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Browser Extensions · head to head

Privacy Badger vs Stay

Privacy Badger logo

Privacy Badger

Browser Extensions

Automatically learn to block invisible trackers

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: Privacy Badger it is not an ad blocker; the project states its aim is to prevent non-consensual tracking rather than to block ads; Stay apple only. No Chrome, Firefox or Edge build, so it cannot serve a cross-browser workflow.
  • They diverge on capability: Privacy Badger covers Automatic tracker detection, 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 Privacy Badger and Stay actually diverge.

Attributes where Privacy Badger and Stay differ
AttributePrivacy BadgerStay
Pricing modelfreeone-time
PlatformsChrome, Firefox, Edge, OperaSafari, iOS, macOS
Founded1990Unknown

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 Privacy Badger

  • Automatic tracker detection
  • Learning algorithm
  • Do Not Track support
  • No filter lists required
  • Chrome support
  • Firefox support
  • Edge support
  • Opera 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.

Privacy Badger

  • Blocking third-party trackers that follow users across websitesnot Stay
  • Sending Do Not Track and Global Privacy Control signalsnot Stay
  • Disabling social media tracking widgets like Facebook Like buttonsnot Stay
  • Preventing canvas fingerprinting across websitesnot Stay

Stay

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

Where each one falls short

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

Privacy Badger

  • It is not an ad blocker; the project states its aim is to prevent non-consensual tracking rather than to block ads
  • There is no Safari build, and Safari on iOS lacks extension capabilities Privacy Badger needs to work
  • Chrome on Android does not support extensions, so Android users have to switch to Firefox or Edge
  • Protection is aimed at third-party trackers and does not comprehensively cover tracking by the site you are actually visiting

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

Privacy Badger

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Automatic tracker learning
    • Third-party blocking
    • Do Not Track

Stay

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Privacy Badger if

  • You need automatic tracker detection.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera.
  • You also want learning algorithm.
Privacy Badger 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 Privacy Badger or Stay better?
Neither clearly leads. Privacy Badger 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, Privacy Badger or Stay?
Privacy Badger starts at Free and Stay at Free.
Does Privacy Badger or Stay run on more platforms?
Privacy Badger runs on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera. Stay runs on Safari, iOS, macOS.
Can I use Privacy Badger for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Privacy Badger best used for?
Privacy Badger is most often used for blocking third-party trackers that follow users across websites, sending do not track and global privacy control signals, disabling social media tracking widgets like facebook like buttons, preventing canvas fingerprinting across websites. Of those, blocking third-party trackers that follow users across websites and sending do not track and global privacy control signals are not what Stay is typically brought in for.
What can Privacy Badger do that Stay cannot?
Privacy Badger covers Automatic tracker detection, Learning algorithm, Do Not Track support, No filter lists required. Stay covers Tampermonkey and Violentmonkey compatibility, Userscript management, Cross-device bookmark sync, Download manager.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Privacy Badger: How much does Privacy Badger cost?

Privacy Badger is free browser extension made by the Electronic Frontier Foundation. There are no pricing tiers or subscription costs. The project accepts donations to support EFF's work.

Source
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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