Chrome Side Panel Extensions Worth Using

If you have been wondering which chrome side panel extensions are worth your time, you are in the right place. The Chrome side panel is one of the most underutilized features in the browser, yet it can genuinely transform how you work online. In this guide, I will walk you through practical extensions that make a real difference, explain how to set them up step by step, and help you build a more productive browsing experience.

What Makes a Side Panel Extension Worth Using

Before diving into specific extensions, it helps to understand what makes a side panel tool actually useful. Not every extension that supports the side panel is worth installing. The best ones share a few key qualities.

First, they should be lightweight. A side panel extension that slows down your browser defeats the purpose of using it. Second, it should integrate seamlessly with your workflow. If you have to constantly switch contexts or click through multiple menus to accomplish a simple task, the extension is not helping. Third, it should provide genuine value that you cannot get from a regular browser tab.

With these criteria in mind, let us look at extensions that actually meet these standards.

How to Access and Use the Side Panel

Before we get to the extensions, let me quickly explain how to access the side panel in Chrome. This is important because many users do not even know this feature exists.

To open the side panel, look for the two-arrow icon on the right side of your address bar, near the star bookmark icon. Click it, and a narrow panel opens on the right side of your browser window. You can also press the keyboard shortcut: hold Ctrl and press Shift and then E on Windows or Cmd, Shift, and E on Mac.

When the side panel is open, you can click the puzzle piece icon at the bottom of the panel to see which extensions are available for side panel use. From there, you can pin your favorites for quick access.

Extensions for Note-Taking and Quick Capture

Google Keep

One of the simplest yet most effective side panel extensions is Google Keep. If you already use Google’s note-taking service, the side panel version brings all that functionality to your browsing experience without requiring a new tab.

How to set it up:

  1. Open Chrome and click the side panel icon (the two arrows on the right of the address bar)
  2. Click the puzzle piece icon at the bottom of the panel
  3. Search for “Google Keep” in the Chrome Web Store
  4. Click “Add to Chrome” and then “Add extension”
  5. Once installed, click the puzzle piece icon in the side panel and pin Google Keep

Now you can create notes, save links, and organize your thoughts while browsing. The notes sync automatically with your Google account, so they are available on your phone or any other device.

Microsoft OneNote

If you prefer OneNote over Google Keep, the OneNote Web Clipper works similarly in the side panel. You can capture entire pages, highlight text, or create quick notes that save directly to your notebooks. This is particularly useful if your work or school already uses Microsoft’s ecosystem.

Extensions for Task Management

Todoist

Task management is where side panel extensions truly shine. Todoist in the side panel lets you view your tasks, add new ones, and mark them complete without leaving your current page.

Setting up Todoist in the side panel:

  1. Install the Todoist Chrome extension from the Web Store
  2. Log into your Todoist account
  3. Open the side panel and click the puzzle piece icon
  4. Find Todoist and click the pin icon to keep it visible

The advantage here is obvious: you are browsing, you remember something you need to do, and you can add it instantly without losing your place. No more tab switching or forgetting tasks because you did not want to interrupt your workflow.

Things

For Mac users who prefer Things (the popular task app from Cultured Code), the Things Sidebar brings your tasks into Chrome. You can view today’s tasks and add new ones directly from the side panel.

Extensions for Reading and Research

Pocket

Pocket, formerly known as Read It Later, has a side panel extension that lets you save articles with a single click. Instead of opening Pocket in a new tab, you can save articles for later reading while continuing to browse.

How to use Pocket in the side panel:

  1. Install the Pocket extension from the Chrome Web Store
  2. Create a free Pocket account or log in
  3. Click the side panel icon and pin Pocket
  4. When you find an article you want to read later, click the Pocket button in your toolbar

The saved articles are available across all your devices, and Pocket strips away ads and distractions for a cleaner reading experience.

Google Scholar Button

If you do research, the Google Scholar Button in the side panel is invaluable. It lets you quickly search academic papers, check if a source is available, and save references to your library without interrupting your research flow.

Extensions for Productivity and Focus

Tab Suspender Pro

While not exclusively a side panel extension, Tab Suspender Pro works alongside your side panel setup to keep your browser running smoothly. When you have many tabs open alongside your side panel activities, memory usage can grow quickly. Tab Suspender Pro automatically suspends tabs you have not used recently, freeing up memory while keeping those tabs available for quick access.

The extension sits quietly in the background and activates tabs when you click on them. This means you can keep your research tabs, reference materials, and side panel tools all open without the performance penalty that normally comes with dozens of tabs.

Setting up Tab Suspender Pro:

  1. Find Tab Suspender Pro in the Chrome Web Store
  2. Add it to Chrome
  3. Click the extension icon to configure which tabs should suspend and after how long
  4. Set it to automatically suspend tabs after 5 or 10 minutes of inactivity

Combined with your side panel workflow, this keeps your browser responsive even when you are working on complex research projects or managing multiple tasks.

Forest

If you struggle with staying focused, the Forest app has a Chrome extension that works in the side panel. When you need to concentrate, you can start a “forest” session directly from the side panel. The app plants a virtual tree that grows while you stay focused, and if you leave the tab to browse distracting sites, the tree dies.

This may sound gimmicky, but many users find the visual reminder helpful. The side panel integration means you can start a focus session without even leaving your current task.

Extensions for Developer Tools

If you work with code or web development, the side panel has some useful extensions as well.

JSON Viewer

When working with APIs or debugging web applications, you often need to view JSON data. The JSON Viewer extension can format and display JSON directly in the side panel, making it easier to read without disrupting your main workflow.

GitHub Diff Navigator

For developers who review code on GitHub, the Diff Navigator extension in the side panel lets you navigate through code changes more efficiently. You can jump between changed files and see diffs without leaving your current pull request view.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Side Panel

Now that you have a list of extensions worth using, here are some practical tips to make the most of them.

Pin Your Most Used Extensions

Do not clutter your side panel with extensions you rarely use. Click the puzzle piece icon in the side panel, find the extensions you use most, and pin them to the top. This puts your productivity tools one click away.

Combine Complementary Extensions

Think about how your tasks flow and choose extensions that work together. For example, combining Google Keep for notes with Todoist for tasks and Pocket for reading creates a complete workflow system. You capture ideas in Keep, turn them into tasks in Todoist, and save articles to read later in Pocket.

Customize Your Panel Width

You can adjust the width of the side panel by hovering over its edge until the cursor changes, then dragging to make it wider or narrower. Find the width that works best for your screen and workflow.

Use Keyboard Shortcuts

The side panel has its own set of shortcuts. Press Ctrl and Shift and E (or Cmd Shift E on Mac) to toggle the panel. Within the panel, use Tab to move between extensions and Enter to select.

Which Extensions Should You Start With

If you are new to side panel extensions, start with just two or three that address your biggest pain point. If you constantly forget tasks, begin with Todoist. If you lose links and articles, try Pocket. If you need to capture quick notes, Google Keep is the simplest option.

Once you establish that workflow, gradually add more extensions. There is no need to install everything at once. The goal is to make your browsing more productive, not to collect extensions.

Final Thoughts

The chrome side panel is one of those features that most users ignore but few regret trying. By adding the right extensions, you can transform Chrome from a basic browser into a productivity hub that keeps your tasks, notes, and tools organized without forcing you to constantly switch between tabs and windows.

The extensions listed above are all genuinely useful and worth your time. They each solve a real problem and integrate smoothly into the side panel experience. Try a few, keep what works, and build a setup that fits your specific needs.

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