Is Readwise Highlighter Safe? — Extension Safety Profile

This extension requests powerful permissions: it can read and modify data on all websites you visit (), use background processing, show notifications, and store unlimited data locally. For a highlighter and note-taking tool, needing access to every page’s content is functionally normal, but it also means the extension could technically see sensitive information like banking or private messages. The developer states they collect website content and that data is not sold, not used for unrelated purposes, and not used for creditworthiness.

Typical safety concerns for highlighter or note-taking extensions include the risk of cloned extensions that misuse the broad content access, and the importance of verifying you’ve installed the official version from the genuine publisher. Users should be aware that any extension with permission can silently read all your browsing activity, so it’s wise to review the publisher’s reputation and privacy policy.

The fact sheet’s scores show strong Maintenance & Ownership (100%), meaning the extension is actively maintained with clear ownership. However, Publisher & Identity scored lower (60%), indicating limited verified information about the publisher’s trustworthiness. This suggests that while the extension itself appears stable, you may want to check the publisher’s official site and user reviews before granting broad access to your web content.