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Browser Extensions · head to head

Ghostery vs SimilarWeb

Ghostery logo

Ghostery

Browser Extensions

Block ads and stop trackers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
S

SimilarWeb

Browser Extensions

Website traffic and competitive analysis

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Ghostery database of trackers requires regular updates to remain current; SimilarWeb browser extension data accuracy is lower than full platform
  • They diverge on capability: Ghostery covers Tracker blocking, SimilarWeb covers Traffic analytics.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Ghostery and SimilarWeb actually diverge.

Attributes where Ghostery and SimilarWeb differ
AttributeGhosterySimilarWeb
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsFirefox, Chrome, Edge, Safari, OperaWeb, Browser Extension
Founded20092007

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Browser Extensions).

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
  • Safari support
  • Opera support

Only in SimilarWeb

  • Traffic analytics
  • Audience insights
  • Competitor research
  • Industry analysis

Both cover

  • Chrome support
  • Firefox support
  • Edge support

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 SimilarWeb
  • Preventing tracker profiling by replacing identifying data with random valuesnot SimilarWeb
  • Automatically rejecting non-essential cookie consentnot SimilarWeb
  • Seeing which companies track a given site through WhoTracks.Menot SimilarWeb

SimilarWeb

No use cases recorded yet. See the SimilarWeb review.

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

SimilarWeb

  • Browser extension data accuracy is lower than full platform
  • Full platform pricing is not transparent and requires quote-based inquiry

Pricing, plan by plan

Ghostery

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Ghostery review.

SimilarWeb

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Traffic overview
    • Engagement metrics
    • Similar sites

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 SimilarWeb if

  • You need traffic analytics.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Browser Extension.
  • You also want audience insights.
SimilarWeb review

Questions people ask

Is Ghostery or SimilarWeb better?
Neither clearly leads. Ghostery starts at Free and SimilarWeb at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Ghostery or SimilarWeb?
Ghostery starts at Free and SimilarWeb at Free.
Does Ghostery or SimilarWeb run on more platforms?
Ghostery runs on Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Safari, Opera. SimilarWeb runs on Web, Browser Extension.
Can I use Ghostery for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 SimilarWeb is typically brought in for.
What can Ghostery do that SimilarWeb cannot?
Ghostery covers Tracker blocking, Ad blocking, Privacy dashboard, Enhanced anti-tracking. SimilarWeb covers Traffic analytics, Audience insights, Competitor research, Industry analysis. Both handle Chrome support, Firefox support, Edge 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
SimilarWeb: Is the SimilarWeb browser extension free?

Yes. The SimilarWeb browser extension is completely free to install and use with no paid tiers and no credit card required.

Source
Ghostery: What browsers does Ghostery support?

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

Source
SimilarWeb: How many websites does SimilarWeb cover?

SimilarWeb provides access to intelligence from 1B+ websites and 8M apps, tracks 5B search terms and 250M display ads across 190 countries and 210 industries.

Source
Ghostery: What data does Ghostery collect?

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

Source
SimilarWeb: How accurate is SimilarWeb extension data?

Browser extension data accuracy is lower than the full platform, but it is adequate for ballpark figures of traffic estimates.

Source
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Related pages

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