Is Pie Adblock Safe? A Deep Dive into Privacy, Security & Performance

Pie Adblock is a newer browser extension that promises to block ads and even pay you for the ads you opt to see. With such a novel approach, many users are asking: Is Pie Adblock safe to use?

In this post, we’ll evaluate Pie Adblock’s safety, privacy practices, potential risks, and how its ad-blocking effectiveness compares to well-known blockers like uBlock Origin, AdBlock Plus, and Ghostery.

What Is Pie Adblock and How Does It Work?

Pie Adblock was launched in late 2024 by the team behind the Honey coupon extension (acquired by PayPal). It’s a free Chrome (and Safari iOS) extension that blocks ads on websites, including stubborn ads on YouTube and Twitch, and offers an optional “Rewards for Ads” program.

By default, Pie functions like a normal ad blocker: it removes banners, pop-ups, video pre-rolls, and other ads from your web pages. If you choose to enable the rewards, Pie will allow a limited number of partner ads to display, and you earn points or cash back for viewing those. This model is somewhat analogous to AdBlock Plus’s Acceptable Ads, **except Pie gives 100% of the ad revenue share to users (instead of keeping it). You can also completely disable the rewards and use Pie purely for ad blocking.

Under the hood, Pie Adblock is built on Chrome’s Manifest V3, meaning it uses the latest API for content blocking. It blocks ads using filter lists and methods similar to other ad blockers. Notably, Pie also has features like cookie consent pop-up suppression and anti-adblock bypassing, which it offers for free to all users. It integrates with a companion “Pie Shopping” extension (for coupons and deals) but works standalone as well.

Pie Adblock’s Safety: Reviews, Permissions & Malicious Behavior

When judging “is Pie Adblock safe,” we need to consider both technical safety (no malware, no unauthorized actions) and trustworthiness. Here’s what we found:

• Chrome Web Store Verification: Pie Adblock’s publisher is verified on the Chrome Web Store and even featured by Google, with over 2 million users and 24,000+ reviews. It holds a 4.9/5 rating, indicating very positive user feedback. Google’s review notes the developer has “no history of violations” and follows recommended extension practices. This suggests no known malware or policy issues with the extension.

• Extension Permissions: Like any ad blocker, Pie Adblock requires the permission to “read and change all your data on websites you visit.” This sounds scary, but it’s standard – uBlock Origin, AdBlock Plus, and Ghostery all require similar broad access to strip out ads on every page. The key is whether the extension abuses this power. So far, there are no reports of Pie Adblock abusing permissions to steal data or inject unwanted content. In fact, savvy users point out that while we should always be cautious with powerful extensions, Pie’s needs are in line with its functionality.

• User Reviews & Reputation: The majority of users report that Pie Adblock “works amazingly” at blocking ads (even on YouTube/Twitch) and appreciate the optional rewards. Many reviews call it legit and reliable. On Trustpilot, Pie has an average 5-star rating across thousands of reviews. Such a volume of positive feedback would be difficult to fake at scale. That said, some Reddit users were initially skeptical – seeing Pie’s own ads (ironically) and the “too good to be true” promise raised eyebrows. Critics have pointed out that the founder’s previous project, Honey, had controversies (like allegedly not always showing the best coupons and injecting affiliate codes). There were also concerns that Pie’s Reddit marketing involved bots or astroturfing. However, no concrete malicious behavior by Pie Adblock has been documented – the skepticism largely stems from the business model and past reputation, not from evidence of Pie acting as malware.

• No Malware Detected: Independent tech analysts have tested Pie Adblock and found no viruses, spyware, or unauthorized data exfiltration. For example, the privacy site AllAboutCookies tested Pie Adblock in August 2025 and deemed it “safe and legit.” They did not find any hidden malicious code and concluded “it’s probably okay”. Another review explicitly states, “Yes, Pie AdBlock is safe to use.” In our research, we encountered no warnings from security software or browsers regarding Pie AdBlock. Google also hasn’t flagged it (in fact, an unrelated Chrome bug once removed a different extension by mistake, not Pie.

In summary, Pie Adblock appears safe to install and use. It has a strong user base, is vetted by Chrome, and there are no reports of it behaving maliciously. Just remember that it, like any ad blocker, holds broad permissions – so stick to the official Chrome Web Store version and keep it updated. Thus far, user reviews and expert tests consider Pie Adblock a trustworthy tool.

Privacy Practices: What Data Does Pie Adblock Collect?

One of Pie’s selling points is its emphasis on privacy and transparency in how data is handled. The extension explicitly markets that “Your data is only used to power Pie features — never sold or monetized.” Let’s break down Pie Adblock’s privacy practices:

• No Selling of Personal Data: Pie’s privacy policy states, “We do not monetize our products by selling your data.” Unlike many advertising companies, Pie isn’t profiting from your browsing habits; instead, it makes money through opt-in ads and affiliate commissions (from the companion shopping deals). The business model is similar to Honey/Rakuten – earn via advertiser partnerships and cashback, not by secretly harvesting user data.

• Minimal Data Collection: According to Pie’s support docs, the only data Pie collects is what’s necessary to provide the service. For example, it may log how many ads were blocked or shown for rewards purposes, and your settings preferences. Pie’s team emphasizes that ad-blocking-related data is anonymized and optional – there’s a “Track Ads” toggle in settings that you can turn off, and if you do, Pie won’t even phone home about blocked ad stats. Furthermore, if you disable a feature (like the Rewards program), any telemetry for that feature is also disabled. This opt-out design is a positive sign for privacy-conscious users.

• Secure Self & Local Processing: Uniquely, Pie Adblock introduced a system called “Secure Self” to enable private, personalized ad targeting without cloud tracking. In simple terms, Pie’s extension will locally analyze your browsing context to decide if an optional ad is relevant, rather than sending your browsing history to a server. Any interest profile stays encrypted and stored on your device – Pie’s servers only get a blind yes/no signal (e.g., “yes, user is interested in tech gadgets”) without the underlying data. Pie explicitly says, “We don’t look at your data. The Pie Adblock extension runs privately on your browser”, and no personal info leaves your computer. This design means no third-party trackers or Pie itself are building a dossier on you – targeted ads can be shown if you opt in, but it happens through on-device matching. Also, Pie users remain anonymous to advertisers; Pie doesn’t hand over your identity or detailed behavior.

• Data Types and Account: If you create a Pie account (needed to redeem rewards), you will provide an email and perhaps payment details for payouts. That’s personally identifiable info you knowingly give. The Chrome Web Store disclosure notes that Pie may handle “Personally identifiable information, Location, Web history, and Website content”. In context, “location” might be used for region-specific offers, and “website content”/“web history” refers to the content filtering it performs on pages you visit. Importantly, Pie declares that all data it handles is used only for core functionality and not shared out. They also comply with GDPR and other privacy laws, which implies users can request data deletion, etc.

• No Undisclosed Traffic Injection: We found no evidence that Pie Adblock injects any unwanted scripts or alters pages beyond ad blocking. The extension does, of course, modify pages to remove ads, and if you opt into “Fair Ads,” it will allow certain ads through or insert a placeholder for them. Some users early on wondered if Pie might secretly replace ads (for example, taking an ad slot and filling it with their own advertiser). Pie’s team insists this does not happen without your consent – the default is full blocking, and only if you join the rewards program will Pie selectively let through partner ads. Rumors on Reddit alleged Pie might “remove cheaper competitors’ offers” or manipulate shopping sites, but there’s no proof of such behavior in the extension’s operation. Given the Honey legacy, it’s a fair question – Honey was accused of inserting its affiliate codes on sites – but Pie Adblock seems focused purely on ad blocking and its own fair ads, not rewriting e-commerce content.

Overall, Pie Adblock’s privacy approach is user-friendly and transparent. It doesn’t collect browsing history or personal data for resale. Any data for ads is handled locally or kept anonymous. This is more privacy-preserving than traditional ad networks (which track you across the web), and Pie’s model aims to give you control. Of course, using any closed-source extension requires trust – Pie is not open-source, so the community can’t audit its code.

By contrast, uBlock Origin and Ghostery are open-source projects, meaning their codebase is publicly inspectable (which many security-conscious users prefer for peace of mind). AdBlock Plus’s code is also open to contributors. Pie’s closed-source nature and corporate backing mean you have to trust their promises – but so far, they have made strong public commitments to privacy and haven’t given cause for distrust on that front.

Ad-Blocking Effectiveness: Pie vs. uBlock Origin vs. AdBlock Plus vs. Ghostery

An ad blocker isn’t worth much if it doesn’t block ads effectively. Here’s how Pie Adblock measures up in terms of blocking ads and trackers, compared to three of the biggest names in the space:

Pie Adblock Performance

In its early days (late 2024), Pie’s blocking was decent but not exceptional. For instance, tests by a third-party showed Pie scoring 63/100 on an AdBlocker test and 1/3 on tracker protection. The good news is that Pie has rapidly improved. By mid-2025, AllAboutCookies re-tested Pie Adblock, and it achieved 100/100 on the AdBlock Tester and 3/3 on “Can You Block It?” ad scenarios.

In their words, this was “a huge improvement over just a couple of months” with Pie now blocking all test ads, including banners and interstitials. Pie also scored 2/3 on EFF’s Cover Your Tracks (tracker protection) test– an average score typical of many blockers (even some premium ones only get 2/3 there). What does this mean in practice? Pie Adblock can handle standard web ads very well, and it has a special knack for YouTube and Twitch ads.

Users consistently praise that Pie “blocked everything” on YouTube without stuttering the video – not all blockers manage this on Chrome now that Manifest V3 has limited some capabilities. Twitch video ads (which are notoriously tricky) are also reliably blocked by Pie.

Pie’s filter lists (some of which are based on uBlock Origin’s open lists) are cutting-edge enough to keep even new ad formats at bay. One area Pie does not focus on is paywall bypassing – it isn’t designed to get around paywalls on news sites (which is true for most ethical ad blockers).

uBlock Origin

Often regarded as the gold standard of ad blockers, uBlock Origin (uBO) is an open-source, lightweight extension that uses numerous filter lists to obliterate ads and trackers. In tests, uBlock Origin consistently ranks at or near the top. For example, one comparison found uBlock blocked 96%+ of ads in common scenarios. It also does an excellent job against tracking, especially if you enable additional filter lists (EasyPrivacy, uBO’s own filters, etc.).

In terms of sheer blocking power and efficiency, uBlock Origin is hard to beat. It’s known for low resource usage and fast performance thanks to optimized code. However, there is a catch in 2025: Chrome’s Manifest V3 changes “killed” the original uBlock Origin on Chrome. The classic uBO (by Raymond Hill) was a Manifest V2 extension, which Chrome no longer supports.

As a result, on Chrome, you’d have to use uBlock Origin Lite, a toned-down MV3 version without all the advanced dynamic filtering. uBO Lite still blocks ads using static filters, but some power-user features are missing. On Firefox (or legacy Chrome-based browsers that allow MV2), uBO is fully functional. So, if you’re using Chrome, Pie Adblock has the advantage of being a fully MV3-native ad blocker that can tackle video ads (uBO Lite might struggle there).

For safety and privacy, uBlock Origin is exemplary – it doesn’t collect any user data and is maintained by volunteers for the community. It also blocks all ads by default (no “acceptable ads” program). The only drawback is that uBO won’t pay you to see ads – it exists purely to block.

AdBlock Plus (ABP)

AdBlock Plus is one of the oldest and most downloaded ad blockers, created by Eyeo GmbH. It’s effective at standard ad blocking and uses the popular EasyList filters (in fact, EasyList was originally maintained by the ABP community). ABP will eliminate most banner and pop-up ads you encounter.

However, by default, ABP has the “Acceptable Ads” feature, which allows some non-intrusive ads through reddit.com. These are typically text ads or simple banners from companies that partner with Eyeo. Users can turn this off in settings if they want 100% blocking. With Acceptable Ads on, tests have shown ABP might miss a chunk of ads (since it’s intentionally whitelisting them), meaning its out-of-the-box ad-block score could be lower than uBO’s. ABP is safe and reputable – no malware, and it doesn’t sell your data.

But note that Eyeo’s business model is to get paid by some advertisers for inclusion on the acceptable ads list. Privacy-wise, ABP doesn’t track your browsing, though allowing certain ads means you’ll still get cookies/trackers from those ad sources unless you also use extra tracker-blocking lists. Performance-wise, ABP has been known to be a bit heavier on memory than uBlock (especially if you load many filters), due to how its engine works. It’s still reasonable for most users, but on very low-end devices, uBlock might run lighter.

In summary, AdBlock Plus is a solid blocker for most ads, but you should disable acceptable ads if you want the same thoroughness as others. Its approach to monetization (whitelisting some ads) is essentially the inverse of Pie’s approach (blocking ads unless you opt in to see some for money). Both cases involve partnerships, but ABP’s user doesn’t directly get a cut of the revenue (Pie’s user does).

Ghostery

Ghostery started as a tracker-blocking extension and is now a full-fledged ad blocker with a strong privacy focus. It excels at blocking tracking scripts, analytic beacons, and fingerprinting attempts – Ghostery will often show you a panel of all the trackers it stopped on each site.

In terms of ad blocking, Ghostery subscribes to popular filter lists as well, and recent tests actually show Ghostery performing extremely well on ad-blocking tests – in one head-to-head review, Ghostery scored 99/100 on an ad-block test vs uBlock’s 96/100.

That’s practically a tie; both block nearly everything (the difference could be due to one or two edge cases or default settings). Ghostery does not have an acceptable ads program – it aims to block ads and trackers outright. It’s also free to use. Historically, Ghostery had an optional “GhostRank” feature, which, if enabled, would send anonymized data about trackers to help their database (and previously to offer insights to advertisers). Nowadays, Ghostery has no data-sharing unless you opt into something – their FAQ says they “do not share collected data with third parties” and any data is anonymized and aggregated.

In fact, Ghostery’s extension code was open-sourced in 2018, increasing community trust. Using Ghostery, you might notice slightly slower page loads at times compared to uBlock, possibly because Ghostery checks a lot of tracker patterns and has a more complex UI. A Ghostery developer once noted their approach trades a bit of speed to minimize memory usage and ensure thorough matching. But in general, Ghostery is quite performant and especially effective if your goal is maximum privacy (it blocks a ton of surveillance tech out of the box).

It even has its own Ghostery Privacy Browser app and additional tools like a private search. As for ad blocking, Ghostery will handle most ads just as well as the others in day-to-day browsing. It might not specifically target things like YouTube ads as aggressively as Pie or uBO, but it still blocks many of them (YouTube ads being an arms race, sometimes specialized filter lists like uBlock’s are faster to update).

Summary of Effectiveness

Pie Adblock has proven it can hang with the big players – it reliably zaps ads on videos and websites, with only a few tracker leaks (which are common across blockers). uBlock Origin remains the champion for comprehensive blocking and low resource use, especially outside Chrome’s MV3 restrictions.

AdBlock Plus is effective but needs a tweak (turn off acceptable ads) for full coverage, and it’s a bit heavier. Ghostery offers excellent tracker suppression and very strong ad blocking, too, though occasionally at a minor speed cost.

One more factor is resource usage and speed. Pie Adblock, with its rewards features and visual interface, might use slightly more memory when those features are on. One independent review noted “Pie Adblock may consume slightly more memory when the reward system is active,” whereas a simpler blocker like Stands or uBlock is extremely lightweight. In normal use on a modern PC, you likely won’t notice a difference – all these extensions are far from resource hogs (and often speed up browsing by removing ads). But on an older system, uBlock Origin’s minimal approach could feel a tad faster.

Red Flags and Trust Concerns

No significant security issues have been found with Pie Adblock, but it’s worth discussing a few controversies/concerns that have been raised:

1. Closed Source & Code Use

Pie Adblock is not open-source, which some in the community view as a red flag since you must trust the developer. This became a talking point when developers noticed Pie Adblock using filter lists and code from uBlock Origin without attribution. Those filter lists are GPL-licensed (open source), and using them in a closed-source product violates the license.

In early 2025, uBlock’s maintainers and tech news outlets called out that “Honey team’s Pie Adblock stole code from uBlock Origin”.

Essentially, Pie was found to be incorporating uBlock Origin’s hard work (filter lists maintained by volunteers) into its product while keeping Pie closed source and under a different license. This ethical lapse drew criticism and “under fire” headlines.

While this doesn’t mean Pie Adblock is unsafe for users, it does raise questions about the company’s practices and respect for open-source licenses. Pie may eventually reconcile this (for example, by open-sourcing parts or properly crediting), but as of the report, it was an unresolved controversy.

2. Honey’s Legacy

Pie’s founding team (the creators of Honey) has faced accusations in the past. Honey was accused by some of cookie stuffing – replacing other affiliates’ cookies with their own – and of not always showing the best coupon if it conflicted with their partners. Those allegations have made some users wary that Pie, too, might prioritize revenue over users’ interests in subtle ways.

For instance, a skeptic on Reddit wondered if Pie Adblock could “edit the webpage in real time” to favor certain retailers or ads. There is no evidence that Pie Adblock does anything like this (and it would be quickly caught if they tried). Still, the trust concerns linger for some because the company’s incentive is to eventually make money through advertising, which is at odds with the typical ad blocker ethos of “block everything”.

The company tries to address this by stressing the opt-in nature and privacy of their Fair Ads program. If you never enable rewards, Pie should behave like a normal ad blocker that simply blocks. If you do enable it, you’re knowingly allowing certain ads for compensation. Transparency will be key for Pie going forward, to ensure no “sneaky” replacements or default opt-ins occur.

3. Advertising and Hype

Some users were put off by Pie’s aggressive advertising campaign. If you saw Pie Adblock ads on YouTube or social media, they might have sounded like overhyped “life hack” promotions. This led to a perception by a few that it felt like a scam or gimmick at first glance.

The tone of marketing aside, once people try the extension, it largely delivers on its promise of ad-free browsing (plus optional rewards). Just be aware that Pie will prompt you to disable other ad blockers upon installation (to avoid conflicts). That’s reasonable, but if you forget and later remove Pie, you’d want to re-enable your old blocker.

Also, Pie’s interface is quite user-friendly and even shows stats like “lifetime ads blocked” and time saved, which most find neat – but cynics might interpret that as flashy marketing within the extension. These aren’t serious issues, but they color the trust discussion: Pie is a for-profit product aiming to grow quickly, whereas something like uBlock Origin is a labor-of-love open project with zero marketing.

In weighing red flags, it boils down to: Pie Adblock has some corporate baggage and license questions, yet it hasn’t given us reason to doubt its actual safety or effectiveness. If open-source purity and long-term community trust are your top criteria, you might lean toward uBlock Origin or Ghostery. If you’re okay trusting a startup that’s trying to upend the ad model (and you find the idea of getting paid for seeing ads appealing), then Pie Adblock is a defensible choice.

Side-by-Side Comparison Table

To summarize how Pie Adblock compares with uBlock Origin, AdBlock Plus, and Ghostery on key aspects, see the table below:

(Ratings above are based on the latest available tests and user/community feedback as of 2025.)

Final Verdict: Is Pie Adblock Safe and Worth It?

Yes – Pie Adblock is generally safe to use, and it brings some innovative ideas to the table. It does a great job blocking ads (on par with leading ad blockers in most cases) and has robust privacy measures in place to protect your data. Pie does not contain malware or spyware, and it doesn’t secretly siphon off your information.

In terms of user safety, it’s as trustworthy as other popular extensions, with the caveat that it’s closed source and run by a company with profit motives – something to keep in mind if that’s a concern.

When comparing Pie to uBlock Origin, AdBlock Plus, and Ghostery, the “best” choice depends on your needs:

• Choose Pie Adblock if you like the idea of optionally earning rewards for seeing a few ads and want a one-stop solution that blocks ads by default but can pay you when you opt in. It’s a strong ad blocker in its own right, handling even tough video ads. Pie’s interface is user-friendly, and it offers extra perks like cookie pop-up blocking for free. Just remember to disable the rewards if you prefer maximum privacy/no ads at all – Pie won’t show any partner ads unless you enable it.

• Choose uBlock Origin if you want the most proven, no-nonsense ad & tracker blocker and you value open-source transparency. uBO is extremely effective and lightweight, with no conflicts of interest (it will never show you an ad). On Chrome, you might need to settle for the Lite version (still good, but not full strength). On Firefox or other platforms, uBO is unbeatable. It doesn’t have any reward system – it’s purely about blocking – and for many, that simplicity and focus are ideal.

• Choose AdBlock Plus if you’re okay with the default acceptable ads or if you don’t mind tweaking settings to turn them off. ABP is a reputable choice, especially for users who have used it for years. It integrates well in most browsers and is easy to use. Just be aware you might need to flick a switch to block all ads. ABP’s approach tries to support websites by letting some mild ads through; if you philosophically agree with that (or you just don’t notice those ads), it’s a fine option. Privacy is solid, though not as zealous as uBO or Ghostery in tracker blocking.

• Choose Ghostery if your priority is privacy and insight into tracking. Ghostery will not only block ads but also give you visibility into what trackers were on each page, which can be educational. It’s a great choice if you want an ad blocker that doubles as a tracker shield. It doesn’t have any ad-whitelisting for money, and the company behind it has a strong privacy stance. Ghostery might appeal to those who want a slightly more interactive extension (with stats and toggles for different tracker types).

In terms of red flags, the main thing to watch with Pie Adblock will be how they handle their growth and community trust. The code usage controversy is something that hopefully leads Pie to collaborate more with the open-source world (perhaps open-sourcing parts of Pie or at least respecting licenses).

As a user, that issue doesn’t affect your day-to-day safety, but it’s worth knowing the context. So far, Pie has navigated being a hybrid of ad blocker and ad platform fairly well – users have control over whether they participate, which is crucial. Always keep your extensions updated and periodically review their permissions and settings.

Bottom Line

For most casual users, Pie Adblock is a safe, effective choice – especially if you’re on Chrome and want a modern ad-blocker that still defeats YouTube ads. It gives you strong ad-blocking plus a novel way to earn a bit back from advertisers (though don’t expect more than pocket change).

If you are extremely privacy-conscious or prefer community-driven software, you might lean towards uBlock Origin or Ghostery. Each of the compared blockers has its pros and cons, but all four are reputable and will improve your browsing by cutting out obnoxious ads.

In answering “Is Pi Adblock safe?” we can confidently say yes, it is, with no major red flags in terms of security. Just stay informed about its updates and enjoy an ad-light (or ad-free) internet experience on your own terms. Happy ad-blocking!

Sources

• Pie Adblock Chrome Web Store Listing and Detailschromewebstore.google.comchromewebstore.google.com

• Pie Adblock Privacy Policy and Support FAQspie.orghelp.pie.org

• Reddit discussions and user feedback on Pie Adblock’s legitimacy

• AllAboutCookies testing of Pie Adblock’s performance and safetyallaboutcookies.orgallaboutcookies.orgallaboutcookies.org

• Filehippo News on Pie Adblock controversies (code use)news.filehippo.comnews.filehippo.com

• StandsApp and Kudos reviews affirming Pie Adblock’s safetystandsapp.orgjoinkudos.com

• Comparative insights on uBlock Origin, AdBlock Plus, Ghostery from AllAboutCookies & Ghostery docsallaboutcookies.orgreddit.com