If you are not using chrome extensions, then you might be missing some highly useful tools that enhance productivity, privacy, fun, security, and much more. Google Chrome is the best browser when it comes to the number of extensions it offers to streamline the way you browse the internet. The Chrome browser is full of extensions based on different functionality and it is really hard to find the best chrome extensions among them. To save your precious time in searching the apps we have shortlisted the top 15 Google Chrome extensions and categorized them on the basis of their role and usability.
Best Chrome Extensions
Chrome Extensions for Internet Security and Privacy
At the top of our category is the Internet security considering the overgrowing malware, virus threats, or ransomware attacks today. These extensions or plugins will make sure your online transactions are secure and prevent them from hacking threats.
HTTPS Everywhere
We know that HTTPS sites are more secure than HTTP sites. This chrome extension, when installed will convert all the non-secure HTTP sites to a more secure HTTPS version. It will protect you from getting your data and online activity exposed to thousands of surveillance and malware attacks by encrypting the websites. Available in 48 languages, the plugin is small in size(1.6MB) and is the best chrome extension for those who want to do safe and secure browsing.
Blur
Are you aware of the fact that there are many online companies that are collecting your private information and are ever eager to know as much they can about you? In this scenario, it is mandatory to protect or encrypt sensitive information related to online shopping, banking, or social network credentials. More than just a password manager, Blur is one of the best chrome extensions that not only saves and organizes the passwords but also encrypts them strongly. This unique one-click extension is compatible with Android, iOS, and web browsers.
Disconnect
A Disconnect is an anti-tracking tool that is named the best privacy and security extension by New York Times. Disconnect lets you visualize the unknown trackers linked to the webpages you visit and block them to prevent the theft of your online identity and malware attacks. The extension not only stops the invisible trackers connecting to your visiting websites but also increases the speed of web page loading by 44 %. The plug-in is updated frequently and due to the small file size(1.5Mb), it does not eat your device resources.
Adblock Plus
As the name suggests, this Google extension blocks all kinds of ads and popups from appearing on the browser sites. Apart from blocking advertisements on Facebook, YouTube, or news sites, Adblock plus also prevents any trackers to connect to your websites. It blocks all the 3rd party cookies or scripts from running. This is one of the most popular open-source extensions which is updated with new features by active community members all the time.
Privacy badger
This is a recently launched security tool for google chrome. Being the latest in its category, Privacy badger comes with many advanced features providing you more control over trackers. Rather than automatically detecting and blocking what works in the background, this chrome extension provides you the live status of trackers and lets you take action accordingly. It is a lightweight extension that does not slow down the browser speed at all. Install this extension to block invisible spying ads and trackers.
Chrome extensions for productivity
Time management is Productivity. So here are some of the Chrome extensions that help you in organizing your tasks and activities.
MightyText
Getting timely messages and responding to them according to priority is one aspect of improving productivity. You would never want to waste your time switching through various mailboxes to keep updated about things happening around. MightyText comes in handy here.
If you are not comfortable with messaging through your phone, use MightyText to send and receive text messages using your PC or Mac. It alerts you about incoming messages reaching your Android apps. The message can be from text to MMS. If your phone battery is going low, MightyText informs you about this as well. Receiving messages and answering back was never this easy and efficient.
Most of us while searching the web, keep on saving the researched information for later reading. Pocket does this when it is added to Chrome. It is very different than bookmarking since it automatically syncs the added information with a phone, tablet, or computer. You can revert back to everything kept in Pocket anytime later even when an internet connection is not available.
It is a convenient one-click option to save any page of your interest by clicking on the toolbar button or using the keyboard shortcut. It saves unloaded pages as well and does quick tagging, so saves a lot of time. Pocket also keeps a close check on your preference and recommends accordingly. It lets you browse through the trending news, articles and stories, and topics matching your earlier saving activities.
Papier
We often jot down the ideas and thoughts on paper that crop in our minds while working on a problem or issue. Losing such papers can lose a trail of thought and so halts the thought process. Papier is such a paper that you can never lose.
You just have to install this extension on chrome and you will get an endless list of tabs to preserve your thoughts that finally lead to solutions and answers. You won’t need to create an account or log in and no time will be wasted on synching. Everything you write down will back up to Chrome. It is a tool that lets you focus on the content you really need. Simplicity and clarity are the USP of this extension.
StayFocusd
If you are failing in keeping the promise of working sincerely and get distracted by the plethora of online attractions, then you definitely need StayFocusd. Most of us get swayed by the tempting social media posts, games, and scandalous stories.
StayFocusd compels for self-restriction and productivity by limiting the time on such distractions. But the initiative has to be taken by you by configuring time limits for different sites and content. If you cross these limits that addictive site will be inaccessible for the rest of the day. So, next time you are about to be carried away by a Twitter feed on a concert, Facebook posts by your ex, reviews of the latest movies, or an invitation for a lucrative offer, you will remember the previous reprimand and stick to the job in hand. You can configure it to block or allow entire sites, certain subdomains or paths, addictive web pages, or some specific in-page content like movies, games, images, etc.
Chrome extensions for Writing and Blogging
Writing and Blogging are fast becoming passionate professions since the reachability of online authors is wider than imagination. Here are some helpful Writing and blogging extensions for Chrome.
Google Dictionary
This is the much-needed Chrome extension for creating a perfectly worded story, article, or blog. Using the right words is a prerequisite to conveying what you want your readers to understand. Once installed you don’t need any hard copy of the dictionary. You can view the definition of a specific word by double-clicking it. If you want to use a specific word or phrase it can be done with a click on the toolbar button. You can keep a track of what words you have referenced through the history option. If you are not a native English writer, you can use the word in your language and this extension will translate to English. It supports the 15 most commonly used languages worldwide.
Thesaurus.com
The authors sometimes face the problem of locating the right word in the context of writing, but the mind is not able to extract that indescribable word. Thesaurus.com understands this and gives you an extension to reach that elusive word. You can awe your editor and readers with the perfect usage of phrases, synonyms, antonyms, and a lot more to create those impressively written pieces. You get the option of powerful and remarkable searches in reference to what you wanted to convey.
Grammarly
Poor grammar is suicidal for any author in making. There are always chances of an overlooked sentence, an unintentionally deleted word, or a lack of time to read before publishing content or sending the email. Grammarly is a widely used and highly reliable Chrome extension to create grammatically correct and impressive messages, articles, documents, and posts. With Grammarly, you have the advantage of using it on documents of any size. The whole grammatical scanning and correction will take the least effort It gives you the ability to create and save the documents in an online editor. It performs contextual spelling checking and grammar checking giving you suggestions and reasons that will improve your language.
Chrome Extensions for Music Lovers
Most of us love music and enjoy it stressed out or listen to it for fun while partying with friends. These music extensions will let you organize and listen to music in a better way.
Snd Control
If you are a music lover and want to enjoy music while surfing in the browser, this chrome plugin is the best pick. With this extension, you can sync all your music players or MP3 music downloaders, or youtube players inside the browser in one place. You can integrate the browser with many inbuilt music sources that include Spotify, SoundCloud, google play music, TuneIn, Songza, Pandora Internet radio, and much more. The Snd Control provides a song pad that has many audio control keys and shortcuts.
Playmoss
This is my favorite chrome extension since it allows music lovers like me to create their own audio and video playlists from any website. You just need to add your favorite audio or music video to the Playmoss list and enjoy them later while doing your other work online. This is the best music organizer that lets you add, play, and most importantly share the music with your friends.
Play Music Lyrics Fetcher
This chrome extension won’t let you miss the lyrics of your favorite audio or video music. This extension or plug-in displays the lyrics of the currently playing song from the top best music streaming sites. The sites include Google Play Music, Pandora, Youtube, Spotify, Soundcloud, last.fm, Deezer, Microsoft’s Groove, Slacker Radio, etc. The size of the file is under 1 Mb and the Play Music Lyrics Fetcher is a clean extension with user-friendly and simple interface.
Do install your favorite one from the Google chrome extensions listed above and share it with your other friends if you like this exclusive list based on different categories.
Great list thanks! Also, check out cool Gmail extension Deskun, I use it for free email tracking and templates.
Cool tools. I use Grammarly and AdBlock. Instead of Pocket, I use Kurator. It lets you add comments and other meta tags, syncs with Chrome Bookmark Manager.