Detects manipulative design tricks on secure webpages. Pages are analysed on your device, never on a server.
Users
3
0 in 30 days
Rating
0.0 / 5
unchanged in 30 days
Ratings
0
0 in 30 days
Store rank
#346K
#266K among extensions
Version
1.0.1
updated 3 Aug 2026
Users
monthly, 6 months
Latest, 15 Oct 2026:3 usersMove the mouse over the chart for any month
Ratings count
monthly, 6 months
Latest, 15 Oct 2026:0 ratingsMove the mouse over the chart for any month
The Chrome Web Store rounds user counts down to the leading digit, so the user line moves in steps. The ratings count is exact and is the better signal of real adoption.
About Dark Pattern Scanner by Lensari
Dark Pattern Scanner by Lensari
Scans secure webpages for 13 types of manipulative design tricks. Pre-checked boxes, fake urgency, trick wording, and more.
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Websites use dark patterns - manipulative design tricks - to push you into choices you didn't intend to make. Pre-checked boxes sign you up for things. Countdown timers create fake urgency. Hidden fees appear at checkout. Decline buttons shame you for saying no.
Dark Pattern Scanner makes these tricks visible.
HOW IT WORKS
Click the extension icon on any secure (https) webpage and hit "Scan This Page." The scanner analyzes the page for manipulative patterns and shows you exactly what it found, with plain-language explanations of each trick.
Click the Navigate button beside a finding to scroll straight to that element on the page, with a highlight showing you exactly where it is.
WHAT IT DETECTS (13 CATEGORIES)
- Confirmshaming: Decline buttons that use guilt to manipulate your choice
- Forced continuity: Auto-renewal and trial-to-paid conversion buried in fine print
- Hidden costs: Fees and charges revealed late or displayed in small text
- Pre-checked opt-ins: Checkboxes already ticked for marketing or data sharing
- Fake urgency (text): "Only 2 left!", "Limited time!", "Selling fast!"
- Fake urgency (timers): Countdown timers that create artificial deadlines
- Roach motel: Easy to sign up, hard to cancel - deliberate cancellation friction
- Misdirection: "Recommended" and "Best Value" labels steering you to expensive options
- Trick wording: Double negatives and confusing opt-out language
- Privacy zuckering: Nudges pushing you to share unnecessary personal data
- Button asymmetry: Accept buttons designed to overpower decline buttons
- Hidden form fields: Invisible tracking inputs collecting data you didn't provide
- Sneaky defaults: Forms pre-set to the most expensive or most permissive option
PRIVACY FIRST
Everything runs locally in your browser. Nothing is transmitted to Lensari or stored on any server; what the extension keeps, it keeps on your device. No account required. No tracking. No analytics.
Scan results are cached on your device for one hour so reopening the popup is instant. A cached result holds the full address of the page you scanned, query string included, plus short excerpts of the text that matched. It never leaves your device and is scheduled for deletion after one hour. Chrome decides when an extension may run, so deletion can complete a little later if the browser delays it or cannot run the extension.
Free. No limits. No gates.
Built by Lensari - lensari.ca