Dark Reader vs Vinegar

Dark Reader7.4Visit Vinegar7.2Visit

Higher score Dark Reader #5 in Safari Extensions 7.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 4 features Visit Dark Reader

vs

Vinegar #6 in Safari Extensions 7.2/10 Paid ✓ 2 of 4 features Visit Vinegar

• Dark Reader fits best

  Users who want dark themes across websites

• Vinegar fits best

  Safari users who watch YouTube on Apple devices

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Side by side

Feature	Dark Reader 7.4/10 Visit ↗	Vinegar 7.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	7.4	7.2
Ranking	#5 in Safari Extensions	#6 in Safari Extensions
Best for	Users who want dark themes across websites	Safari users who watch YouTube on Apple devices
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Paid
Starting price	Free plan	$1.99 one-time
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Browser extension, Mobile	Mobile
Platforms	Web, Chrome extension, iOS, macOS, Android	iOS, macOS
Support	Email, Docs	Email
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo
Features Dark Reader 1/4 · Vinegar 2/4
Content blocking	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Sync available	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
App Store listing	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Open source	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Specs
Supported devices	Not checked yet	Multiple
Our review
Pros	Adjust brightness, contrast, sepia, and saturation Set themes and custom filters per site, with domain-pattern lists Offers Dynamic, Filter, Filter+, and Static theme modes	Removes in-video ads by replacing YouTube’s player Supports picture-in-picture and playback while switching tabs One-time purchase works across iPhone, iPad and Mac
Cons	Focused on dark themes rather than ad or tracker blocking Theme generation may need per-site adjustments The Safari app is a separate paid-support route	Focused on YouTube playback rather than broader Safari tools Paid app with no free plan Available for iOS and macOS only
Our verdict	Dark Reader generates dark themes for web pages, giving people who prefer darker displays controls over how individual sites look. The main browser extension is classified as free and open source. It is available for Chrome, Firefox,… Read the review →	Vinegar replaces YouTube’s player in Safari with a minimal HTML video player. It is aimed at people who watch YouTube on iPhone, iPad or Mac and want playback features that are less tied to the standard YouTube player. The developer says… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Dark Reader — where it wins

  • Adjust brightness, contrast, sepia, and saturation
  • Set themes and custom filters per site, with domain-pattern lists
  • Offers Dynamic, Filter, Filter+, and Static theme modes

  Where it doesn't

  • Focused on dark themes rather than ad or tracker blocking
  • Theme generation may need per-site adjustments
  • The Safari app is a separate paid-support route

• Vinegar — where it wins

  • Removes in-video ads by replacing YouTube’s player
  • Supports picture-in-picture and playback while switching tabs
  • One-time purchase works across iPhone, iPad and Mac

  Where it doesn't

  • Focused on YouTube playback rather than broader Safari tools
  • Paid app with no free plan
  • Available for iOS and macOS only

• Dark Reader7.4/10 · Free plan

  A free, open-source extension for adjustable dark themes and per-site controls.

  Visit Dark ReaderFull verdict →
• Vinegar7.2/10 · Paid

  A focused Safari extension for ad-free YouTube playback, picture-in-picture and background listening.

  Visit VinegarFull verdict →