ClearURLs ClearURLs

Productivity
Version: 1.26.0
Last Update: 2022-11-18

Overview

ClearURLs is a Chrome extension developed by Kevin Röbert. According to the data from Chrome web store, current version of ClearURLs is 1.26.0, updated on 2022-11-18.
100,000+ users have installed this extension. 153 users have rated this extension with an average rating of .
developer website: clearurls.xyz

Remove tracking elements from URLs.

This extension will automatically remove tracking elements from URLs to help protect your privacy when browse through the Internet.

Many websites use tracking elements in the URL (e.g. https://example.com?utm_source=newsletter1&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=sale) to mark your online activity. All that tracking code is not necessary for a website to be displayed or work correctly and can therefore be removed—that is exactly what ClearURLs does.

Another common example are Amazon URLs. If you search for a product on Amazon you will see a very long URL, such as: https://www.amazon.com/dp/exampleProduct/ref=sxin_0_pb?__mk_de_DE=ÅMÅŽÕÑ&keywords=tea&pd_rd_i=exampleProduct&pd_rd_r=8d39e4cd-1e4f-43db-b6e7-72e969a84aa5&pd_rd_w=1pcKM&pd_rd_wg=hYrNl&pf_rd_p=50bbfd25-5ef7-41a2-68d6-74d854b30e30&pf_rd_r=0GMWD0YYKA7XFGX55ADP&qid=1517757263&rnid=2914120011

Indeed most of the above URL is tracking code. Once ClearURLs has cleaned the address, it will look like this:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/exampleProduct

All functions in a nutshell
* Removes tracking from URLs automatically in the background
* Blocks some common ad domains (optional)
* Has a built-in tool to clean up multiple URLs at once
* Supports redirection to the destination, without tracking services as middleman
* Adds an entry to the context menu so that links can be copied quickly and cleanly
* Blocks hyperlink auditing, also known as ping tracking
* Prevents tracking injection over history API
* Prevents Google from rewriting the search results (to include tracking elements)
* Prevents Yandex from rewriting the search results (to include tracking elements)
* Badgeds to show the currently blocked elements
* Supports optional logging
* Supports export/import of settings
* Has a donate button

Rating

153 ratings

Total Installs

100,000+

Information

Last Update

2022-11-18

Current Version

1.26.0

Size

829KiB

Author

Kevin Röbert

Website

clearurls.xyz

Category

Productivity

Latest Reviews

See More

avatar nocturnal digitalist
2022-04-29

Clear URL is a must addon for everyone who is using any browsers. Using for it years. But lately it has fallen from its idea. I still see tracked and extra stuff in URL apart from the search, title or query. Also this addon doesnt work well in chrome and especially opera browser (Also couldnt find this addon opera addon store - https://addons.opera.com/en-gb/search/?query=Clear+URL) despite opera based on chromium engine. I use this addon for search engine results from google and online shopping and links shared by others but see it not working anymore like google search or even ddg search where browser and extra stuff is in the url. I hope dev sees the shortcomings and improve it and bring it to opera store. Same with yandex browser. Also improve your addon for firefox store which I dont think gets updates as much as chrome store. Also using this on kiwi browser android (https://kiwibrowser.com/). Thanks.

avatar Juha Lehti
2022-04-14

Works fine in 99.9% of cases.
There are couple of issues I have noticed.

The more severe issue, I noticed today is related to my netbank login, that refuses to let me in when this addon is active. After entering my credentials, and using my mobile app for two-factor authentication, the login page first accepts my input, but instead of seeing my bank account, the pre-login information page opens again. After disabling the addon, I'm then able to enter the bank.
I would like to get some kind of white list for the user to enter domains that should not be cleaned.

Another (minor) thing is that opening links to tech related articles of https://tekniikanmaailma.fi/ from Facebook feed randomly fails and shows error ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS instead of the actual content. In that case the address line still have something left to clean up, and full reload (ctrl-shift-R) then shows the page correctly.

avatar DrHitman27
2022-03-29

mail.yandex.ru stops working

avatar hihey54
2022-03-27

Was perfect until 2 days ago. Starting from Saturday, I cannot login to Amazon, and also Google Scholar is broken.

avatar Richard Traviz Celones
2022-03-27

Missing one essential feature: a whitelist. This extension is making my Twitter not load, I've checked and it's the only extension messing it up. Add a whitelist, and it's a 5 star.