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Browser Extensions · head to head

Tampermonkey vs Violentmonkey

Tampermonkey logo

Tampermonkey

Browser Extensions

The most popular userscript manager

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Violentmonkey logo

Violentmonkey

Browser Extensions

Open source userscript manager

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; Violentmonkey smaller script ecosystem compared to Tampermonkey which has larger user base and more available scripts
  • They diverge on capability: Tampermonkey covers Userscript management, Violentmonkey covers Userscript support.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Tampermonkey and Violentmonkey actually diverge.

Attributes where Tampermonkey and Violentmonkey differ
AttributeTampermonkeyViolentmonkey
Pricing modelopen-sourceUnknown
PlatformsWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, AndroidChrome, Firefox, Edge
Founded20102013

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 Tampermonkey

  • Userscript management
  • Auto-update
  • Safari support

Only in Violentmonkey

  • Userscript support
  • Clean interface

Both cover

  • Script editor
  • Cloud sync
  • Chrome support
  • Firefox support
  • Edge support
  • Opera 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 Violentmonkey
  • Block ads, remove clutter, or reformat page layout via community/personal userscriptsnot Violentmonkey
  • Run scripts sourced from Greasy Fork or similar userscript repositoriesnot Violentmonkey
  • Automate repetitive web tasks such as form-filling or redirect skipping via installed scriptsnot Violentmonkey

Violentmonkey

  • Run open-source userscripts to customize or automate web pagesnot Tampermonkey
  • Import scripts compatible with Greasemonkey and Tampermonkey formatsnot Tampermonkey
  • Sync scripts and settings across browsers via Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, or WebDAVnot Tampermonkey
  • Batch import/export scripts as zip filesnot 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

Violentmonkey

  • Smaller script ecosystem compared to Tampermonkey which has larger user base and more available scripts
  • Less marketing and visibility results in lower adoption compared to more widely-known alternatives
  • Community maintenance model means slower feature development compared to commercial alternatives

Pricing, plan by plan

Tampermonkey

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Tampermonkey review.

Violentmonkey

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Violentmonkey 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 auto-update.
Tampermonkey review

Choose Violentmonkey if

  • You need userscript support.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Chrome, Firefox, Edge.
  • You also want clean interface.
Violentmonkey review

Questions people ask

Is Tampermonkey or Violentmonkey better?
Neither clearly leads. Tampermonkey starts at Free and Violentmonkey at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Tampermonkey or Violentmonkey?
Tampermonkey starts at Free and Violentmonkey at Free.
Does Tampermonkey or Violentmonkey run on more platforms?
Tampermonkey runs on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android. Violentmonkey runs on Chrome, Firefox, 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 Violentmonkey is typically brought in for.
What can Tampermonkey do that Violentmonkey cannot?
Tampermonkey covers Userscript management, Auto-update, Safari support. Violentmonkey covers Userscript support, Clean interface. Both handle Script editor, Cloud sync, Chrome support, Firefox support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Tampermonkey: How much does Tampermonkey cost?

Tampermonkey is completely free for all versions and across all supported browsers including Chrome, Edge, Safari, Opera, and Firefox.

Source
Violentmonkey: Is Violentmonkey open-source?

Yes. Violentmonkey is fully open-source and available on GitHub, making it free to use and community-maintained unlike Tampermonkey which has a larger proprietary ecosystem.

Source
Tampermonkey: Is Tampermonkey available on all browsers?

Yes, Tampermonkey is available on Chrome 120 and later, Microsoft Edge, Safari, Opera Next, and Firefox with no cost.

Source
Violentmonkey: What browsers does Violentmonkey support?

Violentmonkey works on browsers with WebExtensions support, including Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and other Chromium-based browsers.

Source
Violentmonkey: How does Violentmonkey compare to Tampermonkey in performance?

Community benchmarks show Violentmonkey uses about 15 to 30 percent less RAM on Chrome compared to Tampermonkey when managing many open tabs.

Source
Violentmonkey: What is the current version of Violentmonkey?

Violentmonkey reached version 2.46.0 as of July 31, 2026, with active ongoing development and regular updates to the open-source project.

Source
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