ClearURLs

Name: ClearURLs
Rating: 4.285 (993 reviews)
Author: Kevin

Removes tracking elements from URLs

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ClearURLs is a powerful Chrome extension designed to enhance your online privacy by automatically removing tracking elements from URLs. Many websites add tracking parameters (like utm_source, campaign tags, etc.) which are unnecessary for page functionality but compromise user privacy. ClearURLs cleans URLs in the background using over 250 detailed rules — far more than typical link cleaners — to ensure comprehensive protection without disrupting your browsing experience.

This open-source extension also blocks some common ad domains, prevents hyperlink auditing (ping tracking), blocks tracking injections via history API, and stops search engines like Google and Yandex from rewriting results to include tracking data. Useful tools include bulk URL cleaning and quick copy options from the context menu. ClearURLs respects your privacy completely and does not collect any usage data. Recommended by privacy advocates and reviewed by major sources, it’s an essential tool for a cleaner, safer internet experience.

Add-on Privacy & Security Productivity Utilities

By:

Kevin

Daily users:

438,684 -4,824

Rating:

4.29

(993) 4 new ratings

Version:

1.27.3 Last updated: 2025-02-14

Version code:

5887826

Creation date:

2017-08-03

Risk:

Permissions:

<all_urls>
webRequest
webRequestBlocking
storage
unlimitedStorage
contextMenus
webNavigation
tabs
downloads

Size:

1.05MB

URLs:

Website ,Privacy policy

Full description:

Source:

Firefox Browser Add-ons

Updated:

a day ago

Ranking

# 40

Other rankings

#7 in Privacy & Security

#1 in earn keyword 26

#1 in learn keyword 41

#3 in lead keyword 14

#3 in tracking keyword 29

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Other platforms

ClearURLs (v1.26.0)

90,000 3.70

(216)

ClearURLs (v1.27.3)

44,449 4.00

(48)

User reviews

ClearURLs is praised for enhancing privacy by cleaning tracking parameters from URLs effectively and simply. However, multiple users report significant issues, including the lack of a whitelist feature, causing it to break important logins and public service authentication systems. Additionally, it doesn't clean URLs on some major sites like YouTube and Google searches out-of-the-box, and some users are wary of its broad permissions. Enhancements like a whitelist and improved default filters could improve its usability and safety.

Pros

Effectively cleans URLs to remove tracking parameters, increasing privacy.
Helps users block tracking on many websites, enhancing browsing experience.
Simple and useful tool appreciated by users for privacy purposes.

Cons

No domain whitelist feature, leading to over-aggressive URL cleaning that can break website functionality.
Breaks critical login systems (e.g., SAML logins on government sites and Google logins).
Does not clean URLs on some popular sites like YouTube or Google searches by default, requiring manual user input or scripts.
Requires broad permissions that some users find concerning (e.g., access to all website data).

Recent reviews

by Ja*****, 2025-06-21

by Fi*****, 2025-06-20

Seems alright overall, but stopped working with bing, and blocked the ability to receive Microsoft rewards. Had to uninstall. Would be nice if there was a whitelist.

by Te*****, 2025-06-18

View all user reviews ›

Extension safety

Risk impact

Risk impact measures the level of extra permissions an extension has access to. A low risk impact extension cannot do much harms, whereas a high risk impact extension can do a lot of damage like stealing your password, bypassing your security settings, and accessing your personal data. High risk impact extensions are not necessarily malicious. However, if they do turn malicious, they can be very harmful.

ClearURLs requires a lot of sensitive permissions. Exercise caution before installing.

Risk impact analysis details

Critical Allows access to all websites, posing a significant security risk as it can monitor and modify data from any visited site.
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Risk likelihood

Risk likelihood measures the probability that a Firefox add-on may turn malicious. This is determined by the publisher and the Firefox add-on reputation on Firefox Browser Add-ons, the amount of time the Firefox add-on has been around, and other signals about the Firefox add-on. Our algorithms are not perfect, and are subject to change as we discover new ways to detect malicious extensions. We recommend that you always exercise caution when installing a Firefox add-on.

ClearURLs has earned a fairly good reputation and likely can be trusted.

Risk likelihood analysis details

Low This extension was updated more than 6 months ago. Older versions are more likely to be stable and safe.
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