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Browser Extensions · head to head

JSON Viewer vs Stay

JSON Viewer logo

JSON Viewer

Browser Extensions

View JSON documents in the browser

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Stay logo

Stay

Browser Extensions

Safari userscript manager that runs Tampermonkey scripts

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: JSON Viewer the project is MIT licensed open source code hosted on GitHub with no vendor and no paid tier; Stay apple only. No Chrome, Firefox or Edge build, so it cannot serve a cross-browser workflow.
  • They diverge on capability: JSON Viewer covers JSON formatting, Stay covers Tampermonkey and Violentmonkey compatibility.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 15 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which JSON Viewer and Stay actually diverge.

Attributes where JSON Viewer and Stay differ
AttributeJSON ViewerStay
Pricing modelfreeone-time
PlatformsChrome, Firefox, EdgeSafari, iOS, macOS
Founded2015Unknown

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 JSON Viewer

  • JSON formatting
  • Syntax highlighting
  • Tree view
  • Search functionality
  • Chrome support
  • Firefox support
  • Edge support

Only in Stay

  • Tampermonkey and Violentmonkey compatibility
  • Userscript management
  • Cross-device bookmark sync
  • Download manager
  • Dark mode
  • One-time purchase across platforms

What people use each for

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

JSON Viewer

No use cases recorded yet. See the JSON Viewer review.

Stay

  • Running Tampermonkey scripts on Safarinot JSON Viewer
  • Running userscripts on iPhone and iPadnot JSON Viewer
  • Syncing bookmarks across Apple and non-Apple devicesnot JSON Viewer
  • Managing downloads into categorised folders on iOSnot JSON Viewer
  • Forcing dark mode on sites that do not offer itnot JSON Viewer

Where each one falls short

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

JSON Viewer

  • The project is MIT licensed open source code hosted on GitHub with no vendor and no paid tier

Stay

  • Apple only. No Chrome, Firefox or Edge build, so it cannot serve a cross-browser workflow.
  • The free tier is deliberately limited, so the practical product is the paid one.
  • Compatibility with Tampermonkey and Violentmonkey scripts is a translation layer rather than the real thing, and a script relying on an unusual GM function may not behave identically.
  • It bundles bookmark sync, downloads and dark mode alongside the script manager, which is more surface area than some people want from an extension with access to every page.
  • A much smaller project than the established managers, so fewer scripts are tested against it.

Pricing, plan by plan

JSON Viewer

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Syntax highlighting
    • Collapsible tree
    • Search

Stay

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Limited functionality
  • Lifetime$5/one-time
    • All features
    • iPhone, iPad and Mac
    • Lifetime updates

Which should you pick?

Choose JSON Viewer if

  • You need json formatting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Chrome, Firefox, Edge.
  • You also want syntax highlighting.
JSON Viewer review

Choose Stay if

  • You need tampermonkey and violentmonkey compatibility.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Safari, iOS, macOS.
  • You also want userscript management.
Stay review

Questions people ask

Is JSON Viewer or Stay better?
Neither clearly leads. JSON Viewer starts at Free and Stay at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, JSON Viewer or Stay?
JSON Viewer starts at Free and Stay at Free.
Does JSON Viewer or Stay run on more platforms?
JSON Viewer runs on Chrome, Firefox, Edge. Stay runs on Safari, iOS, macOS.
Can I use JSON Viewer for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What can JSON Viewer do that Stay cannot?
JSON Viewer covers JSON formatting, Syntax highlighting, Tree view, Search functionality. Stay covers Tampermonkey and Violentmonkey compatibility, Userscript management, Cross-device bookmark sync, Download manager.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Stay: Can Stay run Tampermonkey scripts?

Yes. It supports its own native scripts and also scripts written for Tampermonkey and Violentmonkey, which is the main reason to choose it on Safari.

Source
Stay: How much does Stay cost?

A one-time payment, reported at around $5, covering iPhone, iPad and Mac with lifetime updates and no subscription. A free version with limited functionality is available.

Source
Stay: Does Stay work on iPhone?

Yes. It supports Safari across iPhone, iPad and Mac, and the single purchase covers all three.

Source
Stay: What can userscripts do in Safari through Stay?

The vendor's examples are automatic pagination, immersive translation, redirect blocking and aggregated search. Anything a userscript can do on another browser is broadly in scope, subject to Safari's own restrictions.

Source
Stay: Is Stay open source?

The project publishes source on GitHub, and the app is distributed through the App Store as a paid product with a limited free tier.

Source
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