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Browser Extensions · head to head

Greasemonkey vs Neovim

Greasemonkey logo

Greasemonkey

Browser Extensions

The original userscript manager, for Firefox

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Neovim logo

Neovim

Technology

hyperextensible Vim-based text editor

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Greasemonkey firefox only. There is no Chrome, Edge or Safari build and there never has been.; Neovim no official first-party GUI is shipped; Neovim itself is a terminal-based editor and only maintains a curated list of third-party GUI front-ends
  • They diverge on capability: Greasemonkey covers Userscript execution, Neovim covers Async job control.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 17 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Greasemonkey and Neovim actually diverge.

Attributes where Greasemonkey and Neovim differ
AttributeGreasemonkeyNeovim
Pricing modelopen-sourceUnknown
PlatformsFirefoxWindows, macOS, Linux
CategoryBrowser ExtensionsTechnology
FoundedUnknown2014

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 Greasemonkey

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

Only in Neovim

  • Async job control
  • Lua scripting
  • Built-in LSP client
  • Tree-sitter syntax highlighting
  • Extensible UI
  • Terminal emulator
  • Modern plugin architecture
  • Better defaults

What people use each for

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

Greasemonkey

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

Neovim

  • General source-code editingnot Greasemonkey
  • Terminal-based development workflows, including over SSH on remote serversnot Greasemonkey
  • Building custom IDE-like environments via LSP and Lua pluginsnot Greasemonkey
  • Embedding as an editor component in other GUI/IDE front-ends via --embednot Greasemonkey
  • Vim-compatible scripting and automation of text editingnot Greasemonkey

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Neovim

  • No official first-party GUI is shipped; Neovim itself is a terminal-based editor and only maintains a curated list of third-party GUI front-ends
  • Licensing is not uniform: code contributed after commit b17d96 is Apache 2.0, but code carried over from Vim (tagged vim-patch) remains under Vim's own license
  • Built-in LSP client and Tree-sitter integration are frameworks requiring separate configuration or plugins for language servers/grammars to be useful, not out-of-box language support
  • No official iOS, Android, or web build

Pricing, plan by plan

Greasemonkey

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

Neovim

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Neovim review.

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Neovim if

  • You need async job control.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want lua scripting.
Neovim review

Questions people ask

Is Greasemonkey or Neovim better?
Neither clearly leads. Greasemonkey starts at Free and Neovim at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Greasemonkey or Neovim?
Greasemonkey starts at Free and Neovim at Free.
Does Greasemonkey or Neovim run on more platforms?
Greasemonkey runs on Firefox. Neovim runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use Greasemonkey for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Greasemonkey best used for?
Greasemonkey is most often used for restyling or de-cluttering a site you use daily, automating a repetitive action on a web application, adding a missing feature to a site you do not control, running userscripts on firefox for android. Of those, restyling or de-cluttering a site you use daily and automating a repetitive action on a web application are not what Neovim is typically brought in for.
What can Greasemonkey do that Neovim cannot?
Greasemonkey covers Userscript execution, Built-in script editor, GM. API, @resource support. Neovim covers Async job control, Lua scripting, Built-in LSP client, Tree-sitter syntax highlighting.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Neovim: How much does Neovim cost?

Neovim is free and open-source software. No cost is associated with downloading, using, or distributing Neovim. The project is community-driven with optional sponsorship opportunities for those who wish to support its development.

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
Neovim: Is Neovim open source?

Yes, Neovim is free, open-source software available to everyone at no cost. Users can download, modify, and distribute it freely for any purpose.

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
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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