Tampermonkey is an extension for popular browsers that allows users to inject custom scripts into websites. It’s free to download, and it’s also easy to install and use.
The wide-ranging functionality of Tampermonkey includes everything, from ad blocking to customizing the look and feel of websites. You can even design and code your unique user scripts and easily deploy them on the Tampermonkey Dashboard tool.
You can install Tampermonkey on Safari, Opera, Microsoft Edge, and Firefox, thus, it’s been able to attract over ten million users.
However, this free software has had its fair share of controversy. In 2019, Opera banned Tampermonkey for security and privacy concerns.
One of the primary concerns is that Tampermonkey can be used to inject malicious code into websites. Compromised user scripts can also help hackers steal information or even take control of a user’s computer.
Another concern is that Tampermonkey can be used to bypass security measures on websites, such as login forms. Moreover, it permits Google Analytics and third-party technologies.
The security concerns cannot be addressed communally since it’s a closed source, making it suspect.
While Tampermonkey can be pretty useful with adequate user discretion, other options offer better peace of mind.
The following are some of the best Tampermonkey alternatives.
Best Tampermonkey Alternatives
1. Violentmonkey
This user scripts manager is available for various browsers, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Opera. It will work on any browser that supports WebExtensions.
With Violentmonkey, you can customize your web experience to suit your needs. You can install user scripts to change the way a web page looks or behaves.
For example, you could install a user script that adds an extra button to YouTube that lets you download videos.
You can also use Violentmonkey to test your code on different websites if you’re a web developer.
And if you’re not a web developer, don’t worry! Violentmonkey is easy to use and comes with a user-friendly interface. It also comes with a generous library of premade user scripts that are easy to deploy and track on the user dashboard.
Violentmonkey is safer than Tampermonkey as it’s open source and has a robust community of developers who work hard to keep it updated and secure.
It’s a better alternative to Tampermonkey as Violentmonkey doesn’t collect user data. Also because:
- It updates automatically
- You can program scripts to execute in a sequence
- It supports GM functions
- You can export to and import from zip files
- It syncs to Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, and WebDAV
You can also allow the extension to collect your user data to help improve the product.
2. Greasemonkey
Greasemonkey is another alternative to Tampermonkey. It’s a Firefox extension that lets you customize the web pages’ aesthetics and function. You can write your unique scripts via JavaScript or install ones that other people have written.
The changes become permanent on the web page for the user who installed the script. Thus, you can change how a web page looks for yourself without affecting how it looks for other people.
Some popular things to do with Greasemonkey include:
- Hiding ads
- Changing the color scheme of a site
- Modifying the information to be displayed on a page
- Automating tasks
Augmented browsing is awesome, and I highly recommend it. But there’s a problem: you can’t easily get Greasemonkey on Google’s Chrome browser.
This web extension is natively Mozilla Firefox only, and you can install it from Mozilla Add-ons. It’s frustrating because Chrome is a widely preferred browser for both work and play.
If you use another web browser, such as Google Chrome, there are ways around it. You’ll need an extension that allows you to run Greasemonkey scripts on Chrome, or you can use a user script manager.
However, Greasemonkey’s customization is best in Mozilla. Tampermonkey and Chrome also have unresolved controversies, so Greasemonkey is not so bad.
Greasemonkey is better as it’s not been banned by Chrome before due to privacy concerns.
3. FreeStyler.WS
Website UIs aim to serve diverse audiences with thousands or millions of users. Some websites have billions of users. As such, no website will ever meet all the specific needs of its users.
FreeStyer.WS is a browser plugin that empowers you to customize third-party websites you use to your liking. Web developers did a good job designing most websites, but you may want to tweak a few things here and there for your convenience.
You don’t need to be a coding expert to customize your favorite websites. FreeStyler.WS is easy to use.
After installation, navigate to the website you want to customize and click the FreeStyler.WS button in your browser’s toolbar. A menu will appear with various customization options.
Just like Tampermonkey, Freestyler.WS is free to use. Unlike Tampermonkey, it hasn’t had major controversies with any browsers. Thus, its privacy concerns are not as acute as for Tampermonkey.
It’s available on Mozilla, Chrome, and Chromium browsers.
Its advanced features include:
- CSS validation
- One-click preview
- Style editing
- Syntax highlighting
4. Firebug
Firebug was once a dedicated Mozilla Firefox extension for developers to debug their web pages in real-time. By 2016, it discontinued, becoming an open-source tool.
The software provided various features for web developers, such as the ability to:
- Inspect and edit HTML in real-time
- Live CSS editing
- Debugging JavaScript
- Inspecting network activity
Despite its discontinuation, Firebug remains an important tool for developers today. Here are some of the reasons why:
- Firebug is still the easiest way to inspect and edit HTML in real-time
- Live CSS editing is still one of its most powerful features
- Debugging JavaScript is made easy with Firebug
- Inspecting network activity is a breeze with Firebug
Firebug’s script tab features a JavaScript console for logging errors and messages, and the console also allows for live editing of JavaScript code. Firebug’s net panel provides information about network activity, like data imports and exports.
Firebug is also open-source, unlike Tampermonkey. Thus, it’s more secure since anyone can audit the code. However, Firebug is not as easy to use as Tampermonkey as it requires some coding.
5. Stylish
Stylish is a browser extension that makes it easy for you to change the look of your web pages. You can select from various styles or create some unique customizations.
This style manager is available for free, and it works with Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Opera. It’s more for end-users of websites and web developers. It features no-code tools.
You can use it to change the colors of your web pages, the fonts, and even the layout. You can also add custom CSS to any web page. You’ll also be spoilt for choice when:
- Selecting
- Downloading
- installing premade styles
Stylish isn’t deployable on Android phone browsers like you can do with Tampermonkey. However, its safety levels are much higher after it had privacy issues with Mozilla and Chrome.
These issues were settled by 2018 when Stylish agreed to embed a privacy rule on the Stylish XUL+XPCOM. Since then, the controversies subsided.
6. iMacros
iMacros is a web automation tool that lets you record and replay repetitive work. It’s available as a free browser extension for Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Internet Explorer.
For regular web browsers, it’s useful for activities like filling out forms, extracting data from web pages, and automating repetitive tasks on the internet. Thus, you’ll need it for:
- Web automation
- Web scraping
- Web testing
You can use it on regular browsers, though it’s a sweetheart for WordPress bloggers. It’s not a WordPress plugin, so it doesn’t slow down your website; it’s a browser extension that improves WordPress functionality.
For example, websites get tons of spam comments and iMacros can free up the massive time you’ll need to move them to the trash folder.
iMacros is JavaScript-based, and you can edit the macros with any text editor. Like Tampermonkey, iMacros is free but only for non-commercial use. Advanced versions of iMacros feature:
- Command-line interface
- Command-line options
- Application programming interface (API)
- iMacros Enterprise Edition
The Component Object Model (COM) interface comes with the Enterprise Edition.
Overall, iMacros hasn’t had many controversies around privacy like Tampermonkey. It’s more secure.
7. Proxomitron
Proxomitron is a free, highly customizable web proxy server application written by Scott R. Lemmon. It runs on Microsoft Windows, you can use it to filter out unwanted content from websites. It also protects your privacy while browsing the internet.
A web filtering proxy is a proxy server used to protect users from potentially harmful websites. It blocks access to sites that are known to be malicious or dangerous.
Proxomitron is a viable option for Tampermonkey if you are looking for more fine-grained control over what you want to block and how you want to modify web pages.
You’ll need an understanding of coding to use Proxomitron, but it is very powerful if you are willing to put in the effort to learn how to use it.
The best thing about Proxomitron is that it’s more private than Tampermonkey.
8. UI.Vision RPA
UI.Vision RPA is a free and open-source browser extension tool for automating web applications. Formerly Kantu, this tool can automate browsers and desktop apps, meaning you can edge out boring repetitive tasks like data entry, form filling, and web testing.
Kantu Selenium IDE is also one of the few tools that can automate Flash and Silverlight apps.
UI.Vision RPA is a suitable alternative for Tampermonkey and iMacros users. It’s more powerful as it works on advanced websites with complex features such as dialog boxes. It’s because it supports:
- AJAX
- JavaScript
- Flash
Unlike Tampermonkey, UI.Vision RPA is open-source, so you can be sure that there are no malicious codes. The software is free to use, and you can improve its structure and function according to your needs.
It’s available for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.
Like Tampermonkey, it’s easy to use. The user interface is straightforward, and you don’t need to be a programmer to use it. Its Selenium IDE++ extension records and plays back user interactions with the web application. You can even edit these recordings to fine-tune your automation.
Unlike Tampermonkey, it’s always under active development, so new features are added regularly. The community is also very supportive, so you can get help when you need it.
9. ProKeys
ProKeys is another effective alternative to Tampermonkey. These two tools serve the same purpose: to automate your inputs and make work easier. But it varies significantly from Tampermonkey.
The ProKeys extension is a browser-based tool that is used to recognize and fill out web forms automatically. Are you tired of typing the same information over and over? Well, ProKeys will help you out!
No one knows the email addresses and phrases you keep using better than yourself. ProKeys empowers you to create shortcuts for them. ProKeys will automatically fill in your email address, name, and password on any website you visit.
The ProKeys extension is available for free on the Google Chrome store. You can also find it for other browsers like Firefox.
ProKeys isn’t as extensive as Tampermonkey, but its simplicity will save you unprecedented time in the long run. ProKeys focuses on automating text-based inputs on web forms. If you are looking for a tool to automate your workflows, give ProKeys a try!
The ProKeys extension is safe to use and the ProKeys team is dedicated to protecting your privacy and ensuring your data is secure. They are constantly working to improve the security of their extension.
ProKeys has a four-star rating on the Chrome store, with over eight hundred reviews. People love Prokeys because it’s simple and easy to use.
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10. Chromium Browser Automation
CBA is an open-source project that provides a set of APIs to automate the Chromium browser. The goal of CBA is to make it easy for developers to write automated tests for their web applications.
It can inject complex scripts, though it’s easy to use. You can avoid repetitive tasks, with its major functions including:
- Injection: Inject JavaScript into the page to automate tasks
- Play: Playback a recorded sequence of user interactions
- Record: Record a sequence of user interactions
CBA is available as a standalone application and as a library that can be embedded in other applications. Its open-source code allows the enormous potential for editing and auditing. It is safe and private by design.
The CBA UI is easier to master than Tampermonkey’s UI. You can use it to automate repetitive tasks without any coding skills or prior experience with automation.
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11. Universal Automation for Job Search
This Chrome browser extension will automate your job search on multiple job boards with one click. While extensions like Tampermonkey and Violentmonkey are trying to multitask, Universal Automation focuses on making your job search as efficient as possible.
The extension automates repetitive tasks on Indeed, LinkedIn, and Dice. It is simple to use. You can import your Indeed resume or profile URL into the extension or create a new one.
Then, all you need to do is click on the “Apply” button, and the extension will automatically populate the application form with your information.
This extension searches the internet for opportunities and job boards that best match your skills, experience, and interests.
The extension will also help you keep track of your job search progress. It can send you daily or weekly reports with the number of applications sent, responses received, and interviews scheduled.
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12. Universal Database Tools – DtSQL (64 bit)
It’s a powerful database tool you can use to manage any type of database. It’s easy to use and provides a wide range of features. It supports all major databases, including:
- MySQL
- Oracle
- PostgreSQL
- SQL Server
- DB/400
Sure, it’s not a web browser plugin or extension. However, it’s similar to Tampermonkey as it’s a user script manager. Thus, you can use it to:
- Edit any accessible database
- Backup your database
- Customize any accessible database
- Transfer your database
- Analyze your database
- Optimize your database
- Compare any accessible databases side by side
- And more!
It’s also effective for developers as it has a SQL editor and query builder. Plus, you can use it to connect to multiple databases at the same time. If you need to, you can export your data in a variety of formats, including:
- Excel
- CSV
- XML
- JSON
- HTML
- And more!
Just like Tampermonkey, Universal Database Tools – DtSQL is free to download and use. The 64-bit version is most recommendable for users. It provides better performance and stability on 64-bit systems.
While Tampermonkey is browser-based, Universal Database Tools – DtSQL is useable on operating systems, including:
- Windows
- macOS
- Linux
13. Bookmarklets
A Bookmarklet is a snippet of code that you can save as a bookmark in your web browser. When clicked, they run a small piece of code on the current page.
Bookmarklets are usually used to perform quick actions or tasks that would otherwise be cumbersome to do manually. For example, you could use a Bookmarklet to:
- Quickly convert all the text on a page to uppercase
- Quickly fill out a web form with your contact information
You can create Bookmarklets for just about anything you can think of, and there are already many useful Bookmarklets available online. Bookmarklets are created using JavaScript.
Just like Tampermonkey, you can use Bookmarklets to:
- Extract data from web pages
- Modify the appearance of web pages
- Automate tasks on web pages
- And more!
To use a Bookmarklet, simply drag it to your browser’s bookmarks bar. Then, click the Bookmarklet while on the page you want to run it on. The code will execute and perform its task.
Unlike Tampermonkey, Bookmarklets don’t run automatically. Moreover, Bookmarklets are not web browser extensions like Tampermonkey.
Enjoy over 150 Bookmarklets for free.
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14. Wildfire.AI
This web browser extension lets you record your actions on web pages and then play them back. It’s great for creating screencasts or demo videos, but it can also be used to automate repetitive tasks.
For example, you could use it to fill out online forms or to populate a database with test data. Once you record a sequence, you can edit it to:
- Change the order of steps
- Add or remove steps
Wildfire.AI offers a better-recorded sequencing simulator than Tampermonkey. Its colorful workflow map and clear instructions make it easy to follow your progress.
Wildfire.AI is worth checking out if you’re looking for a screen recording tool that also offers some automation capabilities. It’s available for free and works in all major web browsers. Unlike Tampermonkey, it hasn’t had major issues with users’ privacy.
15. Katalon Recorder
This record and playback web browser automation extension is compatible with Selenium IDE. Its Open Test Suite (OTS) format is based on Selenium, so you can use it to record, debug, execute & manage test cases, and export test suites to multiple programming languages like:
- C#
- Groovy
- Java
- Python
- Ruby
- Robot Framework, etc.
Unlike Tampermonkey, Katalon Recorder focuses on testing web applications. It’s a great tool if you want to automate web browser actions, especially when loads of debugging are necessary.
You can export your test suites in many formats, so it’s easy to integrate with your Continuous Integration and Delivery (CI/CD) process.
Katalon Recorder is available for:
- Chrome
- Firefox
- Opera
- Safari
Like Tampermonkey, Katalon Recorder is free. However, the free version doesn’t include the premium Katalon Runtime Engine and console mode features. These are available in the paid Enterprise Edition.
It’s ideal if you’re looking for a web browser automation tool that’s easy to use and free.
Final Thoughts
Tampermonkey is a great tool for modifying web pages and automating tasks in your web browser. However, many alternatives available offer more features or are better suited for specific tasks.
Always look for privacy policies and user reviews before installing any web browser extension. Tampermonkey is the least competitive in upholding privacy, and most of the alternatives we covered offer solutions to privacy concerns.
My favorite alternative for Tampermonkey is Violentmonkey, with Greasemonkey coming in second. Yours could be different, depending on your web activities.
For example, Firebug, Katalon Recorder, and FreeStyler.WS are pretty popular among web developers because they allow for easier, faster testing.
