Saladict vs Refined GitHub
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A browser extension for looking up and translating words and text on web pages and PDFs.
Open source · MIT
A browser extension that cleans up GitHub's interface and adds extra features.
The short answer
Choose Saladict if you need…
- Language learners who read foreign-language websites or PDFs
- Readers who want quick pop-up definitions without leaving the page
- Users who want to save looked-up words in a notebook for later review
- People who prefer an open-source, MIT-licensed tool
Choose Refined GitHub if you need…
- Developers who use GitHub daily for code review, issues, and pull requests
- Maintainers who manage many repositories and want quicker actions
- People who use GitHub Enterprise and want the extension to work there too
- Users of Chrome, Firefox, or Safari who want the same tweaks across browsers
Side-by-side
| Saladict | Refined GitHub | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | App | App |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 13.4k | 32.4k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Beginner |
| How you get it | Use it in the browser (or self-host) | Use it in the browser (or self-host) |
| Main language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 6 days ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
Saladict
Saladict is a Chrome and Firefox browser extension that shows a pop-up dictionary when you select text on a web page. It also offers page translation, a new-word notebook for saving vocabulary, and selection search inside PDFs. People use it to look up unfamiliar words and translate content while reading in the browser.
Refined GitHub
Refined GitHub is a browser extension that changes how GitHub looks and works in your browser. It hides some clutter, fixes annoyances, and adds small features such as showing whitespace characters, showing how far a pull request is behind its base, and adding delete or pull request buttons on branch pages. People use it to make everyday GitHub browsing faster and less frustrating.
Best for
Saladict
- Language learners who read foreign-language websites or PDFs
- Readers who want quick pop-up definitions without leaving the page
- Users who want to save looked-up words in a notebook for later review
- People who prefer an open-source, MIT-licensed tool
Refined GitHub
- Developers who use GitHub daily for code review, issues, and pull requests
- Maintainers who manage many repositories and want quicker actions
- People who use GitHub Enterprise and want the extension to work there too
- Users of Chrome, Firefox, or Safari who want the same tweaks across browsers
Strengths
Saladict
- Free and open source under the MIT License
- Available on Chrome Web Store, Firefox Add-ons, and Microsoft Edge Add-ons
- Covers several features (dictionary, page translation, notebook, PDF search) in one extension
Refined GitHub
- Covers many small annoyances in one extension, with a feature list in the README
- Available for Chrome and other Chromium browsers, Firefox, and Safari
- Actively maintained, with a recent push date and a large star count
Not ideal for
Saladict
- People who need offline-only use, since the README does not describe an offline mode
- Users looking for a standalone desktop app, since it is a browser extension
- Anyone who needs a guaranteed dictionary source, because the README says some dictionaries depend on API keys set in a .env file
Refined GitHub
- People who want GitHub to stay exactly as it is by default, since the extension changes the interface
- Users on browsers the README does not list (only Chromium browsers, Firefox including Firefox Android, and Safari are named)
- Anyone who needs an official, GitHub-supported product, since the README says the project is independent and GitHub trademarks are used under license
Trade-offs
Saladict
- The README is truncated and does not list which dictionaries or languages are supported
- Some dictionaries need API keys configured through a .env file when building from source
- Building from source requires a Yarn-based toolchain and the README gives no version requirements
Refined GitHub
- Changes GitHub's interface, so some users may find the layout different from what GitHub intends
- Depends on GitHub's page structure, so features may break when GitHub changes its site (inferred from the nature of browser extensions; the README does not discuss this)
- The README is truncated, so the full feature list and settings are not covered here
Getting started
Saladict
Install from Chrome Web Store (link from README)
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/cdonnmffkdaoajfknoeeecmchibpmkmg?hl=enClone the repository to build from source
git clone git@github.com:crimx/ext-saladict.gitRefined GitHub
Install from Chrome Web Store (Chrome and Chromium browsers)
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/refined-github/hlepfoohegkhhmjieoechaddaejaokhfInstall from Mozilla Add-ons (Firefox)
https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/refined-github-/Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Saladict and Refined GitHub?
Saladict: A browser extension for looking up and translating words and text on web pages and PDFs. Refined GitHub: A browser extension that cleans up GitHub's interface and adds extra features. Saladict suits language learners who read foreign-language websites or pdfs, while Refined GitHub suits developers who use github daily for code review, issues, and pull requests.
Are Saladict and Refined GitHub free?
Saladict: Free and open source. Refined GitHub: Free and open source.
Is Saladict or Refined GitHub more popular?
Refined GitHub has more GitHub stars (32.4k) than Saladict (13.4k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Saladict and Refined GitHub?
Other options people compare them with include ChatGPTBox, Dark Reader.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.