Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Dark Reader VS MakeWPFast

Compare Dark Reader VS MakeWPFast and see what are their differences

Dark Reader logo Dark Reader

Reduce eye strain in your browser with this extension that provides a dark theme for browsing.

MakeWPFast logo MakeWPFast

MakeWPFast is a WordPress performance lab. We benchmark 35,000+ plugins and 200+ themes for their real backend impact - autoload bloat, slow database queries, PHP memory - and publish the measured data others ignore.
  • Dark Reader Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-12-27
  • MakeWPFast Landing page
    Landing page //
    2026-02-14

MakeWPFast is a WordPress performance lab focused on the backend bottlenecks that caching plugins and CDNs can't fix.

While 90% of WordPress speed advice is about the frontend โ€” compressing images, minifying CSS, adding cache layers โ€” the real slowdown usually lives deeper: bloated wp_options autoload data, unoptimized database queries, and PHP memory that grows with every plugin you install.

### What we do

  • Benchmark plugins โ€” 35,000+ WordPress plugins analyzed for their measured impact on autoload size, query count, and load time.
  • Test themes โ€” 200+ themes profiled for backend performance.
  • Head-to-head comparisons โ€” 580+ data-driven plugin and theme comparisons so you can pick the faster option before you install.
  • Error guides โ€” diagnostic walkthroughs for common WordPress performance and configuration problems.
  • Free diagnostic tools โ€” scan your own site for autoload bloat, slow queries, and memory issues. No guesswork โ€” just measurements and actionable reports.

### How it works

Every entry is backed by real benchmark data, not opinion. We install each plugin in a controlled environment, measure the before/after delta on database queries, autoload weight, and page render time, then publish a speed score you can trust.

### Who it's for

Developers, agencies, and site owners who want to know which plugins actually slow WordPress down.

MakeWPFast

$ Details
-
Platforms
Wordpress
Release Date
2026 February
Startup details
Country
Poland
State
Dolnoslaskie
City
Wroclaw
Founder(s)
Marcin Dudek
Employees
1 - 9

Dark Reader features and specs

  • Eye Strain Reduction
    Dark Reader converts bright websites to dark mode, which reduces eye strain and improves visual comfort, especially in low-light environments.
  • Customizable Settings
    The extension offers various customization options like brightness, contrast, and sepia filters, allowing users to adjust the appearance to their liking.
  • Improved Battery Life
    Using dark themes on OLED screens can help save battery life because pixels consume less power when displaying black.
  • Open Source
    Being an open-source project, Dark Reader allows for community contributions and transparency, ensuring better security and continuous improvements.
  • Cross-Browser Compatibility
    Dark Reader is available for multiple browser platforms such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, ensuring a consistent experience across different devices.

Possible disadvantages of Dark Reader

  • Performance Impact
    The extension can sometimes slow down browser performance, particularly on resource-intensive websites or less powerful devices.
  • Inconsistent Behavior
    Not all websites are fully compatible with Dark Reader, leading to occasional rendering issues or incomplete dark mode implementations.
  • Learning Curve
    New users might find the range of settings and customization options overwhelming and might need some time to adjust the extension to suit their needs.
  • Limited Support for Dynamic Content
    Websites with dynamic content or frequent updates may not immediately reflect changes in dark mode, requiring manual adjustments or refreshes.
  • Privacy Concerns
    As with any browser extension, there are potential privacy concerns if the extension collects browsing data, though Dark Reader's open-source nature mitigates this risk to some extent.

MakeWPFast features and specs

  • 35,000+ Plugin Benchmarks
    Every plugin is installed in a controlled environment and measured for its real impact on database queries, wp_options autoload size, and page load time โ€” then given a speed score.
  • Plugin & Theme Comparisons
    580+ head-to-head comparisons and 200+ themes tested, so you can pick the faster option before installing it.
  • Error Guides & Research
    19 diagnostic guides plus an in-depth blog covering database optimization, slow-query diagnostics, and server configuration.
  • Data-Driven, Not Opinion
    Every entry is backed by reproducible benchmark data โ€” before/after deltas, not generic "install a caching plugin" advice.

Analysis of Dark Reader

Overall verdict

  • Dark Reader is generally well-reviewed and considered good by users who prefer browsing with a dark theme.

Why this product is good

  • Dark Reader is a popular browser extension designed to provide a dark mode for websites that do not natively support it. It helps reduce eye strain during prolonged browsing sessions, especially in low-light conditions, by inverting bright colors and creating a consistent dark theme across websites.

Recommended for

  • Users who experience eye strain from bright screens
  • Individuals who frequently browse in low-light environments
  • People who prefer a consistent dark theme across different websites
  • Users looking for customizable dark mode options for web pages

Analysis of MakeWPFast

Overall verdict

  • MakeWPFast appears to be a WordPress performance optimization service that can help speed up slow websites, though you should verify current reviews and offerings directly before committing.

Why this product is good

  • Focuses specifically on WordPress speed optimization, which is a common pain point for site owners
  • Faster load times can improve user experience, SEO rankings, and conversion rates
  • Specialized services often address technical issues like caching, image optimization, and database cleanup that general hosts may not
  • Can save time for non-technical users who don't want to handle performance tuning themselves

Recommended for

  • WordPress site owners struggling with slow page load times
  • Bloggers and small businesses wanting better SEO and user experience
  • E-commerce stores where speed directly impacts sales and conversions
  • Non-technical users who prefer outsourcing performance optimization to specialists

Dark Reader videos

Dark Mode for Google Chrome โ€” Dark Reader

MakeWPFast videos

No MakeWPFast videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Dark Reader and MakeWPFast)
Browser Extensions
100 100%
0% 0
WordPress
0 0%
100% 100
Dark Mode
100 100%
0% 0
Developer Tools
91 91%
9% 9

User comments

Share your experience with using Dark Reader and MakeWPFast. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Dark Reader and MakeWPFast

Dark Reader Reviews

Top 10 Productivity Apps for MacOSย 2025
I live for dark mode. Anyone whoโ€™s worked with me knows how much I reject working in light mode. Seriously, I donโ€™t know how you light-moders stay relaxed with so much brightness. That said, when it comes to browsing the web, itโ€™s sometimes hard to avoid the bright white background of a blog or article. With one click, Dark Reader strips it all away and returns me to the...
Source: dev.to
7 Best Dark Mode Extensions For Chrome
Using an on-demand dark styles theme generator, this eye-care extensions for google chrome turns on night mode for web pages. Bright color are turned into high contrast, easy-to-read hues at night thanks to Dark Reader.
Source: thedroidguy.com
The 10 best dark mode extensions for Google Chrome in 2022
Dark Reader also provides you with other controls that let you tweak your display however you want. They allow you to change any websiteโ€™s brightness, contrast, font, and other display elements. You can also store the settings for a particular URL so that you do not have to make these adjustments every time. The most notable feature of Dark Reader is its toggle switch that...
Source: chromeready.com

MakeWPFast Reviews

We have no reviews of MakeWPFast yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Dark Reader seems to be a lot more popular than MakeWPFast. While we know about 197 links to Dark Reader, we've tracked only 2 mentions of MakeWPFast. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Dark Reader mentions (197)

  • Dark Mode Sucks
    Install Darkreader, enable Light mode https://darkreader.org/ I think most users are capable of that :). - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Dark Mode Sucks
    Yes. There's a reason that https://darkreader.org/ has 10 million+ installs while no inverse extensions even exist to my knowledge. The entire web is already light-mode first and much of it, including your site (no offense) offers zero built-in support for the provably massive demand that exists for dark-mode color schemes. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Dark Mode Sucks
    Yes. I have Dark Reader[1] on by default for all websites and only disable it when it activly breaks a site, or a site has a suitibly dark theme and Dark Reader thus flips things the wrong way. If a site is borked to the point that Dark Reader can't fix it, I'll use reader mode or just go somewhere else. Your site looks just fine to me. [1] https://darkreader.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Dark Mode Sucks
    This is the privileged majority punching down at minority, not unlike an abled person whining about the existence of accessibility options, or a native-born American complaining about government forms also having a Spanish section after the English section. There's a reason that extensions like Dark Modeยน have 10,000,000+ installs while no "Light Mode" extensions can even exist as far as I can tell: more or less... - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Ask HN: Dark Mode for HN is overdue
    Use https://darkreader.org/ Automagic dark mode on every site. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
View more

MakeWPFast mentions (2)

  • Which of Your Plugins Is the Heaviest? Now You Can See It on the Plugins Page.
    The data comes from makewpfast.com, where we benchmark plugins in isolated Docker containers. No caching, no interference from other plugins, just a clean WordPress install with one plugin active at a time. We measure memory and queries, then calculate a score. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • I Benchmarked 4,999 WordPress Plugins for Speed. Here Are the Results.
    The full database is free to search at makewpfast.com. No signup, no paywall. Look up any of the 4,999 tested plugins before you install them. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Dark Reader and MakeWPFast, you can also consider the following products

f.lux - f. lux is a piece of software for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android that provides a blue light filter over your screen. Research suggests limiting our exposure to blue light in the hours before bedtime can help us fall asleep faster.

WP Multitool - Find what's slowing your WordPress. Fix it.

Midnight Lizard - Accessible color schemes for all websites

WP-Optimize - All-in-one WordPress plugin that does database cleaning, image compression, and site caching.

Night Eye - Night Eye is a browser extension that enables dark mode on any website you visit. It does not ruin your browsing experience by simply inverting images.

WP Rocket - WP Rocket offers a caching plugin for Wordpress.