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Technology · head to head

Vim vs Violentmonkey

Vim logo

Vim

Technology

Highly configurable text editor built to enable efficient text editing

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: Vim configuration system uses keyboard mappings with no graphical interface for settings; Violentmonkey smaller script ecosystem compared to Tampermonkey which has larger user base and more available scripts
  • They diverge on capability: Vim covers Modal editing, Violentmonkey covers Userscript support.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Vim and Violentmonkey actually diverge.

Attributes where Vim and Violentmonkey differ
AttributeVimViolentmonkey
Pricing modelfreeUnknown
PlatformsLinux, Unix, macOS, WindowsChrome, Firefox, Edge
CategoryTechnologyBrowser Extensions
Founded19882013

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

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 Vim

  • Modal editing
  • Extensive customization
  • Plugin support
  • Macro recording
  • Split windows
  • Syntax highlighting
  • Search and replace
  • Command history

Only in Violentmonkey

  • Userscript support
  • Clean interface
  • Cloud sync
  • Script editor
  • Chrome support
  • Firefox support
  • Edge support
  • Opera support

What people use each for

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

Vim

  • Code editingnot Violentmonkey
  • Configuration filesnot Violentmonkey
  • System administrationnot Violentmonkey
  • Remote editingnot Violentmonkey
  • Terminal-based developmentnot Violentmonkey

Violentmonkey

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

Where each one falls short

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

Vim

  • Configuration system uses keyboard mappings with no graphical interface for settings
  • Requires browsing documentation to modify even basic settings
  • Lacks sensible defaults for many common configurations
  • Plugin ecosystem stability varies widely depending on custom configuration complexity

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

Vim

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Powerful text editing
    • Extensive customization
    • Plugin ecosystem

Violentmonkey

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Violentmonkey review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Vim if

  • You need modal editing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Unix, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want extensive customization.
Vim 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 Vim or Violentmonkey better?
Neither clearly leads. Vim 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, Vim or Violentmonkey?
Vim starts at Free and Violentmonkey at Free.
Does Vim or Violentmonkey run on more platforms?
Vim runs on Linux, Unix, macOS, Windows. Violentmonkey runs on Chrome, Firefox, Edge.
Can I use Vim for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Vim best used for?
Vim is most often used for code editing, configuration files, system administration, remote editing. Of those, code editing and configuration files are not what Violentmonkey is typically brought in for.
What can Vim do that Violentmonkey cannot?
Vim covers Modal editing, Extensive customization, Plugin support, Macro recording. Violentmonkey covers Userscript support, Clean interface, Cloud sync, Script editor.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Vim: Is Vim free and open source?

Yes, Vim is free and open source, distributed under a charityware license. The creator requested donations to ICCF Holland, a non-profit supporting AIDS victims in Uganda. All donations are forwarded to ICCF.

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
Vim: What platforms does Vim support?

Vim runs on Unix-like systems (Linux, macOS, BSD), Windows (7, 8, 10, 11), VMS, and is available through package managers or standalone installation on all major operating systems.

Source
Violentmonkey: What browsers does Violentmonkey support?

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

Source
Vim: Who maintains Vim now?

Vim was created by Bram Moolenaar, who passed away on August 3, 2023. Christian Brabandt is the current lead maintainer, and the project continues with volunteer contributors.

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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