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NovaBlock vs Ghostery (2026): an honest comparison
Ghostery is the transparency-first veteran; NovaBlock is the MV3-native pick with sync, family tools and no sponsored links.
Ghostery is a respected, transparency-first privacy extension with a 15-year track record. NovaBlock is the newer, MV3-native pick with cross-device sync, family tools and no sponsored links.
All core protection is free, forever. Premium never gates your protection.
Ghostery is one of the most respected names in privacy — 15+ years old, over 100 million downloads, open source, and the team behind WhoTracks.Me, the tracker-research dataset journalists and academics actually cite. If you want a mature, transparency-first privacy tool, Ghostery is a genuinely good choice, and this page won't pretend otherwise.
NovaBlock is newer, and built for a different moment: the shift to Chrome's Manifest V3, the rise of cookie-consent fatigue, and households that want privacy that simply follows them from device to device. Here's where each tool is strongest, and how to choose.
What changed: Manifest V3
Chrome's Manifest V3 (MV3) replaced the old, powerful request-blocking API with a declarative rule model. It's why the full version of uBlock Origin no longer runs on Chrome, and it reshaped how every ad blocker works. Both NovaBlock and Ghostery run under MV3 today. The difference is emphasis: NovaBlock was designed around MV3 from day one — its YouTube module, cookie-banner handling and blocking engine were built for the platform Chrome now ships, rather than adapted to it.
Key differences
- •NovaBlock was designed around Manifest V3 from day one; Ghostery has adapted to it.
- •NovaBlock offers encrypted, opt-in cross-device sync — Ghostery removed accounts and sync in 2025.
- •NovaBlock adds Family Protection and Focus & Declutter tools; Ghostery has neither.
- •NovaBlock shows no in-product sponsored links; Ghostery funds itself partly through "Private Sponsored Links".
NovaBlock vs Ghostery — side by side
| Feature | NovaBlock | Ghostery |
|---|---|---|
| Price model | Free forever core; optional Premium €4/mo | Free; voluntary "Contributor" donations ($3.99 / $8.99/mo, unlock nothing) |
| Manifest V3 | MV3-native from day one | MV3 (adapted) |
| Blocks YouTube ads | Yes, dedicated module | Yes |
| Cookie pop-ups | Automatic removal | Automatic (Never-Consent) |
| Tracker transparency | Per-site Privacy Insights | Per-site panel + WhoTracks.Me research dataset |
| Cross-device sync | Yes — encrypted, opt-in | No (accounts/sync removed in 2025) |
| Family protection | Yes (Premium) | No |
| Focus / declutter tools | Yes (Premium) | No |
| In-product sponsored links | No, never | Yes ("Private Sponsored Links") |
| Longevity & scale | Newer, smaller | 15+ years, 100M+ downloads |
| Open source | Open, industry-standard filter lists | Yes (extension open source) |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge, Brave, Opera, Firefox (+ Firefox for Android) | Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera, Brave, Android |
Where Ghostery is the better pick
- •You want the deepest tracker transparency — WhoTracks.Me is a real, respected dataset.
- •Longevity and scale matter to you — 15 years and 100M+ downloads is a track record NovaBlock can't claim yet.
- •You want broad platform coverage today, including Safari and a mature mobile browser.
Where NovaBlock is the better pick
- •You want your settings to follow you — Ghostery removed sync; NovaBlock offers encrypted, opt-in cross-device sync.
- •You want family tools — PIN-locked Family Protection is built in.
- •You want a calmer web, not just a cleaner one — Focus & Declutter tools hide short-form video and kill sign-in and browser-switch nags.
- •You care about a clean monetization story — no sponsored links, ever, and nothing leaves your device unless you opt in.
- •You're migrating from uBlock Origin on Chrome and want an MV3-native replacement that still blocks YouTube ads out of the box.
The honest verdict
If you want a battle-tested, transparency-first name with the deepest tracker research behind it, Ghostery is an excellent choice. If you want an MV3-native blocker with the conveniences Ghostery has stepped away from — encrypted sync, family protection, focus tools — and a monetization model with no sponsored links, NovaBlock is built for exactly that. Both are free to try in one click.
FAQ
Is NovaBlock free like Ghostery?+
Yes. All of NovaBlock's core protection is free forever, with no account required. Premium (€4/mo) only adds convenience — sync, family tools and focus features — and never gates your protection.
Does NovaBlock block YouTube ads like Ghostery?+
Yes. NovaBlock ships a dedicated YouTube module that blocks pre-roll, mid-roll, banner and Shorts ads, updated as YouTube changes.
Why did Ghostery remove sync?+
Ghostery deleted user accounts in 2025 to store nothing on its servers. NovaBlock takes a different route: sync is opt-in and encrypted, so your settings can follow you across devices while staying unreadable to us.
Does NovaBlock show sponsored links?+
No. NovaBlock does not show in-product sponsored links and does not sell data. It's funded only by optional Premium subscriptions.
Can I use both?+
You can, but running two blockers can cause conflicts and site breakage. Pick one for the cleanest experience.
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