Browser Extensions · head to head
Stylus vs Tampermonkey
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Stylus crashes and instability when applying certain styles; Tampermonkey only source code up to version 2.9 is GPLv3; all newer versions are distributed under a proprietary license despite the extension itself being free to use
- They diverge on capability: Stylus covers Custom CSS injection, Tampermonkey covers Userscript management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Stylus and Tampermonkey actually diverge.
| Attribute | Stylus | Tampermonkey |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | free | Unknown |
| Platforms | Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android |
| Founded | 2017 | 2010 |
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 Stylus
- Custom CSS injection
- Style management
- userstyles.world integration
- Built-in editor
Only in Tampermonkey
- Userscript management
- Script editor
- Auto-update
- Cloud sync
- Safari support
Both cover
- Chrome support
- Firefox support
- Edge support
- Opera support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Stylus
No use cases recorded yet. See the Stylus review.
Tampermonkey
- Auto-run custom JavaScript to add features to specific websitesnot Stylus
- Block ads, remove clutter, or reformat page layout via community/personal userscriptsnot Stylus
- Run scripts sourced from Greasy Fork or similar userscript repositoriesnot Stylus
- Automate repetitive web tasks such as form-filling or redirect skipping via installed scriptsnot Stylus
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Tampermonkey
- Only source code up to version 2.9 is GPLv3; all newer versions are distributed under a proprietary license despite the extension itself being free to use
- Under Manifest V3, GM_webRequest is not (yet) supported
- Under Manifest V3, GM_xmlhttpRequest fires only one progress event instead of streaming progress, requiring a responseType: 'stream' workaround
- Since v5.3.2, Chrome/Edge (MV3) requires the user to manually enable Developer Mode, or from Chrome 138+ a per-extension 'Allow User Scripts' toggle, before any userscript will run
Pricing, plan by plan
Stylus
Free- FreeFree
- Custom CSS
- Style library
- Style editor
Tampermonkey
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Tampermonkey review.
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose Tampermonkey if
- You need userscript management.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android.
- You also want script editor.
Questions people ask
- Is Stylus or Tampermonkey better?
- Neither clearly leads. Stylus starts at Free and Tampermonkey at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Stylus or Tampermonkey?
- Stylus starts at Free and Tampermonkey at Free.
- Does Stylus or Tampermonkey run on more platforms?
- Stylus runs on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera. Tampermonkey runs on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android.
- Can I use Stylus for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What can Stylus do that Tampermonkey cannot?
- Stylus covers Custom CSS injection, Style management, userstyles.world integration, Built-in editor. Tampermonkey covers Userscript management, Script editor, Auto-update, Cloud sync. Both handle Chrome support, Firefox support, Edge support, Opera support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Stylus: Is Stylus free?
Yes. Stylus is completely free and open-source, available for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera browsers.
SourceStylus: 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.
SourceStylus: 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