Tracepaper
A CSS Peeper alternative that stays out of your way
Tracepaper only runs when you click it: no pop-ups on other sites, no background activity. Its free toolbar measures, picks colors and identifies fonts; Pro adds a CSS inspector with Copy CSS.
We make Tracepaper, so weigh this page with that in mind. What we say about CSS Peeper comes from its own store listing, website and public store reviews, checked in October 2026. Products change: check their current page too. Spotted something out of date? Email support@decisionscalc.com and we'll fix it.
Tracepaper vs CSS Peeper at a glance
| Tracepaper | CSS Peeper | |
|---|---|---|
| Runs only when you click it | Yes (activeTab permission only) | Reviewers report activity on pages they never opened it on |
| Inspect an element's CSS | Pro: box model, CSS card, Copy CSS | Yes |
| All page colors and assets in one view | Not yet | Yes |
| Measure sizes and distances between elements | Yes, free | Not its focus |
| Color picker with magnifier | Yes, free | Not its focus |
| Design overlay for pixel-perfect checks | Yes, free, unlimited layers | No |
| Pop-ups on other websites | Never | Reviewers report donation pop-ups on shopping sites (2026) |
Where CSS Peeper is the better choice
- Its page overview (every color, font and image asset on a page at once) is excellent; Tracepaper doesn't have that view yet.
- Its CSS view is free; in Tracepaper the CSS inspector is part of Pro.
- If you need a quick read-only look at a site's styles, it's a fast way to get it.
What CSS Peeper users said in their store reviews
Recent 1–2 star reviews, quoted as written. Source: CSS Peeper reviews on the Chrome Web Store.
“Every time you shop online it'll ask you for donations to some shady charities. There is no obvious close button.”1★, Jun 5, 2026
“This app hijacks shopify checkout flows by injecting code in the site to opting for donations.”1★, Jul 27, 2026
“Used to be my favorite plugin, but it no longer works at all.”2★, Sep 23, 2026
Switching takes a minute
- Install Tracepaper and pin it.
- Click it on any page: M measures, C picks colors, F shows fonts.
- For CSS, press I (Pro, 7-day free trial on monthly and yearly plans).
Questions
- Will Tracepaper show anything on sites I visit?
- No. It does nothing until you click its icon or press its shortcut, and it never adds anything to pages.
- What does Pro add?
- The CSS inspector: box model, a CSS card for any element, Copy CSS, and the gap between two elements.
- Can I try Pro first?
- Yes, monthly and yearly plans start with 7 free days.