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Software · head to head

Ghostery vs Tampermonkey

Ghostery logo

Ghostery

Software

Block ads and stop trackers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Tampermonkey logo

Tampermonkey

Software

The most popular userscript manager

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Ghostery database of trackers requires regular updates to remain current; Tampermonkey only source code up to version 2.9 is GPLv3; all newer versions are distributed under a proprietary license despite the extension itself being free to use
  • They diverge on capability: Ghostery covers Tracker blocking, Tampermonkey covers Userscript management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Ghostery and Tampermonkey actually diverge.

Attributes where Ghostery and Tampermonkey differ
AttributeGhosteryTampermonkey
PlatformsFirefox, Chrome, Edge, Safari, OperaWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android
Founded20092010

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

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

Only in Tampermonkey

  • Userscript management
  • Script editor
  • Auto-update
  • Cloud sync

Both cover

  • Chrome support
  • Firefox support
  • Edge support
  • Safari support
  • Opera 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 Tampermonkey
  • Preventing tracker profiling by replacing identifying data with random valuesnot Tampermonkey
  • Automatically rejecting non-essential cookie consentnot Tampermonkey
  • Seeing which companies track a given site through WhoTracks.Menot Tampermonkey

Tampermonkey

  • Auto-run custom JavaScript to add features to specific websitesnot Ghostery
  • Block ads, remove clutter, or reformat page layout via community/personal userscriptsnot Ghostery
  • Run scripts sourced from Greasy Fork or similar userscript repositoriesnot Ghostery
  • Automate repetitive web tasks such as form-filling or redirect skipping via installed scriptsnot 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

Tampermonkey

  • Only source code up to version 2.9 is GPLv3; all newer versions are distributed under a proprietary license despite the extension itself being free to use
  • Under Manifest V3, GM_webRequest is not (yet) supported
  • Under Manifest V3, GM_xmlhttpRequest fires only one progress event instead of streaming progress, requiring a responseType: 'stream' workaround
  • Since v5.3.2, Chrome/Edge (MV3) requires the user to manually enable Developer Mode, or from Chrome 138+ a per-extension 'Allow User Scripts' toggle, before any userscript will run

Pricing, plan by plan

Ghostery

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Ghostery review.

Tampermonkey

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Tampermonkey review.

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 Tampermonkey if

  • You need userscript management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android.
  • You also want script editor.
Tampermonkey review

Questions people ask

Is Ghostery or Tampermonkey better?
Neither clearly leads. Ghostery starts at Free and Tampermonkey at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Ghostery or Tampermonkey?
Ghostery starts at Free and Tampermonkey at Free.
Does Ghostery or Tampermonkey run on more platforms?
Ghostery runs on Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Safari, Opera. Tampermonkey runs on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android.
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 Tampermonkey is typically brought in for.
What can Ghostery do that Tampermonkey cannot?
Ghostery covers Tracker blocking, Ad blocking, Privacy dashboard, Enhanced anti-tracking. Tampermonkey covers Userscript management, Script editor, Auto-update, Cloud sync. Both handle Chrome support, Firefox support, Edge support, Safari 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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Related pages

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