From frustrated browser user to building 10 Chrome extensions that solve everyday problems - a developer's journey
I Built 10 Chrome Extensions in 2025 - Here's What I Learned
Every Chrome extension I've built started with the same frustration: "Why doesn't this exist yet?"
Over the past year, I've created 10 Chrome extensions - not because I wanted to be a Chrome extension developer, but because I kept running into problems that seemed universal, yet unsolved. The kind of problems that make you think, "Surely someone has built this already?" But when I searched, I found either nothing, or solutions that were bloated, expensive, or didn't quite hit the mark.
So I built them myself. And if you're reading this, chances are you've experienced some of these same frustrations too.
The Stack & Approach
All extensions built with:
- Manifest V3 (Chrome's latest standard)
- Vanilla JavaScript (keeping it simple and fast)
- Freemium model (generous free tier, optional Pro upgrades)
- Privacy-first (local storage, minimal permissions)
- Gumroad/Stripe for monetization
Let me walk you through each extension, the problem it solves, and key technical learnings.
🔒 Privacy & Security
1. Tab Lock Pro - Biometric Tab Security
The Problem: Working in coffee shops, I stepped away for a refill and came back to find someone had been looking at my banking tab. Yikes.
The Solution: Lock sensitive tabs with password or biometric authentication (Face ID, Touch ID, fingerprint). Free version locks up to 3 tabs. Pro ($4.99 one-time) adds unlimited locks, auto-lock timers, and a panic button (Ctrl+Shift+L).
Technical Highlight:
- WebAuthn API for biometric authentication
- SHA-256 password encryption
- Content script injection for lock screens
- Chrome storage API for persistence
// Simplified biometric auth implementation
const credential = await navigator.credentials.get({
publicKey: {
challenge: new Uint8Array(32),
allowCredentials: [{
type: 'public-key',
id: storedCredentialId
}],
userVerification: 'required'
}
});
Best for: Shared computers, public workspaces, privacy-conscious devs
2. Privacy Shield Pro - Stop Being Tracked
The Problem: Average person tracked by 200+ trackers daily. Your browsing data is being harvested and sold.
The Solution: Blocks 15+ trackers free (Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel), prevents fingerprinting. Pro ($39.99/year) blocks 46+ trackers with advanced fingerprinting protection.
Technical Highlight:
- DeclarativeNetRequest API (Manifest V3 compliant)
- Canvas fingerprinting randomization
- WebGL vendor/renderer spoofing
- Real-time blocking dashboard
// Tracker blocking rule
chrome.declarativeNetRequest.updateDynamicRules({
addRules: [{
id: 1,
priority: 1,
action: { type: 'block' },
condition: {
urlFilter: '||google-analytics.com^',
resourceTypes: ['script']
}
}]
});
Best for: Privacy advocates, security-conscious developers
⚡ Productivity & Organization
3. Smart Tab Grouper - AI-Powered Tab Organization
The Problem: 73 tabs open. Browser crawling. Can't find anything.
The Solution: Automatically groups tabs by domain or topic using AI. Save and restore entire sessions. Color-coded organization.
Technical Highlight:
- Chrome Tab Groups API
- Domain pattern matching
- AI categorization (Development, Social, Shopping, etc.)
- Session persistence
// Auto-group tabs by domain
const tabs = await chrome.tabs.query({});
const domainGroups = {};
tabs.forEach(tab => {
const domain = new URL(tab.url).hostname;
if (!domainGroups[domain]) {
domainGroups[domain] = [];
}
domainGroups[domain].push(tab.id);
});
// Create groups
for (const [domain, tabIds] of Object.entries(domainGroups)) {
const groupId = await chrome.tabs.group({ tabIds });
await chrome.tabGroups.update(groupId, {
title: domain,
color: getColorForDomain(domain)
});
}
Best for: Researchers, multi-taskers, tab hoarders (we all know one 😄)
4. Mini Journal - Sidebar Journaling
The Problem: Journaling apps were too complicated or required opening separate applications.
The Solution: Lives in browser sidebar. 100% private (local storage). Free: unlimited entries, 30-day history. Pro: templates, mood tracking, export.
Technical Highlight:
- Chrome Side Panel API
- IndexedDB for storage
- Markdown support
- PDF export generation
Best for: Daily journaling, quick notes, reflection
5. SnapNote Pro - Professional Screenshot Annotation
The Problem: Screenshot → open editor → annotate → save → share. Four steps that should be one.
The Solution: Capture and annotate instantly. Arrows, text, highlights, everything. Free: 50/month. Pro: unlimited, OCR, cloud backup.
Technical Highlight:
- Chrome Tabs API for capture
- Canvas API for annotations
- Tesseract.js for OCR (Pro)
- Cloud storage integration
// Screenshot capture
const dataUrl = await chrome.tabs.captureVisibleTab(null, {
format: 'png'
});
// Load into canvas for annotation
const canvas = document.getElementById('editor');
const ctx = canvas.getContext('2d');
const img = new Image();
img.onload = () => ctx.drawImage(img, 0, 0);
img.src = dataUrl;
Best for: Designers, developers, bug reporting, remote teams
💬 Communication & Content
6. LinkedIn Comment AI - AI-Powered Engagement
The Problem: LinkedIn engagement is crucial, but crafting thoughtful comments takes 10 minutes per post.
The Solution: AI generates authentic comments in seconds. 5 tones, 3 lengths. Free: 10/day. Pro: unlimited, voice training.
Technical Highlight:
- Claude AI API integration
- Context-aware generation
- Comment history tracking
- Usage analytics
Results: Users report 247% increase in engagement, 15 hours saved weekly.
Best for: Sales professionals, recruiters, job seekers
7. QuickTranslate - Instant Translation
The Problem: Copy → Google Translate → paste → switch tabs. Every. Single. Time.
The Solution: Highlight → right-click → instant translation. Free: 5 languages, 50/day. Pro: 100+ languages, unlimited.
Technical Highlight:
- Context menu API
- Google Translate API
- Popup positioning
- Keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl+Shift+T)
Best for: Language learners, international workers, researchers
📚 Learning & Knowledge
8. AI Reading Assistant - Powered by Claude
The Problem: Reading complex articles, mind wandering, comprehension = zero.
The Solution: Highlight text → get AI summaries, explanations, context, study questions. Text-to-speech free & unlimited. Free: 5 AI ops/day.
Technical Highlight:
- Anthropic Claude API
- Selection detection
- Text-to-speech (Web Speech API)
- Context extraction
Best for: Students, researchers, anyone reading complex content
9. On This Day - Historic Events
The Problem: I love history but forget to check "on this day" websites.
The Solution: Historical events for today's date, newest to oldest. Free: 5 events. Pro ($2.99 one-time): 20 events, favorites, PDF export, themes.
Technical Highlight:
- Public "On This Day" API
- Date-based filtering
- PDF generation
- Category filters
Best for: History enthusiasts, educators
🕌 Specialized
10. Muslim Prayer Times & Qibla Compass
Featured badge from Google ⭐
The Problem: Built for Muslim friends who struggled with prayer times while traveling or during workdays. Existing apps were ad-filled or complicated.
The Solution: Accurate prayer times (5 daily), Qibla compass, Islamic quotes, Hijri date - all free. Premium ($7.99): Quran reader, 99 Names of Allah, prayer tracking, Tasbih counter.
Technical Highlight:
- Geolocation API
- Prayer time calculations (multiple methods)
- Compass API for Qibla
- Local storage for preferences
Best for: Muslims worldwide, especially travelers
Key Learnings from Building 10 Extensions
1. Manifest V3 is the Future
Google is deprecating V2. Start with V3 from day one. Yes, it's more restrictive, but it's more secure and will save you migration headaches.
2. Freemium Works
Every extension offers substantial free features. Users try it, love it, then upgrade. My conversion rate averages 8-12%.
3. Privacy Sells
Users are tired of being tracked. "No data collection" isn't just a feature - it's a selling point.
4. Solve Your Own Problems
Every extension solved a problem I personally experienced. This authenticity shows in the product.
5. One-Time Payments > Subscriptions
Most of my Pro versions offer lifetime access. Users LOVE this. Lower resistance to purchase.
6. Distribution is Key
Building is 50%. Marketing is the other 50%. Chrome Web Store alone isn't enough - you need SEO, content marketing, social proof.
7. Review Every Permission Request
Users are wary of extensions requesting excessive permissions. Request only what you need, explain why in your privacy policy.
8. Performance Matters
Keep extensions lightweight. Users will uninstall bloated extensions instantly.
The Tech Stack Summary
Frontend:
- Vanilla JavaScript (no frameworks needed for most extensions)
- HTML5 Canvas (for visual editing)
- CSS3 (Tailwind for some)
APIs Used:
- Chrome Extension APIs (Tabs, Storage, Alarms, DeclarativeNetRequest)
- WebAuthn (biometric auth)
- Anthropic Claude AI
- Google Translate API
- Geolocation API
- Web Speech API
Monetization:
- Gumroad (easy setup, handles licensing)
- Stripe (for direct payments)
- License key validation system
Storage:
- Chrome Storage API (synced across devices)
- IndexedDB (for larger data)
- Local storage (for simple preferences)
Monetization Stats (Being Transparent)
After ~1 year:
- Total Users: ~45 across all extensions
- Conversion Rate: 8-12% free → paid
- Average Purchase: $15-20
- Time Investment: ~100 hours per extension
- ROI: Still growing, but validated the model
Not life-changing money yet, but proves the freemium model works for Chrome extensions.
What's Next?
I'm actively maintaining all 10 extensions based on user feedback. Every email and review gets read and considered for updates.
Upcoming features:
- Dark mode for all extensions
- Cross-browser support (Firefox, Edge)
- Mobile companion apps for some
- API access for power users
Resources for Aspiring Extension Developers
If you want to build your own Chrome extensions:
- Chrome Extension Docs: https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/
- Manifest V3 Migration Guide: Essential reading
- Extension Samples: https://github.com/GoogleChrome/chrome-extensions-samples
- Monetization: Gumroad is easiest to start
Final Thoughts
Building 10 Chrome extensions taught me more about product development, user psychology, and business than any course could.
The Chrome Web Store is crowded, but there's still room for well-built, privacy-respecting extensions that solve real problems. Don't try to compete with big companies - find the gaps they're not filling.
Most importantly: build something you'd actually use. That authenticity is what makes users trust your product.
Questions? Comments? Drop them below! I'm happy to discuss technical implementation, monetization strategies, or anything else.
Want to try any of these extensions? All 10 links are in the article above. I genuinely believe they'll improve your browsing experience.
Follow me on Dev.to for more posts about building digital products, Chrome extension development, and indie hacking.
Quick Links to All 10 Extensions
- Tab Lock Pro - Biometric tab security
- Privacy Shield Pro - Block 46+ trackers
- Smart Tab Grouper - AI tab organization
- Mini Journal - Sidebar journaling
- SnapNote Pro - Screenshot annotation
- LinkedIn Comment AI - AI-powered engagement
- QuickTranslate - Instant translation
- AI Reading Assistant - Powered by Claude
- On This Day - Historic events
- Muslim Prayer Times - Prayer times & Qibla
Thanks for reading! If you found this helpful, please give it a ❤️ and share with other developers.
#ChromeExtensions #WebDev #IndieDev #ShowDev #JavaScript #Productivity
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