# Reading Ruler

> Highlights the line of text you are reading.

Canonical page: [https://chrome-stats.com/d/readingruler](https://chrome-stats.com/d/readingruler)

## Overview

- **ID:** `readingruler`
- **Platform:** Firefox
- **Type:** Firefox add-on
- **Status:** Available
- **Publisher:** Oren Trutner
- **Category:** appearance,bookmarks
- **Daily users:** 845
- **Weekly downloads:** 44
- **Rating:** 4.86 / 5 (29 ratings)
- **Version:** 1.8
- **Last updated:** 2022-09-11
- **First published:** 2020-08-29
- **Size:** 90 KB
- **Data as of:** 2026-09-06
- **Store listing:** [Firefox Add-ons Store](https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/readingruler/)
- **Website:** [https://github.com/orentrutner/reading-ruler/issues](https://github.com/orentrutner/reading-ruler/issues)

## Description

Reading Ruler is a Chrome extension designed to enhance your reading experience by highlighting the line of text directly under your mouse cursor. This feature helps you stay focused on the content you're reading and easily return to it if your mind wanders. Ideal for articles, blogs, and longer posts, Reading Ruler allows you to customize the highlight color and opacity to suit your preferred contrast level.

You can toggle the ruler on or off with a simple button or use the Alt+R hotkey for quick access. Reading Ruler respects your privacy — it doesn't collect or send any data to the cloud, contains no ads, and is fully open source. Explore the source code on GitHub and enjoy distraction-free reading today.

## Rankings

- #3,670 — Overall
- #118 — Bookmarks
- #14 — rule
- #19 — loading
- #25 — trading
- #119 — lead

## Permissions and access

### Permissions

- `storage`
- `tabs`

### Content script matches

- `*`

## Safety

- **Risk impact:** High risk impact
- **Risk likelihood:** Low risk likelihood

### Analysis details

- Grants access to browser tabs, which can be used to track user browsing habits and history, presenting a privacy concern.
- This extension has low user count. Unpopular extensions may not be stable or safe.

> Some risk analysis details are omitted from this free response. [Upgrade to view the full analysis](https://chrome-stats.com/pricing).

## Review summary

Reading Ruler is praised for helping focus and readability, especially for ADHD/ADD, with easy on/off use and broad applicability. Common requests include multi-line highlighting, adjustable navigation, better Google Docs support, and more customization (colors, default behavior). Overall, it’s highly valued for reducing cognitive load on long texts, with a few UX and compatibility improvements suggested.

### Pros

- Helps focus for ADHD/ADD by highlighting text line-by-line.
- Simple, reliable tool that does exactly what it promises.
- Easy to enable/disable via the icon and keyboard shortcuts.
- Improves readability and reduces eye strain during long reads.
- Useful across a variety of reading contexts, including multilingual content and studying.

### Cons

- Poor compatibility with Google Docs needs improvement.
- Currently highlights only single lines, not entire paragraphs.
- Lacks customization for units (number of lines) and arrow-key movement; requests for adjustable unit size.
- Default behavior could be improved (some users want opt-in or domain-based defaults).
- Few color options and personalization features are desired.

## Similar extensions and apps

- [The Reading Ruler](https://chrome-stats.com/d/the-reading-ruler) — 71 users, 5.00 / 5
- [Reading Helper Ruler](https://chrome-stats.com/d/reading-helper-ruler) — 5 users
- [Dynamic Reading Ruler](https://chrome-stats.com/d/dynamic-reading-ruler) — 1 users
- [Reading Ruler](https://chrome-stats.com/d/reading-rulerrr)
- [Reading Ruler Plug in](https://chrome-stats.com/d/reading-ruler-plug-in) — 5 users
- [Page Ruler](https://chrome-stats.com/d/page-ruler) — 3,440 users, 4.33 / 5
- [Page Ruler Plus](https://chrome-stats.com/d/page-ruler-plus) — 15 users
- [Cursor Reading Guide](https://chrome-stats.com/d/cursor-reading-guide) — 1 users
- [Web Design Ruler](https://chrome-stats.com/d/web-design-ruler) — 51 users
- [Ruler](https://chrome-stats.com/d/z-ruler) — 92 users, 3.55 / 5
- [Vertical Reading Ruler](https://chrome-stats.com/d/vertical-reading-ruler)
- [Fixed Ruler Mode](https://chrome-stats.com/d/fixed-ruler-mode)

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Source: [Chrome-Stats](https://chrome-stats.com/d/readingruler)