Browser Extensions · head to head
React Developer Tools vs Mercury Reader
React Developer Tools
Browser Extensions
Debug React applications in your browser
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
M
Mercury Reader
Browser Extensions
Clear clutter from articles instantly
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: React Developer Tools react Developer Tools ships under the MIT license as part of the React open source project, free with no commercial tier; support is community GitHub issues only, with no vendor SLA.; 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: React Developer Tools covers Component inspection, Mercury Reader covers Content extraction.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which React Developer Tools and Mercury Reader actually diverge.
| Attribute | React Developer Tools | Mercury Reader |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2004 | 2015 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Chrome, Firefox, Edge), 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 React Developer Tools
- Component inspection
- Props/State viewing
- Performance profiler
- Hooks debugging
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.
React Developer Tools
- React Developer Tools ships under the MIT license as part of the React open source project, free with no commercial tier; support is community GitHub issues only, with no vendor SLA.
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
React Developer Tools
Free- FreeFree
- Component tree
- Props inspection
- State tracking
Mercury Reader
Free- FreeFree
- Clutter removal
- Clean reading
- Custom themes
Which should you pick?
Choose React Developer Tools if
- You need component inspection.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Chrome, Firefox, Edge.
- You also want props/state viewing.
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 React Developer Tools or Mercury Reader better?
- Neither clearly leads. React Developer Tools 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, React Developer Tools or Mercury Reader?
- React Developer Tools starts at Free and Mercury Reader at Free.
- Does React Developer Tools or Mercury Reader run on more platforms?
- Both run on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use React Developer Tools for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What can React Developer Tools do that Mercury Reader cannot?
- React Developer Tools covers Component inspection, Props/State viewing, Performance profiler, Hooks debugging. Mercury Reader covers Content extraction, Clean reading view, Custom themes, Font customization. Both handle Chrome support, Firefox support, Edge support.