Buzz
As you wake up, you reach for your laptop or settle at your desktop with a steaming cup of coffee nearby. Once your system boots up, you launch Google Chrome, dreaming of the day you’ll finally clear all those cluttered tabs. Yet, you open a new tab and dive into your morning routine.
While we can’t cure your tab addiction or your fatigue, we believe it’s essential to inject a bit of Kondo-inspired happiness into an often-overlooked part of your daily routine: your browser’s new tab page.
Consider this: You likely spend more time staring at that bland, search-bar-dominated screen than any other webpage, as it’s the gateway to everything you do online. While Chrome’s search bar and quick-access links are handy, there’s room for improvement. Here are some of our top picks for “new tab” extensions:
Toby
We’ve previously discussed Toby before, and it remains an excellent tool for consolidating all those messy, open tabs into a single, organized screen. Even better, you can sync this new tab page across all your browser instances—provided you log into Toby’s service.
Earth View from Google Earth
The concept behind this extension is straightforward: You can fantasize about exotic destinations without ever leaving your desk. Even if you’re not planning a trip to a remote island or a snowy mountain—all options sourced from Google Earth and displayed on your “new tab” page—you can download your favorite images for repeated enjoyment. Or, simply let fate (via a new random image with each new tab) reunite you with your favorites.
Google Arts & Culture
If you prefer admiring art over scenic landscapes, the Google Arts & Culture extension turns your browser into a virtual museum. Similar to Earth View from Google Earth, you’ll see a new artwork every time you open a tab, though you can also set it to update daily if you’d like more time to appreciate each piece.
New Tab Draft
This extension is straightforward. Once installed, your “new tab” page becomes a large notepad with the New Tab Draft extension. Everything you type is saved between browser sessions—locally, ensuring privacy, though it’s less convenient if you switch between multiple devices. Nevertheless, it’s a handy alternative to opening a separate app for jotting down ideas.
FlashTabs
If you’re in a situation where memorization is key—whether you’re a student, actor, or brushing up on your Star Wars knowledge—FlashTabs is an excellent tool for self-quizzing. Each new tab delivers a fresh flashcard. You can even rate flashcards by difficulty, ensuring you focus on the ones you struggle with most.
Markdown New Tab
Much like the New Tab Draft extension, Markdown New Tab enables you to jot down and save notes every time you open a new tab. Your notes remain intact across browser sessions. However, unlike New Tab Draft, Markdown New Tab—as the name suggests—lets you format your ideas using the versatile Markdown syntax, a skill well worth learning. (You could even leave reminders about Markdown syntax within Markdown New Tab for a meta twist.)
Momentum
A Mytour favorite, the Momentum extension turns your dull “new tab” page into a dynamic hub of information and motivation. It’s far from cluttered, as you can customize which features to display. These include a button for quick links, your bookmarks bar (if you prefer it hidden in your default browser), a search bar, local weather updates, a daily focus prompt, an inspirational quote, and a to-do list. Plus, you’re greeted with a stunning new photo every day.
Alternatively, you might want to explore Leoh New Tab, which offers a similar experience but with a distinct aesthetic and unique widgets.
Tabby Cat
Every time you open a new tab, you’re greeted with a new feline companion—some of which are rare! Tabby Cat is undoubtedly one of the best “new tab” extensions out there. (If cats aren’t your thing, you can also buy other adorable animals like dogs, birds, and bears for just $1 each.)
Tab for a Cause
Ads can be annoying, but with the Tab for a Cause extension, you’ll see a Momentum-style page featuring widgets, the current time, and a beautiful photo. While there are banner ads, the revenue doesn’t go to the developer—it’s donated to a charity of your choice. Every click makes a difference!
Speed Dial 2
This extension is straightforward, but sometimes simplicity is key. With Speed Dial 2, you can place large, easy-to-click buttons for your favorite websites on your “new tab” page. If you frequently visit a few specific sites, this saves you the hassle of typing URLs or searching through bookmarks.
For a more advanced setup, you can enable a sidebar to display recently closed tabs, applications, and bookmarks. Additionally, your apps can be placed on a dedicated bottom bar for quicker access.
Unsplash Instant
With Unsplash Instant, every new tab brings a fresh, free photo from Unsplash to admire. Open another tab, and you’ll see a different image. This minimalist Chrome extension enhances your “new tab” page with artistic visuals, free from unnecessary distractions.
Initab
Developers and power users will appreciate Initab, an extension that transforms your “new tab” page into a hub of useful data. It showcases trending posts from your preferred subreddits, GitHub issues and pull requests, and recent Stack Overflow activity. A standout feature is the “relevant history” section, which filters your browser history to show only snippets related to specific keywords.
Sametab
This extension is quirky yet entertaining. By signing up for Sametab with your work email, you and your colleagues can share the same “new tab” page. It’s a fantastic tool for broadcasting announcements or sharing useful resources across your team.
Currently
For those who prioritize simplicity, Currently delivers just the time and weather on every new tab. This minimalist extension focuses solely on these essentials, presented in a sleek and visually appealing design.
Blank New Tab Page
For the minimalists out there, Blank New Tab Page lives up to its name: it offers a completely empty canvas. No search bar, no website shortcuts, no clock, no images—just pure simplicity. Sometimes, a blank slate is all you need for a moment of calm.
