The ColorZilla alternative.
Same screen-wide color picking. Zero browser permissions. Zero extension to install. Modern OKLCH support. Works in Firefox and Safari too.
Pick a color — instant, picks from anywhere on screen (even outside the browser).
Screenshot — when you need to pick from another tab without losing focus.
#171717 rgb(23, 23, 23) hsl(0, 0%, 9%) oklch(22.04% 0.0000 0.0) Recent palette (0)
Click Choose what to capture below. Your browser will show its picker for screens, windows, or tabs.
One quick heads-up
How screen capture works
After you click Continue, your browser will switch focus to the window you're sharing. Press Alt + Tab to come back here — your captured frame will be waiting.
Side-by-side
Screen Color Picker vs ColorZilla.
| Screen Color Picker | ColorZilla | |
|---|---|---|
| Install required | None | Chrome extension |
| Permissions needed | None | "Read all data on all websites" |
| Works in Firefox/Safari | Yes (Screenshot mode) | No (Chrome-only) |
| Screen-wide picking | Yes (outside browser too) | Browser tab only |
| OKLCH output | Yes (with HEX/RGB/HSL) | No |
| Ad-injected free tier | No (forever free) | Yes (some versions) |
| Open source | Yes (MIT) | Mixed (some parts) |
| Mobile support | Partial (Screenshot mode) | No (desktop only) |
| Gradient generator | Roadmap | Yes |
| CSS color analysis | Roadmap | Yes |
Screen Color Picker is the right choice if you want zero extensions + zero permissions + modern formats. ColorZilla is still solid if you need gradient generation built-in.
The bigger issue
Why Chrome extensions need "read all your data".
Any Chrome extension that wants to read pixel data from the page must
request the activeTab or
<all_urls> permission. ColorZilla
requests the latter — it can read and modify content on every page you
load.
In practice, this means an extension update or compromised author account can ship code that reads your password manager, your bank balance, your private DMs — anything in any tab. This isn't a ColorZilla-specific risk. Every extension with broad permissions has it.
The browser-native EyeDropper API was specifically designed to avoid this. It's sandboxed: the only thing returned to JavaScript is a single sRGB pixel value. No surrounding pixels, no screenshot, no DOM access. By using Screen Color Picker, you get the same screen-picking power without ever granting "read everything" access to anyone.
FAQ
ColorZilla switching FAQ
Is ColorZilla safe to use?
ColorZilla is widely used and not known for malicious behavior, but the underlying issue is the permission model — like every Chrome extension that can sample pixel data, it requires 'read and change all your data on the websites you visit'. That permission lets the extension see passwords, banking pages, private messages — anything in any tab. Even if the developer is trustworthy, an extension update or a compromised author account could expose that surface area. Screen Color Picker avoids this entirely by using the browser's sandboxed EyeDropper API, which only returns the sampled pixel color, never the surrounding context.
Why use Screen Color Picker instead of ColorZilla?
Three reasons: (1) Zero permissions — we can't see any of your tabs, period. (2) Zero install — no Chrome Web Store, no extension management, no updates. Just bookmark a URL. (3) OKLCH output — modern design systems use OKLCH, and most extensions including ColorZilla don't expose it. Screen Color Picker also has a built-in Screenshot Picker mode that works in Firefox and Safari, which no Chrome extension can.
Does Screen Color Picker have all the features ColorZilla has?
We have the core: screen-wide picking, multi-format output (HEX/RGB/HSL/OKLCH), palette history, copy-to-clipboard. ColorZilla also has gradient generation, palette browser, and CSS color analysis — features we're considering for v2. For pure 'sample a pixel, copy the color' workflows (which is 90% of usage), Screen Color Picker is the cleaner choice.
Can I use Screen Color Picker in Firefox or Safari?
Yes — that's a big win over ColorZilla, which is Chrome-only. Screen Color Picker's live picker works in Chrome, Edge, Brave, and Opera (Chromium-based browsers that have EyeDropper API). For Firefox and Safari, our Screenshot Picker mode uses the universally-supported getDisplayMedia API to capture any window or screen, then lets you pick colors from the captured frame.
Is ColorZilla still being maintained?
Yes, ColorZilla is actively maintained. This isn't a 'replace an abandoned tool' story — it's a 'replace a permission-heavy extension with a zero-permission web app' story. The choice depends on whether you trust extensions with broad permissions and prefer extension UX, or whether you prefer a zero-install website with native browser APIs.