Mailshade vs PixelBlock
PixelBlock has the highest rating of any email tracker blocker — 4.8 stars — and a loyal base of under 20,000 Gmail users who like its quiet red-eye indicator. Inside Gmail it does its job. The trade-offs are scope and trust: PixelBlock is Gmail-only, it is closed source so you cannot audit what it does, and it has seen MV3-related breakage and inconsistent maintenance. Mailshade takes the opposite stance on both axes. 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 — and its full source is published under AGPL-3.0 at mailshade.org/source/, so anyone can verify that its core inbox history is not transmitted to Mailshade servers. Both tools block rather than warn; the question is whether you want coverage beyond Gmail and code you can read.
What PixelBlock does well
PixelBlock earns its 4.8-star rating with a clean, no-config experience in Gmail and a recognisable red-eye marker on tracked messages. For a Gmail-only user who wants something simple, it has a strong reputation.
Where PixelBlock falls short
- Gmail only: no Outlook, Office 365, Superhuman, Yahoo or ProtonMail support.
- Closed source: you cannot audit how it works or what it accesses.
- MV3 breakage: it has had reliability issues under Manifest V3 and inconsistent maintenance.
What Mailshade adds
Six opt-in clients, AGPL-3.0 source, a local per-sender detection dashboard, and local detection of supported tracking-link patterns with a direct-or-original choice. DNR cancels requests to known tracker-pixel domains before they fire.
When PixelBlock is the right pick
If you are Gmail-only, want the highest-rated option with zero configuration, and are comfortable with a closed-source tool, PixelBlock remains a reasonable choice.
FAQ
Is PixelBlock open source?
No. PixelBlock is closed source, so you cannot inspect what it does. Mailshade is published under AGPL-3.0 at mailshade.org/source/, so you can audit the blocking logic and confirm its core inbox history is not transmitted to Mailshade servers.
Does PixelBlock work outside Gmail?
No. PixelBlock is Gmail-only. Mailshade covers Gmail, Outlook, Office 365, Superhuman, Yahoo Mail and ProtonMail — six web clients in total.
Does Mailshade have the same red-eye indicator?
Yes. Mailshade shows a red-eye overlay on opened messages with a detected tracker. DNR separately blocks requests to known tracker-pixel domains, and the local dashboard records detections by sender.
Will Mailshade keep working under Manifest V3?
Yes. Mailshade is MV3-native and uses declarativeNetRequest, the API Chrome intends extensions to use for request blocking under MV3, which avoids the breakage some older blockers hit during the migration.
How much does Mailshade cost?
Core protection remains free after a 14-day Pro trial. Paid Pro plans start at $3.99 per month or $19 one-time for the Founders Lifetime tier, capped at the first 1000 seats.