Security-scored
The best Chrome extensions, ranked by what they actually do
Most 'best extensions' lists rank on popularity. We rank on behaviour: we load each one, run it, and watch what it does. Here are the picks our scan rates clean, by category - and, further down, popular ones we rate risky.
How this list is scored
An extension only makes the “best” lists if our own behavioural scan rates it clean - we loaded it, ran it against live sites, and saw nothing that oversteps its stated job. Install counts, star ratings and store badges don’t factor in, on purpose: some of the most-installed extensions in the Web Store rate high or critical risk when you watch what their code actually does. Every pick links to its full report so you can see the evidence, not just the verdict.
Ad blocking and on-page privacy
The most-installed category, and the one most cloned by imposters. These are the originals our scan rates clean.
uBlock Origin
Rated cleanOpen source, efficient, and narrow in what it touches. Our scan rates it clean - the benchmark other blockers get measured against.
Read the full reportAdGuard AdBlocker
Rated cleanA capable blocker with its own filter lists. Rates clean in our scan; just make sure you install AdGuard's own listing, not a clone.
Read the full reportMalwarebytes Browser Guard
Rated cleanBlocks ads plus known malicious and scam sites, from an established security vendor. Clean in our scan.
Read the full reportPassword managers and 2FA
The extensions most worth getting right, because they hold the keys. All four rate clean, but always verify the publisher.
Bitwarden
Rated cleanOpen source and independently audited. Our scan rates it clean, which is what you want from the thing guarding every other login.
Read the full report1Password
Rated cleanA widely trusted manager with a strong security track record. Clean in our scan. Note the store is full of fake '1Password' listings - check the publisher.
Read the full reportProton Pass
Rated cleanFrom the Proton privacy stable, with built-in email aliasing. Rates clean in our scan.
Read the full reportProductivity and capture
Everyday workhorses that need real access to do their job, which is exactly why the clean rating matters.
GoFullPage
Rated cleanFull-page screenshots without asking for more than it needs. Our scan rates it clean.
Read the full reportNotion Web Clipper
Rated cleanSaves pages straight into Notion. First-party, and clean in our scan.
Read the full reportTampermonkey
Rated cleanThe standard userscript manager. Rates clean, but it runs scripts you add - so it's only as safe as the scripts you trust it with.
Read the full reportReading and the everyday
Low-drama extensions that stay in their lane. All rate clean.
Dark Reader
Rated cleanOpen source dark mode for any site, processed locally. Clean in our scan.
Read the full reportGoogle Translate
Rated cleanGoogle's first-party translate extension. Rates clean in our scan.
Read the full reportMomentum
Rated cleanA calm new-tab dashboard. Clean in our scan - a rare one in a category full of data-hungry new-tab replacements.
Read the full reportPopular, but we rate them risky
All of these have huge install bases. Popularity is why they're worth flagging, not a reason to trust them - our scan rates each one high or critical risk.
Stylish
Critical riskA themes extension with millions of installs that we rate critical. Stylish has a documented history of logging browsing activity, and our latest scan caught data leaving the browser.
Read the full reportHola VPN
High riskA free VPN that has historically routed other users' traffic through your connection. Our scan rates it high risk.
Read the full reportPoper Blocker
High riskA popup blocker we rate high risk; it also surfaced in our research on extensions harvesting AI chat data.
Read the full reportInstant Data Scraper
High riskA scraping tool with broad page access by design. Useful, but our scan rates it high risk - know what it can reach before you run it.
Read the full report1clickVPN
High riskA free VPN with millions of installs that our scan rates high risk. Free-VPN extensions are a repeat offender for data handling.
Read the full reportCapital One Shopping
High riskA coupon and price-comparison extension with wide access to your shopping activity. Our scan rates it high risk.
Read the full reportAdblock for Youtube
High riskA heavily cloned name; this popular listing rates high risk in our scan. A good reminder to check the exact extension, not just the title.
Read the full reportFrequently asked questions
What are the best Chrome extensions in 2026?
It depends on the job, but the safe, popular picks our behavioural scan rates clean include uBlock Origin for ad blocking, Bitwarden and 1Password for passwords, Dark Reader for readability, and GoFullPage for screenshots. The list on this page groups them by category. We rank on what an extension actually does when it runs, not on star ratings or install counts.
How do you decide which extensions are 'best'?
We only put an extension in the 'best' lists if our own scan rates it clean - meaning we loaded it, ran it, and saw no behaviour that oversteps its stated job. Popularity and store badges don't factor in. That's deliberate: some of the most-installed extensions in the store rate high or critical risk in our scan, and they're listed further down as an honest contrast.
Are popular Chrome extensions always safe?
No. Install count is not a safety signal. Extensions with millions of users have been caught logging browsing history or exfiltrating data, sometimes after a silent update or a change of ownership. That's why every pick here links to its full behavioural report, and why the safest move for any extension you're unsure about is to scan it rather than trust the badge.
How can I check a Chrome extension that isn't on this list?
Paste its name or ID into our free Chrome extension scanner. You'll get a risk verdict backed by the captured behaviour - the network calls it makes, the data it reads, and anything it sends out. It's the same behavioural analysis behind every rating on this page.
Not sure about one you already have? Scan it.
Free behavioural scan of any extension, or your whole Google Workspace.