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Best for Online Protection
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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
Best for Budget
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User-friendly design provides for seamless browsing
Keeps a regularly updated list of blocked trackers
Provides both whitelisting and blacklisting functionality
If you’ve decided you’re done with ads and are wondering whether Total Adblock or Ghostery is the right ad blocker for you, we have a side-by-side comparison to help you choose.
Total Adblock is great for bundling with TotalAV and other products in the Total Security suite. Ghostery is a trustworthy, free option that also offers a few perks to contributors. If you’re unsure which option is right for you, check out our breakdown below.
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Our Pick |
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| Price | $1.59/mo | Free |
| Ads blocked on Forbes | 22 | 16 |
| Does it block YouTube ads? | ||
| Compatibility | Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge, Safari | iOS, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Safari |
| Mobile compatibility | Android, iOS | Android, iOS |
| Learn more | Get Total Adblock | Get Ghostery |
Total Adblock offers a free version, but you’ll need to upgrade for unlimited ad-blocking capabilities. But if you do upgrade to the paid plan, you get the benefits of Total Security, including the award-winning TotalAV antivirus protection. This makes Total Adblock great for bundling, especially with its super-low first-year rate to try out the antivirus software.
Ghostery, on the other hand, is an open-source download that’s focused on security and privacy. It relies on contributors for funding and offers a few perks to anyone who wants to contribute. All of the features are available on the free version without any contribution requirement, so if you’re looking for a free product, this may be the one for you.
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Our Pick
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| Price range | $1.59/mo | Free |
| Best value plan | Premium plan for $1.59/mo (billed annually) | Monthly contributor plan for $1.99/mo |
| Free version available | ||
| Money-back guarantee | Yes — 30 days | |
| Learn more | Get Total Adblock | Get Ghostery |
Both of these ad blockers can be used for free, but upgrading offers perks. Total Adblock is better if you purchase the premium version because it gives you unlimited access and TotalAV antivirus protection. Ghostery is free to use, but contributors get an ad-free experience in the private search feature.
If you want even more out of your Total Adblock, you can bundle it with other Total Security products for a full security suite that includes a VPN, password manager, and other benefits. The Total Security suite combines a variety of different security products into one, so you don’t have to buy a multitude of different subscriptions.
Ghostery’s paid tier is more altruistic than anything else. While it’s great to support useful software that makes your life safer, you don’t have to purchase anything to get the full power of Ghostery. It’s great for budget-conscious consumers.
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Our Pick |
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| Whitelisting | ||
| Blacklisting | ||
| Ads blocked counter | ||
| Bypasses paywalls | ||
| Block pop-up ads | ||
| Block tracking | ||
| Block video ads | ||
| Block banner ads | ||
| Block push ads | ||
| Learn more | Get Total Adblock | Get Ghostery |
We noticed that one of the biggest differences between these two blockers is that Total Adblock requires a subscription to block unlimited ads, while Ghostery doesn't. Both offer a lot of power in blocking ads and trackers, but Total Adblock affords you access to additional security tools, such as an antivirus.
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But that's not to say Ghostery doesn't offer perks. Other features you can get for free from Ghostery include Ghostery WhoTracks.Me, for statistical reports on your trackers, and a Private Browser and Search.
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However, we found the Total Security suite to be more beneficial for online protection and seamless browsing.
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Our Pick
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| AdBlock Tester score | 100/100 | 99/100 |
| Cover Your Tracks score | 2/3 | 0.5/3 |
| Can You Block It score | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| YouTube ads blocked | ||
| Paywalls bypassed | ||
| Learn more | Get Total Adblock | Get Ghostery |
Total Adblock had stronger scores than Ghostery in our testing and was able to block more annoying ads and trackers.
We especially want to point out the Cover Your Tracks scores. This website tests how unique you appear online. The more unique you are, the easier it is to track you (think of having pink hair in a sea of brunettes). Ghostery mostly failed, while Total Adblock passed 2/3 tests (a standard score for premium ad blockers).
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Neither ad blocker was able to get around paywalls, while both were able to block YouTube ads.
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Our Pick
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| Windows | ||
| macOS | ||
| Android | ||
| iOS | ||
| Linux | ||
| Browser extensions | Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge, Safari | iOS, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Safari |
| 24/7 customer support | ||
| Customer support options | Online guides, email, phone, chat | Online contact form |
| Learn more | Get Total Adblock | Get Ghostery |
We found both ad blockers intuitive and easy to use. We found Ghostery to be a bit more aesthetically pleasing, but either one will get the job done. Compatibility is nearly equal, except Ghostery supports Firefox, whereas Total Adblock doesn’t. Otherwise, these two are tied in ease of use.
While you shouldn’t require too much support with an ad blocker, if it’s causing you problems and you can’t shut it down, it’s nice to have some kind of support to help. Total Adblock offers online guides, while Ghostery has a contact form on its site. Neither is going to get you an immediate answer, but with Ghostery, at least you’ll be able to communicate your issues to a real person rather than sorting through help pages trying to find the answer yourself.
Yes, Total Adblock is one of the best ad blockers because it performs well during repeat in-house testing and offers a lot of value by including TotalAV antivirus protection with a Premium subscription. It effectively blocks a variety of annoying ads, cookies, and trackers, and it seamlessly blocks YouTube video ads.
While Total Adblock is a good free ad blocker, you need to upgrade to unlock its full ad blocking and anti-tracking capabilities.
When it comes to power and ability, the best free ad blocker is uBlock Origin. Unfortunately, this ad blocker can feel a little technical and may be difficult to use if you are a beginner on the internet. Paid ad blockers tend to have more intuitive controls and be easier to use and configure. Another downside is that uBlock Origin is no longer compatible with Chrome or Safari.
Yes, Ghostery is a safe ad blocker, so you won’t have to worry about using it. It’s open source and has millions of downloads, which means there are a lot of eyes on the software all the time. An ad blocker works by detecting the specific coding used for ads and blocking that code from running. Open-source software like Ghostery is not only safe but also always updated, so you’re getting the most up-to-date protection.
The most powerful ad blocker is also likely uBlock Origin because it’s pretty tough against ads. If you aren’t tech-savvy though, uBlock Origin might feel a little daunting. Since it’s free and open source, there isn’t a development team making the user experience easier. Paid ad blockers usually have a better user experience and are easier for novice users.
Total Adblock performed better in testing when it came to hiding us from online trackers, and it can be bundled with other Total Security features for a comprehensive suite located in one easy-to-use dashboard.
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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