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Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team

Ghostery vs Opera

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

Opera

9.2/10
Visit
Ghostery

Ghostery

Higher score in this comparison

9.2/10
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Ghostery vs Opera: the differences

Ghostery vs Opera
CompareGhosteryGhosteryReviewSee alternativesSee alternativesOperaOperaReviewVisitVisit
Free plan limitsAll features free with no limitations; optional contributions support developmentFree of charge, ad-supported; free built-in VPN and AI chat included
PlatformsChrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera, Brave, iOS, IPadOS, Android, Meta QuestWindows, MacOS, Linux, Chromebook, Android, iOS
Logging policyNo personal data collected; daily non-personal extension telemetry (opt-in extra telemetry); website access data kept four weeksBuilt-in free VPN and VPN Pro are no-log; Opera collects usage and ad-related data but states it does not log or store full browsing history
JurisdictionDENO
Privacy tool typeAd blocker, SearchBrowser, Ad blocker
Price fromNot confirmed$8
ProtocolsNot confirmedLightway
Open sourceYesNot confirmed

Same on both: Free plan (Yes).

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Key differences

  • Platforms: only Ghostery offers Chrome, Firefox, Safari.
  • Platforms: only Opera offers Windows, MacOS, Linux.
  • Support channels: only Opera offers Chat, Community.
  • Founded is lower at Opera: 1995 vs 2009.
  • Privacy tool type: only Ghostery offers Search.
  • Privacy tool type: only Opera offers Browser.

Our verdict on each

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

Opera

Opera packs a browser, an ad blocker and a free built-in VPN into a single download, which suits everyday browsing on a budget. VPN Pro costs $8 a month and falls to $4 a month on its 12 month term, and the free plan keeps the VPN included.

Read the full Opera review

Score breakdown

Ghostery vs Opera
AreaGhosteryOpera
Cost9.1Higher9.0Entry price of $8 sits high among the 131 brands compared on price from, with an ad supported free plan underneath it.
Offer9.19.1
Privacy9.49.9Higher

Where they rank in our lists

Ghostery vs Opera
RankingGhosteryOpera
Privacy tools69 of 28125 of 281
Ad blockers and private DNS23 of 6313 of 63
Private browsers and search engines13 of 558 of 55

Licences and countries

Ghostery vs Opera
CountryGhosteryOpera
HeadquartersGermanyNorway

Sources behind this comparison

Ghostery

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

Opera

  • opera.com: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026

Every fact side by side

Ghostery vs Opera
FactGhosteryOpera
Pricing modelFreeFree
Legal entityGhostery GmbHOpera Norway AS
HeadquartersGermanyNorway
Founded20091995Lower
Support channelsEmail, Help centreEmail, Chat, Help centre, CommunityCovers more

VPN

Ghostery vs Opera
FactGhosteryOpera
Monthly priceNot confirmed$8
Long-term plan priceNot confirmed$4
DevicesNot confirmed6
Server countriesNot confirmed48
No-logs auditNot confirmedDeloitte 2024
FeaturesNot confirmedNo logs, Travel
Money-back periodNot confirmed30 days
OwnerNot confirmedOpera Norway AS
Longest plan (months)Not confirmed12 months

Where each stands against the rest

Ghostery vs Opera
FactGhosteryOperaMedian
Price fromNot confirmed$8at the median$8

Median across 83 listed providers.

Pros and cons

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

Opera

Pros

  • The free plan costs nothing, is ad supported, and still carries the built-in VPN and AI chat.
  • Both the free VPN and VPN Pro are no-log, and the free browser VPN no-log claim was audited by Deloitte 2024.
  • VPN Pro reaches 48 server countries over Lightway, with 6 devices covered.

Cons

  • The free plan is ad supported, and Opera collects usage and ad related data, so ads sit in the mix alongside the free VPN.
  • VPN Pro covers 6 devices, near the lower end of a site range of 1 to 50.
  • The $8 entry price leaves Opera at 73 of 131 brands on price from.

Who each suits

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+

Opera

Who it suits

  • People who want a browser with the VPN already inside it and left on at no cost.
  • Readers who weigh an audited no-log claim highly, with Deloitte 2024 on record for the free browser VPN.
  • Households that want the same tools across Windows, macOS and Linux.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Readers after an email hiding tool on its own: Apple Hide My Email starts at $0.99.
  • Readers who want a data removal subscription instead, where EasyOptOuts starts at $19.99.

Current offers

Opera

Current offer

  • Free trial

    VPN Pro free trial: 7 days

    Offered at Opera's discretion; unless cancelled before the trial ends the payment method is charged for the selected subscription period

    Source, checked September 26, 2026

Questions about each

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.

Opera

How much does VPN Pro cost?+

VPN Pro opens at $8, and the monthly rate is $8. The longest term runs 12 months. On price from, Opera sits 73 of 131 brands, so entry price is its weakest cost point.

What does the free plan include?+

The free plan costs nothing and shows ads, and it keeps the built-in VPN along with AI chat. The features listed for the free tier are no logs and travel, and the pricing model is free.

Other options to compare

Opera

Visit

Ghostery

See alternatives