ClearURLs

ClearURLs

Remove tracking elements from URLs.

What is ClearURLs?
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.
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: Very low risk likelihood
Manifest version: 2
Permissions:
  • <all_urls>
  • webRequest
  • webRequestBlocking
  • storage
  • unlimitedStorage
  • contextMenus
  • webNavigation
  • tabs
  • downloads
Size: 848.90K
URLs: Website
Stats date:

Other platforms

ClearURLs
ClearURLs (v1.26.1)
4.45 (770) 210,191+
ClearURLs
ClearURLs (v1.26.0)
4.40 (37) 39,452+
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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
User reviews summary
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
  • Does what it says by cleaning URLs
  • Improves browsing experience
  • Works well on certain browsers like Vivaldi and Kiwi
Cons
  • Breaks OAuth2 authorization, particularly with Google accounts
  • Causes issues with certain website functionalities, like downloading APK files or giving permissions in Google
  • Lacks a whitelist feature to exclude certain URLs
Most mentioned
  • Breaks Google account logins and OAuth2
  • Needs a whitelist or blacklist feature
  • Can cause problems with website functionality
Recent reviews
не работает. ссылки не очищает.
by S Pepper S Pepper, 2024-03-16

Sitelere özel kapatma seçeneği gelmeli. Bazı sitelerde sorunlar çıkarabiliyor. Mesela GDrive sitesinde videoların izlenmesini engelliyor.
by Sefa Çiçek Sefa Çiçek, 2021-03-02

Für "Normalsterbliche" gut geeignet, tut was es soll. Leeeeider zerstört es ein paar Funktionen der AWS Console. SES und Lambda glänzen durch unvorhersehbares Verhalten. Sicher ein exotisches Problem, für mich dann aber leider ein Neckbreaker (der mich 2 Stunden Lebenszeit gekostet hat ;) ).
by Falko Ziemann Falko Ziemann, 2021-01-15
View all user reviews
Safety
Risk impact

ClearURLs is risky to use as it requires a number of sensitive permissions that can potentially harm your browser and steal your data. Exercise caution when installing this extension. Review carefully before installing. We recommend that you only install ClearURLs if you trust the publisher.

Risk likelihood

ClearURLs has earned a good reputation and can be trusted.

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Screenshots
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