Reader Mode

Name: Reader Mode
Rating: 3.2795698924731185 (186 reviews)
Author: https://readermode.io

An all-in-one, distraction-free reader with dyslexia support, accessibility features, bookmarking, highlighting, and research tools

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Reader Mode is a comprehensive Chrome extension and web app designed to enhance your reading experience by removing clutter and distractions. It supports dyslexia-friendly fonts and rulers, making content accessible for all readers. The extension offers robust tools such as bookmarking, highlighting, annotating, and text-to-speech to facilitate research and comprehension.

Additional features include translation, custom themes and CSS, auto-scroll, full-screen mode, and the ability to save and sync bookmarks across platforms like Evernote and Notion. Reader Mode also supports sharing pages and integrates seamlessly with PDFs. With a user-friendly interface tailored for accessibility and productivity, this extension is perfect for students, professionals, and anyone seeking a focused and customizable reading environment.

Extension Accessibility Productivity Education Utilities

By:

https://readermode.io

Users:

200,000

Rating:

3.28

(186)

Version:

2.0.8 Last updated: 2025-05-13

Creation date:

2020-04-22

Risk:

Permissions:

scripting
tabs
activeTab
contextMenus
storage

Host permissions:

<all_urls>

Size:

5.41MB

Email:

ry*****@gmail.com

URLs:

Website ,Privacy policy

Full description:

Source:

Chrome Web Store

Updated:

14 hours ago

Ranking

# 1,259 ▲ 71

Other rankings

#360 in Accessibility

#6 in reader keyword 73

#87 in features keyword 27

#130 in summarize pdf keyword 42

#145 in custom font keyword 35 ▼ 9

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User reviews

Reader Mode is praised for simplifying web pages and enhancing readability by removing clutter, making it valuable for distraction-free reading. However, multiple users report significant issues including website layout disruptions, intrusive new features, and serious security breaches compromising user data. Additionally, concerns about spyware and trojan detections have led many to uninstall the extension. The extension also has limited customization options and some font compatibility problems. Overall, while the core functionality is appreciated, security and usability problems have greatly diminished user trust and satisfaction.

Pros

Effectively simplifies web pages for clearer reading by removing clutter.
Provides a clear, readable view that users find useful for distraction-free reading.
Users appreciate it as a useful tool compared to alternatives.
Some users find it to be one of the best extensions for improving readability on noisy web pages.

Cons

Causes website layout issues such as broken sticky headers and overlapping navigation icons.
Recent updates add unwanted features like intrusive pop-ups and context menus, negatively impacting user experience.
Security concerns due to a major breach exposing user data and sessions, leading to distrust.
Reports of spyware and trojan detections, causing serious alarm and leading to uninstallations.
Limited theme options with some requiring paid subscriptions and issues with font support on non-Microsoft systems.

Recent reviews

Doesn't work.

G *****, 2025-05-31

Does a good job of simplying web pages to text and provides a clear readable view, just as you would expect. There are a limited number of theme options but to get more requires a monththly payment (I don't mind paying tor apps/extensions but I don't like renting them). Seems to assume you have microsoft fonts installed and changing font doesn't work if you don't. Does not detect other fonts on your machine.

an*****, 2025-05-04

Good replacement for Diigo

Ja*****, 2025-04-12

View all user reviews ›

Extension safety

Risk impact

Risk impact measures the level of extra permissions an extension has access to. A low risk impact extension cannot do much harms, whereas a high risk impact extension can do a lot of damage like stealing your password, bypassing your security settings, and accessing your personal data. High risk impact extensions are not necessarily malicious. However, if they do turn malicious, they can be very harmful.

Reader Mode requires some sensitive permissions that could impact your browser and data security. Exercise caution before installing.

Risk impact analysis details

Critical Grants access to browser tabs, which can be used to track user browsing habits and history, presenting a privacy concern.
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Risk likelihood

Risk likelihood measures the probability that a Chrome extension may turn malicious. This is determined by the publisher and the Chrome extension reputation on Chrome Web Store, the amount of time the Chrome extension has been around, and other signals about the Chrome extension. Our algorithms are not perfect, and are subject to change as we discover new ways to detect malicious extensions. We recommend that you always exercise caution when installing a Chrome extension.

Reader Mode has earned a good reputation and can be trusted.

Risk likelihood analysis details

Medium This extension was updated in the past 3 months. New updates may not be stable or safe.
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Low **** ********* *** ***** **** **** * ****** **** ***** ********** *** **** ****** ** ** ****** *** *****
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