The Best Chrome Extensions to Use in 2025

The web browser is the most-used application on most computers. It’s our window to the world for work, learning, and entertainment. But a standard, out-of-the-box browser is just the starting point. The real magic happens when you customize it to fit your exact needs. For users of Google Chrome, this customization comes in the form of Chrome extensions—small software programs that can dramatically enhance your browsing experience.

Think of them as apps for your browser. They can block distracting ads, help you save money when shopping, manage your passwords, correct your grammar, and so much more. With hundreds of thousands of extensions available on the Chrome Web Store, the possibilities are nearly endless. Yet, this vast selection can also be overwhelming. Which ones are truly useful? Which ones are safe to install?

This comprehensive guide is designed to answer those questions. We will explore what Chrome extensions are, how to find and manage them securely, and highlight the must-have extensions across various categories that can supercharge your productivity, save you money, and make your time online more enjoyable.

What Are Chrome Extensions?

At its simplest, a Chrome extension is a small program that adds new features or functionality to your Google Chrome browser. They are built using standard web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Once installed, they can interact with the web pages you visit, modify their content, or provide useful tools accessible right from your browser’s toolbar.

Extensions can range from a simple button that performs a single action (like capturing a screenshot) to a complex system that integrates with multiple web services (like a project management tool). They appear as small icons to the right of the address bar. Clicking on an icon typically opens a small pop-up window with the extension’s interface or triggers its primary function.

The beauty of Chrome extensions is their ability to mold the browser to your personal workflow. Instead of constantly switching between tabs and different websites, you can bring the tools you need directly into your browsing environment.

Why You Should Use Chrome Extensions

If you are not using extensions, you are missing out on a significant part of what makes Chrome such a powerful browser. Here are the key benefits:

• Boosted Productivity: Many extensions are designed to minimize distractions, automate repetitive tasks, and streamline your workflow. From managing your to-do list to organizing your tabs, they help you get more done in less time.
• Enhanced Security: While it’s important to choose extensions carefully, many can bolster your online security. Password managers, ad blockers, and tracker blockers can protect your privacy and shield you from malicious content.
• Cost Savings: Shopping extensions can automatically find and apply coupon codes at checkout, compare prices across different retailers, or give you cashback on purchases. Over time, these savings can add up significantly.
• Improved User Experience: You can customize nearly every aspect of your browsing. Block annoying pop-ups, enable a dark mode for any website, improve video playback controls, or fix grammatical errors as you type.
• Seamless Integration: Extensions can connect your browser to the services you use every day. You can save articles directly to your note-taking app, add tasks to your project management board, or share content to social media without ever leaving the page you’re on.

How to Safely Find, Install, and Manage Extensions

With so many extensions available, it’s crucial to know how to manage them safely to protect your privacy and keep your browser running smoothly.

Finding and Installing Extensions

The official and safest place to find extensions is the Chrome Web Store.

1. Go to the Chrome Web Store: You can search for it on Google or go directly to chrome.google.com/webstore.
2. Search or Browse: Use the search bar to look for a specific extension or browse through categories like “Productivity,” “Shopping,” or “By Google.”
3. Evaluate the Extension: Before you click “Add to Chrome,” take a moment to vet it:
   • Check the Reviews and Ratings: Look for extensions with a high number of users and a strong positive rating. Read both positive and negative reviews to get a balanced view.
   • Review the Permissions: When you install an extension, it will ask for certain permissions (e.g., “Read and change all your data on all websites”). Be wary of extensions that ask for more permissions than they seem to need for their function. A simple color-picker extension shouldn’t need access to all your website data.
   • Check the Developer: Is the extension made by a reputable developer or company (like Google, Microsoft, or a known brand)? If it’s an unknown developer, be more cautious.
   • Look at the “Last Updated” Date: Extensions that are regularly updated are more likely to be secure and compatible with the latest version of Chrome.
4. Add to Chrome: Once you’re confident, click the “Add to Chrome” button and then confirm the installation in the pop-up. The extension’s icon will appear in your toolbar.

Managing Your Installed Extensions

As you add more extensions, your toolbar can get cluttered. It’s also good practice to periodically review what you have installed.

• Pinning and Unpinning: To manage your toolbar, click the puzzle piece icon. This opens a dropdown list of all your extensions. You can click the pin icon next to an extension’s name to either keep it visible on the toolbar or hide it within the puzzle menu.
• Accessing the Extensions Menu: For full control, type chrome://extensions into your address bar or go to the Chrome menu (three dots) > Extensions > Manage Extensions.
• Disabling and Removing: From the chrome://extensions page, you can temporarily disable an extension using the toggle switch or permanently remove it by clicking the “Remove” button. It’s a good idea to remove any extensions you no longer use. Having too many active extensions can slow down your browser.

The Best Chrome Extensions to Install in 2025

Here is a curated list of top-tier extensions across several popular categories. These are well-regarded, highly functional, and can provide immediate value.

Productivity and Focus

1. uBlock Origin: Often hailed as the best ad blocker, uBlock Origin is a lightweight, open-source extension that blocks ads, trackers, and malware domains. It not only cleans up web pages for a better reading experience but can also speed up page load times and improve your privacy.
2. Todoist for Chrome: If you use the popular to-do list app Todoist, this extension is essential. It lets you add websites as tasks, plan your day, and manage your to-do list without leaving your browser. You can turn an email into a task or save an article to read later with just a couple of clicks.
3. Grammarly for Chrome: More than just a spell checker, Grammarly is an AI-powered writing assistant. It checks your grammar, spelling, punctuation, clarity, and tone in real-time on almost any website—from Gmail and Google Docs to Twitter and LinkedIn. The free version is excellent, and the premium version offers even more advanced suggestions.
4. OneTab: Are you a tab hoarder? If you frequently find yourself with dozens of open tabs, OneTab is your solution. With a single click, it converts all your open tabs into a simple list on a single page, saving up to 95% of your browser’s memory and reducing clutter. You can then restore the tabs individually or all at once.
5. Momentum: This extension replaces your bland new tab page with a beautiful, inspiring dashboard. Each day, you’re greeted with a stunning new photo, an inspirational quote, and a prompt to enter your main focus for the day. It’s a simple but effective way to stay centered and motivated.

Security and Privacy

1. Bitwarden: A password manager is non-negotiable for good online security, and Bitwarden is one of the best. It’s an open-source, free extension that creates, stores, and auto-fills strong, unique passwords for all your online accounts. It syncs across all your devices and is a secure alternative to saving passwords in your browser.
2. HTTPS Everywhere: A joint project of the Tor Project and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), this extension automatically switches thousands of sites from insecure “http” to secure “https” connections. This encrypts your communication with those websites, protecting you from many forms of surveillance and account hijacking.
3. Privacy Badger: Also from the EFF, Privacy Badger is an intelligent tracker blocker. Instead of relying on a fixed list of trackers, it learns by observing which domains appear to be tracking you across multiple websites. It then automatically blocks these invisible trackers from loading, protecting your privacy as you browse.

Shopping and Savings

1. Honey: Now owned by PayPal, Honey is a must-have for any online shopper. When you reach the checkout page of a store, Honey automatically searches the web for relevant coupon codes and applies the best one to your cart. It also has a price tracking feature called “Droplist” that will notify you when an item you’re watching goes on sale.
2. CamelCamelCamel (The Camelizer): This is the ultimate tool for Amazon shoppers. The Camelizer extension lets you view the complete price history of any product on Amazon with a single click. This helps you determine if you’re getting a good deal or if you should wait for the price to drop. You can also set up price-drop alerts.

Content and Customization

1. Dark Reader: Tired of being blinded by bright white websites at night? Dark Reader is an open-source extension that creates a dark mode for nearly any website. It inverts bright colors, making them high-contrast and easy to read at night. You can customize the brightness and contrast settings and even set it to turn on automatically at sunset.
2. Save to Pocket: When you come across an interesting article, video, or link but don’t have time to view it right away, Pocket is the perfect solution. This extension lets you save content to your Pocket account with one click. The content is then synced to all your devices in a clean, ad-free layout for later consumption, even offline.
3. Screencastify: The leading screen recorder for Chrome. Screencastify allows you to easily record your screen, webcam, or just a single tab. It’s perfect for creating tutorials, giving feedback, or recording presentations. Once you’re done, you can trim your video and easily share it via a link or save it directly to your Google Drive.
4. GoFullPage – Full Page Screen Capture: Sometimes a standard screenshot isn’t enough. This extension does one thing and does it perfectly: it captures a full-page screenshot of any website, from top to bottom. It’s incredibly reliable and simple to use, making it ideal for saving articles, web designs, or receipts.

The Future of Chrome Extensions: Manifest V3

Google is in the process of rolling out a major update to the extensions platform called Manifest V3. The goal of this update is to improve the security, privacy, and performance of extensions. However, it has generated significant controversy, particularly for its impact on content blockers like uBlock Origin.

The new API for blocking web requests is more restrictive, which may reduce the effectiveness of some ad and tracker blockers. While Google argues this is necessary to prevent extensions from having too much access to user data, critics worry it will weaken user privacy tools.

As a user, you don’t need to do anything differently right now. Extension developers are working to adapt their products to the new standard. However, it’s a development worth watching, as it will shape the future capabilities and limitations of the Chrome extension ecosystem.

Conclusion: Crafting Your Perfect Browser

Chrome extensions are the key to unlocking your browser’s full potential. They transform a generic tool into a personalized command center tailored to your unique needs. By enhancing productivity, bolstering security, and customizing your user experience, the right set of extensions can fundamentally change how you interact with the web.

The journey starts with exploration. Begin by installing a few extensions from the list above that address a specific pain point in your daily workflow. Are you tired of ads? Get uBlock Origin. Do you struggle to manage your tabs? Try OneTab. Do you want to save money? Install Honey.

Be mindful of what you install, review permissions carefully, and periodically clean out extensions you no longer need. By taking a thoughtful approach, you can build a faster, safer, and more powerful browsing experience that works for you, not against you.