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Browser Extensions · head to head

React Developer Tools vs Userscripts

React Developer Tools logo

React Developer Tools

Browser Extensions

Debug React applications in your browser

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Userscripts logo

Userscripts

Browser Extensions

Open-source userscript manager for Safari on Mac and iOS

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.; Userscripts safari cannot let extensions bypass a site's Content Security Policy, so strict sites produce "Refused to execute a script" errors that the @inject-into workaround does not always fix.
  • They diverge on capability: React Developer Tools covers Component inspection, Userscripts covers Built-in script editor.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 15 September 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where React Developer Tools and Userscripts differ
AttributeReact Developer ToolsUserscripts
Pricing modelfreeopen-source
PlatformsChrome, Firefox, EdgeSafari, macOS, iOS
Founded2004Unknown

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 React Developer Tools

  • Component inspection
  • Props/State viewing
  • Performance profiler
  • Hooks debugging
  • Chrome support
  • Firefox support
  • Edge support

Only in Userscripts

  • Built-in script editor
  • Standard metadata support
  • GM API
  • Remote script updating
  • iCloud sync
  • Per-page popup

What people use each for

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

React Developer Tools

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

Userscripts

  • Running userscripts on Safari without paying for Tampermonkeynot React Developer Tools
  • Running userscripts on an iPhone or iPadnot React Developer Tools
  • Writing scripts on a Mac and syncing them to iOSnot React Developer Tools
  • Blocking or restyling site elements Safari content blockers cannot reachnot React Developer Tools
  • Keeping a script library under an open-source licencenot 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.

Userscripts

  • Safari cannot let extensions bypass a site's Content Security Policy, so strict sites produce "Refused to execute a script" errors that the @inject-into workaround does not always fix.
  • Apple only. There is no Chrome, Firefox or Edge build, so it cannot be a cross-browser answer.
  • iCloud sync is documented as having delays, which is awkward when editing the same script on two devices.
  • Requires macOS 12 and Safari 14.1, or iOS 15.1, so older Apple hardware is excluded.
  • GPL v3 means a commercial licence is required for non-open-source use, which matters if you are embedding rather than just using it.

Pricing, plan by plan

React Developer Tools

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

Userscripts

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full functionality
    • GPL v3 licensed
    • macOS, iOS and iPadOS

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 Userscripts if

  • You need built-in script editor.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Safari, macOS, iOS.
  • You also want standard metadata support.
Userscripts review

Questions people ask

Is React Developer Tools or Userscripts better?
Neither clearly leads. React Developer Tools starts at Free and Userscripts at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, React Developer Tools or Userscripts?
React Developer Tools starts at Free and Userscripts at Free.
Does React Developer Tools or Userscripts run on more platforms?
React Developer Tools runs on Chrome, Firefox, Edge. Userscripts runs on Safari, macOS, iOS.
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 Userscripts is typically brought in for.
What can React Developer Tools do that Userscripts cannot?
React Developer Tools covers Component inspection, Props/State viewing, Performance profiler, Hooks debugging. Userscripts covers Built-in script editor, Standard metadata support, GM API, Remote script updating.

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
Userscripts: Is Userscripts for Safari free?

Yes, free on the App Store and licensed under GPL v3. A commercial licence is required for use in something that is not itself open source.

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
Userscripts: Does it work on iPhone?

Yes, on iOS and iPadOS 15.1 or later, which makes it one of the few ways to run userscripts on an iPhone.

Source
Userscripts: Why do I get "Refused to execute a script" errors?

Safari does not let extensions bypass a site's Content Security Policy the way other browsers do. The documented workaround is changing the script's @inject-into setting, though it does not resolve every case.

Source
Userscripts: Do my scripts sync between Mac and iPhone?

Yes, over iCloud, though the project notes the sync can be delayed rather than immediate.

Source
Userscripts: What are the system requirements?

macOS 12 or later with Safari 14.1 or later, or iOS and iPadOS 15.1 or later.

Source
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