total control over what gets blocked.
In the Websites section of the settings, you can manage all the sites that have altered protection settings, essentially creating your own personal whitelist. If you trust certain websites and want to support them by allowing ads or trackers, it’s simple to adjust the settings for those sites.
The real magic happens in the Trackers section. Here, you get an in-depth look at the entire tracker database. You can see exactly which trackers are being blocked, and you have the power to allow specific trackers if you choose. The database organizes trackers into categories like Advertising, Site Analytics, Social Media, and more, so you can quickly see what’s going on. Plus, it’s community-driven, so new trackers are regularly added to keep the filter fresh. This level of control makes Ghostery one of the most customizable and user-centric ad blockers available.
Pricing & Free Version
Ghostery is worth it even without a premium tier. While there’s no paid plan for the ad-blocker itself, there are plenty of goodies for those who choose to contribute. Ghostery is donation based so you can support the development while getting some extra bells and whistles.
Ghostery Contributor
If you become a Ghostery Contributor you get access to historical tracker stats, so you can see blocking trends and get a better understanding of your digital footprint. You also get Advanced Tracker Analytics to see what’s really going on behind the scenes with your data. Contributors get exclusive benefits like custom color themes to customize your experience and priority user support if you run into any issues. Plus you get the Ghostery Private Browser and Ghostery Private Search engine, ad-free.
Donation Options
As for pricing Ghostery offers monthly and yearly donation options. The monthly donations are $1.99, $4.99, $11.99 and the yearly donations are $23.90, $59.90, $149.90. No matter how much you donate you get the same perks so it’s all about how much you want to support Ghostery and its privacy tools.
Note: Contributing unlocks these extra perks but the core features of Ghostery (tracker blocking and ad-blocking) remain fully functional for free. There is no premium version so the free version is already packed with everything you need for great ad-blocking and privacy. If you choose not to contribute you still get the full Ghostery experience with no limitations.
Customer Support
Ghostery is minimalist when it comes to customer support. No live chat, no phone support and no knowledge base. The only way to reach them is through email support. While that may seem limited, they do respond pretty quickly.
Ghostery says Contributors get priority support, but we tested the standard support route as regular users. After sending an email with our normal support questions we were instantly assigned a ticket number and got a response within 24 hours. Not bad for email support.
A live chat or self-help knowledge base would be nice, but Ghostery’s email support is good and fast even for non-Contributors. If you run into an issue you’ll get help. Just don’t expect instant replies.
Why Ghostery Stands Out in 2025?
In 2025, you are constantly tracked using browser cookies, tracking pixels, browser fingerprinting, social media interactions, and web logs. Ghostery’s main selling point is that it protects you against all these tracking. Overall, it stands out as a popular and minimalistic tool for online privacy and ad-blocking.
Full Privacy Protection
Ghostery’s tracker and ad-blocking powers let you surf the web ad-free and data-free. By killing trackers and blocking ads Ghostery protects your privacy, speeds up your browsing and reduces data usage all at the same time.
Easy to Use
With a simple interface Ghostery lets you manage your privacy settings in no time. Features like the visual tracker list and customizable blocking options mean you can control your online experience without feeling overwhelmed.
Open-Source Transparency
As an open-source project Ghostery is transparent. Users and developers can see the code so you know the tool operates with integrity and is true to its privacy-first mission.
Community Driven
Ghostery has a awesome community that contributes to its development. This means the tool stays up to date with the latest tracking tech and user needs so it remains effective in an ever changing digital world.
Ethical Practices
Ghostery is committed to user privacy. Unlike some ad blockers that may share your data Ghostery has a strict no sharing policy so your info is safe.
Is Ghostery Safe?
Yes, Ghostery is safe to use. It is a well known browser extension and mobile app that helps with your online privacy and security. It’s been around since 2009 and has a good reputation in the privacy community.
What Makes Ghostery Safe?
- Open-Source Transparency: Ghostery is an open-source project, so the code is transparent and can be reviewed by the community. This means there are no hidden agendas or malware.
- Regular Updates: The Ghostery team releases regular updates to combat new tracking methods, improve functionality and patch security holes so you get the latest protection.
- User Control: Ghostery gives you customizable blocking options so you can choose which trackers or types of trackers to block or allow and tailor your browsing experience to your privacy needs.
How Ghostery keeps your data safe
- Ghostery detects and blocks tracking technologies like cookies, scripts and web beacons used by websites to monitor your behavior so advertisers and other third parties can’t collect your data and browsing habits.
- Ghostery uses advanced anti-tracking technologies to anonymize your data so trackers can’t build profiles based on your online activities.
- By blocking intrusive ads Ghostery reduces the risk of encountering malicious ads that can compromise your security.
In summary Ghostery is a safe tool that puts your privacy first. It’s open-source, regularly updated and has lots of features to give you a safer and more private browsing experience.
Final Verdict
All things considered, Ghostery Tracker & Ad Blocker is a powerful and reliable tool for anyone looking to enhance their online privacy and browsing experience. It effectively blocks ads across major platforms, eliminates intrusive trackers, and gives you better control over your digital footprint. All while keeping things simple and user-friendly.
Unlike traditional ad blockers that rely on open-source filter lists, Ghostery takes a more AI-driven and database-powered approach, which has its pros and cons. While it showed mixed results in some third-party tests, its real-world performance was consistently strong, handling most ads and trackers without breaking websites or slowing down browsing.
And the best part? Ghostery completely free. There’s no paywall, no hidden limitations. Just a fully functional privacy tool that does what it promises. While contributing to Ghostery unlocks some extra perks, the core ad-blocking and tracker prevention features remain entirely free and effective.
If you want a clean, fast, and private browsing experience without spending a dime, Ghostery is a no-brainer. It’s easy to use, packed with great features, and keeps your data out of advertisers’ hands. What’s not to like?