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Browser extensions that will actually save you hours every week
An overview of browser extensions for translation, focus, and task management. Features tools like Mate Translate, StayFocusd, and tab managers to streamline your workflow.
Most browser extensions promise to boost efficiency but end up cluttering toolbars and slowing systems. After reviewing dozens of options, a small number genuinely deliver on reducing friction in daily workflows.
This guide covers extensions with proven track records, starting with translation tools that remove language barriers and extending to focus management, task organisation, and research capabilities.
Translation and Language Assistance
For work involving foreign languages or international sources, translation extensions can save considerable time.
Mate Translate is one such tool for Chrome that translates text, entire webpages, and Netflix subtitles directly in your browser, so you don’t need extra tabs or external apps. It supports more than 200 languages and can be activated with a simple double-click.
Key features include:
Full-page translation: Translate entire web pages with one click—perfect for research or reading foreign news.
Netflix integration: For language learners, Mate works with Netflix subtitles, letting you click on words to learn their meaning without interrupting playback.
Cross-platform sync: Mate syncs your translation history and saved phrases across Mac, iOS, and browsers, ensuring you can access your vocabulary anywhere.
Phrasebook: Build custom word lists that sync across devices. Each entry includes phonetic transcription and pronunciation guides, even for languages with character-based systems like Chinese.
Maintaining Focus and Blocking Distractions
Staying on task is a common challenge. These extensions help by limiting access to distracting websites.
StayFocusd allows you to set a daily time limit for specific sites. Once the time is used, those sites become inaccessible for the rest of the day. A strict "Nuclear Option" can block sites for a set period without the possibility of early cancellation.
BlockSite works on a similar principle, letting you block or whitelist entire websites to cut out distractions
Other popular focus extensions include:
Extension Name
Primary Function
Key Feature
Freedom
Blocks sites/apps across all devices
Can block all sites except whitelisted work essentials
LeechBlock
Custom website blocking
Set multiple blocklists for different times of day
Newsfeed Eradicator
Hides social media feeds
Removes feeds from Facebook, Twitter, etc., while keeping other site functions
Managing Tabs and Browser Performance
Too many open tabs can slow down your browser and scatter your attention. These tools help organise them.
Workona is designed for project-based work. It lets you group tabs into dedicated workspaces (e.g., "Project X," "Research"), reducing clutter and making it easy to switch contexts.
OneTab converts all your open tabs into a single list with one click. This frees up memory and declutters the tab bar without losing your sessions.
The Great Suspender (or similar alternatives like The Marvellous Suspender) automatically suspends tabs that have been inactive for a while, freeing up system resources.
Task Management and Note-Taking
Integrating your task manager or notepad directly into the browser saves you from constantly switching applications.
Todoist for Chrome adds a quick task button to your browser. You can instantly add a task, including the webpage you are on as a reference, to your to-do list.
For saving and organising information, several clipper extensions are available:
Notion Web Clipper: Saves articles or pages directly to a Notion database you specify.
Google Keep: Offers a quick icon to save a page or selected text to a note.
Pocket: Saves articles, videos, and other web content to a personal list for later viewing, with offline access available.
Enhancing the Browsing Environment
Some extensions modify your browser's interface to promote a calmer, more focused workflow.
Momentum replaces your standard new tab page with a personalised dashboard. It typically shows the time, a daily focus goal, a to-do list, and an inspirational background image
Just Read and Reader View strip away ads, comments, and other clutter from article webpages, presenting just the core text in a clean, readable format
Streamlining Repetitive Tasks
Automating small, repetitive actions can lead to significant time savings.
Grammarly checks spelling and grammar in real-time across most text fields in your browser, from emails to forms.
1Password or other password managers autofill login credentials and generate strong passwords, removing the hassle of remembering them.
Fake Filler automatically populates form fields on websites with realistic dummy data, which is useful for testing or quickly signing up for services.
Final Thoughts
Productivity isn't about working harder; it's about removing the friction that stops you from working well.
The extensions mentioned here address specific points in a digital workflow, from initial research to final editing. Their value lies in their focused functionality, helping to create a more efficient browsing environment for day-to-day tasks.
