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Browser Extensions · head to head

Dark Reader vs Userscripts

Dark Reader logo

Dark Reader

Browser Extensions

Dark mode for every website

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: Dark Reader cannot modify PDF files displayed in browsers; 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: Dark Reader covers Dark mode, 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 Dark Reader and Userscripts actually diverge.

Attributes where Dark Reader and Userscripts differ
AttributeDark ReaderUserscripts
Pricing modelUnknownopen-source
PlatformsChrome, Firefox, Safari, EdgeSafari, macOS, iOS
Founded2014Unknown

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 Dark Reader

  • Dark mode
  • Custom brightness
  • Contrast adjustment
  • Site-specific settings
  • Chrome support
  • Firefox support
  • Edge support
  • Safari 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.

Dark Reader

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

Userscripts

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

Where each one falls short

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

Dark Reader

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

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

Dark Reader

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Dark Reader review.

Userscripts

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

Which should you pick?

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

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 Dark Reader or Userscripts better?
Neither clearly leads. Dark Reader 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, Dark Reader or Userscripts?
Dark Reader starts at Free and Userscripts at Free.
Does Dark Reader or Userscripts run on more platforms?
Dark Reader runs on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge. Userscripts runs on Safari, macOS, iOS.
Can I use Dark Reader for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Dark Reader best used for?
Dark Reader is most often used for applying dark mode to websites that don't natively support it, reducing eye strain for night-time or extended browsing, per-site brightness, contrast, and sepia customization, toggling dark mode on/off per domain. Of those, applying dark mode to websites that don't natively support it and reducing eye strain for night-time or extended browsing are not what Userscripts is typically brought in for.
What can Dark Reader do that Userscripts cannot?
Dark Reader covers Dark mode, Custom brightness, Contrast adjustment, Site-specific settings. Userscripts covers Built-in script editor, Standard metadata support, GM API, Remote script updating.

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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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