Shazam: Find song names from your browser
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Dark Reader
Generates a dark theme for every website.
4.713,100 reviews~7M+ usersProductivityBy Dark Reader Ltd
Free
Reviewed by the Single Tab Browser editorial teamLast tested 2026-06-16Dark Reader screenshots
Overview
Dark Reader applies a dynamically generated dark theme to any site, with per-site brightness, contrast, sepia and grayscale controls, plus scheduling that follows sunset or system theme.
Dark Reader is a productivity Chrome extension from Dark Reader Ltd with roughly 7M users on the Chrome Web Store. It holds a 4.7-star average across 13K ratings, which puts it among the better-reviewed options in its category. Pricing is free.
Dark Reader applies a dynamically generated dark theme to any site, with per-site brightness, contrast, sepia and grayscale controls, plus scheduling that follows sunset or system theme.
The trade-off is the usual one for a free extension: there is no paid tier to unlock, so anything missing is simply missing. With 7M users, complaints and fixes surface quickly, so check the review notes below before installing it alongside other productivity extensions.
How to install and set up Dark Reader
- 1Open the Chrome Web Store listing for Dark Reader and click Add to Chrome, then Add extension.
- 2Pin the icon: click the puzzle-piece button in Chrome's toolbar, find it in the list and click the pin so it stays visible.
- 3Open the extension once and walk through its first-run screen — a productivity extension usually asks which sites it may act on.
- 4Test it on a page you know well before relying on it for daily work.
- 5To remove it later, right-click the toolbar icon and choose Remove from Chrome, or use chrome://extensions.
Key features
Dynamic theming
Generates dark styles for sites with no dark mode.
Per-site controls
Brightness, contrast, sepia and grayscale per domain.
Scheduling
Follow sunset or the system theme automatically.
Who should use Dark Reader?
Late-night readers and anyone with light sensitivity who wants a consistent dark web.
Pricing
Dark Reader is free. There is no paid tier to consider.
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View ExtensionFrequently asked questions
Is Dark Reader free?
Yes. Dark Reader is listed as free on the Chrome Web Store with no paid tier.
How many people use Dark Reader?
Roughly 7M Chrome users have it installed, and it holds a 4.7-star average from 13K ratings.
Is Dark Reader safe to install?
Dark Reader is published on the official Chrome Web Store by Dark Reader Ltd, so it passes Google's review. Check the permissions it asks for on install and prefer the store listing over third-party mirrors.
What are the best Dark Reader alternatives?
The alternatives page lists the closest productivity extensions ranked by installs and rating, with a head-to-head comparison for the top pick.
Related extensions to Dark Reader
Picked from the Productivity category and the tags dark mode, accessibility, theme — jump straight to the alternatives and head-to-head pages people open next.
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Compare Dark Reader with the obvious rivals
Side-by-side feature tables, pricing and a clear recommendation.
Dark Reader vs MomentumEye comfort on every site, or a calmer new-tab page with focus and intent.Bitwarden vs Dark Reader permissionsA permissions case study: what a password manager needs versus what a styling extension needs.Dark Reader vs TodoistBoth are productivity extensions people shortlist together — see how ratings, install base, pricing and day-to-day use differ.Dark Reader vs GhosteryHead-to-head breakdown with real install and rating data.Dark Reader vs Dark ModeHead-to-head breakdown with real install and rating data.Dark Reader vs Google Docs Dark ModeHead-to-head breakdown with real install and rating data.Dark Reader alternativesRanked replacements if Dark Reader is not the right fit.All comparisonsThe full compare hub, grouped by category.
Shortlists featuring Dark Reader
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