Remote and hybrid workers spend an average of seven hours per day on work-related screens – about 1.5 hours more than onsite workers. Workers now switch between 11+ applications daily, with app switching occurring more than 20 times per hour.
Google Chrome commands a 71.23% global market share as of December 2025, serving 3.46 billion users worldwide. The right productivity extensions can transform your browser from a source of distraction into your most powerful work tool.
Here are the best Chrome productivity extensions to help you reclaim focus, streamline workflows, and maximize output in 2026.
Best Chrome extensions for productivity at a glance
We've organized these extensions into categories based on common productivity challenges: email overload, writing quality, focus and distractions, collaboration, meetings, research, time tracking, and tab management. Each review includes key features, what makes the tool stand out, and pricing.
Best Chrome extension for email
1. Superhuman Mail - Best for high-volume email professionals, executives, and startup founders
Knowledge workers spend 28% of their workweek on email – more than 11 hours weekly just reading, replying, and sorting messages. Workers check email 77 times daily on average, with interruptions occurring roughly every 2 minutes from a combined stream of 117 emails and 153 Teams messages daily.
Superhuman Mail is the most productive email app ever made. Built for knowledge workers who need to process high volumes of email efficiently, it helps you fly through your inbox twice as fast while ensuring nothing important slips through the cracks. Teams save 4 hours per person every week, respond 12 hours faster, and handle twice as many emails in the same amount of time.
Key productivity features:
- Split Inbox separates important messages from less urgent ones automatically, with customizable splits for VIPs, team messages, newsletters, and more
- Auto Summarize displays a 1-line summary above every conversation that updates instantly as new emails arrive, so you can often skip reading the full thread
- Instant Reply generates contextual draft responses that match your writing style, helping you write emails twice as fast
- Remind Me brings messages back to your inbox at the perfect time so you never drop the ball on follow-ups
- Snippets are reusable templates with built-in variables that automatically personalize messages with recipient names and custom placeholders
- Smart Send schedules emails to arrive when recipients are most likely to read them
- Keyboard Shortcuts enable blazing-fast processing, with Superhuman Command (Cmd+K) as your master control to find and take any action
- Ask AI lets you query your inbox, calendar, and the web with natural language ("find positive quotes about our new feature" or "when is my flight")
- Auto Labels use AI to categorize incoming messages like a world-class executive assistant, automatically classifying emails into categories like marketing, cold pitches, social updates, and messages requiring your response
- Write with AI turns quick phrases into polished emails that sound like you, with options to improve, shorten, lengthen, or translate messages
- Calendar integration lets you view your schedule, share availability, create events with AI, and find meeting times with teammates without leaving your inbox
- CRM integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot, and Pipedrive bring full customer context into your inbox and let you update records without switching apps
Why it stands out: Unlike Gmail add-ons that layer features on top of a slow interface, Superhuman Mail replaces your email client entirely with a purpose-built platform designed around speed, keyboard navigation, and invisible AI that works in the background.
Pricing: From $25/month
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2. Grammarly - Best for writers, professionals, and anyone who communicates in writing
With 50 million installations, Grammarly remains one of the most trusted writing assistants available. It checks your spelling, grammar, and construction in real-time as you write, helping you avoid awkward typos and grammatical errors. A Google Docs integration means you can use the extension seamlessly with a wide variety of documents.
Key features:
- Real-time checks for spelling, grammar, construction, and more
- Tone and style suggestions for professional communication
- Plagiarism checker (premium)
- Integration across web forms, Gmail, Google Docs, and productivity platforms
Why it stands out: Grammarly works everywhere you write online, catching errors before you hit send and helping you communicate more clearly and professionally.
Pricing: Free tier with core corrections; premium from $12/month
Best Chrome extensions for AI productivity
AI productivity tools have moved from novelty to necessity. JPMorgan Chase engineers achieved 10-20% productivity gains using AI tools, demonstrating the tangible business impact of these solutions.
3. Compose AI - Best for knowledge workers who spend significant time on written communication
Compose AI uses AI to help you write faster by autocompleting sentences as you type. Simply trigger text generation with "//" and the extension will suggest completions based on context. It learns from your writing patterns to maintain your personal voice while accelerating your workflow.
Key features:
- Real-time sentence autocompletion with // trigger
- Contextual rephrasing suggestions for tone and style adjustment
- Learns your writing style over time for personalized recommendations
Why it stands out: Unlike generic AI writers, Compose AI adapts to your voice and works inline as you type, making it feel like a natural extension of your writing process.
Pricing: Freemium model with free tier and premium subscription options
4. Just Read - Best for researchers and content consumers
Just Read combines a traditional reader mode with AI summarization capabilities. It strips away ads, sidebars, and other clutter while offering the ability to generate quick summaries of long articles.
Key features:
- AI summarization for long articles
- Customizable themes, including dark mode
- Keyboard shortcuts for power users
- Privacy-focused on-device AI processing
Why it stands out: The on-device AI processing means your reading habits stay private while you still get powerful summarization features.
Pricing: Free basic; $24/year for Pro
5. Zapier Chrome Extension - Best for professionals automating workflows across multiple apps
The Zapier Chrome extension brings automation directly to your browser. Save webpages to tables, look up data from connected apps, share articles on social media, add items to to-do lists, and trigger automations without leaving your current tab.
Key features:
- Browser-based workflow automation and task execution
- Integrates with 8,000+ web applications
- AI automation suggestions for repetitive tasks
- Copilot for natural language workflow building
Why it stands out: With access to over 8,000 app integrations, Zapier can connect virtually any tools in your workflow and automate repetitive tasks directly from your browser.
Pricing: Free forever plan; paid tiers from $19.99/month
Best Chrome extensions for project management
6. Scribe - Best for creating process documentation and training materials
Scribe captures what you're doing on your screen and automatically creates a step-by-step guide with screenshots. Use it for process maps, software documentation, tutorials, and SOPs.
Key features:
- Automatically generates step-by-step guides with screenshots
- One-click process recording
- Redaction features for sensitive information
- Team library access for sharing
Why it stands out: Instead of manually writing documentation and capturing screenshots, Scribe does it all automatically as you work through a process once.
Pricing: Free basic plan; premium from $23/month
7. Coda - Best for teams seeking a unified workspace
Coda brings together the flexibility of documents with the power of databases, allowing teams to build custom workflows without leaving a single platform. It combines documents, spreadsheets, and apps into one unified workspace.
Key features:
- Flexible docs that can include tables, buttons, and automations
- Database functionality built into documents
- Custom templates for any workflow
- Integrations with popular tools like Slack, Google Calendar, and Jira
Why it stands out: Coda eliminates the need to switch between separate document, spreadsheet, and project management tools by combining them all into one flexible platform.
Pricing: Free tier; paid plans from $10/month
Best Chrome extensions for avoiding distractions
67% of global office workers feel crushed by repetitive tasks, stifled from pursuing more fulfilling work. 68% of people say they don't have enough uninterrupted focus time during the workday. Distraction blocking has become essential.
8. Rofocus - Best for remote workers needing focus sounds
33% of employed people worked from home on days they worked in 2024. Rofocus recreates the focusing effects of office background noise for remote workers. Choose from 15+ ambient environments, from Parisian café chatter to Amazon rainforest sounds, to block distractions and boost concentration.
Key features:
- 15+ ambient sound environments (café, rain, forest, beach, campfire, and more)
- Built-in Pomodoro timer for structured work sessions
- Works directly from Chrome with no sign-up required
Why it stands out: Backed by research showing ambient noise improves creativity and focus, Rofocus combines customizable soundscapes with proven time management techniques—all completely free.
Pricing: Free (100% free forever, no paid tier)
9. StayFocusd - Best for blocking time-wasting websites
StayFocusd lets you set daily time limits for specific sites. You can customize when the extension blocks certain websites and even set parameters like hourly or daily thresholds before the site gets blocked.
Key features:
- Block time-wasting sites
- Set parameters and time limits for distracting web pages
- Nuclear option for when you need maximum focus
Why it stands out: The "Nuclear Option" completely locks you out of distracting sites with no way to override it, perfect for those moments when you need absolute focus.
Pricing: Free
10. Otto - Best for Pomodoro technique practitioners
Otto helps you maintain focus by blocking distracting websites and gamifying your productivity. The extension combines the Pomodoro technique with mindful time management and a charming virtual companion.
Key features:
- Pomodoro timer with customizable work and break durations
- Website blocking during focus sessions
- Gamified productivity tracking with a Tamagotchi-style mascot
Why it stands out: Otto's unique approach turns focus into a game—visiting blocked sites depletes your mascot's health bar, while completing Pomodoro sessions keeps it thriving. It's a playful way to build better habits.
Pricing: Free; $24/year for advanced analytics
11. AdBlock Plus - Best for removing distracting ads
Ads are distracting and unavoidable online. They can also slow your browser down, costing productive time when you're managing 9-10 hours of daily screen time. AdBlock Plus removes ads when you don't want them. With 46 million installations, it's one of the most trusted ad-blocking solutions available.
Key features:
- Blocks pop-ups and ads (including banner and video ads)
- Customizable filtering options for different ad types
- Acceptable ads feature for supporting content creators
Why it stands out: The "Acceptable Ads" feature lets you support content creators by allowing non-intrusive ads while still blocking the annoying ones.
Pricing: Free
Best Chrome extensions for collaboration
12. Awesome Screenshot - Best for screenshot annotation and team communication
Awesome Screenshot helps you capture screenshots and screen recordings, annotate them with highlights and notes, store them in the cloud, and share them with your team. With over 2 million customers and a 4.6-star rating, it's a trusted all-in-one solution.
Key features:
- Full-page scrolling screenshots with one click
- Annotation tools, including arrows, text, blur, and shapes
- Direct integrations with Jira, Slack, Trello, Asana, and Google Drive
Why it stands out: Unlike basic screenshot tools, Awesome Screenshot combines capturing, annotating, and screen recording in a single extension—making it ideal for product demos, bug reports, and visual feedback.
Pricing: Free tier; $6/month for Pro
13. Bubbles - Best for async video communication
88% of U.S. employers now offer hybrid work options. Bubbles enables teams to communicate across time zones with AI meeting notes, screen recordings, and async collaboration tools.
Key features:
- AI meeting transcription, summaries, and action items
- Screen recorder with timestamped comments
- Integrates with Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Slack
Why it stands out: Bubbles combines AI meeting notes with async video messaging – comment at specific timestamps with text, audio, or video replies, making feedback more contextual than traditional tools.
Pricing: Free tier; premium available
14. LastPass - Best for password management
LastPass generates strong passwords automatically and can autofill login forms across websites. Managing passwords securely is no longer optional.
Key features:
- Secure password generation and storage with encryption protocols
- Easy, seamless password sharing with team collaboration features
- Two-factor authentication support with backup code management
Why it stands out: The password-sharing feature makes it easy for teams to securely share access to accounts without revealing the actual passwords.
Pricing: Free tier; $3/month for Premium
Best Chrome extensions for video and meeting productivity
15. Otter.ai - Best for meeting transcription
Otter.ai integrates with video conferencing platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams to help workers document conversations while staying focused on the discussion.
Key features:
- Real-time transcription during meetings
- AI-generated summaries and action items
- Searchable transcript archives
Why it stands out: The searchable archive means you can find specific moments from past meetings instantly, eliminating the need to rewatch entire recordings.
Pricing: Free tier; $16.99/month for Pro
16. Loom - Best for async video messages
Loom allows you to record quick video messages combining your screen, camera, and microphone. Perfect for explaining complex topics without scheduling yet another meeting.
Key features:
- Screen and camera recording in one click
- Automatic video hosting and sharing links
- Viewer analytics and engagement tracking
Why it stands out: Viewer analytics show you exactly who watched your video and how much they watched, so you know if your message landed.
Pricing: Free tier; $12.50/month for Business
17. Video Speed Controller - Best for consuming video content faster
Video Speed Controller lets you control the playback speed of any HTML5 video with keyboard shortcuts.
Key features:
- Keyboard shortcuts for speed adjustment
- Works on any HTML5 video player
- Customizable speed increments
Why it stands out: Unlike built-in speed controls that max out at 2x, Video Speed Controller lets you go much faster and use keyboard shortcuts for instant adjustments.
Pricing: Free
Best Chrome extensions for research and notetaking
18. Diigo - Best for web research and annotation
Diigo allows you to save pages, links, and anything else you need in your web browser. You can add bookmarks, create "stickies" for easier access, add citations and annotations, and share your research with groups.
Key features:
- Highlight and annotate web pages
- Organize research into lists and tags
- Share collections with teams
Why it stands out: The Outliner feature lets you organize clipped items into an outline format by dragging and dropping, perfect for building research papers or reports.
Pricing: Free tier; premium plans available
19. Evernote Web Clipper - Best for saving web content to notebooks
47% of digital workers struggle to find the information they need to effectively perform their jobs. Evernote Web Clipper makes it easy to save information you find on the web to your existing Evernote notebook with just a couple of clicks.
Key features:
- Easy, one-click organization for notes you find on the web
- Save full pages or specific information from them
- Automatic tagging suggestions
Why it stands out: The ability to clip just a specific section of a page, rather than the whole thing, keeps your notebooks clean and focused.
Pricing: Free tier; $10.83/month for Personal
20. Papier - Best for quick, minimal note-taking
Papier provides a clean, minimalist notepad that opens in every new tab. Your notes are saved automatically and sync across devices when you're signed into Chrome.
Key features:
- Minimalist interface with no distractions
- Auto-save functionality
- Markdown support for formatting
Why it stands out: By replacing your new tab page with a notepad, Papier puts your notes front and center every time you open a new tab.
Pricing: Free
21. Reader View - Best for distraction-free reading
Reader View strips away ads, sidebars, and visual clutter to give you a clean, Kindle-like reading experience on any webpage.
Key features:
- One-click toggle to distraction-free reading view
- Light, dark, and sepia themes
- Text-to-speech for listening to articles
Why it stands out: Built on Mozilla's open-source Readability engine, it includes a TTS reader for hands-free listening and lets you highlight text and add sticky notes directly in the clean view.
Pricing: Free
22. Raindrop.io - Best for saving articles to read later
Raindrop.io lets you save articles, videos, and pages from anywhere on the web and syncs them across all your devices, so you can catch up on your reading list anytime.
Key features:
- Save articles with one click
- Sync across all devices
- Offline reading with cached page copies
Why it stands out: Even if a page gets taken down or paywalled, Raindrop keeps a cached copy so you never lose access. Plus, full-text search means you can find saved articles by searching their content, not just titles.
Pricing: Free tier; $3/month for Pro
Best Chrome extensions for time tracking
23. Clockify - Best for free time tracking with unlimited projects
The average employee switches between multiple applications daily, with app switching occurring more than 20 times per hour. Clockify offers a free time tracking solution with browser integration that lets you start timers from any webpage.
Key features:
- Automated time tracking with browser integration
- Visual dashboards and real-time analytics
- Free plan with unlimited projects
Why it stands out: Unlike most time trackers that limit features on free plans, Clockify offers unlimited projects and users for free.
Pricing: Free; paid plans from $3.99/month
24. Toggl Track - Best for visual time reports
Toggl Track adds a timer to any web page, web app, or online tool, which you can toggle on or off as needed.
Key features:
- Colorful, easy-to-read visual representations of tracked time
- Automatic idle detection
- Integration with multiple productivity tools
Why it stands out: The colorful visual reports make it immediately clear how you're spending your time across different projects and clients.
Pricing: Free tier; $9/month for Starter
25. RescueTime - Best for automatic productivity analytics
RescueTime automatically tracks which websites and applications you use, allowing you to see detailed reports on your productivity patterns.
Key features:
- Automated time tracking and activity logging
- Productivity scores and focus metrics
- Detailed reports on website and app usage
Why it stands out: The automatic tracking means you don't have to remember to start timers, and the productivity scoring helps you understand which activities are actually productive.
Pricing: Free tier; $12/month for Premium
Best Chrome extensions for organizing tabs and windows
With workers switching between multiple applications daily, tab and window management has become critical for maintaining focus and reducing cognitive load.
26. Tab Manager by Workona - Best for organizing tabs into project workspaces
Tab Manager by Workona organizes your tabs into "Spaces" for different projects or contexts.
Key features:
- Workspace organization through "Spaces" and tab suspension for memory management
- Drag-and-drop functionality for easy tab organization
- Auto-saving of tab sessions across browser sessions
- Cross-device sync for seamless transitions
Why it stands out: The workspace concept lets you completely switch contexts between projects, keeping unrelated tabs out of sight and out of mind.
Pricing: Free tier; $6/month for Pro
27. The Marvellous Suspender - Best for freeing RAM from inactive tabs
The Marvellous Suspender helps by suspending inactive tabs into the background to free RAM and reduce device load.
Key features:
- Improves computer speed and performance by suspending inactive tabs to free RAM
- Helps focus by removing unneeded tabs from view to reduce distractions
- Manual suspension options for control over which tabs to suspend
Why it stands out: You can whitelist specific sites that should never be suspended, ensuring important tabs like email or chat stay active.
Pricing: Free
28. OneTab - Best for converting open tabs to a list
OneTab organizes all your tabs into a single consolidated view, and you can create multiple groups of tabs for different projects, tasks, and needs.
Key features:
- Organize all your tabs for each project or task into one place
- Reduce strain on your computer and browser through tab consolidation
- Export and share tab groups across devices
Why it stands out: One click converts all your open tabs into a simple list, instantly freeing up memory and reducing visual clutter.
Pricing: Free
Best Chrome extensions for making productivity more fun
29. Momentum - Best for daily focus and intention-setting
Momentum transforms your Chrome new tab page into a personalized productivity hub. Every time you open a new tab page, you'll be greeted by a personalized dashboard where you can see inspirational background images, your to-do lists, focus mode controls, and customizable shortcuts.
Key features:
- Personalized new tab dashboard with daily motivational backgrounds
- Integrated to-do list for daily task management
- Focus mode to minimize distractions during work sessions
- Weather and time display for immediate situational awareness
Why it stands out: The daily focus question ("What is your main focus for today?") helps you set intention each morning and keeps that priority visible throughout the day.
Pricing: Free tier; $3.33/month for Plus
30. Forest - Best for gamified focus sessions
Forest lets you plant a tiny virtual tree that grows for as long as you stay focused on one task. If you tab away, you'll lose your tree's progress. Over time, as you finish tasks without getting distracted, you'll build a whole forest.
Key features:
- Gamified focus sessions with virtual tree growing
- Visual representation of your focus history
- Partner with Trees for the Future to plant real trees
Why it stands out: The partnership with Trees for the Future means your focus sessions actually contribute to planting real trees around the world.
Pricing: Free tier; premium available
How to choose the right Chrome productivity extensions
With over 111,933 extensions available in the Chrome Web Store, selecting the right tools can feel overwhelming. Here's how to make smart choices:
Consider your specific pain points
Start by identifying your biggest productivity challenges:
- Distraction and focus problems: Choose extensions like StayFocusd, Forest, or Strict Workflow
- Email overload: Superhuman Mail addresses this directly with AI triage and Split Inbox
- Meeting fatigue: Look at Otter.ai and Loom for async communication
- Tab chaos: Tab Manager by Workona can help organize tabs across projects
Watch your extension count
The more extensions you install, the more Chrome will consume RAM, potentially leading to slowdowns and crashes. Aim to keep your active extensions to a manageable number and disable those you don't use daily.
Prioritize proven tools
86.3% of all Chrome extensions have fewer than 1,000 installations, while only 0.24% have exceeded 1 million installations. Focus on well-established extensions with strong user bases and recent updates.
Check privacy and permissions
Before installing any extension, carefully review what permissions it requests. Be particularly cautious of extensions that ask for access to all your browsing data unless absolutely necessary for their function.
Transform your productivity starting today
The right Chrome productivity extensions can transform your workday, helping you reclaim hours lost to email, distractions, and inefficient workflows. With knowledge workers facing constant interruptions and spending a significant portion of their workday managing email, tools that help you work smarter are no longer optional.
Start with the categories that address your biggest pain points. If distractions derail your focus, try StayFocusd or Forest. If you're drowning in tabs, Tab Manager by Workona can bring order to chaos.
But for most knowledge workers, email is the biggest productivity drain. That's why Superhuman Mail should be your first install. With AI triage, Split Inbox, Instant Reply, and blazing-fast keyboard shortcuts, Superhuman helps teams save 4 hours per person every week, respond 12 hours faster, and finally make email feel good again.
Get started with Superhuman Mail
FAQs
How do I install Chrome extensions?
To install a Chrome extension, visit the Chrome Web Store at chrome.google.com/webstore, search for the extension you want, and click "Add to Chrome." Confirm by clicking "Add extension" in the pop-up. The extension will appear in your toolbar. You can manage installed extensions by clicking the puzzle piece icon in your toolbar or visiting chrome://extensions.
Are Chrome extensions safe?
Chrome extensions are generally safe when installed from the official Chrome Web Store, but you should review privacy policies and permissions before installation. Focus on extensions with substantial adoption (100,000+ installations) and high ratings. Check the "Last Updated" date to ensure active maintenance.
How many Chrome extensions should I use?
There's no magic number, but extension quantity directly impacts browser performance. A practical approach is to audit your extensions regularly and keep only those that provide genuine value to your workflow. The key is balancing productivity gains against performance costs.
Will Chrome extensions slow down my browser?
Extensions do consume memory and processing power. To minimize impact, use extensions that suspend inactive tabs (like The Marvellous Suspender), disable extensions you're not actively using, and periodically restart Chrome to clear memory.
Do Chrome extensions work in incognito mode?
By default, Chrome extensions are disabled in incognito mode to protect your privacy. If you want to use an extension in incognito, go to chrome://extensions, find the extension, click "Details," and toggle on "Allow in incognito."
Can I use Chrome extensions on mobile?
Chrome extensions are designed for desktop and laptop browsers only. The mobile versions of Chrome for iOS and Android do not support traditional Chrome extensions. However, many productivity tool companies offer dedicated mobile apps that sync with their Chrome extensions.
How do I sync Chrome extensions across devices?
Chrome extensions sync automatically across devices when you're signed into your Google account. When you install an extension on one device, it typically appears on all devices where you're logged in. Go to Settings > You and Google > Sync and services to manage sync preferences.
Free vs. paid Chrome extensions: Which should I choose?
Many excellent productivity extensions are free or offer generous free tiers. Paid extensions typically offer additional features, better support, and more frequent updates. Consider the value of your time: if a paid extension saves you even a fraction of your workday, the cost is likely worth it.
