See mailshade.org

Email tracker blocker for Gmail

Gmail is the most-tracked inbox simply because it is the biggest, and its built-in image proxy does not solve the problem: it masks your IP but still loads the tracking pixel, so the sender still learns you opened the message. Most tracker blockers are Gmail-only, so here Mailshade competes on the home turf of Ugly Email and PixelBlock — and goes further. It runs on mail.google.com and uses Chrome's declarativeNetRequest to cancel known tracker requests at the network layer before they fire, rather than just flagging them with an icon. It unwraps click-tracking redirect links, and it records every blocked event in local IndexedDB to chart which senders track you most — reporting that the Gmail-only rivals do not offer. This page covers why Gmail's proxy is not enough and what blocking plus reporting looks like in practice.

Why Gmail needs a dedicated blocker

Gmail's proxy hides your IP but still fetches the pixel, so the open event fires and the sender records the read. Gmail offers no way to block the tracker itself, only to proxy or disable all images.

What Mailshade does in Gmail

  • Cancels known tracker-pixel requests via declarativeNetRequest before they load.
  • Shows a red-eye overlay naming the tracker domain on flagged messages.
  • Unwraps click-tracking redirect links so clicks do not phone home.
  • Logs each blocked sender to a per-sender dashboard in IndexedDB.

How it compares in Gmail

Ugly Email flags but does not block; PixelBlock blocks but is closed and offers no reporting. Mailshade blocks at the network layer, is open source under AGPL-3.0, and adds the per-sender history neither rival has.

Keep your images

Only tracker domains are blocked, so newsletter graphics and logos still load. There is no need to turn off images in Gmail settings.

FAQ

Doesn't Gmail already block tracking pixels?

No. Gmail proxies remote images to hide your IP, but the pixel still loads, so the open still reaches the sender. Mailshade cancels the request via declarativeNetRequest, so no open signal is sent.

How is Mailshade different from Ugly Email or PixelBlock in Gmail?

Ugly Email only flags trackers and PixelBlock is closed source with no reporting. Mailshade blocks at the network layer, is open under AGPL-3.0, and keeps a per-sender dashboard of tracking attempts.

Does it work in the Gmail mobile app?

No. Mailshade is a Chrome MV3 extension for the Gmail web client at mail.google.com. The native mobile app does not support browser extensions.

Will blocking trackers break Gmail images?

No. Mailshade blocks only known tracker domains, so legitimate images, logos and newsletter graphics load normally. Transactional email is unaffected.

How much does the Gmail tracker blocker cost?

Pricing is the same across clients: from $3.99 per month or $19 one-time for Founders Lifetime, capped at the first 1000 seats. See mailshade.org.