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Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team

Ghostery vs Surfshark

Ghostery scores 9.2 and Surfshark 9.4 out of 10. Compare their differences and shared features below.
Surfshark

Surfshark

Higher score in this comparison

9.4/10
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Ghostery

Ghostery

9.2/10
See alternatives

Ghostery vs Surfshark: the differences

Ghostery vs Surfshark
CompareGhosteryGhosteryReviewSee alternativesSee alternativesSurfsharkSurfsharkReviewVisitVisit
Free planYesHas itNo
Free plan limitsAll features free with no limitations; optional contributions support development7-day free trial, 3 devices
PlatformsChrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera, Brave, iOS, IPadOS, Android, Meta QuestWindows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Routers
Logging policyNo personal data collected; daily non-personal extension telemetry (opt-in extra telemetry); website access data kept four weeksNo-logs policy, independently verified by Deloitte in 2023 and 2025; RAM-only server network
JurisdictionDENL
Privacy tool typeAd blocker, SearchPrivate dns, Ad blocker, SearchCovers more
ProtocolsNot confirmedWireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, Dausos
Open sourceYesNot confirmed

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

  • Surfshark scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.2.
  • Free plan: only Ghostery.
  • Platforms: only Ghostery offers Safari, Opera, Brave.
  • Platforms: only Surfshark offers Windows, MacOS, Linux.
  • Support channels: only Surfshark offers Chat.
  • Founded is lower at Ghostery: 2009 vs 2018.
  • Pricing model: only Ghostery offers Free.
  • Pricing model: only Surfshark offers Budget.
  • Privacy tool type: only Surfshark offers Private dns.

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

Surfshark

Surfshark suits households and small teams that want a wide network at a modest rate, and it reaches further than most rivals at this price. Its long-term plan price is €2.49, under the site median for long-term plans, €3.97, and every purchase carries a 30 money-back window.

Read the full Surfshark review

Score breakdown

Ghostery vs Surfshark
AreaGhosterySurfshark
Cost9.19.6HigherSurfshark's long-term plan price of €2.49 undercuts the site median €3.97, while the monthly plan at €2.49 keeps entry low.
Offer9.19.5HigherThe plan bundles private dns, ad blocker and search with a 7 trial and a 30 money-back window.
Privacy9.4Higher8.7

Availability and regulation

Ghostery vs Surfshark
CountryGhosterySurfshark
HeadquartersGermanyNetherlands

How they place

Ghostery vs Surfshark
RankingGhosterySurfshark
Privacy tools69 of 2817 of 281
Ad blockers and private DNS23 of 636 of 63
Private browsers and search engines13 of 553 of 55

Every fact side by side

Ghostery vs Surfshark
FactGhosterySurfshark
Pricing modelFreeBudget
Legal entityGhostery GmbHSurfshark B.V.
HeadquartersGermanyNetherlands
Founded2009Lower2018
Support channelsEmail, Help centreEmail, Chat, Help centreCovers more

Identity protection

Ghostery vs Surfshark
FactGhosterySurfshark
Monthly priceNot confirmed€2.49
Insurance amountNot confirmed$1,000,000
Free trial lengthNot confirmed7 days
Money-back periodNot confirmed30 days

Data removal

Ghostery vs Surfshark
FactGhosterySurfshark
Yearly priceNot confirmed€121.23
Countries coveredNot confirmedUnited States, United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland

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

Surfshark

Pros

  • Servers in 100 countries, ranking 7 on coverage among 62 brands compared.
  • The no-logs policy is independently verified by Deloitte, with the current audit listed as Deloitte 2025.
  • A single subscription covers Windows, macOS and Linux.

Cons

  • There is no free plan, so the 7-day free trial, 3 devices is the only way to try Surfshark before paying.
  • Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, with no phone line for urgent problems.
  • Price-first readers have cheaper options: MEGA lists $1.67 and Sinew Software Systems lists $1.99 for a long-term plan.

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+

Surfshark

Who it suits

  • Households covering several device types, with apps across Windows, macOS and Linux.
  • Small teams priced for business, with 100 server countries and privacy extras of private dns, ad blocker and search in one subscription.
  • Readers who put audit evidence first, since the no-logs policy is verified by Deloitte and the current audit is Deloitte 2025.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Readers chasing the lowest long-term rate, where MEGA at $1.67 and Sinew Software Systems at $1.99 sit lower.
  • Buyers looking for antivirus rather than a network, where ESET Brasil is the comparison to read, with 40 to 70 server countries in its coverage.

Current offers

Surfshark

Current offer

  • Bonus

    +3 EXTRA months, Save 85% on Surfshark Starter: Starter EUR 2.49/mo., sale price EUR 67.23 for the first 27 months (old price EUR 444.15)

    24-month plans, VAT may apply, 30-day money-back guarantee

    Source, checked September 26, 2026

  • Free trial

    7-day free trial: 7 days free on 3 devices

    Available on all 12-month and 24-month plans; payment by credit card, Apple Pay or PayPal

    Source, checked September 26, 2026

Country by country

Ghostery vs Surfshark
CountryGhosterySurfshark
AfghanistanNoYes
Aland IslandsNoYes
AlbaniaNoYes
AlgeriaNoYes
American SamoaNoYes
AndorraNoYes
AngolaNoYes
AnguillaNoYes

8 of 250 countries where either is available.

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.

Surfshark

What does Surfshark cost month to month and on a long commitment?+

Surfshark's monthly plan is listed at €2.49 and the yearly plan at €121.23. The longest plan runs 27 months, which brings the monthly rate to €2.49, below the site median for long-term plans, €3.97. A 30 money-back window sits behind the longer commitments.

Is there a free plan, or only a trial?+

The free plan is no, so nothing runs indefinitely at no cost. What is offered is a 7 trial, and the stated free plan limits read 7-day free trial, 3 devices. After that trial ends, the 30 money-back window is the route to a full refund if the service does not fit your setup.

Other options to compare

Surfshark

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Ghostery

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