See mailshade.org

Mailshade vs Gblock

Gblock is a Gmail-only tracker blocker with an IP-proxy feature and a paid, closed-source model, used by under 10,000 people. If your inbox lives entirely in Gmail and you want its proxy approach, it covers that one client. Mailshade is built for the opposite case: it blocks requests to known tracker-pixel domains at the network layer via declarativeNetRequest across six web clients — Gmail, Outlook, Office 365, Superhuman, Yahoo Mail and ProtonMail — keeps a per-sender detection dashboard in local IndexedDB, and ships its full source under AGPL-3.0 at mailshade.org/source/. Where Gblock is closed and single-client, Mailshade is auditable and universal. Mailshade keeps core protection free, while its $19 one-time Founders Lifetime tier and $3.99 monthly Pro plan sit alongside an open codebase you can read before you pay.

What Gblock offers

Gblock blocks tracking pixels in Gmail and adds an IP-proxy layer so the sender does not see your real address on requests it cannot block. For a Gmail-only user that combination has appeal.

Where Gblock falls short

  • Gmail only: no Outlook, Office 365, Superhuman, Yahoo or ProtonMail.
  • Closed source: the blocking logic cannot be audited.
  • No real reporting: a basic indicator rather than a per-sender history.

What Mailshade adds

Coverage across six opt-in clients, release-matched AGPL-3.0 source, known-domain network blocking via DNR, local detection of supported click-tracking patterns with a direct-or-original choice, and a local Recharts detection dashboard by sender.

When Gblock is the right pick

If you are Gmail-only and specifically want its IP-proxy behaviour, and a closed-source tool does not bother you, Gblock fits that narrow case.

FAQ

Is Gblock free?

No. Gblock is a paid, closed-source extension. Mailshade keeps core protection free after a 14-day Pro trial; paid Pro starts at $3.99 per month or $19 one-time for Founders Lifetime, and its source is open under AGPL-3.0.

Does Gblock work outside Gmail?

No. Gblock is Gmail-only. Mailshade covers Gmail, Outlook, Office 365, Superhuman, Yahoo Mail and ProtonMail — six web clients in total.

How does Mailshade block trackers without an IP proxy?

Mailshade uses chrome.declarativeNetRequest to cancel requests to known tracker-pixel domains before they leave the browser. Those cancelled requests send no IP, device or open timestamp to the tracker and require no proxy.

Can I see Mailshade's source code?

Yes. The full source is published under AGPL-3.0 at mailshade.org/source/. You can read exactly what it blocks and confirm that tracker history stays in local IndexedDB with tracker URLs reduced to their origins.

Does Mailshade keep my data on my device?

Core inbox history stays in local IndexedDB and is not sent to Mailshade servers; settings can use Chrome Sync. Paid actions contact Mailshade's auth service and Polar, and optional privacy-filtered Hawk crash reports are off by default.