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Pavel Volkov
Pavel Volkov

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I Built a Privacy-First Diff Checker Chrome Extension – Here's What I Learned published

#extensions #browser #productivity #privacy

Why Another Diff Checker?

Hey dev.to community! I recently launched Diff Checker, a Chrome extension that's grown from 0 to 587 weekly active users in 6 months. But this isn't just another "I built a thing" post – I want to share the real journey, the SEO insights, and why privacy-first tools matter.

The Problem That Started It All

Picture this: You're comparing sensitive API keys, database configs, or client code. Your options?

  • Paste it into an online diff tool (and hope they're not logging it)
  • Fire up your IDE for a simple text comparison (overkill)
  • Manually eyeball the differences (error-prone)

I built Diff Checker to solve this. Everything runs locally in your browser. Zero server calls. Your code never leaves your machine.

What Makes It Different?

Core Features That Developers Actually Use: 

// The stuff that matters
const features = {
  '🔒 Privacy': 'All processing happens client-side',
  '📑 Tab Compare': 'Diff any two open browser tabs instantly',
  '📁 Office Support': 'DOCX, XLSX conversion to text',
  '🤖 AI Summaries': 'Optional OpenAI integration (you control the API key)',
  '🎨 Syntax Highlighting': 'Smart language detection'
};
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The Tab Compare Feature Is a Game-Changer 

# Instead of:
1. Copy content from Tab A
2. Paste into diff tool
3. Copy content from Tab B
4. Paste into diff tool
5. Compare

# Now:
1. Click extension
2. Select two tabs
3. Done
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The Growth Journey: Real Numbers, Real Lessons

Timeline

  • April 12, 2025: Published to Chrome Web Store
  • May: First Reddit post (r/chrome_extensions)
  • June: ProductHunt launch
  • October 17: 587 weekly active users

SEO Performance (USA Market) 

Month     | Organic Keywords | Top Position
----------|------------------|----------------
June      | 5                | #21 (difference checker)
July      | 35               | #11 (diff checker)
August    | 58               | #4 (one keyword!)
September | 59               | #35 (diff checker)
October   | 63               | #14 (diff checker)
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Key Insights:

  1. Google gives new extensions a 2-3 month "probation period" – don't expect immediate rankings
  2. Brand keywords dominate early traffic (49% navigational queries)
  3. Reddit/ProductHunt links don't show in Semrush but they definitely help long-term
  4. ChatGPT started sending traffic (10 referrals in October – I did nothing for this!)

User Metrics That Matter 

Daily Installs: 4-12 (average 5-6)
Daily Uninstalls: 0-4
Retention Rate: ~85-90%
Conversion (View → Install): 15-20%
Peak Users (Oct 16): 587
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The Good: High retention means users find real value
The Challenge: Converting browsers to installers

What's Next?

Coming Soon:

  • [ ] PDF support
  • [ ] More Office formats (PPT, ODS, ODP)
  • [ ] Larger file handling (currently smooth up to 1MB)
  • [ ] Sharing comparison results like Privatebin

SEO Strategy for 2025:

  • Target informational keywords (currently only 8% of traffic)
  • Create comparison guides outside Chrome Store
  • Build more developer-focused content

Lessons for Extension Developers

  1. Privacy sells – Developers care where their code goes
  2. Simple features win – Tab comparison gets more use than AI summaries
  3. SEO is a marathon – 6 months to see real traction
  4. Reddit works – Even if backlink tools don't show it
  5. AI platforms matter – ChatGPT now sends organic traffic

Want to Try It?

Install Diff Checker – It's free, offline, and respects your privacy.

Quick Test:

  1. Open two tabs with different code
  2. Click the extension
  3. Select "Compare Tabs"
  4. See the magic happen locally

Let's Connect!

I'd love your feedback on:

  • Missing features you need daily
  • Performance with your largest files
  • UI/UX improvements

Drop a comment or reach out! Building in public means learning from the community.

P.S. If you're building a Chrome extension, happy to share more detailed SEO data, conversion metrics, or technical implementation details. Just ask in the comments!

P.P.S. All the growth numbers above are real. No paid ads after the initial launch, just organic growth and community engagement.

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