Adblock Plus vs Ghostery – Privacy Ad Blocker: Which Is Safer?
At a glance: verified facts
| Fact | Adblock Plus | Ghostery – Privacy Ad Blocker |
|---|---|---|
| Published by | Adblock Plus | Ghostery |
| Publisher public | Yes | Yes |
| Policy changes we track | None detected | None detected |
| Last data check | 2026-06-18 | 2026-06-18 |
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 4 safety dimensions measured for both:
- On publisher & identity, the two are evenly matched (60% vs 60%).
- On permissions & access, the two are evenly matched (85% vs 85%).
- On maintenance & ownership, the two are evenly matched (100% vs 100%).
- Ghostery – Privacy Ad Blocker leads on community reputation (100% vs 92%).
Not yet measured for either extension: Data & Privacy — this comparison covers only what we verified.
Safety score breakdown
| Dimension | Adblock Plus | Ghostery – Privacy Ad Blocker |
|---|---|---|
| Publisher & Identity | 4.8/8 | 4.8/8 |
| Permissions & Access | 14.17/16.67 | 14.17/16.67 |
| Data & Privacy | — | — |
| Maintenance & Ownership | 7.5/7.5 | 7.5/7.5 |
| Community Reputation | 9.15/10 | 10/10 |
| Total | 84.47/100 | 86.48/100 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Adblock Plus safer than Ghostery – Privacy Ad Blocker?
Ghostery – Privacy Ad Blocker currently scores higher — 86/100 vs 84/100 — across the 4 safety dimensions measured for both. That covers documented evidence only, not features or pricing.
Is Adblock Plus safe?
Adblock Plus currently holds safety grade A (84/100) based on 4 of 5 safety dimensions, and is published by Adblock Plus. 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 (86/100) based on 4 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 safety report · Ghostery – Privacy Ad Blocker safety report, or run any other extension through the safety check.