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Browser Extensions · head to head

Ghostery vs Mullvad VPN

Ghostery logo

Ghostery

Browser Extensions

Block ads and stop trackers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
M

Mullvad VPN

Cybersecurity

Privacy-first VPN with one flat price and no email required to sign up

From
$5/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Ghostery has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Ghostery database of trackers requires regular updates to remain current; Mullvad VPN offers no free trial or free tier, unlike several consumer VPN competitors.
  • They diverge on capability: Ghostery covers Tracker blocking, Mullvad VPN covers Flat single pricing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Ghostery and Mullvad VPN actually diverge.

Attributes where Ghostery and Mullvad VPN differ
AttributeGhosteryMullvad VPN
Starting priceFree$5/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsFirefox, Chrome, Edge, Safari, Operawindows, mac, linux, ios, android
CategoryBrowser ExtensionsCybersecurity

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), founded (2009).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Ghostery

  • Tracker blocking
  • Ad blocking
  • Privacy dashboard
  • Enhanced anti-tracking
  • Chrome support
  • Firefox support
  • Edge support
  • Safari support

Only in Mullvad VPN

  • Flat single pricing
  • Account-number signup
  • Cash and crypto payments
  • WireGuard support
  • Independent audits

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Ghostery

  • Blocking ads and sponsored content before they loadnot Mullvad VPN
  • Preventing tracker profiling by replacing identifying data with random valuesnot Mullvad VPN
  • Automatically rejecting non-essential cookie consentnot Mullvad VPN
  • Seeing which companies track a given site through WhoTracks.Menot Mullvad VPN

Mullvad VPN

  • Paying for a VPN anonymously with cash or cryptocurrencynot Ghostery
  • Avoiding tiered upsells with a single flat-rate plannot Ghostery
  • Signing up without providing an email addressnot Ghostery
  • Verifying a provider's privacy claims via independent auditsnot Ghostery

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Ghostery

  • Database of trackers requires regular updates to remain current
  • Some sites break functionality when trackers are aggressively blocked

Mullvad VPN

  • Offers no free trial or free tier, unlike several consumer VPN competitors.
  • Lacks a bundled tiered structure, so there is no cheaper limited plan for occasional users.
  • Server network and streaming-unblocking performance is smaller than large mainstream VPN providers.
  • No annual discount, meaning long-term subscribers pay the same monthly rate as short-term users.

Pricing, plan by plan

Ghostery

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Ghostery review.

Mullvad VPN

$5/month
  • Mullvad VPN$5/month
    • Flat rate regardless of subscription length
    • 5 simultaneous devices
    • No email required

Which should you pick?

Choose Ghostery if

  • You need tracker blocking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Safari, Opera.
  • You also want ad blocking.
Ghostery review

Choose Mullvad VPN if

  • You need flat single pricing.
  • You work on windows, mac, linux, ios, android.
  • You also want account-number signup.
Mullvad VPN review

Questions people ask

Is Ghostery or Mullvad VPN better?
Neither clearly leads. Ghostery starts at Free and Mullvad VPN at $5/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Ghostery or Mullvad VPN?
Ghostery has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Ghostery and $5/month for Mullvad VPN.
Does Ghostery or Mullvad VPN run on more platforms?
Ghostery runs on Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Safari, Opera. Mullvad VPN runs on windows, mac, linux, ios, android.
Can I use Ghostery for free?
Yes. Ghostery has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Mullvad VPN starts at $5/month.
What is Ghostery best used for?
Ghostery is most often used for blocking ads and sponsored content before they load, preventing tracker profiling by replacing identifying data with random values, automatically rejecting non-essential cookie consent, seeing which companies track a given site through whotracks.me. Of those, blocking ads and sponsored content before they load and preventing tracker profiling by replacing identifying data with random values are not what Mullvad VPN is typically brought in for.
What can Ghostery do that Mullvad VPN cannot?
Ghostery covers Tracker blocking, Ad blocking, Privacy dashboard, Enhanced anti-tracking. Mullvad VPN covers Flat single pricing, Account-number signup, Cash and crypto payments, WireGuard support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Ghostery: Is Ghostery completely free?

Yes. Ghostery is a free ad blocking browser extension that you can install without paying a subscription. All of Ghostery's features are completely free to use, including ad blocking, tracker blocking, and cookie consent banner handling.

Source
Ghostery: What browsers does Ghostery support?

Ghostery is available for Firefox, Chrome, Opera, Edge and Safari as a browser extension.

Source
Ghostery: What data does Ghostery collect?

Ghostery collects no personal information, ensuring your privacy remains protected while using the extension.

Source
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