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Eclipse vs FireMonkey

Eclipse logo

Eclipse

Technology

The Eclipse Foundation - home to a global community

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
FireMonkey logo

FireMonkey

Browser Extensions

User scripts and user styles in one Firefox extension

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Eclipse high memory consumption and CPU usage, especially with multiple plugins installed; FireMonkey firefox only, and requires a recent one: version 93 on desktop, 113 on Android.
  • They diverge on capability: Eclipse covers Java development environment, FireMonkey covers Scripts and styles together.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 15 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Eclipse and FireMonkey actually diverge.

Attributes where Eclipse and FireMonkey differ
AttributeEclipseFireMonkey
Pricing modelUnknownopen-source
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxFirefox
CategoryTechnologyBrowser Extensions
Founded2001Unknown

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

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 Eclipse

  • Java development environment
  • Extensible plugin architecture
  • Integrated debugger
  • Code refactoring
  • Version control integration
  • Build automation
  • Multi-language support
  • Rich client platform

Only in FireMonkey

  • Scripts and styles together
  • Monaco editor with ESLint
  • Unlimited client-side storage
  • Global injection
  • Notifications and clipboard
  • Firefox for Android

What people use each for

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

Eclipse

  • Java application developmentnot FireMonkey
  • Enterprise software developmentnot FireMonkey
  • Web application developmentnot FireMonkey
  • Plugin developmentnot FireMonkey
  • Educational programmingnot FireMonkey

FireMonkey

  • Running user scripts and user styles without two separate extensionsnot Eclipse
  • Restyling sites with CSS alongside scripted behaviour changesnot Eclipse
  • Editing scripts in a full editor inside the browsernot Eclipse
  • Injecting CSS globally across every sitenot Eclipse
  • Managing a mixed library of scripts and styles from one dashboardnot Eclipse

Where each one falls short

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

Eclipse

  • High memory consumption and CPU usage, especially with multiple plugins installed
  • Slow startup times and performance degradation with large projects or many open editors
  • Requires configuration of eclipse.ini file to optimize heap sizes for adequate performance
  • User interface considered outdated compared to modern IDE alternatives
  • User base fell from 39% of Java developers in 2024 to 28% in 2025, indicating market decline

FireMonkey

  • Firefox only, and requires a recent one: version 93 on desktop, 113 on Android.
  • Not a drop-in replacement for Greasemonkey, Tampermonkey or Stylus. The project says so itself, so an existing library may need adjusting.
  • A much smaller user base than Tampermonkey or Violentmonkey, which means fewer people have hit the bug you are about to hit.
  • No Chrome, Edge or Safari build, so it cannot be the answer for anyone working across browsers.
  • Combining scripts and styles in one extension also combines the blast radius: one extension with permission to inject both into every page.

Pricing, plan by plan

Eclipse

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Eclipse review.

FireMonkey

Free
  • Open sourceFree
    • MPL-2.0 licensed
    • Unlimited scripts and styles
    • No account required

Which should you pick?

Choose Eclipse if

  • You need java development environment.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want extensible plugin architecture.
Eclipse review

Choose FireMonkey if

  • You need scripts and styles together.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Firefox.
  • You also want monaco editor with eslint.
FireMonkey review

Questions people ask

Is Eclipse or FireMonkey better?
Neither clearly leads. Eclipse starts at Free and FireMonkey at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Eclipse or FireMonkey?
Eclipse starts at Free and FireMonkey at Free.
Does Eclipse or FireMonkey run on more platforms?
Eclipse runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. FireMonkey runs on Firefox.
Can I use Eclipse for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Eclipse best used for?
Eclipse is most often used for java application development, enterprise software development, web application development, plugin development. Of those, java application development and enterprise software development are not what FireMonkey is typically brought in for.
What can Eclipse do that FireMonkey cannot?
Eclipse covers Java development environment, Extensible plugin architecture, Integrated debugger, Code refactoring. FireMonkey covers Scripts and styles together, Monaco editor with ESLint, Unlimited client-side storage, Global injection.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Eclipse: How much does Eclipse IDE cost?

Eclipse IDE is completely free and open-source, released under the Eclipse Public License 2.0.

Source
FireMonkey: What makes FireMonkey different from Violentmonkey?

It manages user styles as well as user scripts. The usual arrangement is a script manager plus a separate style manager such as Stylus; FireMonkey replaces both with one extension.

Source
FireMonkey: Which browsers does FireMonkey support?

Firefox only. Desktop requires Firefox 93 or later and Android requires 113, with an API minimum of 102.

Source
FireMonkey: Is FireMonkey open source?

Yes, under the MPL-2.0 licence.

Source
FireMonkey: Will my existing Tampermonkey scripts work?

Not necessarily. The project states that while it shares functionality with Greasemonkey, Tampermonkey and Stylus, there are differences, so scripts and styles written for those may need adjusting.

Source
FireMonkey: What editor does FireMonkey use?

Current versions use the Monaco editor with ESLint, the same editor component that powers VS Code.

Source
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