Top Chrome Extensions Every Developer Should Use

Best Browser Extensions for Programmers That Save Hours of Work

Introduction

As programmers, we spend a huge chunk of our day inside a web browser. Whether it’s debugging, searching documentation, testing APIs, managing tasks, or just looking for answers on Stack Overflow, the browser is basically our second IDE.

But here’s the thing: your browser can do a lot more than just open websites. With the right extensions, you can boost your productivity, automate small but annoying tasks, and even improve code quality—all without leaving your tab.

In this post, I’ll share some of the best browser extensions for programmers that can literally save you hours of work every week. These aren’t just random add-ons, but real tools developers actually use to write, debug, and manage code more efficiently.

By the end, you’ll have a toolkit of browser extensions to supercharge your workflow.

Why Browser Extensions Matter for Programmers

Let’s be real—programming isn’t just about writing code. It’s also about:

Debugging errors in real-time
Reading documentation quickly
Testing APIs or code snippets
Managing tasks and notes
Making sure your environment stays distraction-free

Without the right tools, small repetitive tasks can eat away at your time. Browser extensions can act as your silent coding assistants—helping you do the boring stuff faster so you can focus on solving real problems.

1. Visual Studio Code in Browser (GitHub Codespaces / VS Code Extensions)

If you’re a VS Code user (and let’s be honest, most of us are), having VS Code available in your browser is a game-changer. With GitHub Codespaces or extensions like VSCode for the Web, you can:

Edit code directly from your browser
Work on projects without downloading them locally
Quickly fix bugs on the go

This eliminates the hassle of setting up environments on multiple devices.

Best For: Programmers who want coding flexibility without carrying their entire dev setup everywhere.

2. JSON Formatter

As developers, we deal with APIs constantly. Raw JSON responses are often messy and nearly impossible to read.

Enter JSON Formatter. This extension:

Beautifies raw JSON into a tree view
Lets you collapse/expand nodes
Makes debugging API responses 10x faster

Instead of squinting at a wall of curly braces, you get neatly formatted data that’s easy to navigate.

Best For: Backend developers, API testers, and frontend devs working with APIs.

3. Postman Interceptor (or Talend API Tester)

If you’ve ever used Postman for testing APIs, this extension takes things further by letting your browser talk directly to Postman.

Capture and sync cookies
Directly send requests from browser tabs
Save hours testing REST APIs

Alternatively, extensions like Talend API Tester work standalone if you want lightweight API debugging without Postman.

Best For: Developers who frequently test REST APIs.

4. Octotree (GitHub Code Tree)

GitHub is amazing, but let’s be honest: browsing large repos can be painful.

Octotree solves this by adding a sidebar with a collapsible tree structure for repos.

Quickly navigate files without endless scrolling
Jump between directories instantly
Save time when contributing to open-source projects

Best For: Anyone who works with large GitHub repositories.

5. Wappalyzer

Ever wondered what stack a website is using? Wappalyzer tells you instantly.

Detects frameworks, libraries, CMS, databases, and hosting providers
Useful for competitor analysis or learning new tech stacks
Great way to satisfy curiosity when exploring cool apps

Best For: Full-stack devs, curious learners, and startup builders.

6. Session Buddy

Raise your hand if you’ve ever had 50+ tabs open (don’t worry, we’ve all been there).

Session Buddy is a lifesaver:

Save and organize tab sessions
Reopen crashed browser sessions
Keep projects separated (work vs personal browsing)

Instead of wasting time hunting for lost tabs, you just restore everything in seconds.

Best For: Developers juggling multiple projects at once.

7. Web Developer Extension

Think of this as a Swiss Army knife for frontend developers.

With a single toolbar, you can:

Disable JavaScript or CSS for testing
Inspect images and alt tags
Validate HTML
Resize windows for responsive testing

It’s one of those must-have tools for web development.

Best For: Frontend developers, UI/UX testers.

8. Momentum

Programming requires deep focus. But distractions are everywhere.

Momentum replaces your new tab page with:

A minimalist dashboard
To-do lists
Daily motivational quotes
Focus reminders

Instead of being greeted by a blank page or distracting news feed, you get a clean productivity boost.

Best For: Developers who want to stay focused while coding.

9. ColorZilla

Working on frontends means constantly dealing with colors. ColorZilla makes this ridiculously easy.

Color picker and eyedropper tool
Copy hex/rgb values from any page
Gradient generator

No more screenshotting websites just to grab a color—you can pick it directly.

Best For: Frontend devs and designers.

10. Daily.dev

If you want to stay updated with programming news without wasting time searching, Daily.dev is the perfect extension.

Curated articles from top developer blogs
Personalized feed based on your interests
Saves hours of searching for new trends

It keeps you updated on what’s happening in the dev world—right in your new tab.

Best For: Developers who want to keep learning daily.

11. Grammarly (For Writing Docs and Commits)

Yes, Grammarly isn’t a dev tool per se, but think about it:

Writing clean documentation matters.
Commit messages should be professional.
Client emails need to be polished.

Grammarly ensures you look professional not just in code, but in communication too.

Best For: Any developer writing docs, READMEs, or commits.

12. Lighthouse (Google)

Performance and SEO matter even for devs. Google’s Lighthouse extension:

Audits page speed, accessibility, SEO, and performance
Gives actionable suggestions
Helps optimize frontend projects

Instead of running manual checks, you get insights instantly.

Best For: Frontend and full-stack developers.

13. Toggl Track

Ever wondered where all your coding hours go? Toggl Track helps you log time right from your browser.

Track coding sessions
Identify time-wasting habits
Bill clients accurately if you freelance

It’s simple but extremely effective for productivity.

Best For: Freelance developers and remote workers.

Lessons I Learned Using Extensions

After trying dozens of extensions, here’s what I realized:

Less is more – Too many extensions will slow down your browser.
Pick based on workflow – Choose ones that genuinely solve your problems.
Security matters – Only install from trusted developers.
Combine wisely – Use productivity + coding + debugging extensions together.

FAQs

Q1: Will too many extensions slow my browser?
Yes, that’s why you should only install what you need.

Q2: Which browser is best for developers?
Most extensions support Chrome and Firefox. Chrome has more options, but Firefox is better for privacy.

Q3: Are these extensions free?
Most are free, with optional paid features.

Q4: Can I use them on Brave or Edge?
Yes, since they’re Chromium-based, most Chrome extensions work on them.

Q5: What’s the single must-have extension?
If I had to pick only one, JSON Formatter saves me the most time when debugging APIs.

Conclusion

Browser extensions may seem small, but they can completely change the way you work as a programmer. From debugging JSON to managing tabs, automating API testing, or simply staying focused, the right set of tools can save you hours of frustration every week.

My advice? Start with just two or three from this list. Install them, test them, and see how much faster your workflow becomes. Over time, you’ll find your own perfect set of extensions tailored to your coding style.

👉 So the next time you open your browser, remember: it’s not just a tool for searching Google—it can also be your coding assistant.