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Best for Free Ad Blocking
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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
Best for Families
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User-friendly ad blocker that offers broad coverage across browsers and devices without compromising device speed
The free version provides basic extension-only coverage, while the premium plans boast robust app coverage
App plans include parental controls, browsing security, browser assistant, DNS leak protection, and a VPN
Ghostery offers a user-friendly free plan with all its features available, even if you don't become a contributor. However, AdGuard did a significantly better job blocking ads and trackers. Its premium app boasts security tools like a VPN, DNS protection, and parental controls to make browsing online safer.
Price aside, both ad blockers have pros and cons. We’ve extensively vetted and tested ad blockers to bring you a clear breakdown of costs, features, compatibility, and more. Let's dive in and explore the features and effectiveness of Ghostery and AdGuard.
Ghostery and AdGuard both offer free ad blockers, but they differ in functionality. Ghostery lets you use all of its features even if you don't pay for the software, while AdGuard works best when you buy an app subscription to access all of its capabilities. It also has additional security features like parental controls to customize the browsing experience for everyone in your household.
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| Best for | Free ad blocking | Families |
| Price | Free | Free or $2.49-$5.49/mo |
| Ads blocked on Forbes | 9 | 14 |
| Does it block YouTube ads? | ||
| Compatibility | Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari, and Opera | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Android TV, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge, Opera, Yandex |
| Mobile compatibility | (browser only) Android, iOS | Android, iOS |
| Learn more | Get Ghostery | Get AdGuard |
Our Pick |
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| Price range | Free or Free to $11.99/mo for contributors | Free or $2.49-$5.49/mo |
| Best value plan | Monthly contributor plan for $1.99/mo | AdGuard Personal for $2.49/mo |
| Free version available | ||
| Money-back guarantee | N/A | Yes — 60 days |
| Learn more | Get Ghostery | Get AdGuard |
Both Ghostery and AdGuard have free ad blockers. The AdGuard free extension is available only on browser extensions or mobile apps, and it has limited features. If you want full access, you need to subscribe.
Meanwhile, Ghostery is completely free. You can choose to contribute financially with a monthly or annual subscription, but it's not necessary to use Ghostery. Since no features are blocked, Ghostery offers the best deal on a free ad blocker.
AdGuard costs more than Ghostery, but it offers more long-term value with the inclusion of advanced security features. The AdGuard Individual plan covers up to 3 devices, and the Family plan covers up to 9 devices.
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Our Pick | |
| 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 Ghostery | Get AdGuard |
Beyond the essential ad blocker features, there are a few additional differences between Ghostery and AdGuard. Ghostery has a private browser and search engine.
But it's AdGuard that shines with bonus features. Here is a quick look at what AdGuard includes:
AdGuard’s parental controls are password protected to prevent children from changing the settings. With parental controls, you can choose a content sensitivity level, manage blacklists and whitelists, and block executable file downloads.
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Our Pick | |
| Adblock Tester score | 91/100 | 100/100 (macOS)
94/100 (Windows) |
| Cover Your Tracks score | 0/3 | 2/3 |
| Can You Block It score | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| YouTube ads blocked | ||
| Paywalls bypassed | ||
| Learn more | Get Ghostery | Get AdGuard |
The biggest question about ad blockers is whether they actually work. We tested Ghostery and AdGuard and evaluated their ability to block ads and trackers successfully. We checked each against AdBlock Tester, Cover Your Tracks, and Can You Block It.
Ghostery and AdGuard both had decent scores for blocking ads, but we had some trouble getting AdGuard to work effectively from the jump. After some tweaking, AdGuard crushed the AdBlock Tester test with a perfect 100/100 ad blocking score on macOS and 94/100 on Windows. Ghostery had a comparably decent score of 91/100. Both ad blockers were equally effective at disabling banner and interstitial ads in Can You Block It.
AdGuard scored 2/3 on the ad tracking tests by Cover Your Tracks — results that are in line with the most popular ad blockers. The biggest disappointment was that Ghostery failed to block trackers. It's a significant issue that Ghostery claims to block trackers but scored only 0/3 in Cover Your Tracks. Trackers follow you as you use the internet and collect your personal data, interests, and browsing habits. Ghostery can't keep you anonymous online.
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However, if you switch to Ghostery Private Browser, it has an easier time blocking trackers. But this means you can't use your preferred browser.
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Our Pick | |
| Windows | ||
| macOS | ||
| Android | ||
| iOS | ||
| Linux | ||
| Browser extensions | Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari, Opera | Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari, Opera, Yandex |
| 24/7 customer support | ||
| Customer support options | Online form, forums, online guides | Email, knowledge base, FAQ, community forum |
| Learn more | Get Ghostery | Get AdGuard |
When it comes to a "Set it and forget it" ad blocker, Ghostery is the better choice. AdGuard may need some configurations to get optimal functionality. However, both ad blockers have simple designs that make it easy to use.
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Both ad blockers work on various devices and browsers. If you use Linux, Ghostery is your option. AdGuard is more likely to support less popular browsers, and it has dedicated apps for macOS, Windows, Android, and iOS.
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It's worth noting that Ghostery and AdGuard have similar customer support options.
Ghostery is a better free ad blocker than Total Adblock only because all features are available even if you don't pay for Ghostery. Total Adblock offers a limited free version. However, Ghostery didn't pass our tracking test, which means your personal data is getting collected while you browse the internet. Total Adblock may be a better choice if you want effective ad and tracker blocking.
Ghostery is a trusted ad blocker with over 100 million downloads. It also uses open-source software, which means anyone can look at the code and notice any problems.
Ghostery and uBlock Origin are both free, open-source ad blockers. During our testing, uBlock was better at blocking trackers than Ghostery. Although Ghostery is more user friendly and doesn't require any technical knowledge to use, uBlock Origin is one of the most popular ad blockers we’d recommend.
AdGuard is a great ad blocker choice, but it may not suit your needs — or budget. If you want a more comprehensive security suite, consider NordVPN Threat Protection. If you want an ad blocker that includes a VPN at a better price point, consider Surfshark CleanWeb.
AdGuard passed all our ad and tracker blocker tests. It also has additional security features like parental controls to customize your browsing experience. It's a great choice for families or anyone looking for an effective ad blocker.
Ghostery is still a solid choice, especially if you are looking for a free ad blocker with no limitations.
User-friendly ad blocker that offers broad coverage across browsers and devices without compromising device speed
The free version provides basic extension-only coverage, while the premium plans boast robust app coverage
App plans include parental controls, browsing security, browser assistant, DNS leak protection, and a VPN
Ghostery and AdGuard each have their own benefits and downsides. It's possible neither won you over, but luckily there are a few other great options available.
Some ad blockers include additional security features like antivirus protection. Some of them even have better overall value while still protecting you from ads and trackers. Take a look at some of the best ad blockers we've tested:
| Ad blocker | 
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| Best for | Best for blocking YouTube ads | Best overall | Best for parental controls |
| Price | Paid plan costs $1.59/mo (billed annually) | Starts at $3.99/mo (billed every two years) | Paid plans start at $2.49/mo |
| Blocks YouTube ads | |||
| Learn more | Get Total Adblock | Get NordVPN Threat Protection | Get AdGuard |
User-friendly ad blocker that offers broad coverage across browsers and devices without compromising device speed
The free version provides basic extension-only coverage, while the premium plans boast robust app coverage
App plans include parental controls, browsing security, browser assistant, DNS leak protection, and a VPN
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