Can we rebuild it?

Can we rebuild ClearURLs?

Build a Chrome extension like ClearURLs — a ClearURLs alternative you own.

If you want cleaner links without running bloated legacy add-ons, you can build your own ClearURLs alternative today. Creating this lightweight Chrome extension takes just minutes using modern browser URL parsing and network filtering APIs to effortlessly strip tracking tokens like utm_source, fbclid, and referral tags from every link you open or copy.

The listing record

What ClearURLs does

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. 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: Indeed most of the above URL is tracking code.

What the store says

★ 3.7 from 222 ratings · 60K users

Pulled live from the Chrome Web Store listing at analysis time.

Can PlugThis rebuild ClearURLs?

Why build your own ClearURLs alternative

• Zero background telemetry or unnecessary third-party rule downloads
• Add custom domain cleaning rules specifically for your most-visited sites
• Blazing-fast performance with minimal declarativeNetRequest rules
• Clean links automatically copied straight to your clipboard on click

What it costs vs what you'd save

The starter prompt

Create a Manifest V3 extension that cleans tracking parameters from URLs. Use declarativeNetRequest or tab update listeners to remove parameters like utm_source, utm_medium, utm_campaign, fbclid, gclid, and referral tags from Amazon and other major sites before navigation. Include a context menu item to 'Copy Clean URL' and a simple popup showing rules enabled and a counter of sanitized links.

Features you could add that ClearURLs doesn't have

Because you own the code, these are a follow-up prompt away — tap one to add it to the prompt above.

• One-Click Clean Copy — Add a context menu option to strip tracking parameters from any link before copying it to your clipboard.
  + add to prompt
• Amazon/E-commerce Shortener — Automatically reduce messy product URLs to their canonical /dp/ASIN form.
  + add to prompt
• Tracking Stats Dashboard — A lightweight badge counter showing how many tracking tokens have been blocked this session.
  + add to prompt

Questions about rebuilding ClearURLs

How to build it yourself

1. 1
   Open PlugThis and start a new build

   Head to PlugThis and start a new Chrome extension. You're describing a ClearURLs alternative you'll own outright — no store subscription.

2. 2
   Paste the starter prompt

   Paste the starter prompt above. PlugThis expands it into a full Manifest V3 extension — popup, content scripts, and service worker included.

3. 3
   Review, tweak, and load it

   Review the generated code, ask for tweaks in plain English, then download and load the unpacked extension in Chrome to try it.

4. 4
   Publish it (optional)

   When you're happy, publish your ClearURLs alternative to the Chrome Web Store — or just keep it as a private tool for yourself.

More teardowns

We run the same teardown on any Chrome extension — what it does, whether a self-built alternative holds up, and the prompt to make one. Tear down another extension, or see the extensions we've actually rebuilt and filmed — real build times, real prompts, real recordings.