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Browser Extensions · head to head

Userscripts vs Web Developer

Userscripts logo

Userscripts

Browser Extensions

Open-source userscript manager for Safari on Mac and iOS

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Web Developer logo

Web Developer

Browser Extensions

Web developer toolbar for browsers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 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.; Web Developer the Web Developer browser extension is licensed GPL-3.0 per its GitHub repository (github.com/chrispederick/web-developer), which states 'All files are distributed for free under the terms of the GNU General Public License,' confirming it has no vendor pricing model to compare.
  • They diverge on capability: Userscripts covers Built-in script editor, Web Developer covers CSS inspection.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 15 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Userscripts and Web Developer actually diverge.

Attributes where Userscripts and Web Developer differ
AttributeUserscriptsWeb Developer
Pricing modelopen-sourcefree
PlatformsSafari, macOS, iOSChrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera
FoundedUnknown2003

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 Userscripts

  • Built-in script editor
  • Standard metadata support
  • GM API
  • Remote script updating
  • iCloud sync
  • Per-page popup

Only in Web Developer

  • CSS inspection
  • Form debugging
  • Image analysis
  • Element outlining
  • Chrome support
  • Firefox support
  • Edge support
  • Opera support

What people use each for

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

Userscripts

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

Web Developer

No use cases recorded yet. See the Web Developer review.

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Web Developer

  • The Web Developer browser extension is licensed GPL-3.0 per its GitHub repository (github.com/chrispederick/web-developer), which states 'All files are distributed for free under the terms of the GNU General Public License,' confirming it has no vendor pricing model to compare.

Pricing, plan by plan

Userscripts

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

Web Developer

Free
  • FreeFree
    • CSS tools
    • Form tools
    • Image tools

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Web Developer if

  • You need css inspection.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera.
  • You also want form debugging.
Web Developer review

Questions people ask

Is Userscripts or Web Developer better?
Neither clearly leads. Userscripts starts at Free and Web Developer at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Userscripts or Web Developer?
Userscripts starts at Free and Web Developer at Free.
Does Userscripts or Web Developer run on more platforms?
Userscripts runs on Safari, macOS, iOS. Web Developer runs on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera.
Can I use Userscripts for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Userscripts best used for?
Userscripts is most often used for running userscripts on safari without paying for tampermonkey, running userscripts on an iphone or ipad, writing scripts on a mac and syncing them to ios, blocking or restyling site elements safari content blockers cannot reach. Of those, running userscripts on safari without paying for tampermonkey and running userscripts on an iphone or ipad are not what Web Developer is typically brought in for.
What can Userscripts do that Web Developer cannot?
Userscripts covers Built-in script editor, Standard metadata support, GM API, Remote script updating. Web Developer covers CSS inspection, Form debugging, Image analysis, Element outlining.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
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