You may already be using extensions in Chrome. If not, it's good to know that you can find and activate these handy tools through the browser's settings. Click on the menu button in the top right (identified by three dots) and go to 'More tools > Extensions'. You will then see which extensions are currently installed and activated. Scroll down and you'll find the option to 'Add more extensions'. The following 15 are definitely ones you shouldn't miss as a dedicated Chrome user.
Print Friendly & PDF
The name says it all: with this extension, you can easily create a print-ready version of a website. You can easily remove elements and images that you don't need on your print with just a few clicks. Also handy: you can email the print to someone or save it for offline use.
Picmonkey Extension
This is one of the best extensions for saving and/or editing web images. With Picmonkey, you can quickly grab an image, crop it, and save it in a file format of your choice.
Lightshot
Taking and saving screenshots can be much easier. With Lightshot, you just need to press a button and choose the area you want to crop, after which you can easily save, edit, or share it.
Pocket is essential for saving articles, videos, and other types of content. With the extension, you can easily save content (offline) for later use. If you also have Pocket on your smartphone or tablet, the content is also accessible there.
Ghostery
If you care about your privacy and don't want to be tracked during your browsing session, this extension is a must. Ghostery automatically blocks trackers, scripts, and other objects on the web that (advertising) companies use to learn more about you. Additionally, you get insight into who is trying to track your activity and how to prevent it.
uBlock Origin
This ad blocker is a smart addition to Ghostery and ensures that unwanted ads on the web are blocked. The extension is efficient and requires little processing power, making it work well even on slower hardware. With a large on-off button, uBlock can be paused, and it's easy to add trusted websites to a whitelist.
HTTPS Everywhere
If you want to be sure that a website you are doing business with is actually using HTTPS to encrypt the session, it's a good idea to install HTTPS Everywhere. The extension ensures that websites automatically use HTTPS, allowing you to surf more securely and reducing the risk of your login and payment details being hijacked by malicious actors.
LastPass
This handy password vault is also available as an extension for Chrome. With the tool, you can easily and securely access your passwords for things like email, social media, and your bank. LastPass can also automatically fill in passwords, making logging in even faster and easier.
Impactana
This tool provides insight into how a page scores in terms of engagement and impact. Additionally, you can easily see who created the page and how to contact them. Handy for online (content) marketers.
Check My Links
With Check My Links, you can check which links on a page are working or not. An essential extension for web designers, developers, and editors who work a lot with online content.
Nofollow
This simple tool allows you to see immediately which links and tags on a website are 'nofollow'. Nofollow means that a search engine does not have to follow or index a link. This can be useful for things like a thank-you or landing page.
Bitly
It won't surprise you that there is also a Chrome extension for Bitly. With this, you can quickly shorten, optimize, and measure links. The extension is, of course, fully integrable with your Bitly account.
RiteTag
If you regularly post content on Facebook or Twitter and use hashtags, RiteTag is worth considering. With this tool, you can see in real-time how much engagement a particular hashtag is currently generating. Green indicates a lot of potential, while a red hashtag is likely to yield little.
The Great Suspender
If you often leave many tabs open while browsing, you'll notice that your computer slows down over time. The Great Suspender ensures that unused tabs automatically go to sleep, freeing up system memory. If you want to get back to the tab, you can resume it with a single click.
Office Editor
With this free extension from Google, you can easily view and edit files from Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint with Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides. The tool also works offline and supports the main file formats, without needing the complete Office suite from Microsoft.
