Dark Reader review
An open-source browser extension for adjustable, site-specific dark themes.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Dark Reader generates dark themes for websites and suits people who want to control how individual pages look across supported browsers. It is open source and has a free main browser extension, with official versions linked for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. Android support is available via Firefox and Edge, and the vendor also offers a Safari app for Apple devices. Its settings cover both broad use across websites and selective use on chosen domains.
The extension offers four theme-generation modes: Dynamic, Filter, Filter+, and Static. Users can adjust brightness, contrast, sepia, and saturation, apply custom filter settings per site, and set a custom font and text stroke. Allowlist and blocklist entries can use domain patterns, while automatic disabling can avoid sites that already have dark themes. This gives Dark Reader substantial control over its specific job; it is a focused appearance tool rather than a general-purpose browser utility.
The main extension is classified as free, and settings can use browser storage sync or local APIs. On mobile, the listed Android route is through Firefox and Edge; the vendor separately offers a Safari app for Apple devices as a paid-support route. Support channels include email and documentation. Dark Reader is a good fit for people seeking open-source dark mode with per-site controls and multiple theme approaches. Those looking for broader browsing features, or a single identical experience across every browser and site, should consider a more general alternative.
Dark Reader pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Adjust brightness, contrast, sepia, and saturation per site
- Choose Dynamic, Filter, Filter+, or Static theme modes
- Use allowlists, blocklists, custom typography, and settings sync
- Where it doesn't
- Theme generation can vary by site and mode
- The Safari app is a separate paid-support route
- Its focus is website appearance, not broader browser customization
Dark Reader fact sheet, pricing and score →
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