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Browser Extensions · head to head

ColorZilla vs Dark Reader

ColorZilla logo

ColorZilla

Browser Extensions

Advanced color picker and eyedropper

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Dark Reader logo

Dark Reader

Browser Extensions

Dark mode for every website

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: ColorZilla no pricing information published on main website or pricing page, making cost structure unclear to potential users; Dark Reader cannot modify PDF files displayed in browsers
  • They diverge on capability: ColorZilla covers Color picker, Dark Reader covers Dark mode.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ColorZilla and Dark Reader actually diverge.

Attributes where ColorZilla and Dark Reader differ
AttributeColorZillaDark Reader
Pricing modelfreeUnknown
PlatformsChrome, Firefox, EdgeChrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge
Founded20072014

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Browser Extensions).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in ColorZilla

  • Color picker
  • Eyedropper tool
  • Gradient generator
  • Palette analyzer

Only in Dark Reader

  • Dark mode
  • Custom brightness
  • Contrast adjustment
  • Site-specific settings
  • Safari support

Both cover

  • Chrome support
  • Firefox support
  • Edge support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

ColorZilla

  • Extracting exact color values from website designs instantlynot Dark Reader
  • Generating CSS gradients without returning to Photoshopnot Dark Reader
  • Analyzing and converting visual color palettes to codenot Dark Reader

Dark Reader

  • Applying dark mode to websites that don't natively support itnot ColorZilla
  • Reducing eye strain for night-time or extended browsingnot ColorZilla
  • Per-site brightness, contrast, and sepia customizationnot ColorZilla
  • Toggling dark mode on/off per domainnot ColorZilla
  • Accessibility use for light-sensitive usersnot ColorZilla

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

ColorZilla

  • No pricing information published on main website or pricing page, making cost structure unclear to potential users
  • No free tier or trial option clearly advertised, limiting ability to test features before purchase

Dark Reader

  • Cannot modify PDF files displayed in browsers
  • Performance impact on devices with limited resources

Pricing, plan by plan

ColorZilla

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Color picker
    • Eyedropper
    • Gradient generator

Dark Reader

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Dark Reader review.

Which should you pick?

Choose ColorZilla if

  • You need color picker.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Chrome, Firefox, Edge.
  • You also want eyedropper tool.
ColorZilla review

Choose Dark Reader if

  • You need dark mode.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge.
  • You also want custom brightness.
Dark Reader review

Questions people ask

Is ColorZilla or Dark Reader better?
Neither clearly leads. ColorZilla starts at Free and Dark Reader at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ColorZilla or Dark Reader?
ColorZilla starts at Free and Dark Reader at Free.
Does ColorZilla or Dark Reader run on more platforms?
ColorZilla runs on Chrome, Firefox, Edge. Dark Reader runs on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge.
Can I use ColorZilla for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is ColorZilla best used for?
ColorZilla is most often used for extracting exact color values from website designs instantly, generating css gradients without returning to photoshop, analyzing and converting visual color palettes to code. Of those, extracting exact color values from website designs instantly and generating css gradients without returning to photoshop are not what Dark Reader is typically brought in for.
What can ColorZilla do that Dark Reader cannot?
ColorZilla covers Color picker, Eyedropper tool, Gradient generator, Palette analyzer. Dark Reader covers Dark mode, Custom brightness, Contrast adjustment, Site-specific settings. Both handle Chrome support, Firefox support, Edge support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ColorZilla: How much does ColorZilla cost?

ColorZilla does not publish pricing on its website. The site describes browser extensions for Firefox and Chrome, plus an online CSS gradient editor, but cost information is not available. Users must contact the company directly or check browser extension marketplaces for availability and cost details.

Source
Dark Reader: Is Dark Reader free to use?

Yes, Dark Reader is completely free with no ads and no tracking. It does not send user data anywhere.

Source
ColorZilla: Is ColorZilla free to use?

The website does not specify whether ColorZilla tools are free or paid. While browser extensions are often offered free in extension stores, the online tools and their pricing model are not documented on the main site.

Source
Dark Reader: How can I customize the dark mode in Dark Reader?

Users can configure brightness, contrast, and sepia filter settings to suit their specific needs, and selectively enable or disable Dark Reader for specific websites.

Source
Dark Reader: What browsers does Dark Reader support?

Dark Reader is available for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge browsers across desktop and mobile platforms.

Source
Dark Reader: Does Dark Reader work offline?

Yes, Dark Reader runs entirely on your device with no external dependencies. It analyzes web pages locally to generate dark themes.

Source
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Related pages

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