ClearURLs

Remove tracking elements from URLs.

ClearURLs: Protect Your Privacy by Removing URL Trackers

ClearURLs is a Chrome extension designed to enhance your online privacy by automatically removing tracking codes embedded in the URLs. These codes are unnecessary for a webpage to load correctly; instead, they track your online behaviour. ClearURLs works in the background, stripping away these trackers. It also helps prevent tracking injections and rewrite of search results by search engines like Google and Yandex. In addition, it blocks some common ad domains and offers multiple tools to allow for bulk cleanup of URLs.
Install from Chrome Web Store

Extension stats

Users: 100,000+
Version: 1.26.0 (Last updated: 2022-11-19)
Creation date: 2020-06-07
Risk impact: High risk impact
Risk likelihood:
Manifest version: 2
Permissions:
  • <all_urls>
  • webRequest
  • webRequestBlocking
  • storage
  • unlimitedStorage
  • contextMenus
  • webNavigation
  • tabs
  • downloads
Size: 848.90K
URLs: Website

Other platforms

Not available on Android
ClearURLs (v1.27.1)
4.32 (928) 490,076+
ClearURLs (v1.27.1)
4.10 (43) 36,551+
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Extension summary

Analyze keywords

This extension will automatically remove tracking elements from URLs to help protect your privacy when browse through the Internet.

Many websites use tracking elements in the URL (e.g. https://example.com?utm_source=newsletter1&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=sale) to mark your online activity. All that tracking code is not necessary for a website to be displayed or work correctly and can therefore be removed—that is exactly what ClearURLs does.

Another common example are Amazon URLs. If you search for a product on Amazon you will see a very long URL, such as: https://www.amazon.com/dp/exampleProduct/ref=sxin_0_pb?__mk_de_DE=ÅMÅŽÕÑ&keywords=tea&pd_rd_i=exampleProduct&pd_rd_r=8d39e4cd-1e4f-43db-b6e7-72e969a84aa5&pd_rd_w=1pcKM&pd_rd_wg=hYrNl&pf_rd_p=50bbfd25-5ef7-41a2-68d6-74d854b30e30&pf_rd_r=0GMWD0YYKA7XFGX55ADP&qid=1517757263&rnid=2914120011

Indeed most of the above URL is tracking code. Once ClearURLs has cleaned the address, it will look like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/exampleProduct

All functions in a nutshell

  • Removes tracking from URLs automatically in the background
  • Blocks some common ad domains (optional)
  • Has a built-in tool to clean up multiple URLs at once
  • Supports redirection to the destination, without tracking services as middleman
  • Adds an entry to the context menu so that links can be copied quickly and cleanly
See more

User reviews

These summaries are automatically generated weekly using AI based on recent user reviews. Chrome Web Store does not verify user reviews, so some user reviews may be inaccurate, spammy, or outdated.
Pros
  • Works as stated when functioning properly
  • Helps maintain user privacy by clearing tracking from URLs
  • Simple idea that resonates well with users
  • Useful for removing unnecessary URL parameters
Cons
  • Breaks functionality on various Google services (Google Docs, Sheets, Play Books)
  • Lacks a whitelist or blacklist feature for specific sites
  • Has not been updated recently, leading to compatibility issues
  • May be considered an adblocker by some sites, causing additional problems
Most mentioned
  • Breaks Google Docs and Sheets functionalities
  • No option to whitelist or exclude specific sites
  • Last updated in 2022, raising concerns over future support
  • Google has removed the extension from installation due to policy violations
  • Works well but inconsistently, leading to user frustrations
User reviews
by Carla, 2025-01-21

Breaks google play books. Books won't open with this extension.
by Alexei Zakharov, 2025-01-17

nice
by c3, 2025-01-06
View all user reviews

Extension safety

Risk impact

ClearURLs requires some sensitive permissions that could impact your browser and data security. Exercise caution before installing.

Risk likelihood

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

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