Softwr

Browser Extensions · head to head

Privacy Badger vs Userscripts

Privacy Badger logo

Privacy Badger

Browser Extensions

Automatically learn to block invisible trackers

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: Privacy Badger it is not an ad blocker; the project states its aim is to prevent non-consensual tracking rather than to block ads; 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: Privacy Badger covers Automatic tracker detection, 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 Privacy Badger and Userscripts actually diverge.

Attributes where Privacy Badger and Userscripts differ
AttributePrivacy BadgerUserscripts
Pricing modelfreeopen-source
PlatformsChrome, Firefox, Edge, OperaSafari, macOS, iOS
Founded1990Unknown

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 Privacy Badger

  • Automatic tracker detection
  • Learning algorithm
  • Do Not Track support
  • No filter lists required
  • Chrome support
  • Firefox support
  • Edge support
  • Opera 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.

Privacy Badger

  • Blocking third-party trackers that follow users across websitesnot Userscripts
  • Sending Do Not Track and Global Privacy Control signalsnot Userscripts
  • Disabling social media tracking widgets like Facebook Like buttonsnot Userscripts
  • Preventing canvas fingerprinting across websitesnot Userscripts

Userscripts

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

Where each one falls short

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

Privacy Badger

  • It is not an ad blocker; the project states its aim is to prevent non-consensual tracking rather than to block ads
  • There is no Safari build, and Safari on iOS lacks extension capabilities Privacy Badger needs to work
  • Chrome on Android does not support extensions, so Android users have to switch to Firefox or Edge
  • Protection is aimed at third-party trackers and does not comprehensively cover tracking by the site you are actually visiting

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

Privacy Badger

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Automatic tracker learning
    • Third-party blocking
    • Do Not Track

Userscripts

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Privacy Badger if

  • You need automatic tracker detection.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera.
  • You also want learning algorithm.
Privacy Badger 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 Privacy Badger or Userscripts better?
Neither clearly leads. Privacy Badger 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, Privacy Badger or Userscripts?
Privacy Badger starts at Free and Userscripts at Free.
Does Privacy Badger or Userscripts run on more platforms?
Privacy Badger runs on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera. Userscripts runs on Safari, macOS, iOS.
Can I use Privacy Badger for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Privacy Badger best used for?
Privacy Badger is most often used for blocking third-party trackers that follow users across websites, sending do not track and global privacy control signals, disabling social media tracking widgets like facebook like buttons, preventing canvas fingerprinting across websites. Of those, blocking third-party trackers that follow users across websites and sending do not track and global privacy control signals are not what Userscripts is typically brought in for.
What can Privacy Badger do that Userscripts cannot?
Privacy Badger covers Automatic tracker detection, Learning algorithm, Do Not Track support, No filter lists required. Userscripts covers Built-in script editor, Standard metadata support, GM API, Remote script updating.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Privacy Badger: How much does Privacy Badger cost?

Privacy Badger is free browser extension made by the Electronic Frontier Foundation. There are no pricing tiers or subscription costs. The project accepts donations to support EFF's work.

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
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
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
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
Share

Related pages

More on Privacy Badger

More on Userscripts

Keep looking

Other head to heads