Dark Reader alternatives
Dark Reader is still the best starting point: it is open source (MIT), and its developers say it shows no ads, and its privacy policy says it has never collected personal data. If it doesn't suit you, pick by what's missing. For dark PDFs and fine per-site control, try Night Eye. For hand-tuned colors and a blue-light filter, try Midnight Lizard, which is also open source (MIT). For video dimming, try Turn Off the Lights.
Dark Reader and its alternatives at a glance
| Extension | How it darkens pages | Account needed | Open source | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Reader | Generates a dark theme for each page | Not stated | Yes | Free extension, optional paid Plus | Dark mode on many sites |
| Night Eye | Adjusts page elements; Filtered Mode keeps original colors | Not stated | No, per its README | Free Lite plan with limits, paid plans | Per-site control and PDFs |
| Midnight Lizard | Dark, light or grayscale color schemes | Not stated | Yes | Not stated | Hand-tuned colors |
| Turn Off the Lights | Dims around video; Night Mode turns white backgrounds black | Not stated | Yes, GPLv2 | Free, supported by donations | Watching video |
| Chrome Reader Mode | A reader view, not a dark mode | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Saving and marking up articles |
| Just Read | A reader mode for article pages | Optional | Public code, but the extension is under an EULA | Free core, paid subscription | A reader for article pages |
What's the best free alternative to Dark Reader?
Midnight Lizard. It is open source under the MIT licence, and its Chrome Web Store listing says the developer has disclosed it will not collect or use your data. It is a color-scheme tool with dark, light and grayscale modes, adjustable brightness, saturation and contrast, and a blue-light filter.
Which Dark Reader alternative works on PDFs?
Night Eye. It has a PDF dark mode, though the vendor says it is subject to browser restrictions. It also adjusts page elements instead of flipping every color, and it can follow your system's color scheme or a schedule. It has a free Lite plan with limits and paid plans above it, so check its plans page.
Which Dark Reader alternative is best for watching videos?
Turn Off the Lights. Its original feature dims everything around a video player so the video stands out. You can set the dimming opacity with shortcuts. It also has a separate Night Mode that turns white backgrounds black. Its site coverage is the vendor's own claim, so test it on your sites.
The trade-off: its Night Mode is pre-mapped for supported sites, while Dark Reader generates a theme for almost any site on the fly.
Can I get dark mode just for reading articles?
Not that we could confirm. Reader tools such as Reader View, Just Read and Reader Mode strip clutter from an article, but we found no source for a built-in dark theme on the pages we checked. Reader Mode lists a custom theme. For a dark look, pair a reader with a dark mode tool such as Dark Reader.
See Reader Mode and the rest on our dark mode and reader tools page.
Is Dark Reader safe?
We can't promise any extension is safe, but Dark Reader's facts are strong. It is open source (MIT). Its privacy policy says it “has never collected and will never collect any personal data, browsing history”, and its official add-on listing says it doesn't show ads or send user data anywhere. Install it from the official listing, not a copycat.
Good to know
Watch for copycats. Dark Reader's developers warn about lookalike extensions that use similar names. Check the publisher before you click "Add to Chrome", or use the links on our pages, which point to the official listings. Also note that some alternatives have limits or paid plans: Night Eye's free Lite plan has limits, and Reader Mode, Just Read and Clearly Reader have paid plans.
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All of these are third-party extensions, not built by Xplorekit. We link to the official Chrome Web Store listings. We don't show ratings or user counts because we can't verify them.