Dark Reader vs Saladict
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
Browser extension that automatically darkens web pages to reduce eyestrain.
Open source · MIT
A browser extension for looking up and translating words and text on web pages and PDFs.
The short answer
Choose Dark Reader if you need…
- People who browse a lot in low light and want darker pages without changing each site themselves
- Users of Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari or Thunderbird who want one tool across browsers
- Web developers who want to offer a dark mode on their own site using the npm package or CDN build
- Users who want fine control over brightness, contrast and sepia on pages
Choose Saladict if you need…
- Language learners who read foreign-language websites or PDFs
- Readers who want quick pop-up definitions without leaving the page
- Users who want to save looked-up words in a notebook for later review
- People who prefer an open-source, MIT-licensed tool
Side-by-side
| Dark Reader | Saladict | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | App | App |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 22.6k | 13.4k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Beginner |
| How you get it | Use it in the browser (or self-host) | Use it in the browser (or self-host) |
| Main language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 4 days ago | 6 days ago |
What each one is
Dark Reader
Dark Reader is a free, open-source browser extension that analyzes web pages and generates a dark color scheme for them. People use it to reduce eyestrain when browsing at night or in dim rooms. It is customizable through its interface and is also available as a JavaScript library for websites.
Saladict
Saladict is a Chrome and Firefox browser extension that shows a pop-up dictionary when you select text on a web page. It also offers page translation, a new-word notebook for saving vocabulary, and selection search inside PDFs. People use it to look up unfamiliar words and translate content while reading in the browser.
Best for
Dark Reader
- People who browse a lot in low light and want darker pages without changing each site themselves
- Users of Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari or Thunderbird who want one tool across browsers
- Web developers who want to offer a dark mode on their own site using the npm package or CDN build
- Users who want fine control over brightness, contrast and sepia on pages
Saladict
- Language learners who read foreign-language websites or PDFs
- Readers who want quick pop-up definitions without leaving the page
- Users who want to save looked-up words in a notebook for later review
- People who prefer an open-source, MIT-licensed tool
Strengths
Dark Reader
- Free, MIT-licensed and open source, with a large public following (about 22,500 stars on GitHub)
- Available across several browsers and as an npm package for websites
- Highly customizable and has a documented API for developers
Saladict
- Free and open source under the MIT License
- Available on Chrome Web Store, Firefox Add-ons, and Microsoft Edge Add-ons
- Covers several features (dictionary, page translation, notebook, PDF search) in one extension
Not ideal for
Dark Reader
- People who need a guaranteed perfect dark theme on every site: the README describes it as aiming to reduce eyestrain, and site fixes are not automatically synced by default
- Firefox users who want it on restricted pages without lowering browser security settings, since the README asks them to change about:config and warns of a security risk
- Users looking for a system-wide dark mode for their whole operating system; the README only describes browser use
Saladict
- People who need offline-only use, since the README does not describe an offline mode
- Users looking for a standalone desktop app, since it is a browser extension
- Anyone who needs a guaranteed dictionary source, because the README says some dictionaries depend on API keys set in a .env file
Trade-offs
Dark Reader
- Some pages may not look right, and fixing them can require manual site-fix steps described in the README
- On some Firefox restricted pages, it needs extra browser settings changes that carry a security risk
- Automatic site-fix syncing is disabled by default, so users must enable it manually
Saladict
- The README is truncated and does not list which dictionaries or languages are supported
- Some dictionaries need API keys configured through a .env file when building from source
- Building from source requires a Yarn-based toolchain and the README gives no version requirements
Getting started
Dark Reader
Clone the repository to build from source
git clone https://github.com/darkreader/darkreaderSaladict
Install from Chrome Web Store (link from README)
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/cdonnmffkdaoajfknoeeecmchibpmkmg?hl=enClone the repository to build from source
git clone git@github.com:crimx/ext-saladict.gitFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Dark Reader and Saladict?
Dark Reader: Browser extension that automatically darkens web pages to reduce eyestrain. Saladict: A browser extension for looking up and translating words and text on web pages and PDFs. Dark Reader suits people who browse a lot in low light and want darker pages without changing each site themselves, while Saladict suits language learners who read foreign-language websites or pdfs.
Are Dark Reader and Saladict free?
Dark Reader: Free and open source. Saladict: Free and open source.
Is Dark Reader or Saladict more popular?
Dark Reader has more GitHub stars (22.6k) than Saladict (13.4k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Dark Reader and Saladict?
Other options people compare them with include Stylus, Refined GitHub, ChatGPTBox.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.