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Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team

Avira vs Ghostery

Avira scores 9.2 and Ghostery 9.2 out of 10. Compare their differences and shared features below.
Avira

Avira

Higher score in this comparison

9.2/10
Visit
Ghostery

Ghostery

9.2/10
See alternatives

Where Avira and Ghostery differ

Avira vs Ghostery
CompareAviraAviraReviewVisitVisitGhosteryGhosteryReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives
Free plan limits500 MB/month data (Phantom VPN free)All features free with no limitations; optional contributions support development
PlatformsWindows, Mac, Android, iOSChrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera, Brave, iOS, IPadOS, Android, Meta Quest
Logging policyStrict no-logs policy; browsing activity not tracked and data not sold to third partiesNo personal data collected; daily non-personal extension telemetry (opt-in extra telemetry); website access data kept four weeks
Open sourceNoYesHas it
Privacy tool typeAd blocker, BrowserAd blocker, Search

Same on both: Free plan (Yes), Jurisdiction (DE).

We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.

Key differences

  • Platforms: only Avira offers Windows, Mac.
  • Platforms: only Ghostery offers Chrome, Firefox, Safari.
  • Support channels: only Avira offers Community.
  • Support channels: only Ghostery offers Email.
  • Open source: only Ghostery.
  • Founded is lower at Avira: 1986 vs 2009.
  • Privacy tool type: only Avira offers Browser.
  • Privacy tool type: only Ghostery offers Search.

Our verdict on each

Avira

Avira suits readers who want antivirus, a VPN and a password manager under one subscription, and who keep paying after the first year. The annual antivirus plan opens at €47.95 and renews at €87.95, so the renewal figure is the one to plan around.

Read the full Avira review

Ghostery

Ghostery is the pick if you want ad blocking and private search with nothing to pay: free covers every feature, while tools in the same group often sit near €7.89 a month. The extension is open source, runs on Chrome, Firefox and Safari, and the company behind it answers under DE.

Read the full Ghostery review

Score breakdown

Avira vs Ghostery
AreaAviraGhostery
Cost9.1Monthly billing sits at €5.95, and renewal at €87.95 outweighs the lower entry price.9.1
Offer9.0Extras add vpn and password manager, a 30 day trial and a 60 day money-back window.9.1Higher
Privacy9.8Higher9.4

Licences and countries

Avira vs Ghostery
CountryAviraGhostery
HeadquartersGermanyGermany

Choosing between them

Pick Avira if privacy matter most.

Pick Ghostery if open source matter most.

What we checked

Avira

  • avira.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
  • e-shop.avira.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
  • en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026

Ghostery

  • ghostery.com: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
  • en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026

How they place

Avira vs Ghostery
RankingAviraGhostery
Privacy tools23 of 28169 of 281
Ad blockers and private DNS12 of 6323 of 63
Private browsers and search engines7 of 5513 of 55

Every fact side by side

Avira vs Ghostery
FactAviraGhostery
Pricing modelFreeFree
Legal entityAvira Operations GmbHGhostery GmbH
HeadquartersGermanyGermany
Founded1986Lower2009
Support channelsHelp centre, CommunityEmail, Help centre

VPN

Avira vs Ghostery
FactAviraGhostery
Monthly price€5.95Not confirmed
Long-term plan price€4.00Not confirmed
Devices5Not confirmed
Server countries36Not confirmed
FeaturesNo logs, Streaming, TravelNot confirmed
Renewal price€87.95Not confirmed
Money-back period60 daysNot confirmed
FeaturesKill switchNot confirmed
Streaming servicesStreaming services (vendor claim: unblocks access to geo restricted services)Not confirmed
OwnerGen Digital Inc.Not confirmed
Longest plan (months)12 monthsNot confirmed

Password managers

Avira vs Ghostery
FactAviraGhostery
Security auditAV-TEST and AV-Comparatives test certifications, antivirus products only (2020)Not confirmed
Encryption256-bit encryption, bank-gradeNot confirmed

Identity protection

Avira vs Ghostery
FactAviraGhostery
Free trial length30 daysNot confirmed

Pros and cons

Avira

Pros

  • A free version and a free password manager plan sit alongside the paid tiers
  • A single subscription covers 5 devices across Windows, Mac and Android
  • The bundle adds vpn and password manager to the antivirus plan

Cons

  • Renewal runs at €87.95 against a first year of €47.95
  • Support runs on help centre and community only
  • Free usage is capped at 500 MB/month data (Phantom VPN free)

Ghostery

Pros

  • free pricing with every feature free and no limits on the free plan, contributions optional
  • Open source, so the extension can be read and rebuilt by anyone
  • Runs on Chrome, Firefox and Safari

Cons

  • Support runs on email and help centre only, so there is no live chat and no phone line
  • free is the whole pricing model, so there is no paid tier with added features or priority support
  • Logging is light but partial: daily non-personal extension telemetry runs, extra telemetry is opt-in, and website access data is kept for a set period

Who each suits

Avira

Who it suits

  • Readers who want antivirus, a VPN and a password manager from a single subscription.
  • Small households that fit within 5 devices and want a free version to fall back on.
  • People who want coverage on Windows, Mac and Android without managing separate vendors.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Readers who need wider device coverage: Comodo (Xcitium) lists 50 devices.
  • Readers shopping in Brazil, where ESET Brasil prices its first year at BRL 64.22.
  • Readers already inside the Apple ecosystem, where iOS, iPadOS and macOS are covered.

Ghostery

Who it suits

  • People who want ad blocking and private search without paying
  • Readers who care that the extension is open source and inspectable
  • Multi-device households, since Chrome, Firefox and Safari covers desktop browsers, phones, tablets and headsets

Who should look elsewhere

  • EasyOptOuts, if your goal is data-broker opt-out requests rather than blocking ads, since it has no free plan
  • Apple Hide My Email, if you want email aliases: they are free with an Apple Account, though changing the forward-to address needs iCloud+
  • Apple Inc. for the same reason, as its free aliases come with an Apple Account and forward-to changes need iCloud+

Current offers

Avira

Current offer

  • Free trial

    Not ready to commit? Get FREE 30-day access to all our Premium products: 30 days free

    No credit card required; email address required; homepage legal text states that for trials a payment method is required at sign-up and is charged at the end of the trial unless cancelled first

    Source, checked September 26, 2026

  • First period offer

    Big savings. Strong online security: 45% off Avira Prime: 45% off the first year of Avira Prime (up to 5 devices)

    Applies to the first annual period; subscription automatically renews at the renewal price unless the renewal is cancelled

    Source, checked September 26, 2026

Questions about each

Avira

What does Avira cost in the first year, and what happens at renewal?+

The annual antivirus plan is €47.95 for the first year and renews at €87.95. Monthly VPN billing is €5.95, and the long-term VPN plan runs €4.00. The step up at renewal is the part worth budgeting for if you stay subscribed.

Is there a free Avira version?+

Yes. Avira offers a free version of the antivirus, and the password manager has a free plan as well. The free VPN is capped at 500 MB/month data (Phantom VPN free), so it suits light use rather than everyday browsing. The free tiers give you a way to sample the products before paying.

Ghostery

How much does Ghostery cost?+

Ghostery runs on free pricing, so the extension costs nothing and the free plan has no limitations. Contributions are optional and go toward development, so there is no subscription to renew or cancel. Tools in the privacy group commonly sit at €7.89 a month, which is the cost Ghostery does not charge.

Which devices can I run Ghostery on?+

Chrome, Firefox and Safari are all supported, so the same free plan covers desktop browsers, phones, tablets and Meta Quest. The extension blocks ads and trackers and handles private search on each of those platforms, with no difference between the mobile and desktop builds.

Other options to compare

Avira

Visit

Ghostery

See alternatives