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Best for free use
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Better suited for advanced users because some features require technical knowledge
Best for avoiding paywalls
Best for Apple users
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Can disrupt the appearance/functionality of sites, emails, and apps
The best alternatives to Ghostery are uBlock Origin, Total Adblock, and 1Blocker. Ghostery is a free ad blocker but is lacking a few extra features. All three of our choices can be used to block ads for free, but Total Adblock and 1Blocker offer more features when you subscribe.
uBlock Origin is always free and better at blocking ads and trackers than Ghostery. Total Adblock offers more when you upgrade. And 1Blocker provides Apple users with a quality service that others are lacking.
You can read our comparisons below to decide which ad blocker is right for you.
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| Star rating | ||||
| Starting price | Free | Free | $1.59/mo (billed annually) | $2.99/mo |
| Blocks YouTube ads | ||||
| AdBlock tester score | 98/100 | 96/100 | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Cover Your Tracks score | 0/3 | 2/3 | 2/3 | 2.5/3 |
| Can You Block It score | 3/3 | 3/3 | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| Paywall blocker test | 1/3 | 1/3 | 3/3 | 0/3 |
| Compatibility | iOS app and Firefox for Android | Browsers only | Android, iOS, Browsers | Safari, macOS, iOS |
| Browser extensions | Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, Edge | Chrome, Firefox, Safari 12 or earlier, Opera, Edge, | Chrome, Safari, Opera, Edge, | Safari |
| Learn more | Get Ghostery | Get uBlock Origin | Get Total Adblock | Get 1Blocker |
Each ad blocker we review goes through a standardized test designed to push the limits of what the software is capable of. This includes vigorous third-party testing using websites like adblock-tester.com, coveryourtracks.eff.org, and canyoublockit.com. We also visit popular websites to test the ad blocker’s day-to-day capabilities, including watching YouTube videos and browsing Forbes.
Once we’ve completed the testing, we calculate our editorial rating by taking into account key features you’d expect from a good product. We score each ad blocker in the following categories and use a weighted average to calculate the final rating out of 5 stars:
To learn more about how we test, read our full ad blocker methodology here.
One of the best totally free ad blockers available
Highly customizable, open-source ad blocker that's compatible with multiple browsers
Can block advertising and analytics tools, including banner ads, video ads, and trackers, and can even bypass soft paywalls
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uBlock Origin is completely free and has no plans to charge for its services. UBlock Origin is capable of blocking YouTube ads and it received strong scores when we tested its ad blocking capabilities. While you don’t have to purchase Ghostery to use its services, the ad blocker still asks you to become a paying contributor.
We also found uBlock Origin was able to protect us from trackers. Ghostery offers tracker blocking, but it’s not nearly as robust as uBlock Origin. We compared uBlock Origin vs Ghostery and found UBlock Origin provided more blocking overall.
uBlock Origin can be a little complicated for the average user to use, especially if you aren’t used to configuring software. The user interface looks overly technical because it’s free and not as regularly maintained as a premium service would be. It’s not difficult to learn, but you may get frustrated initially.
| uBlock Origin | |
| AdBlock Tester score | 100/100 |
| Cover Your Tracks score | 0/3 |
| Can You Block It score | 3/3 |
| YouTube ads test | Yes |
| Paywall blocker test | Yes — soft paywalls |
| Learn more | Get uBlock Origin |
Instantly blocks distracting ads on millions of websites, including Facebook and YouTube ads
Blocks third-party trackers to protect your privacy and information
Improves page load times and enables faster browsing
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Ghostery asks you to become a paying contributor without giving you additional features. You get additional metrics and reporting stats with Ghostery but no actual feature upgrades. Total Adblock’s upgrades include even more blocking capabilities, removing browser notifications, and it also includes antivirus protection.
Total Adblock is a great option for blocking trackers and even got us around paywalls when activated. Compared to Ghostery’s subpar tracker blocking, this is a big upgrade. Total Adblock’s annual premium pricing is reasonable and should fit into any budget, even if you were previously using Ghostery’s free plan.
Total Adblock’s free plan is very restrictive and doesn’t block ads on the top 15,000 websites. The premium plan is part of a more extensive Total Security suite that includes antivirus, a virtual private network (VPN), and other security features. If you only want an ad blocker, this may be more features than you need.
| Total Adblock | |
| AdBlock Tester score | 100/100 |
| Cover Your Tracks score | 2/3 |
| Can You Block It score | 3/3 |
| YouTube ads test | Yes |
| Paywall blocker test | Yes — Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, The Atlantic |
| Learn more | Get Total Adblock |
Works seamlessly on macOS, iOS, and Safari
Offers lots of features, including regional filters, a firewall, custom filters, and more
Free version also proved to be highly effective
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We found that Ghostery didn’t block as much on Safari as on Chrome and Firefox, leaving us exposed to trackers. 1Blocker, on the other hand, blocked trackers, cookie requests, intrusive ads, comment sections, and more. Since it’s built for iOS and macOS, it targets the specific needs of Apple users.
1Blocker also has a free option that lets you use one feature at a time, but upgrading unlocks all the features simultaneously. 1Blocker includes an Evergreen subscription option, allowing you to pay one fee and use the product, with upgrades, forever.
1Blocker aggressively blocks trackers, ads, and other annoyances. Because of that, the firewall can interfere with the appearance of emails and websites, and we disabled it for everyday use. If there were customization options, we’d probably use it more often, but for now, we turn it on only when we’re using shared Wi-Fi, like at a hotel or coffee shop.
| 1Blocker | |
| AdBlock Tester score | 100/100 |
| Cover Your Tracks score | 2.5/3 |
| Can You Block It score | 3/3 |
| YouTube ads test | Yes |
| Paywall blocker test | No |
| Learn more | Get 1Blocker |
We think the best alternative to Ghostery is a toss-up between uBlock Origin, Total Adblock, and 1Blocker. uBlock Origin blocks trackers, ads, and more on primarily Windows-based browsers. Total Adblock is most effective when you upgrade to premium, which includes antivirus and the ability to unblock paywalls. And 1Blocker was built for Safari and Apple operating systems, giving iOS users a robust way to block ads.
When we tested uBlock Origin against Ghostery for blocking ads, uBlock Origin was the clear winner with more powerful ad and tracker blocking. While Ghostery might be more user friendly, it isn’t as powerful as uBlock Origin.
Yes, Ghostery is still available to prevent unwanted ads. When downloading software, make sure you do it only from the original, verified site. If you try downloading it from a third-party site, you may end up with a fake that steals your information or deposits malware onto your device.
The best ad blocker alternatives to Ghostery are uBlock Origin, Total Adblock, and 1Blocker. uBlock Origin blocks more ads and trackers than Ghostery and never asks for payment. Total Adblock’s free product blocks a lot, but the upgraded version lets you bypass paywalls and includes antivirus. 1Blocker is built for Apple operating systems and offers more essential features and blocking capabilities for Apple users.
The best ad blockers not only stop ads but also protect you from online trackers. Our three picks are excellent choices to block ads and trackers, making your online experience cleaner and safer. Make sure you’re using a strong, effective ad blocker every time you go online.
| Starting price | Best for | Learn more | |
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Free | Best for free use | Get uBlock Origin |
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$1.59/mo (billed annually) | Best for avoiding paywalls | Get Total Adblock |
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$2.99/mo | Best for Apple users | Get 1Blocker |
Instantly blocks distracting ads on millions of websites, including Facebook and YouTube ads
Blocks third-party trackers to protect your privacy and information
Improves page load times and enables faster browsing
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