14 DAY TRIAL // Higher productivity, enhanced online security, and overall convenience are just some of the reasons why most of us use, or should be using, browser extensions.
For the not-that-into-geeky-stuff users out there, here's a straightforward explanation: extensions are small pieces of software that can extend the functionality of your web browser with additional capabilities or make integration with other useful services much smoother.
Remember that Dexter’s Lab episode where he attaches a robotic arm to his father's body to enable him to best a truck driver named Earl at an arm wrestling session? Well, you can think of extensions in a similar fashion.
Having said that, considering Google Chrome's peerless and ever-growing popularity, there's really no surprise that Chrome users are nothing short of blessed when it comes to extensions, both in number and variety.
But since not all of us are avid Chrome users, here’s a list of some of the must-have extensions that come with official support for what can be easily called "The Holy Trinity of Web Browsers," Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Opera.
1 - uBlock Origin
Don't blame us for starting off with this popular ad-blocker, as it’s a perfect example of how an extension can improve your browsing experience. Capable of running straight out of the box, lightweight, highly customizable, and uncompromising when it comes to making the Internet a better place for you, uBlock Origin rules with an iron fist and keeps ads, trackers, and other up-to-no-good web elements at bay.
Best of all, there's no such thing as paid privileges for whitelisting ads for this thoroughbred ad-blocker. Yes, AdBlock Plus, we're looking at you. However, just like other activities, ad-blocking is best done responsibly. As with most ad-blocking addons, uBlock blocks everything on every site by default and uses a whitelist mechanism instead of a blacklist.
Unfortunately, this ends up hurting the websites you visit the most as well and, on the long run, might lead to all kinds of trouble, including their closure.
Our recommendation would be to avoid the "first shoot then ask questions" approach and visit new (or useful) sites with ad-blocking turned off and only turn it on if the ads situation is out of control. Who knows, you might even find out that many sites don’t actually use intrusive advertising after all.
Download uBlock Origin: Chrome, Firefox, and Opera
2 - LastPass
Tired of forgetting your login credentials and having to recover various passwords for home or work accounts? Look no further than one of the best-known password managers to date, LastPass. In brief, it securely stores your passwords in a "Vault" and offers you a quick way to use them, thus improving your workflow and lowering your blood pressure.
It can also help you with online shopping and with those annoying situations that demand a form to be filled. Oh, it can also help you generate strong passwords for all your accounts, on the spot.
Tip: Just make sure you don't forget your master password. You've been warned.
Download LastPass: Chrome, Firefox, and Opera
3 - HTTPS Everywhere
HTTPS Everywhere is a browser extension that aims to keep your privacy unscathed by automatically switching from HTTP to HTTPS whenever supported by the site. The "S" at the end of the latter stands for "Secure," as sent data between your browser and the website is encrypted.
You don't really need to know all the under-the-hood stuff, but we will say that it was developed in collaboration with The TOR Project team, and that should say all that needs to be said.
Download HTTPS Everywhere: Chrome, Firefox, and Opera
4 - Turn Off the Lights
No, it's not an incentive for stopping global warming. This is actually one of the most useful browser extensions out there for most of us who frequently watch videos online. Really, who doesn't?
Its modus operandi is incredibly straightforward: You just have to click the "light bulb" icon, and the background around any video player within your web browser goes dim. Say goodbye to all the bright and cluttered backgrounds and hello to a more cinematic experience.
What started out as a nifty little extension for dimming the background around any web video player is now one of the most customizable extensions ever made. If not for anything else, this is probably the best reason you should give this one a quick try-out.
Download Turn Off the Lights: Chrome, Firefox, and Opera
5 - Gmail Notifier
Launched as a sort of limited, "invite-only" Beta, Gmail offered at the time, besides other advantages, an unheard-of 1GB of personal storage space, which compelled most Yahoo! and HotMail users at the time to make the switch without any remorse.
Gmail now being the norm and all that, it's not surprising we're looking for ways to better integrate the service with our devices and browsers. Gmail Notifier is a useful browser extension that does way more than its name might lead you to believe.
It can basically help you preview emails, mark them as read (or spam), archive, delete, and thoroughly manage them directly from the browser's top toolbar. As a bonus, it can also bring unread message notifications within your computer's taskbar.
Download Gmail Notifier: Chrome, Firefox, and Opera
6 - Save to Pocket
Feel like there's not enough time for reading all the relevant information on the Internet and FOMO is slowly but surely creeping closer? Meet Pocket, a praiseworthy service that lets you save news, articles, videos for read-it-later purposes.
Thanks to its bespoke extension called "Save to Pocket," you can "Pocket" content by simply clicking its toolbar icon. Even better, thanks to its handy mobile counterparts, you can literally carry everything in your pocket.
Firefox users, do not be alarmed, Pocket is now integrated with your favorite browser by default. Click the "Hamburger" menu from the upper right side, select "Customize," and drag "Pocket" on the toolbar, right next to your other extensions.
Download Save to Pocket: Chrome, Firefox, and Opera
7 - Evernote Web Clipper
If Pocket feels too simplistic, Evernote Web Clipper might do the trick. The official Evernote extension for your browser allows you to save webpages, screenshots, notes, images and video content, but it also offers an excellent set of features for annotating, collaboration and quick sharing.
And yes, just like the aforementioned extension, it becomes even more relevant if you're also using it on your mobile devices. It does require a fair bit of getting used to, but once you master its functions on all your devices, Evernote can become your go-to service for everything from research sessions to online shopping.
Download Evernote Web Clipper: Chrome, Firefox, and Opera
8 - Feedly Notifier
RSS feeds offer one of the most straightforward ways to stay in touch with your favorite news sources, blogs, podcasts, magazines and websites. Exquisitely simple and very lightweight, Feedly is the go-to RSS reader for most of us.
It requires a Google account in order to log in, and it offers a clear and super-functional feed. Stories are accompanied by thumbnails and can be easily managed, saved or shared. There's also a super-duper extension, appropriately called Feedly Notifier. Don't forget about the Android and iOS mobile clients as well.
9 - Pushbullet
Dreaming of a world where Android and iOS devices and Windows computers and Macs get along perfectly? You may want to stop doing that since it may never happen. Nevertheless, Pushbullet does offer the closest thing towards actually seeing that dream become a reality.
It conveniently brings all your devices together directly within your web browser thanks to its useful extensions. The highlight of this extension clearly stems from the fact that it can help you effortlessly share files between your devices.
Quite surprisingly, it's also relatively competent when it comes to allowing you to chat with your friends, as well as sending or receiving SMS messages.
iOS users will feel a bit left out when compared to Android fans, but even so, Pushbullet definitely deserves a spot right next to your favorite browser extensions.
Download Pushbullet: Chrome, Firefox, and Opera
10 - ZenMate
A VPN, short for Virtual Private Network, has two fundamental effects: it changes your IP address, making it look like your connection comes from a different location on the globe, and it encrypts that signal, keeping your online activity eavesdropper-free.
ZenMate is a handy extension that brings all the advantages of a VPN directly within your computer's web browser. It's easy to install, quite unobtrusive and the connection speed is satisfactory for day-to-day users.
It comes with a limited number of free servers, but if you decide to pay, you'll get access to all 35 servers, as well as benefit from other features like malware blocking, smart locations, and tracking protection.
If you're thinking about Opera's VPN, well, that's not a genuine "privacy-orientated" VPN. Not in the true sense anyway. Basically, all the web traffic is redirected through Opera's servers. Good if you want to bypass geo-restrictions, not entirely good when it comes to privacy matters.
Download ZenMate: Chrome, Firefox, and Opera
Visit our Secure Browsing/VPN section for more similar tools for your computer
11 - Emoji Keyboard by EmojiOne
Our list ends on a somewhat jolly note. After all the serious topics and somewhat pragmatic extensions, it's only fair we brighten things up a bit with the help of Emoji Keyboard by EmojiOne. It provides you with access to an impressive emoji collection, it's easy to install, quite unobtrusive, relatively configurable and, not to mention, very user-friendly.
There's not much that needs to be said here, as we all know what Emojis are and what they're used for. If you don't, just ask any teenager or secretly install this extension and discover for yourself.
Download Emoji Keyboard by EmojiOne: Chrome, Firefox, and Opera
