Softwr

Browser Extensions · head to head

Wappalyzer vs Web Developer

Wappalyzer logo

Wappalyzer

Browser Extensions

Identify web technologies

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: Wappalyzer cannot detect server-side or hidden technologies without client-side footprints; 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: Wappalyzer covers Technology detection, Web Developer covers CSS inspection.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Wappalyzer and Web Developer differ
AttributeWappalyzerWeb Developer
Pricing modelUnknownfree
PlatformsChrome, Firefox, Edge, WebChrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera
Founded20092003

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 Wappalyzer

  • Technology detection
  • CMS identification
  • Framework analysis
  • Analytics tracking

Only in Web Developer

  • CSS inspection
  • Form debugging
  • Image analysis
  • Element outlining
  • Opera support

Both cover

  • Chrome support
  • Firefox support
  • Edge support

What people use each for

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

Wappalyzer

  • Building target prospect lists filtered by specific technology adoptionnot Web Developer
  • Detecting when competitors migrate to new development stacksnot Web Developer
  • Enriching CRM records with discovered technology stack informationnot Web Developer
  • Identifying timing signals from prospect infrastructure changesnot 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.

Wappalyzer

  • Cannot detect server-side or hidden technologies without client-side footprints
  • Went closed-source in 2023; self-hosting now difficult without maintaining community forks
  • Data export features locked to Business plan ($450/month) minimum

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

Wappalyzer

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Wappalyzer review.

Web Developer

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Wappalyzer if

  • You need technology detection.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Web.
  • You also want cms identification.
Wappalyzer 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 Wappalyzer or Web Developer better?
Neither clearly leads. Wappalyzer 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, Wappalyzer or Web Developer?
Wappalyzer starts at Free and Web Developer at Free.
Does Wappalyzer or Web Developer run on more platforms?
Wappalyzer runs on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Web. Web Developer runs on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera.
Can I use Wappalyzer for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Wappalyzer best used for?
Wappalyzer is most often used for building target prospect lists filtered by specific technology adoption, detecting when competitors migrate to new development stacks, enriching crm records with discovered technology stack information, identifying timing signals from prospect infrastructure changes. Of those, building target prospect lists filtered by specific technology adoption and detecting when competitors migrate to new development stacks are not what Web Developer is typically brought in for.
What can Wappalyzer do that Web Developer cannot?
Wappalyzer covers Technology detection, CMS identification, Framework analysis, Analytics tracking. Web Developer covers CSS inspection, Form debugging, Image analysis, Element outlining. Both handle Chrome support, Firefox support, Edge support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Wappalyzer: Does Wappalyzer have a free version?

Yes. Wappalyzer's browser extension is completely free and provides unlimited technology lookups with no account required. The free tier includes basic website technology detection across all categories.

Source
Wappalyzer: What are the paid pricing tiers for Wappalyzer?

Wappalyzer's paid plans start at $250/month for Pro (5,000 lookups, 1 user), $450/month for Business (20,000 lookups, 5 users, API access), and $850+/month for Enterprise (200,000+ lookups, 25+ users). Annual billing offers 17% discount.

Source
Wappalyzer: Can Wappalyzer detect all website technologies?

Wappalyzer detects over 1,000 technologies but cannot detect server-side or hidden technologies, backend infrastructure, internal databases, or ERP systems with no client-side footprint.

Source
Wappalyzer: Can Wappalyzer be self-hosted?

Wappalyzer went closed-source in 2023 when the GitHub repository was taken down. It can be deployed via Docker or npm, but the community-contributed fingerprint database is now part of the commercial product. Open-source forks are available but not officially maintained.

Source
Wappalyzer: What integrations does Wappalyzer offer?

Wappalyzer integrates with CRM systems like Salesforce and HubSpot, and supports lead list exports and API access for business users on paid plans.

Source
Wappalyzer: When does Wappalyzer data export become available?

Data export and lead list generation features are only available on the Business plan ($450/month) and above, not on the Pro tier.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Wappalyzer

More on Web Developer

Keep looking

Other head to heads