Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Ghostery vs PIA
Ghostery
Higher score in this comparison
PIA
Ghostery vs PIA: the differences
| Compare | GhosteryReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | PIAReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | YesHas it | No |
| Platforms | Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera, Brave, iOS, IPadOS, Android, Meta Quest | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Smart TV, Gaming |
| Logging policy | No personal data collected; daily non-personal extension telemetry (opt-in extra telemetry); website access data kept four weeks | No-logs: never tracks, stores, records or sells browsing data; RAM-only servers, no-logs policy audited by Deloitte |
| Jurisdiction | DE | US |
| Privacy tool type | Ad blocker, Search | Ad blocker, Browser |
| Price from | Not confirmed | $11.95 |
| Free plan limits | All features free with no limitations; optional contributions support development | Not confirmed |
| Protocols | Not confirmed | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec |
Same on both: Open source (Yes).
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Key differences
- Free plan: only Ghostery.
- Platforms: only Ghostery offers Safari, Edge, Brave.
- Platforms: only PIA offers Windows, MacOS, Linux.
- Support channels: only PIA offers Chat.
- Founded is lower at Ghostery: 2009 vs 2010.
- Pricing model: only Ghostery offers Free.
- Pricing model: only PIA offers Budget.
- Privacy tool type: only Ghostery offers Search.
- Privacy tool type: only PIA 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.
PIA
PIA suits readers who want an audited no-logs policy, open source apps and a long plan, with the long-term plan running 39 months at $2.03 a month. The trade-off is entry pricing at $11.95 a month for the single term and a renewal figure of $47.88.
Score breakdown
| Area | Ghostery | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1 | 9.2HigherCost lands mid-table: PIA's monthly plan is $11.95 against the €7.89 figure, while the long-term plan holds at $2.03. |
| Offer | 9.1 | 9.3HigherThe plan bundles kill switch and multi hop and 91 server countries in one subscription, plus a 30 day money back window. |
| Privacy | 9.4Higher | 9.1 |
Licences and countries
| Country | Ghostery | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Germany | United States |
What we checked
Ghostery
- ghostery.com: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
PIA
- privateinternetaccess.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Ghostery | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy tools | 69 of 281 | 73 of 281 |
| Ad blockers and private DNS | 23 of 63 | 24 of 63 |
| Private browsers and search engines | 13 of 55 | 14 of 55 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Ghostery | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Budget |
| Legal entity | Ghostery GmbH | PIA Private Internet Access, Inc. |
| Headquarters | Germany | United States |
| Founded | 2009Lower | 2010 |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centreCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Ghostery | PIA | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | Not confirmed | $11.95above 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
PIA
Pros
- The logging policy is no-logs, with browsing data never tracked, stored, recorded or sold, and Deloitte has audited it.
- The apps are open source, which suits readers who read the client code before trusting it.
- A network of 91 server countries, above the 46.5 figure for VPN brands.
Cons
- There is no free plan, so the 30 day money back window is the only route in before you commit.
- PIA's monthly plan at $11.95 sits above the €7.89 monthly figure across the site.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, with no phone number in that list.
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+
PIA
Who it suits
- Readers who want an audited no-logs policy and open source apps in a single subscription.
- Long-term buyers, since the long-term plan runs 39 months at $2.03 with a 30 day money back window.
- People who need one account across Windows, macOS and Linux and a wide spread of exit locations.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want to browse options before paying anything, since PIA has no free plan and Apple Inc. at $0.99 suits lighter privacy budgets.
- Readers who want a different kind of protection: ESET Brasil spans 40 to 70, a different footprint from PIA's 91.
- Readers on a strict budget for one subscription, since Sinew Software Systems lists $1.99 against PIA's monthly plan at $11.95.
Current offers
PIA
Current offer
Discount code
83% off on 3 Years + 3 Months EXTRA plan: 83% off, $2.03/mo (autorenews at $79 every 3 years)
amounts shown in USD, discount calculated against current monthly service pricing of $11.95/mo
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
30-day money-back guarantee: 30 days
new subscribers only; subscriptions bought via third-party app stores such as the Apple App Store are subject to those stores' terms
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.
PIA
How much does PIA cost a month?+
The monthly plan is priced at $11.95. The long-term plan drops to $2.03 a month when bought for 39 months, which is where most of the saving sits. Renewal is quoted separately at $47.88, so budget for a second figure as well as the monthly rate.
What does PIA cost at renewal?+
Renewal is listed at $47.88, set apart from the $2.03 monthly rate that opens the long-term plan. The two figures are not interchangeable, so a buyer who budgets on the headline rate alone is not prepared for the second term. Read the renewal line before committing to a long subscription.
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Ghostery