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Rakuten vs Dark Reader

Rakuten logo

Rakuten

Software

Get cash back on every purchase

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Dark Reader logo

Dark Reader

Software

Dark mode for every website

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Rakuten minimum withdrawal amount of $5.01 creates friction for light users; Dark Reader cannot modify PDF files displayed in browsers
  • They diverge on capability: Rakuten covers Cash back rewards, Dark Reader covers Dark mode.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Rakuten and Dark Reader actually diverge.

Attributes where Rakuten and Dark Reader differ
AttributeRakutenDark Reader
PlatformsBrowser Extension (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge
Founded19992014

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Rakuten

  • Cash back rewards
  • Coupon codes
  • In-store offers
  • Price comparisons

Only in Dark Reader

  • Dark mode
  • Custom brightness
  • Contrast adjustment
  • Site-specific settings

Both cover

  • Chrome support
  • Firefox support
  • Edge support
  • Safari support

What people use each for

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

Rakuten

No use cases recorded yet. See the Rakuten review.

Dark Reader

  • Applying dark mode to websites that don't natively support itnot Rakuten
  • Reducing eye strain for night-time or extended browsingnot Rakuten
  • Per-site brightness, contrast, and sepia customizationnot Rakuten
  • Toggling dark mode on/off per domainnot Rakuten
  • Accessibility use for light-sensitive usersnot Rakuten

Where each one falls short

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

Rakuten

  • Minimum withdrawal amount of $5.01 creates friction for light users
  • Quarterly payout schedule only, with months-long delays between earning and receiving payments
  • Amazon cashback limited to specific categories at 1-3% rates
  • Must click through Rakuten link first or cashback does not register

Dark Reader

  • Cannot modify PDF files displayed in browsers
  • Performance impact on devices with limited resources

Pricing, plan by plan

Rakuten

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Rakuten review.

Dark Reader

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Dark Reader review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Rakuten if

  • You need cash back rewards.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Browser Extension (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge).
  • You also want coupon codes.
Rakuten review

Choose Dark Reader if

  • You need dark mode.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge.
  • You also want custom brightness.
Dark Reader review

Questions people ask

Is Rakuten or Dark Reader better?
Neither clearly leads. Rakuten starts at Free and Dark Reader at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Rakuten or Dark Reader?
Rakuten starts at Free and Dark Reader at Free.
Does Rakuten or Dark Reader run on more platforms?
Rakuten runs on Browser Extension (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge). Dark Reader runs on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge.
Can I use Rakuten for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What can Rakuten do that Dark Reader cannot?
Rakuten covers Cash back rewards, Coupon codes, In-store offers, Price comparisons. Dark Reader covers Dark mode, Custom brightness, Contrast adjustment, Site-specific settings. Both handle Chrome support, Firefox support, Edge support, Safari support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Rakuten: Is Rakuten free to use?

Yes, the Rakuten browser extension is completely free with no membership fees. Users never pay to earn cashback rewards.

Source
Dark Reader: Is Dark Reader free to use?

Yes, Dark Reader is completely free with no ads and no tracking. It does not send user data anywhere.

Source
Rakuten: How and when can I withdraw my cashback earnings?

Rakuten processes payouts quarterly in February, May, August, and November. You need a minimum balance of $5.01 to request a payout via PayPal or check.

Source
Dark Reader: How can I customize the dark mode in Dark Reader?

Users can configure brightness, contrast, and sepia filter settings to suit their specific needs, and selectively enable or disable Dark Reader for specific websites.

Source
Rakuten: How many stores does Rakuten support?

Rakuten works with over 3,500 online stores and offers cashback rates up to 40% depending on the retailer and promotion.

Source
Dark Reader: What browsers does Dark Reader support?

Dark Reader is available for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge browsers across desktop and mobile platforms.

Source
Dark Reader: Does Dark Reader work offline?

Yes, Dark Reader runs entirely on your device with no external dependencies. It analyzes web pages locally to generate dark themes.

Source
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