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Redux DevTools vs Ghostery

Redux DevTools logo

Redux DevTools

Software

Debug Redux state changes in your browser

From
Free
Rated
-
Ghostery logo

Ghostery

Software

Block ads and stop trackers

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Redux DevTools significant performance overhead when tracking large state trees with many action history entries; Ghostery database of trackers requires regular updates to remain current
  • They diverge on capability: Redux DevTools covers Action history, Ghostery covers Tracker blocking.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Redux DevTools and Ghostery actually diverge.

Attributes where Redux DevTools and Ghostery differ
AttributeRedux DevToolsGhostery
PlatformsChrome, Firefox, Edge, ElectronFirefox, Chrome, Edge, Safari, Opera
Founded20152009

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 Redux DevTools

  • Action history
  • State diff
  • Time-travel debugging
  • State export

Only in Ghostery

  • Tracker blocking
  • Ad blocking
  • Privacy dashboard
  • Enhanced anti-tracking
  • Safari support
  • Opera support

Both cover

  • Chrome support
  • Firefox support
  • Edge support

What people use each for

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

Redux DevTools

No use cases recorded yet. See the Redux DevTools review.

Ghostery

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

Where each one falls short

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

Redux DevTools

  • Significant performance overhead when tracking large state trees with many action history entries
  • Memory consumption increases with action history, especially with large datasets of 11,000+ records
  • UI becomes sluggish when LogMonitor contains many actions in history
  • Requires manual configuration of maxAge and sanitizers to optimize performance

Ghostery

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Redux DevTools

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Redux DevTools review.

Ghostery

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Ghostery review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Redux DevTools if

  • You need action history.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Electron.
  • You also want state diff.

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.

Questions people ask

Is Redux DevTools or Ghostery better?
Neither clearly leads. Redux DevTools starts at Free and Ghostery at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Redux DevTools or Ghostery?
Redux DevTools starts at Free and Ghostery at Free.
Does Redux DevTools or Ghostery run on more platforms?
Redux DevTools runs on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Electron. Ghostery runs on Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Safari, Opera.
Can I use Redux DevTools for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What can Redux DevTools do that Ghostery cannot?
Redux DevTools covers Action history, State diff, Time-travel debugging, State export. Ghostery covers Tracker blocking, Ad blocking, Privacy dashboard, Enhanced anti-tracking. Both handle Chrome support, Firefox support, Edge support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Redux DevTools: Is Redux DevTools free?

Yes, Redux DevTools is completely free and open-source under the MIT license. It is available as a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, and can also be used as a standalone app or React component.

Source
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
Redux DevTools: What browsers does Redux DevTools support?

Redux DevTools is available as a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. It can also be integrated directly into applications as a React component or standalone app.

Source
Ghostery: What browsers does Ghostery support?

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

Source
Redux DevTools: Does Redux DevTools work with production builds?

Redux DevTools is designed for development and should be disabled in production builds. Keeping it enabled in production can impact application performance due to state logging overhead.

Source
Ghostery: What data does Ghostery collect?

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

Source
Redux DevTools: How do I enable time-travel debugging with Redux DevTools?

Redux DevTools allows you to step back through dispatched actions, canceling actions to return to previous application states. This time-travel debugging is built into the core functionality of the extension.

Source

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