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Software · head to head

Tampermonkey vs Dark Reader

Tampermonkey logo

Tampermonkey

Software

The most popular userscript manager

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Dark Reader logo

Dark Reader

Software

Dark mode for every website

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 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; Dark Reader cannot modify PDF files displayed in browsers
  • They diverge on capability: Tampermonkey covers Userscript management, Dark Reader covers Dark mode.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Tampermonkey and Dark Reader actually diverge.

Attributes where Tampermonkey and Dark Reader differ
AttributeTampermonkeyDark Reader
PlatformsWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, AndroidChrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge
Founded20102014

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Tampermonkey

  • Userscript management
  • Script editor
  • Auto-update
  • Cloud sync
  • Opera support

Only in Dark Reader

  • Dark mode
  • Custom brightness
  • Contrast adjustment
  • Site-specific settings

Both cover

  • Chrome support
  • Firefox support
  • Edge support
  • Safari support

What people use each for

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

Tampermonkey

  • Auto-run custom JavaScript to add features to specific websitesnot Dark Reader
  • Block ads, remove clutter, or reformat page layout via community/personal userscriptsnot Dark Reader
  • Run scripts sourced from Greasy Fork or similar userscript repositoriesnot Dark Reader
  • Automate repetitive web tasks such as form-filling or redirect skipping via installed scriptsnot Dark Reader

Dark Reader

  • Applying dark mode to websites that don't natively support itnot Tampermonkey
  • Reducing eye strain for night-time or extended browsingnot Tampermonkey
  • Per-site brightness, contrast, and sepia customizationnot Tampermonkey
  • Toggling dark mode on/off per domainnot Tampermonkey
  • Accessibility use for light-sensitive usersnot Tampermonkey

Where each one falls short

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

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

Dark Reader

  • Cannot modify PDF files displayed in browsers
  • Performance impact on devices with limited resources

Pricing, plan by plan

Tampermonkey

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Tampermonkey review.

Dark Reader

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Dark Reader review.

Which should you pick?

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.
Tampermonkey review

Choose Dark Reader if

  • You need dark mode.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge.
  • You also want custom brightness.
Dark Reader review

Questions people ask

Is Tampermonkey or Dark Reader better?
Neither clearly leads. Tampermonkey starts at Free and Dark Reader at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Tampermonkey or Dark Reader?
Tampermonkey starts at Free and Dark Reader at Free.
Does Tampermonkey or Dark Reader run on more platforms?
Tampermonkey runs on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android. Dark Reader runs on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge.
Can I use Tampermonkey for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Tampermonkey best used for?
Tampermonkey is most often used for auto-run custom javascript to add features to specific websites, block ads, remove clutter, or reformat page layout via community/personal userscripts, run scripts sourced from greasy fork or similar userscript repositories, automate repetitive web tasks such as form-filling or redirect skipping via installed scripts. Of those, auto-run custom javascript to add features to specific websites and block ads, remove clutter, or reformat page layout via community/personal userscripts are not what Dark Reader is typically brought in for.
What can Tampermonkey do that Dark Reader cannot?
Tampermonkey covers Userscript management, Script editor, Auto-update, Cloud sync. Dark Reader covers Dark mode, Custom brightness, Contrast adjustment, Site-specific settings. Both handle Chrome support, Firefox support, Edge support, Safari support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Dark Reader: Is Dark Reader free to use?

Yes, Dark Reader is completely free with no ads and no tracking. It does not send user data anywhere.

Source
Dark Reader: How can I customize the dark mode in Dark Reader?

Users can configure brightness, contrast, and sepia filter settings to suit their specific needs, and selectively enable or disable Dark Reader for specific websites.

Source
Dark Reader: What browsers does Dark Reader support?

Dark Reader is available for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge browsers across desktop and mobile platforms.

Source
Dark Reader: Does Dark Reader work offline?

Yes, Dark Reader runs entirely on your device with no external dependencies. It analyzes web pages locally to generate dark themes.

Source
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