Best Chrome new tab extensions in 2026, ranked
- We tested 60+ new-tab extensions for at least 3 days each - most are either gorgeous-but-paywalled or ad-supported.
- Before installing, check what permissions it wants - a new-tab replacement only truly needs chrome_url_overrides.newtab.
- Test it in airplane mode - a new tab that won't open offline is broken.
- Read the Pro tier list first; if the free tier is 'see the photo, that's it,' skip it.
- Ads on the new-tab page are the one place they never belong - you'll see them a hundred times a day.
Keep reading for the full walkthrough.
Why the default Chrome new tab is the most-wasted screen in your day
You open it dozens of times a day. Maybe hundreds. And what does it give you? A search bar you can already use from the address bar, eight thumbnails Chrome guessed at, and a fading Google logo. That’s it.
A good new-tab extension turns that wasted screen into the most-useful screen in your browser. The bad ones turn it into ads, distractions, or a slower version of what was already there.
We installed every popular Chrome new-tab extension currently on the Web Store (60+ in our shortlist), used each one for at least three days, and ranked the ones that actually deserve a slot.
The shortlist (TL;DR)
| Extension | Best for | Free tier | Speed | Privacy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| InTab | All-in-one workspace | Generous free tier | Fast | Private by default |
| Momentum | Visual / inspirational | Limited | Slow | Some tracking |
| Tabliss | Minimal aesthetic | Yes | Fast | Open source |
| Toby | Team tab collections | Limited | Medium | Account required |
| Infinity New Tab | Customization | Limited | Medium | Ad-supported |
| Speed Dial 2 | Bookmarks-as-tiles | Limited | Fast | Closed source |
Below: why each one made the list (or didn’t).
1. InTab - the all-in-one workspace
This is the one we make, so put your skeptic hat on. We’ll be specific about where it wins and where it doesn’t.
What it is. A new-tab page plus a per-tab toolbar that bundles things you’d otherwise install 10+ separate extensions to get: AI on every text selection, save-and-restore tab sessions, auto-suspend, screenshots, YouTube summaries, ambient focus sounds, eye-break reminders, and a writer popover for any input on any site.
What’s good.
- Every core tool ships on the free tier with metered AI - Pro raises those daily caps well beyond free and adds cloud sync, Smart Screenshots, and the website editor.
- The AI side panel uses your own logged-in session at ChatGPT / Claude / Gemini / Perplexity - so if you already pay for one, you get it free here.
- Privacy is the default: no URLs, page content, or typed text leaves your device.
- Fast: the toolbar stays dormant until you invoke it.
What’s missing.
- No team-shared workspaces yet (we’re working on it).
- The website editor is a Pro feature, not part of the free tier.
Install InTab from the Chrome Web Store →
2. Momentum - beautiful, but pushy
The reason Momentum is the new-tab category leader: it’s gorgeous. A high-res landscape every morning, a quote, your name, a single “main focus” prompt.
Good for. People who want a moment of calm before they start working.
Why it didn’t win. The free tier is heavily clipped. To-do lists, multiple focuses, mantras, link groups, custom photos - almost everything you’d actually use is gated to Momentum Plus ($3.33/mo). The page itself can feel slow on a fresh tab if the photo hasn’t loaded yet.
3. Tabliss - the minimalist’s pick
Open-source, no account required, snappy. The default is a clean clock + search combo, but a healthy plugin marketplace lets you add widgets one at a time.
Good for. Developers and minimalists who want to keep their new tab one-second-fast and customize it slowly.
Why it didn’t win. Tabliss is a config kit, not a workspace. You’ll spend a Saturday choosing plugins, and you still won’t have AI, tab sessions, or screenshots when you’re done.
4. Toby - for teams that share tabs
Toby’s superpower is the “shared collection.” You and your teammates curate sets of tabs (an onboarding doc set, a research set, a shipping checklist set), and any teammate can open the whole thing in one click.
Good for. Small teams that work in tab collections.
Why it didn’t win. As a personal new-tab page, Toby is anemic. No AI, no screenshots, no focus tools. The collaboration is the whole product.
5. Infinity New Tab - the customization buffet
Tons of widgets, themes, weather, notes, bookmarks. The free tier shows ads in the new tab.
Why it didn’t win. Ads in the new tab page is the one place ads should never go - you’re going to see it 100 times a day.
6. Speed Dial 2 - bookmarks-as-tiles, done right
For users whose new-tab workflow is purely “click my bookmarks,” Speed Dial 2 is the best implementation. Drag to reorder, group, sync.
Why it didn’t win. Limited to bookmarks. No search, no AI, no tab management. If you live in your bookmarks, get this. If you don’t, skip it.
How to choose
If you want one thing: pick Tabliss (minimal) or Speed Dial 2 (bookmarks).
If you want everything: pick InTab.
If you want shared team workspaces specifically: pick Toby.
If you want a beautiful landscape and don’t mind the upsell: pick Momentum.
If you want ads on every new tab: install nothing.
What to look for next time
Before installing any new-tab extension, ask:
- What permissions does it want? A new-tab replacement only needs the
chrome_url_overrides.newtab. If it asks for<all_urls>host access, make sure it’s doing something useful with it (writer popover, screenshot tool, AI on selection - all valid). If it just wants to track you, skip it. - Does it work offline? A new tab that won’t open without an internet connection is broken. Test it in airplane mode before committing.
- What’s behind the paywall? Read the Pro tier list. If the free tier is “see the photo, that’s it,” skip it.
- Where does my data go? Check the privacy policy. If it doesn’t list each data point separately, assume the worst.
Try InTab free
Free forever. No account. Uninstall removes everything. Install InTab from the Chrome Web Store →
