Dark Reader
Browser extension that applies a dark theme to any website.
HN commenters call it a must-have extension for forcing dark mode on any site1234, across Firefox, Chrome and iPhone browsers567, and one finds it works better than Chrome's built-in dark flag.8 The most common caveat is that some sites render poorly and need a different filter mode or custom CSS.9101112
Why people recommend it
Works everywhere · 3
Applies dark mode to any site, so users run it on everything.
“Dark Reader - dark mode for any site”
“Dark Reader works on all sites (it's configurable) and it only scrambles a few sites that react poorly to it.”
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“I use the Dark Reader extension everywhere”
Cross-platform · 3
Runs on desktop browsers as well as Firefox Mobile and iPhone browsers.
“I use Dark Reader on my Firefox Mobile and on any of my pc browsers.”
“I use it to keep from getting flashbanged by my monitor.”
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“I use DarkReader and Noir and it doesn't remove/hide the upvote button for me”
Must-have · 3
One of the few extensions users keep installed.
“I have DarkReader extension (must have for me)”
“all that's left is uBlock Oorigin, Dark Reader, and BitWarden”
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“Other mainstays: cookie deleters, Dark Reader, and nag/paywall busters”
Eye comfort · 2
Avoids bright white pages and pairs well with OLED monitors.
“I use it to keep from getting flashbanged by my monitor.”
“I use the Dark Reader extension everywhere”
Configurable · 2
Settings such as the color filter mode can fix sites that render badly.
“Dark Reader works on all sites (it's configurable) and it only scrambles a few sites that react poorly to it.”
“I use it to keep from getting flashbanged by my monitor.”
Beats Chrome flag · 1
Gives reasonable results more often and is easier to toggle than Chrome's dark mode flag.
“I have found that Dark Reader works much better than this.”
Caveats and dissent
Breaks some sites · 3
A few sites get scrambled or need a filter change or custom stylesheet.
“Dark Reader works on all sites (it's configurable) and it only scrambles a few sites that react poorly to it.”
“I use it to keep from getting flashbanged by my monitor.”
Show 1 more
“I have DarkReader extension (must have for me)”
Workplace restrictions · 1
Employers wary of third-party extensions may block it.
“I have found that Dark Reader works much better than this.”
Paid mobile app · 1
The mobile app store version costs $5.
“Dark Reader works on all sites (it's configurable) and it only scrambles a few sites that react poorly to it.”
Often compared with
Who recommends it in their own words
Threads where it came up
- Ask HN: Dark mode for HN please? (2026) 2 mentions
- Ask HN: How can I browse HN in dark mode? 1 mention
- "Solving a largely imaginary user goal" 1 mention
- Zero-Downtime Deployments with Docker Compose – No Kubernetes Required 1 mention
- Show HN: Dark Hacker News 1 mention
- 10% of Firefox crashes are caused by bitflips 1 mention
Data: dark-reader.json. Quotes are verbatim; the verdict and theme labels are written by a model from these comments, and every clause links to its sources.
All comments 12
“I use DarkReader and Noir and it doesn't remove/hide the upvote button for me”
“I have found that Dark Reader works much better than this.”
“I use Dark Reader on my Firefox Mobile and on any of my pc browsers.”
“I use two Firefox extensions to set it globally or on a per-site basis regardless of what my OS is set to.”
“I use it to keep from getting flashbanged by my monitor.”
“Dark Reader works on all sites (it's configurable) and it only scrambles a few sites that react poorly to it.”
“dark reader, vimium, sideberry”
“all that's left is uBlock Oorigin, Dark Reader, and BitWarden”
“I use the Dark Reader extension everywhere”
“Dark Reader - dark mode for any site”
“Other mainstays: cookie deleters, Dark Reader, and nag/paywall busters”
“I have DarkReader extension (must have for me)”