- April 29, 2020
-
Michael West
- 4 min
Chrome is a great browser. There have been many before it, and much of its success is due to the advancements made by its predecessors and while there are several others to choose from, it’s my go-to. There are times, however, when certain features that don’t exist can come in handy, and that’s accomplished by adding extensions.
What’s an extension? They’re add-ons that extend the features of Chrome to make it work better for your needs. There are thousands of extensions available from the Chrome Web Store that run the gamut of everything from productivity boosters to ways to save money. Here are my top 5 Chrome extensions!
LastPass
Password management is a great way to improve your security while online. Many people use the same password for multiple services because it’s easy to remember, but if that password is compromised, so are all of the services you’re using it for – and LastPass is a great solution to that problem.
The purpose of a password manager is to make it easier to have complex, unique passwords to help keep your accounts secure. With LastPass installed, it’ll remember passwords for you and even prompt you when you browse to a page that you need to sign into. Simply click on the credentials you want to use and sign in – it’s as simple as 1-2-3.
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/lastpass-free-password-ma/hdokiejnpimakedhajhdlcegeplioahd?hl=en-US
uBlock Origin
While LastPass helps cover your password-related security needs, uBlock Origin helps improve your privacy online. uBlock Origin (not to be confused with the similarly-named “uBlock”) is an online advertisement and tracking blocker that helps keep your information private as you browse the web.
Most websites contain some kind of advertising and/or tracking components that monitor your browsing habits to put contextually-appropriate ads in front of you. Don’t want TMZ to display ads for what you’ve been looking at on Amazon? uBlock Origin can help with that.
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/ublock-origin/cjpalhdlnbpafiamejdnhcphjbkeiagm?hl=en-US
Full Page Screen Capture
Have you ever needed to take a screenshot of a web page that is really long, only to fumble around with connecting multiple screenshots like a puzzle? It can be a real pain, but Full Page Screen Capture makes it as easy as a single click.
I find this extension to be incredibly useful when creating documentation and find myself using it whenever I need to take a screenshot of something that won’t fit in a single screen. The example above is a screenshot of the first page from Googling “cute puppies,” and is much easier than trying to grab 5 or 6 screenshots and either piecing them together or sharing them individually!
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/full-page-screen-capture/fdpohaocaechififmbbbbbknoalclacl
Honey
Honey is a Chrome extension that’s all about saving your money when shopping online, and who doesn’t like that? With Honey installed, it will check for coupon codes on websites you’re browsing and applies all available coupons/promo codes when you reach checkout.
While it may not always save you money, you’ll definitely save a few dollars here and there, making it well worth the few minutes it takes to sign up!
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/honey/bmnlcjabgnpnenekpadlanbbkooimhnj
Disable HTML5 Autoplay (Reloaded)
How often do you go to a web page and without warning have a video, song, or ad play automatically? Disable HTML5 Autoplay (Reloaded) can take care of that for you.
The extension allows you to adjust settings for individual sites by simply clicking on its icon when you’re on a site. Want YouTube videos to play automatically, but don’t want the same to happen when visiting ESPN? Done.
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/disable-html5-autoplay-re/cafckninonjkogajnihihlnnimmkndgf
Honorable Mention: Netflix Party
The Netflix Party Chrome extension solves a problem my friends and I had for quite some time – we’re spread out across the country and want to be able to watch a movie together. With this extension installed, you can go to Netflix, pick what you want to watch, and then have the extension send them a link to the same movie!
Anyone who wants to join in will need to have their own Netflix account and the extension installed. From there, you can share control (if you choose to do so) and chat with everyone in a chat room to the side. It’s a great way to stay connected with family and friends while we’re apart.
Those are my top 5 Chrome extensions. Much like my top 5 macOS apps, I use these nearly every day and I hope that you find them to be as useful as I do. Do you have any Chrome extensions that you find useful? Leave them in the comments below and we’ll add them to a follow-up post!
