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Browser Extensions · head to head

Privacy Badger vs Stylus

Privacy Badger logo

Privacy Badger

Browser Extensions

Automatically learn to block invisible trackers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Stylus logo

Stylus

Browser Extensions

Restyle the web with custom CSS

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; Stylus crashes and instability when applying certain styles
  • They diverge on capability: Privacy Badger covers Automatic tracker detection, Stylus covers Custom CSS injection.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Privacy Badger and Stylus actually diverge.

Attributes where Privacy Badger and Stylus differ
AttributePrivacy BadgerStylus
Founded19902017

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera), 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

Only in Stylus

  • Custom CSS injection
  • Style management
  • userstyles.world integration
  • Built-in editor

Both cover

  • Chrome support
  • Firefox support
  • Edge support
  • Opera support

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 Stylus
  • Sending Do Not Track and Global Privacy Control signalsnot Stylus
  • Disabling social media tracking widgets like Facebook Like buttonsnot Stylus
  • Preventing canvas fingerprinting across websitesnot Stylus

Stylus

  • Customizing website appearance with community-created CSS themesnot Privacy Badger
  • Writing personal style overrides for specific websitesnot Privacy Badger
  • Managing multiple styles across different websites automaticallynot Privacy Badger
  • Searching and installing user-styles for current websitesnot Privacy Badger
  • Migrating style collections from Stylish extensionnot 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

Stylus

  • Crashes and instability when applying certain styles
  • No visual element selector tool for identifying page elements to style
  • Security risk if downloading and applying untrusted user-created styles

Pricing, plan by plan

Privacy Badger

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

Stylus

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Custom CSS
    • Style library
    • Style editor

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 Stylus if

  • You need custom css injection.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera.
  • You also want style management.
Stylus review

Questions people ask

Is Privacy Badger or Stylus better?
Neither clearly leads. Privacy Badger starts at Free and Stylus at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Privacy Badger or Stylus?
Privacy Badger starts at Free and Stylus at Free.
Does Privacy Badger or Stylus run on more platforms?
Both run on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
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 Stylus is typically brought in for.
What can Privacy Badger do that Stylus cannot?
Privacy Badger covers Automatic tracker detection, Learning algorithm, Do Not Track support, No filter lists required. Stylus covers Custom CSS injection, Style management, userstyles.world integration, Built-in editor. Both handle Chrome support, Firefox support, Edge support, Opera support.

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
Stylus: Is Stylus free?

Yes. Stylus is completely free and open-source, available for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera browsers.

Source
Stylus: Can I use Stylus to change the browser UI?

No. Due to WebExtensions security restrictions, Stylus can only customize website pages, not the browser interface itself.

Source
Stylus: What CSS pre-processors does Stylus support?

Stylus supports CSS, LESS, and Stylus syntax with built-in linting using Stylelint and CSSLint-mod with customizable rules.

Source
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