Dark Reader vs Charcoal: which is better? (2026)
Dark Reader and Charcoal: Dark Mode for Messenger are two of the most used extensions for the same job. Here is how they compare on real Chrome Web Store numbers.
Dark Reader vs Charcoal at a glance
| Fact | Dark Reader | Charcoal: Dark Mode for Messenger |
|---|---|---|
| Store users | ≈7M users | ≈100K users |
| Rating | 4.7★ from 13.2K ratings | 4.4★ from 409 ratings |
| Last update | Updated 3 weeks ago | Not updated for 2+ years |
| Permissions | 5 | 1 |
| Category | Accessibility | Accessibility |
| Maker | Dark Reader Ltd | Andrew Millman |
About Dark Reader
Dark mode for every website. Take care of your eyes, use dark theme for night and daily browsing.
Dark Reader reviews, users and permissions · Dark Reader alternatives
About Charcoal
Unofficial Messenger dark mode. Easily swap between dark and light mode.
Charcoal reviews, users and permissions · Charcoal alternatives
Dark Reader or Charcoal? Questions
Which has more users, Dark Reader or Charcoal?
Dark Reader has ≈7M users, against ≈100K users for Charcoal.
Which is rated higher, Dark Reader or Charcoal?
Dark Reader is rated 4.7 from 13.2K ratings; Charcoal is rated 4.4 from 409.
Which asks for fewer permissions?
Charcoal asks for 1 permissions, against 5 for Dark Reader.