5 extensions to transform Google Chrome into a modern browser
2 min readAug 7, 2018
I’m daily Chrome user and appreciate its simplicity and sync with Chrome on my iPhone, but got a feeling that Google left Chrome behind the competitors in case of new features development. They’ve mentioned native ad blocker around February (don’t see if really it went live) and recently some redesign, and that’s all.
Luckily there is Chrome’s Web Store with selection of extensions allowing to transform your Chrome into a properly modern browser.
1. Simpli — personal New tab page (+ Add to Chrome)
Key features
- lots of wallpapers with nice views
- speed dial favorites websites (+ categorize via tabs)
- search (Google, YouTube, Torrents, …)
2. uBlock Origin — block ads (+ Add to Chrome)
Key features
- blocks ads on 99% of pages (including FB and YouTube)
- less memory consuming, more reliable and user friendly than Ad Block
- makes websites to load faster (without heavy ads)
3. The Great Suspender — increase batter life (+ Add to Chrome)
Key features
- suspends unused tabs to decrease memory usage (and increases laptop batter life to browse websites longer)
4. Awesome Screenshot — websites snapshots (+ Add to Chrome)
Key features
- grab snapshots of whole / screensize / given area of website
- add notes and annotations on snapshot
- save or share the image
5. Messenger & Notifier for Facebook — FB Messenger (+ Add to Chrome)
Key features
- quick access to FB Messenger
- FB notifications next to address bar
