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Browser Extensions · head to head

React Developer Tools vs Stylus

React Developer Tools logo

React Developer Tools

Browser Extensions

Debug React applications in your browser

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: React Developer Tools react Developer Tools is only available as a Chrome browser extension. No support for other browsers mentioned.; Stylus crashes and instability when applying certain styles
  • They diverge on capability: React Developer Tools covers Component inspection, Stylus covers Custom CSS injection.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which React Developer Tools and Stylus actually diverge.

Attributes where React Developer Tools and Stylus differ
AttributeReact Developer ToolsStylus
PlatformsChrome, Firefox, EdgeChrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera
Founded20042017

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (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 React Developer Tools

  • Component inspection
  • Props/State viewing
  • Performance profiler
  • Hooks debugging

Only in Stylus

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

Both cover

  • Chrome support
  • Firefox support
  • Edge support

What people use each for

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

React Developer Tools

  • Debugging React components during developmentnot Stylus
  • Inspecting component state and propsnot Stylus
  • Performance profiling of React applicationsnot Stylus

Stylus

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

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 is only available as a Chrome browser extension. No support for other browsers mentioned.

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

React Developer Tools

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Component tree
    • Props inspection
    • State tracking

Stylus

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

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.
React Developer Tools 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 React Developer Tools or Stylus better?
Neither clearly leads. React Developer Tools 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, React Developer Tools or Stylus?
React Developer Tools starts at Free and Stylus at Free.
Does React Developer Tools or Stylus run on more platforms?
React Developer Tools runs on Chrome, Firefox, Edge. Stylus runs on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera.
Can I use React Developer Tools for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is React Developer Tools best used for?
React Developer Tools is most often used for debugging react components during development, inspecting component state and props, performance profiling of react applications. Of those, debugging react components during development and inspecting component state and props are not what Stylus is typically brought in for.
What can React Developer Tools do that Stylus cannot?
React Developer Tools covers Component inspection, Props/State viewing, Performance profiler, Hooks debugging. Stylus covers Custom CSS injection, Style management, userstyles.world integration, Built-in editor. Both handle Chrome support, Firefox support, Edge support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

React Developer Tools: How much does React Developer Tools cost?

React Developer Tools is completely free. It is a free browser extension with no subscription fees or costs.

Source
Stylus: Is Stylus free?

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

Source
React Developer Tools: Is React Developer Tools available for download?

Yes. React Developer Tools is available as a free extension on the Chrome Web Store for download at no cost.

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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