Is Dark Reader Safe? — Extension Safety Profile
Quick verdict: Dark Reader earns a safety grade A, 82 out of 100, based on 5 of 5 dimensions.
82/100
Grade A · 5 of 5 checks
What we found
Automated safety profile from public signals (the extension's manifest & permissions, store listing, publisher, privacy policy). A full review hasn't been published yet.
We assess Dark Reader from its the Chrome Web Store listing. It's also published on Firefox Add-ons (AMO) (1,264,877 users there).
What this safety grade means
Dark Reader earns a safety grade of A (82/100), measured across 5 of 5 dimensions. Its strongest area is Community Reputation (100%). The weakest is Publisher & Identity (60%) — what holds its grade back the most.
On the public records we can check, Dark Reader comes through cleanly. 7,000,000 active users/installs reported on the store. Store rating 4.7/5 from 13,100 user ratings. Last updated on the store 2026-04-28 (1 month ago). This is an automated profile, not a hands-on review — so treat the grade as a starting point: open Dark Reader's own store listing and privacy policy before installing, and weigh it against the other reading mode & display extensions we track below.
Safety Signals
Based on 5 of 5 safety dimensions
| Dimension | Score | Bar | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Publisher & Identity | 60% · 4.8/8 pts | Automated signals | |
| Permissions & Access | 65% · 16.2/25 pts | Automated signals | |
| Data & Privacy | 100% · 16/16 pts | Automated signals | |
| Maintenance & Ownership | 100% · 7.5/7.5 pts | Automated signals | |
| Community Reputation | 100% · 10/10 pts | Automated signals |
In-depth safety analysis
Dark Reader requests permissions that allow it to inject scripts and modify fonts on any website you visit, plus store settings locally and schedule tasks. This includes the ability to read and alter page content across all domains. For a dark mode tool that needs to invert colors and adjust styling on every site, this broad access is expected and necessary for its core function.
As with any extension that can see and change all website data, a careful user should be
AI-assisted analysis of the documented signals above (permissions, store data, privacy practices) — explains what they mean and the risks typical for this category. Not a hands-on test.
What the store listing shows
Who's Behind Dark Reader?
- Publisher Dark Reader Ltd
Public records identify the publisher, but no individual founders or a separate registered company are named — which is what holds the Publisher & Identity score back. Less public information about who operates an extension means less you can verify about their long-term accountability.
How it compares
Among the 6 Reading Mode & Display extensions we track, Dark Reader scores higher on safety than 83% of them.
Computed from our own database of assessed Reading Mode & Display extensions — updated as we track more.
Evidence on File (12)
Dark Reader FAQ
- Is Dark Reader safe?
- Dark Reader earns a safety grade of A (82/100) on our evidence-based assessment, based on 5 of 5 safety dimensions we could verify from public records. This is an automated profile built from public records, not a hands-on review.
- Who is behind Dark Reader?
- Dark Reader is operated by Dark Reader Ltd.
Alternatives we track
Browse all browser extensions we've checked → · Best Reading Mode & Display extensions