Top 15 Google Chrome extensions for Chromebook

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The Google Chrome browser is arguably the most well-established internet surfer that has ever managed to grace the interweb. Sure, other options like Brave Browser, Mozilla Firefox, Opera may come staggeringly close to it. Still, when it boils down to sheer popularity and reliability, there’s just no topping this effective web crawler.

The cherry on top is when Google Chrome merges with the speed, stability, and security of Chromebooks, which we all know, are sleek modern-day laptops that run a no-frills operating system called Chrome OS. These devices can run WordPress, Kali Linux, Krita, and many other Linux applications alongside Google Play Store.

• Speaking of the Play Store, check out the 20 of the best apps that you can get from the famed Android platform here.

However, when it comes to the main functionality of Chromebooks, it’s hard to avoid Google Chrome being at the forefront of it all. In that case, you’re going to need all the help you can get to make sure browsing the internet stays as smooth as a process that it can get.

For that purpose, you’re going to want to say hello to Google Chrome extensions present specifically on the Chrome Web Store. These programs have been coming in handy for as long as one can remember, may it be checking the RAM size on a Chromebook through an extension called Cog or playing an awesome offline game with retro graphics.

In this article, we’ll talk about the concept of Google Chrome extensions and 15 of the best ones on the platform at the moment. So let’s get into all that without any extra chit-chat.

• Google Chrome is undoubtedly a great web browser, but it is not the only one out there. Check out 5 of the best fast browsers for Chromebook in 2021 and expand your horizons.

A brief look at the concept of Google Chrome extensions

Google Chrome extensions can be referred to as add-ons that can take your browsing experience from one level to the next. Of course, they are unnecessary, and you can use the Chrome browser without them just fine, but we’re not after that in this write-up. Extensions can modify the functionality of Google Chrome and render it in a way, so it becomes more feature-filled.

Now you might be wondering: What kind of features do these extensions implement in the browser? First, it’s worth noting that the features vary from extension to extension, similar to how applications are in the Google Play Store. For instance, Cog is an extension that can pull up all the system components of a Chromebook and detail you with essential hardware specifications, such as RAM, ROM, CPU, and even GPU.

Another example of a high-quality Chrome extension is LastPass. This program takes up the big job of managing all your passwords for you and incorporating them on whatever page they are needed. We can go on and on about fancy add-ons that pave the way to utmost convenience on the Chrome browser, but we’re reserving all this for the next section.

• Speaking of LastPass, check out some of the best password managers that you can use on your Chromebook today.

The best Google Chrome extensions for Chromebook

Now that we’re aware of the nitty-gritty of Google Chrome extensions let’s take a close, hard look at 15 of the best ones of the bunch. Without any further ado, then, let’s dive right in.

1. Convertio

Starting off this list is one of the most used, most downloaded extensions on the Chrome Web Store, and none of the accolades are without good reason. This is an application that can bump up your productivity like never before. Quite eponymously, the add-on does exactly what its title suggests: it converts files from one format to the other while cutting out the extra steps that you may typically have to complete.

For instance, IMG2GO is a solid part of the best tools for editing images on Chrome OS. One sole purpose is to convert images from one format, say PNG, to the other, let’s assume JPG. However, you will need to go all the way over to this web app’s URL, insert the image, and download the result to complete the conversion process.

With Convertio, on the contrary, you’re just doing things much faster and more efficiently. The extension supports over 2500 formats to convert archives, audio tracks, documents, ebooks, images, presentations, and videos. Simply the jack of all trades and the master of all of them as well.

The cherry on top is that Convertio also features a bevy of PDF tools that can help you compress, merge, unlock, and even have them converted from one format to the other painlessly. There’s just no reason to sleep on an extension of such a caliber, simply because file conversion is something that we require from time to time.

Download Convertio directly from the Chrome Web Store.

2. Picture-in-Picture Extension

The Picture-in-Picture Extension is another add-on that can help you do more and subsequently be more while out and about on the internet. If you’ve got an opened tab that has a video streamer running of any kind, you can click on the extension icon in the top-right corner of the window and watch the magic happen.

A small-scale window will appear on your screen, and you’ll be flawlessly able to switch from one tab to another while the video plays inside the window. Therefore, this paves the way to a lot of multitasking potential for interested individuals. In addition, the best part is that this extension is made officially by Google, so worrying about optimization issues for Chrome OS is nothing but pointless.

The add-on has more than 1 million users with a 4/5 overall rating. Furthermore, the file size of the Picture-in-Picture Extension is even lesser than 10 kibibyte, so performance lagging isn’t going to be a thing at all. The developer has also implemented a shortcut key—Ctrl + P—of bringing up the minuscule window whenever applicable.

The extension’s source code has also been shared, should you ever wish to make edits to it. It is a bit held back in terms of functionality, given the lack of playback controls and a fullscreen mode. Other than that, the program is an excellent option if you want to work on two to three things at once, so we recommend shooting for it straight away.

Download the Picture-in-Picture Extension from the Chrome Web Store using this link.

3. Loom for Chrome

Loom for Chrome is a video messaging application that’s as quick as a flash to operate and get right into. The tech-forward age of 2022 warrants a more interactive approach to communication, and nothing is as centered on that as video chatting. Loom makes everything a lot less complicated and presents users with a direct way of recording themselves and sharing the whole affair with just a single tap.

Moreover, the extension also makes it possible to record your screen. This handy feature allows you to review products or talk about something and leave your two cents on it effortlessly. What makes Loom for Chrome so special is how it comprises an advanced set of features that can genuinely uplift the video-sharing experience of everyone who happens to use it.

For instance, you can add time-stamped comments in your video, team up with other members of your team to work cooperatively, share your reactions, and, of course, save your progress in an instant, apart from editing and trimming your video. However, with the web app version of Loom, you can also view a transcript of your video to assess how it looks.

The extension boasts a stellar 5/5 overall rating on the Chrome Web Store and has over 3 million users across the board. The developer claims that more than 14 million people in 200,000 businesses and enterprises have been prioritizing the usage of this Chrome add-on for all their video sharing needs.

Download Loom for Chrome directly from the Chrome Web Store.

4. Dark Reader

Dark Reader is for all the bibliophiles reading this article. This extension is dedicated to making web pages don a dark display and improving readability. Talk about making those nights pass by in perfect book-reading splendor without having to go through irritating eye strains.

This add-on is on par with the overall rating of Loom for Chrome, enjoying a solid reputation of 5/5 stars on the platform with more than 3 million active users. People who have reviewed Dark Reader say that they have observed significant improvement in alleviating eye pain and could read a lot more quickly after having this highly effective extension on board.

The developer has termed it an eye-care extension for the Google Chrome browser that doesn’t transfer user data. It is a strong proponent of keeping things private and doesn’t even display annoying advertisements to hinder your experience. Lastly, Dark Reader is fully open-source, meaning that you can easily modify the app’s source code and implement your own set of changes.

Download Dark Reader from the Chrome Web Store today.

5. GoFullPage – Full Page Screen Capture

GoFullPage sheds some light on a relatively common aspect of regular internet browsing: screenshot-taking. However, everything’s fun and games with your typical screenshot application until you have to snap the entirety of your web page. That is where this add-on comes in, allowing you to take a full photo of your opened tab.

The extension sports a solid reputation on the Chrome Web Store, bragging a 5/5 overall rating with more than 58,000 reviews. In addition, it has over 4 million users, which is the highest out of every other add-on listed in this article until now. Its operating is straightforward and is involved around keeping things uncomplicated.

GoFullPage is also kept regularly updated, and the recently released version of it has brought a bunch of new features with it. These include cropping, annotating, and adding a diversity of emojis to spice up your reactions. You can also export your screenshots in JPG and PNG formats when you’re done finalizing them.

The developer has announced that if you ever find yourself in an implausible scenario where the application cannot snap a full-page screenshot, the photo will be broken up into two different parts. In addition, you will have to wait a bit after clicking on the extension icon so the program can assemble all the elements and give you the screenshot you need.

Download GoFullPage directly from the Chrome Web Store today.

6. Google Translate

The translation is something that we all require every once in a while. Whether you’re a student preparing an assignment or a teacher trying to research a topic that’s vastly available in a foreign language, you won’t be pausing the world to learn a new language. That is where online or desktop translation applications come in, and when it boils down to the best one of them all, there’s only one undisputed king everyone can turn to.

Google Translate is the world’s go-to application for translating text and documents. More than 108 languages are supported by this extension for Chrome, with most of them having transcription features available. While the vast majority of web pages are translated on the go by Google Chrome due to it becoming more advanced now, the Google Translate extension can help aspiring language learners pinpoint a specific sentence and provide them with its meaning right away.

Its overall reputation on the Chrome Web Store speaks volumes about how well-established this extension genuinely is. It has more than 10 million users with a 4.5/5.0 overall score and more than 43,000 global ratings. It’s one of the most convenient Chrome extensions that we’ve got on this list.

Download Google Translate directly from the Chrome Web Store today.

7. Grammarly

Grammarly is another well-grounded Chrome extension that can help you become a better writer in all possible aspects. Whether it’s a cover letter alongside a job application where you need to express yourself at your level best or a hopeful email to your boss asking for a raise, Grammarly can help you achieve a decent standard of jotting down words.

It’s more of an advanced-category editor that looks out for multiple facets of your writing. It analyzes the tone, structure, grammar, spelling, and overall style and gives suggestions based on your writing goals. That is to say, you will need your personal Grammarly account to receive recommendations by your preferences.

That is why you’ll need to sign up for an account the moment you install the Grammarly Chrome extension. Once done, however, you’ll be entering no less than a world of clear, concise writing. The web app is also responsible for sending you specialized reports consistently so you can identify what parts of your writing have improved and what others need further work.

Lastly, Grammarly works across the board on Google Chrome. Grammarly’s included websites are WordPress, Gmail, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Messenger, Google Docs, and thousands more. If you find the basic version inadequate for your needs, consider upgrading to Grammarly Premium, where you unlock many high-end features and take your writing ten levels up.

Download Grammarly directly from the Chrome Web Store today.

8. LastPass

LastPass is a brilliant Google Chrome extension that does the big job of remembering all your password managers, so you don’t have to. It employs a master password, though, which you will use to sign in and out of the extension. This password isn’t your regular Joe. It cannot be recovered in any way, so you’ll have to write down what you set as your master password or say sayonara to it forever if you happen to forget it.

The extension is bundled with several other features, such as autofill, random password generator, dark web monitoring, and multifactor authentication. You can upgrade to a paid account of LastPass if you want to level up your password-saving game and unlock a wide variety of high-end features.

You can download LastPass directly from the Chrome Web Store today.

9. BlockSite

BlockSite is a Chrome extension that enables its users to prevent accessing a specific website. In other words, you can use this add-on to block websites purely to either make your surfing experience distraction-free or monitor your child’s browsing. Its basic version lets you block up to six different websites simultaneously, but upgrading to the premium version of BlockSite expands the list to a limitless number.

Someone has indeed made the extension with an excellent sense of humor. If you ever try to access a blocked website on your Chromebook, the web page will load a hilarious image, reminding you that you’ve already prevented access from this area. This is amusing and effective in equal measure, so definitely worth the time and effort to get it on your Chrome browser.

Get BlockSite directly from the Chrome Web Store today.

10. Monosnap

Monosnap is another high-quality Google Chrome extension that allows you to take screenshots on the fly. The reason it’s up here on this list is its lightweight interface and its ability to produce the results everyone needs. All you have to do is either input a keyboard shortcut combination or click on the extension icon and click on the relevant function, and that’ll do the trick for you.

What makes this add-on stand out within the realm of all screenshot-taking applications is its speed and reliability. It snaps photos of your screen within seconds and makes sure to retain the original high-quality. Other than that, the extension is adorned with features from head to toe.

Once you’ve taken your screenshot, you can annotate it with the help of text, rectangles, circles, and arrows. Got something in your screenshot that you’d prefer to hide before sending it to anyone else? Monosnap features a reasonably decent blur tool that camouflages unwanted imperfections. Additionally, there are four different functions that the extension can perform in literal terms of taking a screenshot.

You can capture the whole desktop that includes the interface of Chrome OS and the contents of your screen, or you can take a specific area of the screen and create an image out of that. The other functions include capturing the whole page and snapping only the visible part, a single opened Chrome tab.

Download Monosnap directly from the Chrome Web Store today.

11. Todoist for Chrome

Todoist for Chrome is one of the most popular Google Chrome extensions that has enabled millions of people across the spectrum to become more organized, both in work and professional life. You can add full websites to your list of to-do stuff in the extension so you can return to them at a later time.

Moreover, you can also mark blog posts as pending to read them at the right time. When you’re done adding all your tasks, you can effortlessly organize them subsequently to have an easier time doing them. Lastly, once you’ve completed a task, you can cross it off Todoist conveniently right from the browser.

Download Todoit for Chrome directly from the Chrome Web Store.

12. Momentum

Momentum is an eye-catching extension for the Google Chrome browser that revolves around beautifying each new tab. You can pick between your favorite photos or read a quote to get back to work in full swing. It replaces the usual layout and the theme of your new tab with a touch of class that comes from the add-on itself.

Lastly, Momentum is one of the most downloaded extensions on the Chrome Web Store, boasting a massive user base of more than 30 million users and a 4.5/5.0 overall rating. As a bonus, Momentum also includes timers for the tasks that you’ve put, so you don’t miss any of the action when it is happening.

Download Momentum directly from the Chrome Web Store.

13. Stylus

Switch up the way your Chrome browser looks and let Stylus be in-charge of the personalization. This is an open-source extension that houses the potential to change how each web page is shown on Google Chrome. Choose from the hundreds of styles available and don your sites with themes and colors like never before.

From changing the font size to altering the whole layout, control resides with you when Stylus is in the question. However, it is one of the most involved extensions for the Chrome browser, so beginners may not have the easiest of times operating this add-on. You’ll get there sooner or later with some time and luck, though.

Download Stylus directly from the Chrome Web Store.

14. Toucan

Learning a new language can never go wrong, especially if you’re a frequent traveler. This intuitive Chrome extension is one of the best ways you can start getting to grips with a new language. Using top-quality language teaching techniques makes the process seem like child’s play.

The catalog of languages isn’t too vast for now, but more will be added down the line. Whenever you visit a particular website, Toucan will automatically translate some words of the text so you can draw meaning from the context and learn something that will stick to your memory.

Download Toucan directly from the Chrome Web Store today.

15. Forest

Topping this list off is Forest—a focus-oriented Chrome extension that helps you concentrate on your work by providing you with an interactive session. You set the time limit, plant your tree, and let it grow to fruition.

You’re morally and psychologically inclined to deliver your level best and work with a complete focus within that period. Other notable features include note-taking and a blocklist mode to prevent you from accessing certain websites.

Download Forest directly from the Chrome Web Store today.

Conclusion

Google Chrome is a fantastic browser, but it can get even better. The developer has introduced dedicated extensions in the mix to revamp the functionality of Chrome and make it operate a lot more effectively. Of course, there is an almost innumerable number of these add-ons available on the Chrome Web Store, and all of them aren’t fit enough to make the cut.

That is why we’ve talked about 15 of the best Google Chrome extensions to use on your Chromebook and change the way you browse the internet. Be sure to give each entry a good read to know what it’s all about before diving in and adding it to the browser. We hope that you find this helpful article for your cause. Chrome Ready wishes you good luck!

• Check out Chrome Ready’s beginner guide to Minecraft.