# Ghostery – Privacy Ad Blocker

> The best privacy tool and ad blocker extension for Firefox. Stop trackers, speed up websites and block ads everywhere including YouTube and Facebook.

Canonical page: [https://chrome-stats.com/d/ghostery](https://chrome-stats.com/d/ghostery)

## Overview

- **ID:** `ghostery`
- **Platform:** Firefox
- **Type:** Firefox add-on
- **Status:** Available
- **Publisher:** Ghostery
- **Category:** web-development,privacy-security
- **Daily users:** 1,000,795
- **Weekly downloads:** 15,521
- **Rating:** 4.43 / 5 (5,705 ratings)
- **Version:** 10.6.1
- **Last updated:** 2026-09-09
- **First published:** 2008-11-15
- **Size:** 4.57 MB
- **Data as of:** 2026-09-09
- **Store listing:** [Firefox Add-ons Store](https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/ghostery/)
- **Website:** [https://www.ghostery.com/support/](https://www.ghostery.com/support/)
- **Privacy policy:** [https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/ghostery/privacy/](https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/ghostery/privacy/)

## Description

Ghostery is a leading privacy and ad blocker extension for Firefox, boasting over 100 million downloads worldwide. It blocks ads on websites including YouTube and Facebook, stops trackers from collecting your personal data, and automatically dismisses intrusive cookie consent pop-ups. With features like tracker information on visited sites, tracker preview on search results, and the ability to anonymize your identity, Ghostery offers a comprehensive and user-friendly privacy solution.

Open source and free to use forever, Ghostery empowers users to take back control of their digital privacy. Backed by the extensive WhoTracks.Me database and supported by a global community of contributors, it ensures up-to-date protection and transparency. Experience safer, faster, and clutter-free browsing with Ghostery, your trusted privacy advocate on Firefox.

## Rankings

- #16 — Overall
- #2 — Web Development
- #5 — Privacy & Security
- #1 — ad
- #1 — ads
- #1 — cost

## Permissions and access

### Permissions

- `alarms`
- `contextMenus`
- `cookies`
- `storage`
- `scripting`
- `tabs`
- `activeTab`
- `webNavigation`
- `webRequest`
- `webRequestBlocking`
- `unlimitedStorage`
- `http://*/*`
- `https://*/*`
- `ws://*/*`
- `wss://*/*`

### Content script matches

- `*`
- `www.youtube.com`

## Safety

- **Risk impact:** Very high risk impact
- **Risk likelihood:** Very low risk likelihood

### Analysis details

- Grants access to browser tabs, which can be used to track user browsing habits and history, presenting a privacy concern.
- This extension was recently updated in the past month. New updates may not be stable or safe.

> Some risk analysis details are omitted from this free response. [Upgrade to view the full analysis](https://chrome-stats.com/pricing).

## Review summary

User reviews consistently praise Ghostery for strong, site-wide ad-blocking, unobtrusive operation, and ease of use. Many consider it essential, reliable over years, and it improves browsing speed. A recurring downside is a persistent 'leave a review' prompt that some users find intrusive and hard to dismiss, which has even led to negative ratings. Overall, most users view it as a free, effective privacy ad blocker that works across popular sites like YouTube and Picrew, enhancing the browsing experience without interfering with use.

### Pros

- Strong ad-blocking effectiveness across sites, reducing ads on most websites
- Non-intrusive, lightweight and easy to use with a single-click toggle
- Long-standing reliability and trust, used for years and considered essential
- Improves browsing experience and performance with fewer nuisances and smoother navigation
- Free to use and widely accessible

### Cons

- Persistent 'leave a review' prompt that cannot be easily dismissed, causing frustration for some users

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Source: [Chrome-Stats](https://chrome-stats.com/d/ghostery)