Why it's a strong pick

Just Read is a focused reader mode with a clear author: Zach Saucier, who started it as a 2015 hackathon project and has kept it as a side project. Its README says it collects zero data from users by default. The trade-offs: it is built for article pages only, and the extension is covered by an EULA, so it is not plain open source.

What it does

Just Read removes ads, modals and navigation so you see the article content. You can start it from the toolbar button, with Ctrl+Shift+L, from the right-click menu, or by selecting part of the page. It works in Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave and Opera, and in select mobile browsers.

Key features

Four ways to start. Toolbar button, Ctrl+Shift+L, right-click menu or visual selection.
Free core. The core reading mode is free. AI summarisation needs your own API key.
Paid subscription. The README lists page sharing, annotations and comments, a custom scrollbar, auto-scroll, Kindle and domain-specific selectors. Sold through its own site, justread.link. Check current plans there.
Public code. The code is on GitHub. The extension itself is under an End-User License Agreement. Translations are GPL-3.0-only.
Account optional for free use. The README says that if you sign up, only your email address is stored.

Who it's for

Just Read suits people who read a lot of articles and want a cleaner page without much setup. It is a fit if you like keyboard shortcuts. If you want a reader built around a free, open-source engine, see Reader View. If you want a reader with a wider feature list, see Reader Mode.

Is Just Read free or paid?

The core reading mode is free. Premium features need a paid subscription, which the README says is handled through justread.link. This is not a one-time purchase. The extras are sharing, annotations, a custom scrollbar, auto-scroll, Kindle and domain-specific selectors. We did not verify current prices, so check the plans on its site.

Does Just Read collect data?

The README says Just Read "collects zero data from users by default" and that if you sign up for an account, only your email address is stored. That is the developer's own statement. Read the developer's privacy policy before you install, especially if you plan to sign up for a paid plan.

What permissions does Just Read ask for?

The repo's manifest lists tabs, contextMenus, storage and scripting, plus access to all sites. The repo uses Manifest V3. We could not confirm the Chrome Web Store build matches the repo, so check the install prompt before you add it. Permissions can change between releases.

A 2020 GitHub issue asked why an older manifest required an email permission. It was labelled a bug and completed, and the current repo manifest lists no identity permission.

FAQ

Is Just Read open source? Not fully. The code is public on GitHub, but the extension is covered by an EULA. Only the translations are GPL-3.0-only.

Does it need an account? Not for the free core, as the README describes it. Premium needs a paid account.

Does it work on every site? No. See below.

Good to know

The README says Just Read is meant to format article-type pages only. It is not built for other kinds of sites and may not work as you expect there. On a dashboard or web app, switch it off. Premium extras also need a paid account.

Other dark mode & reader tools to compare

Just Read is one of 10 picks in our Dark Mode & Reader Tools guide, which compares them side by side and explains how to choose. The other picks:

Dark Reader: An open-source dark mode for websites. Free extension, with brightness, contrast and sepia controls.
Night Eye: A dark mode extension that adjusts each page's elements instead of flipping every color. Free Lite plan with limits, paid plans above it.
Midnight Lizard: An open-source colour-scheme tool for websites. Dark, light and grayscale modes plus a blue-light filter.
Reader View: A reader extension built on Mozilla Readability. Opens an article in a clean page, with fullscreen reading and text-to-speech.
Reader Mode: A distraction-free reader with accessibility tools, highlighting and text-to-speech. Free plan with limits, paid Premium.
Chrome Reader Mode: A reader mode that can also save articles offline, highlight and take notes. The listing is now titled Quiet Reader.
Turn Off the Lights: Dims the page around a video player and adds a Night Mode for dark pages. Open source (GPLv2), free, supported by donations.
Clearly Reader: A reader mode with an AI assistant. A free plan, plus paid Pro and Subscription plans.
Stylus: Restyle websites with CSS themes, such as dark themes, that you install or write yourself. Not a one-click dark mode. Open source.

For saving articles to read later, see Pocket alternatives.