Browser Extensions · head to head
HTTPS Everywhere vs Mercury Reader
Mercury Reader
Browser Extensions
Clear clutter from articles instantly
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: HTTPS Everywhere product discontinued as of January 2023; Mercury Reader mercury Reader's underlying engine (Postlight Parser) is free open source software licensed under Apache License 2.0, per the GitHub repository, with no paid tier
- They diverge on capability: HTTPS Everywhere covers Automatic HTTPS, Mercury Reader covers Content extraction.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which HTTPS Everywhere and Mercury Reader actually diverge.
| Attribute | HTTPS Everywhere | Mercury Reader |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera | Chrome, Firefox, Edge |
| Founded | 1990 | 2015 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (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 HTTPS Everywhere
- Automatic HTTPS
- Encryption enforcement
- Rule-based upgrading
- Observatory integration
- Opera support
Only in Mercury Reader
- Content extraction
- Clean reading view
- Custom themes
- Font customization
Both cover
- Chrome support
- Firefox support
- Edge support
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
HTTPS Everywhere
- Product discontinued as of January 2023
- Functionality now built into all modern browsers natively
- No longer receives security updates or maintenance
Mercury Reader
- Mercury Reader's underlying engine (Postlight Parser) is free open source software licensed under Apache License 2.0, per the GitHub repository, with no paid tier
Pricing, plan by plan
HTTPS Everywhere
Free- FreeFree
- Automatic HTTPS upgrade
- Rule sets
- Custom rules
Mercury Reader
Free- FreeFree
- Clutter removal
- Clean reading
- Custom themes
Which should you pick?
Choose HTTPS Everywhere if
- You need automatic https.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera.
- You also want encryption enforcement.
Choose Mercury Reader if
- You need content extraction.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Chrome, Firefox, Edge.
- You also want clean reading view.
Questions people ask
- Is HTTPS Everywhere or Mercury Reader better?
- Neither clearly leads. HTTPS Everywhere starts at Free and Mercury Reader at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, HTTPS Everywhere or Mercury Reader?
- HTTPS Everywhere starts at Free and Mercury Reader at Free.
- Does HTTPS Everywhere or Mercury Reader run on more platforms?
- HTTPS Everywhere runs on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera. Mercury Reader runs on Chrome, Firefox, Edge.
- Can I use HTTPS Everywhere for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What can HTTPS Everywhere do that Mercury Reader cannot?
- HTTPS Everywhere covers Automatic HTTPS, Encryption enforcement, Rule-based upgrading, Observatory integration. Mercury Reader covers Content extraction, Clean reading view, Custom themes, Font customization. Both handle Chrome support, Firefox support, Edge support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
HTTPS Everywhere: Is HTTPS Everywhere still maintained?
No. HTTPS Everywhere was retired in January 2023 because major browsers added native HTTPS upgrade features, making the extension obsolete.
SourceHTTPS Everywhere: What functionality did HTTPS Everywhere provide?
The extension automatically redirected HTTP connections to HTTPS when available, improving encryption and privacy on unencrypted websites.
SourceHTTPS Everywhere: What is the recommended replacement?
Modern browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari now include built-in HTTPS upgrade features that automatically redirect to secure connections, making HTTPS Everywhere unnecessary.
Source