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Browser Extensions · head to head

Dark Reader vs Greasemonkey

Dark Reader logo

Dark Reader

Browser Extensions

Dark mode for every website

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Greasemonkey logo

Greasemonkey

Browser Extensions

The original userscript manager, for Firefox

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Dark Reader cannot modify PDF files displayed in browsers; Greasemonkey firefox only. There is no Chrome, Edge or Safari build and there never has been.
  • They diverge on capability: Dark Reader covers Dark mode, Greasemonkey covers Userscript execution.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 15 September 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Dark Reader and Greasemonkey differ
AttributeDark ReaderGreasemonkey
Pricing modelUnknownopen-source
PlatformsChrome, Firefox, Safari, EdgeFirefox
Founded2014Unknown

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 Dark Reader

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

Only in Greasemonkey

  • Userscript execution
  • Built-in script editor
  • GM. API
  • @resource support
  • Script localisation
  • Firefox for Android

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 Greasemonkey
  • Reducing eye strain for night-time or extended browsingnot Greasemonkey
  • Per-site brightness, contrast, and sepia customizationnot Greasemonkey
  • Toggling dark mode on/off per domainnot Greasemonkey
  • Accessibility use for light-sensitive usersnot Greasemonkey

Greasemonkey

  • Restyling or de-cluttering a site you use dailynot Dark Reader
  • Automating a repetitive action on a web applicationnot Dark Reader
  • Adding a missing feature to a site you do not controlnot Dark Reader
  • Running userscripts on Firefox for Androidnot Dark Reader
  • Writing and testing your own scripts in the browsernot Dark Reader

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

Greasemonkey

  • Firefox only. There is no Chrome, Edge or Safari build and there never has been.
  • Its API diverged from the Tampermonkey conventions most shared scripts are written against, so a script from a sharing site may need adjusting to run.
  • The dashboard is plainer than Tampermonkey's, with no diff view when a script updates itself.
  • No cloud sync of the kind Tampermonkey and Violentmonkey offer; moving machines means exporting.
  • A userscript manager can read and rewrite every page you visit, so the security of the arrangement depends entirely on the scripts you choose to install.

Pricing, plan by plan

Dark Reader

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Dark Reader review.

Greasemonkey

Free
  • Open sourceFree
    • Unlimited scripts
    • Built-in editor
    • No account required

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.
Dark Reader review

Choose Greasemonkey if

  • You need userscript execution.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Firefox.
  • You also want built-in script editor.
Greasemonkey review

Questions people ask

Is Dark Reader or Greasemonkey better?
Neither clearly leads. Dark Reader starts at Free and Greasemonkey at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Dark Reader or Greasemonkey?
Dark Reader starts at Free and Greasemonkey at Free.
Does Dark Reader or Greasemonkey run on more platforms?
Dark Reader runs on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge. Greasemonkey runs on Firefox.
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 Greasemonkey is typically brought in for.
What can Dark Reader do that Greasemonkey cannot?
Dark Reader covers Dark mode, Custom brightness, Contrast adjustment, Site-specific settings. Greasemonkey covers Userscript execution, Built-in script editor, GM. API, @resource 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.

Source
Greasemonkey: Is Greasemonkey still maintained?

Yes. Version 4.14 was released on 2 June 2026, and the project has an active repository, bug tracker and discussion groups.

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
Greasemonkey: Does Greasemonkey work on Chrome?

No. It is a Firefox extension and has never shipped for Chrome. Violentmonkey and Tampermonkey are the equivalents there.

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
Greasemonkey: Will Tampermonkey scripts run in Greasemonkey?

Often, but not always. Greasemonkey's API diverged from the conventions most shared scripts are written against, so a script may need its header or its GM calls adjusted.

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
Greasemonkey: Does Greasemonkey run on mobile?

On Firefox for Android, from version 4.12. There is no iOS build, because Firefox on iOS cannot load extensions of this kind.

Source
Greasemonkey: What is the GM API?

The set of functions a userscript manager exposes to scripts, named after Greasemonkey, which defined it. Greasemonkey supports the promise-based GM. form including GM.xmlHttpRequest and GM.registerMenuCommand.

Source
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