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Browser Extensions · head to head

Stay vs Web Developer

Stay logo

Stay

Browser Extensions

Safari userscript manager that runs Tampermonkey scripts

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Web Developer logo

Web Developer

Browser Extensions

Web developer toolbar for browsers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Stay apple only. No Chrome, Firefox or Edge build, so it cannot serve a cross-browser workflow.; Web Developer the Web Developer browser extension is licensed GPL-3.0 per its GitHub repository (github.com/chrispederick/web-developer), which states 'All files are distributed for free under the terms of the GNU General Public License,' confirming it has no vendor pricing model to compare.
  • They diverge on capability: Stay covers Tampermonkey and Violentmonkey compatibility, Web Developer covers CSS inspection.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 15 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Stay and Web Developer actually diverge.

Attributes where Stay and Web Developer differ
AttributeStayWeb Developer
Pricing modelone-timefree
PlatformsSafari, iOS, macOSChrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera
FoundedUnknown2003

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 Stay

  • Tampermonkey and Violentmonkey compatibility
  • Userscript management
  • Cross-device bookmark sync
  • Download manager
  • Dark mode
  • One-time purchase across platforms

Only in Web Developer

  • CSS inspection
  • Form debugging
  • Image analysis
  • Element outlining
  • Chrome support
  • Firefox support
  • Edge support
  • Opera support

What people use each for

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

Stay

  • Running Tampermonkey scripts on Safarinot Web Developer
  • Running userscripts on iPhone and iPadnot Web Developer
  • Syncing bookmarks across Apple and non-Apple devicesnot Web Developer
  • Managing downloads into categorised folders on iOSnot Web Developer
  • Forcing dark mode on sites that do not offer itnot Web Developer

Web Developer

No use cases recorded yet. See the Web Developer review.

Where each one falls short

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

Stay

  • Apple only. No Chrome, Firefox or Edge build, so it cannot serve a cross-browser workflow.
  • The free tier is deliberately limited, so the practical product is the paid one.
  • Compatibility with Tampermonkey and Violentmonkey scripts is a translation layer rather than the real thing, and a script relying on an unusual GM function may not behave identically.
  • It bundles bookmark sync, downloads and dark mode alongside the script manager, which is more surface area than some people want from an extension with access to every page.
  • A much smaller project than the established managers, so fewer scripts are tested against it.

Web Developer

  • The Web Developer browser extension is licensed GPL-3.0 per its GitHub repository (github.com/chrispederick/web-developer), which states 'All files are distributed for free under the terms of the GNU General Public License,' confirming it has no vendor pricing model to compare.

Pricing, plan by plan

Stay

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Limited functionality
  • Lifetime$5/one-time
    • All features
    • iPhone, iPad and Mac
    • Lifetime updates

Web Developer

Free
  • FreeFree
    • CSS tools
    • Form tools
    • Image tools

Which should you pick?

Choose Stay if

  • You need tampermonkey and violentmonkey compatibility.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Safari, iOS, macOS.
  • You also want userscript management.
Stay review

Choose Web Developer if

  • You need css inspection.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera.
  • You also want form debugging.
Web Developer review

Questions people ask

Is Stay or Web Developer better?
Neither clearly leads. Stay starts at Free and Web Developer at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Stay or Web Developer?
Stay starts at Free and Web Developer at Free.
Does Stay or Web Developer run on more platforms?
Stay runs on Safari, iOS, macOS. Web Developer runs on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera.
Can I use Stay for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Stay best used for?
Stay is most often used for running tampermonkey scripts on safari, running userscripts on iphone and ipad, syncing bookmarks across apple and non-apple devices, managing downloads into categorised folders on ios. Of those, running tampermonkey scripts on safari and running userscripts on iphone and ipad are not what Web Developer is typically brought in for.
What can Stay do that Web Developer cannot?
Stay covers Tampermonkey and Violentmonkey compatibility, Userscript management, Cross-device bookmark sync, Download manager. Web Developer covers CSS inspection, Form debugging, Image analysis, Element outlining.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Stay: Can Stay run Tampermonkey scripts?

Yes. It supports its own native scripts and also scripts written for Tampermonkey and Violentmonkey, which is the main reason to choose it on Safari.

Source
Stay: How much does Stay cost?

A one-time payment, reported at around $5, covering iPhone, iPad and Mac with lifetime updates and no subscription. A free version with limited functionality is available.

Source
Stay: Does Stay work on iPhone?

Yes. It supports Safari across iPhone, iPad and Mac, and the single purchase covers all three.

Source
Stay: What can userscripts do in Safari through Stay?

The vendor's examples are automatic pagination, immersive translation, redirect blocking and aggregated search. Anything a userscript can do on another browser is broadly in scope, subject to Safari's own restrictions.

Source
Stay: Is Stay open source?

The project publishes source on GitHub, and the app is distributed through the App Store as a paid product with a limited free tier.

Source
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