Dark Reader Ltd
Dark Reader Ltd develops an open-source browser extension that applies configurable dark themes to websites. Founded in 2014 in London, it serves 10 million users across Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari, monetizing via optional user fees, a $5 Safari app, corporate subscriptions, and a Plus premium tier.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Dark Reader Ltd does
Dark Reader Ltd is a privately-held, London-registered software company (England and Wales, Company No 13594380) founded in 2014 that develops an open-source browser extension applying configurable dark-mode themes to web pages. The product works by modifying website CSS, colors, fonts, and HTML attributes to reduce eye strain and blue-light exposure on any site, regardless of whether the site natively supports dark mode. It ships with multiple theme-generation modes (Dynamic, Filter, Filter+, Static), site-by-site customization, sunset/sunrise or system-dark automation, theme presets, and an integrated developer toolset for custom CSS overrides.
The technical platform spans Google's Chrome Web Store, Mozilla Firefox Add-ons, Microsoft Edge Add-ons, Apple Safari (iOS/macOS App Store), and Android via Edge/Firefox. The codebase is open-sourced on GitHub under (in part) MIT license, with over 320 community contributors and translations in more than 30 languages. Distribution is entirely product-led through marketplace listings, including a default inclusion in Microsoft Edge for Android. The company has no institutional investors or parent entity, operating as a bootstrapped open-source project.
Monetization is multi-stream but modest in disclosed scale. Revenue sources include optional voluntary "User Fees" for Chrome/Edge/Firefox users, donations via the Open Collective crowdfunding platform (processed through Stripe and PayPal), a $5 one-time paid Dark Reader app for Safari on Apple's App Store, a per-user annual Corporate Subscription tier, and a Dark Reader Plus premium tier for Edge (Android now; early access on Windows/macOS/Linux). The company has earned Chrome Web Store Favorite 2021, Chrome Editors' Picks, Featured Microsoft Edge Extension, and Mozilla Firefox recommended recognition. Crowdfunding budgets reported on Open Collective ran from approximately $200/month in 2018 to a $1,000/month goal reached in 2020, with cumulative contributions around $12,000 by April 2020.
Dark Reader Ltd firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Dark Reader Ltd
- Legal name
- Dark Reader Ltd
- Website
- https://darkreader.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Dark Reader Ltd develops an open-source browser extension that applies configurable dark themes to websites. Founded in 2014 in London, it serves 10 million users across Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari, monetizing via optional user fees, a $5 Safari app, corporate subscriptions, and a Plus premium tier.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Dark Reader Ltd industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Browser Productivity Software
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132), Software Publishers (513210)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cloud Editing & Finishing Platforms (NLE in cloud, conform, color) (MPAHANAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Open Accessibility & Inclusive OER (UDL, alt formats) (EDAGAJAJ)
Keywords
Where Dark Reader Ltd is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Dark Reader Ltd business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Personnel
Revenue model
- Dark Reader User Fee (Chrome/Edge/Firefox): Optional voluntary payment for users of the Chrome, Edge, and Firefox extensions. Not required to use the extension but strongly advised to support ongoing development. 14-day refund policy applies.
- Dark Reader for Safari: Paid iOS/macOS app distributed through Apple App Store. Requires payment in advance through Apple's payment system. Price is $5 as of the most recent information.
- Dark Reader Corporate Subscription: Yearly per-user payment for organizations using Chrome, Edge, and Firefox extensions. Organizations can request refunds within 14 days and cancel future payments.
- Dark Reader Plus: Provides access to a special user interface and additional features for single users. Currently available in Dark Reader for Microsoft Edge (Android, with early access on Windows, macOS, and Linux). Includes activation code system with 14-day refund policy.
- Donations via Open Collective: Users can make donations through Open Collective platform. Payment processors include Stripe and PayPal. This crowdfunding approach supports ongoing development.
- iOS/iPadOS App Purchase: Dark Reader app for Safari on iOS and iPadOS (requires iOS 15+). Brings colorful themes and design changes. Distributed through Apple App Store.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free tier with optional User Fee for Chrome/Edge/Firefox |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Dark Reader for Safari - $5 one-time purchase |
| Subscription | Annual | Corporate Subscription - Yearly per-user payments |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Dark Reader Plus - Premium features for Edge |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels7 records
Dark Reader Ltd product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Dark Reader Ltd develops and distributes an open-source browser extension that applies configurable dark mode themes to web pages by modifying CSS, colors, fonts, and HTML attributes. The company also offers a paid native Safari app, a voluntary User Fee, a corporate subscription, and a premium Dark Reader Plus tier for Microsoft Edge users.
Product overview
Dark Reader Ltd offers an open-source browser extension portfolio for accessibility and eye-strain reduction. The core product is the Dark Reader browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, which applies dark mode to websites using multiple theme generation modes (Dynamic, Filter, Filter+, Static). Separate paid products include Dark Reader for Safari (iOS/macOS app at $5), the voluntary User Fee for Chrome/Edge/Firefox users, Corporate Subscription for organizations, and Dark Reader Plus premium tier with enhanced features. Mobile support is available via Microsoft Edge and Firefox for Android.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Dark Reader Browser Extension Open-source browser extension that applies dark mode to websites by modifying CSS, colors, fonts, and HTML attributes. Offers Filter, Filter+, Dynamic, and Static theme generation modes. Works on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- Dark Reader for Safari Native Safari extension for macOS, iOS, and iPadOS distributed through the Apple App Store. Partially rewritten in Swift for optimal Safari integration. Paid version priced at $5 one-time purchase with its own Standard EULA.
- Dark Reader Plus Premium subscription tier providing a special user interface and additional features for individual users. Currently available for Microsoft Edge on Android with early access on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Requires activation code purchase with a 14-day refund policy.
- Dark Reader Corporate Subscription Yearly per-user subscription for organizations using Dark Reader on Chrome, Edge, and Firefox. Refund available within 14 days; organizations may cancel future payments. Supports deployment of dark mode accessibility solutions across enterprise IT environments.
Quantifiable outcome
- 10,000,000+ users trust Dark Reader for dark mode functionality
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Dark Reader Ltd
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Dark Reader Ltd technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature9 records
Dark Reader Ltd partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- GitHubcoreGitHub hosts the Dark Reader open-source project repository with 320+ contributors. Used for source code, issue tracking, pull requests, and community collaboration. Some code published under MIT license.
- ApplecoreApple distributes Dark Reader for Safari through the App Store. Payments for iOS/macOS apps and Safari version are processed exclusively through Apple's payment system, with Apple taking standard App Store commission.
- Open CollectivecoreOpen Collective provides the crowdfunding platform for Dark Reader donations and backers. Their payment processors (Stripe and PayPal) handle transaction processing. This is the primary funding mechanism for the open-source project.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Dark Reader Ltd competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- uBlock Origin: uBlock Origin is a free, open-source browser extension for content filtering with millions of users. While functionally different from Dark Reader, it shares the same open-source, community-driven, free browser extension distribution model with massive user bases built through marketplace-first listings.
- Lunar: Lunar is a macOS app for adaptive brightness, contrast, and color adjustments based on ambient lighting and time of day. It addresses similar eye care and screen optimization needs as Dark Reader for the macOS user base.
- f.lux: f.lux is a cross-platform application that adjusts screen color temperature to reduce eye strain and blue light exposure, particularly at night. It shares Dark Reader's core value proposition of digital eye care and is widely adopted by individuals seeking to reduce visual fatigue during prolonged screen time, making it a direct functional peer.
- Night Eye: Night Eye is a browser extension that enables dark mode on any website, similar to Dark Reader. It offers customizable dark themes, brightness/contrast controls, and works across major browsers, making it the closest direct competitor in the browser-based dark mode extension category.
- Careueyes: Careueyes is a Windows eye care application that adjusts screen brightness, color temperature, and applies blue light filters to reduce eye strain during prolonged computer use. It targets the same productivity-focused eye care user base as Dark Reader.
- Adblock Plus: Adblock Plus is one of the most popular browser extensions globally, offering ad blocking across major browsers with both free and premium tiers. Like Dark Reader, it relies on marketplace-first distribution and has scaled a large user base through product-led growth.
- Twilight: Twilight is a blue light filter and screen dimmer app for Android devices that reduces eye strain by adjusting screen colors based on time of day. It addresses the same eye care and blue light reduction use cases as Dark Reader on the mobile platform.
- Reader Mode: Reader Mode is a browser extension that strips distracting elements from web pages to provide cleaner, more readable formatting. It targets the same productivity and reading comfort use cases as Dark Reader, focused on improving the web browsing experience through content transformation.
- Stylish: Stylish was a popular browser extension for applying custom CSS styles and themes to websites, including dark themes. Although now defunct due to privacy controversies, it was a direct competitor in the website customization and theming space that Dark Reader now occupies.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Dark Reader Ltd social profiles
Digital presenceDark Reader Ltd financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Dark Reader Ltd leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Dark Reader Ltd funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Dark Reader Ltd M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Dark Reader Ltd
What does Dark Reader Ltd do?
Dark Reader Ltd develops and distributes an open-source browser extension that applies configurable dark mode themes to web pages by modifying CSS, colors, fonts, and HTML attributes. The company also offers a paid native Safari app, a voluntary User Fee, a corporate subscription, and a premium Dark Reader Plus tier for Microsoft Edge users.
Is Dark Reader Ltd a public or private company?
Dark Reader Ltd is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Dark Reader Ltd founded?
Dark Reader Ltd was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Dark Reader Ltd based?
Dark Reader Ltd is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Dark Reader Ltd make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Dark Reader User Fee (Chrome/Edge/Firefox) is the primary driver. The others are dark Reader for Safari, dark Reader Corporate Subscription, dark Reader Plus, donations via Open Collective and iOS/iPadOS App Purchase.
Who are Dark Reader Ltd's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are uBlock Origin, Lunar, f.lux, Night Eye, Careueyes, Adblock Plus, Twilight, Reader Mode and Stylish.
Does Dark Reader Ltd have an API?
No public API is recorded for Dark Reader Ltd.
What industry is Dark Reader Ltd in?
Dark Reader Ltd's product category is Browser Productivity Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAHANAA, Cloud Editing & Finishing Platforms (NLE in cloud, conform, color), with a secondary code of EDAGAJAJ, Open Accessibility & Inclusive OER (UDL, alt formats). Its NAICS code is 5132 and its SIC code is 7370.