Adblock Plus - free ad blocker vs Ghostery – Privacy Ad Blocker: Which Is Safer?
At a glance: verified facts
| Fact | Adblock Plus - free ad blocker | Ghostery – Privacy Ad Blocker |
|---|---|---|
| Published by | eyeo GmbH | Ghostery |
| Publisher public | Yes | Yes |
| Policy changes we track | None detected | None detected |
| Last data check | 2026-06-30 | 2026-08-04 |
From public records (the extension's store listing, publisher registry, manifest metadata) and our policy snapshots — a "—" means we have no verified data for that field yet.
What the evidence shows
Both are ad & content blockers extensions we track. Comparing the 5 safety dimensions measured for both:
- On publisher & identity, the two are evenly matched (60% vs 60%).
- Adblock Plus - free ad blocker leads on permissions & access (90% vs 85%).
- Adblock Plus - free ad blocker leads on data & privacy (100% vs 50%).
- On maintenance & ownership, the two are evenly matched (100% vs 100%).
- Adblock Plus - free ad blocker leads on community reputation (100% vs 93%).
Safety score breakdown
| Dimension | Adblock Plus - free ad blocker | Ghostery – Privacy Ad Blocker |
|---|---|---|
| Publisher & Identity | 4.8/8 | 4.8/8 |
| Permissions & Access | 22.5/25 | 14.17/16.67 |
| Data & Privacy | 16/16 | 2/4 |
| Maintenance & Ownership | 7.5/7.5 | 7.5/7.5 |
| Community Reputation | 10/10 | 9.25/10 |
| Total | 91.43/100 | 81.7/100 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Adblock Plus - free ad blocker safer than Ghostery – Privacy Ad Blocker?
Adblock Plus - free ad blocker currently scores higher — 91/100 vs 82/100 — across the 5 safety dimensions measured for both. That covers documented evidence only, not features or pricing.
Is Adblock Plus - free ad blocker safe?
Adblock Plus - free ad blocker currently holds safety grade A (91/100) based on 5 of 5 safety dimensions, and is published by eyeo GmbH. The grade reflects only what we have measured; anything not yet assessed is marked as pending on the full report.
Is Ghostery – Privacy Ad Blocker safe?
Ghostery – Privacy Ad Blocker currently holds safety grade A (82/100) based on 5 of 5 safety dimensions, and is published by Ghostery. The grade reflects only what we have measured; anything not yet assessed is marked as pending on the full report.
More Ad & Content Blockers extension comparisons
How this comparison works
Both extensions are scored with the same five-dimension, 100-point rubric — publisher & identity, permissions & access, data & privacy, maintenance & ownership and community reputation — using documented evidence only; a dimension with no evidence stays unscored instead of guessed. Read the full reports: Adblock Plus - free ad blocker safety report · Ghostery – Privacy Ad Blocker safety report, or run any other extension through the safety check.