Software · head to head
Dark Reader vs Redux DevTools
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Dark Reader cannot modify PDF files displayed in browsers; Redux DevTools significant performance overhead when tracking large state trees with many action history entries
- They diverge on capability: Dark Reader covers Dark mode, Redux DevTools covers Action history.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Dark Reader and Redux DevTools actually diverge.
| Attribute | Dark Reader | Redux DevTools |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge | Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Electron |
| Founded | 2014 | 2015 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Dark Reader
- Dark mode
- Custom brightness
- Contrast adjustment
- Site-specific settings
- Safari support
Only in Redux DevTools
- Action history
- State diff
- Time-travel debugging
- State export
Both cover
- Chrome support
- Firefox support
- Edge support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Dark Reader
- Applying dark mode to websites that don't natively support itnot Redux DevTools
- Reducing eye strain for night-time or extended browsingnot Redux DevTools
- Per-site brightness, contrast, and sepia customizationnot Redux DevTools
- Toggling dark mode on/off per domainnot Redux DevTools
- Accessibility use for light-sensitive usersnot Redux DevTools
Redux DevTools
No use cases recorded yet. See the Redux DevTools review.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Dark Reader
- Cannot modify PDF files displayed in browsers
- Performance impact on devices with limited resources
Redux DevTools
- Significant performance overhead when tracking large state trees with many action history entries
- Memory consumption increases with action history, especially with large datasets of 11,000+ records
- UI becomes sluggish when LogMonitor contains many actions in history
- Requires manual configuration of maxAge and sanitizers to optimize performance
Pricing, plan by plan
Dark Reader
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Dark Reader review.
Redux DevTools
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Redux DevTools review.
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose Redux DevTools if
- You need action history.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Electron.
- You also want state diff.
Questions people ask
- Is Dark Reader or Redux DevTools better?
- Neither clearly leads. Dark Reader starts at Free and Redux DevTools at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Dark Reader or Redux DevTools?
- Dark Reader starts at Free and Redux DevTools at Free.
- Does Dark Reader or Redux DevTools run on more platforms?
- Dark Reader runs on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge. Redux DevTools runs on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Electron.
- Can I use Dark Reader for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Dark Reader best used for?
- Dark Reader is most often used for applying dark mode to websites that don't natively support it, reducing eye strain for night-time or extended browsing, per-site brightness, contrast, and sepia customization, toggling dark mode on/off per domain. Of those, applying dark mode to websites that don't natively support it and reducing eye strain for night-time or extended browsing are not what Redux DevTools is typically brought in for.
- What can Dark Reader do that Redux DevTools cannot?
- Dark Reader covers Dark mode, Custom brightness, Contrast adjustment, Site-specific settings. Redux DevTools covers Action history, State diff, Time-travel debugging, State export. Both handle Chrome support, Firefox support, Edge support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
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.
SourceRedux DevTools: Is Redux DevTools free?
Yes, Redux DevTools is completely free and open-source under the MIT license. It is available as a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, and can also be used as a standalone app or React component.
SourceDark 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.
SourceRedux DevTools: What browsers does Redux DevTools support?
Redux DevTools is available as a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. It can also be integrated directly into applications as a React component or standalone app.
SourceDark Reader: What browsers does Dark Reader support?
Dark Reader is available for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge browsers across desktop and mobile platforms.
SourceRedux DevTools: Does Redux DevTools work with production builds?
Redux DevTools is designed for development and should be disabled in production builds. Keeping it enabled in production can impact application performance due to state logging overhead.
SourceDark 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.
SourceRedux DevTools: How do I enable time-travel debugging with Redux DevTools?
Redux DevTools allows you to step back through dispatched actions, canceling actions to return to previous application states. This time-travel debugging is built into the core functionality of the extension.
SourceRelated pages
More on Dark Reader
More on Redux DevTools
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