4 Best Browser Extensions to Block Email Trackers

Did you know that most emails you receive have a secret, sneaky tracking pixel  designed to spy on you? Whether it's spam, marketing, or anything else, these tracking pixels can send information back to the sender—unless you install one of these handy tracking pixel blocking extensions.

 

4. PixelBlock

PixelBlock is one of the easiest tracking blocking extensions to use. It doesn't require any complicated setup or configuration. Head to the PixelBlock Chrome Web Store, add the extension to Chrome, and you're good to go. You'll see a red eye icon whenever PixelBlock detects and blocks tracking pixels in your emails.

 

However, if you use anything other than Gmail and a non-Chromium browser (like Firefox-based browsers), you're out of luck. While PixelBlock is convenient, it only works on Gmail and is only available for Chromium-based browsers like Google Chrome , Microsoft Edge , Brave , etc. Chances are you already have a Gmail account and are using a Chromium-powered browser right now. But if you don't, read on.

3. Ugly Email

Another great alternative to Gmail tracker blockers is Ugly Email. The extension is open source and has over 50,000 users on the Chrome Web Store. And if you're not a Chrome fan or don't use a Chromium-based browser, there's also a Firefox version available.

 

It works very similarly to PixelBlock, in that you only need to install it once and then do nothing else. Once installed, the extension will automatically scan your inbox for emails containing tracking pixels. Any emails with trackers in them will be labeled with an eye icon and the tracker will be blocked immediately. If you hover over the icon, you can also see which trackers the extension is blocking.

2. Trocker

If you're looking for a one-size-fits-all solution to blocking email trackers, Trocker is as close as you'll get. The extension is open source, available for both Chrome and Chromium browsers via the Chrome Web Store, and there's also a Firefox version.

Unlike PixelBlock or Ugly Email, Trocker claims to work on all web emails. This means that as long as you access your email in a browser with the extension installed, you'll be protected from trackers trying to track you. In Gmail, Yahoo, and Outlook , the extension also has heuristic tracker detection that "detects and blocks almost all email tracking attempts, even from obscure trackers."

 

1. uBlock Origin/uBlock Origin Lite

You may know uBlock Origin as the ad blocker available for both Chromium and Firefox browsers. However, this extension also comes with a tracker blocker suite that can block tracked emails in a variety of webmail interfaces.

That said, uBlock Origin does require proper setup to get the most out of it. The extension is set up to block most trackers by default and will work fine out of the box, but there are some trackers that will occasionally be missed.

To get around those issues, you'll have to manually enable some settings, like AdGuard Tracking Protection in the extension's settings. You can also add your own entries to the extension's filter list to block any new trackers you might encounter.