10 Browser Extensions Every Developer Needs Right Now

I install very few browser extensions because most of them are bloat.

These ten are the ones that survived multiple browser cleanups because I actually use them every day.

1. JSON Formatter

Transforms raw JSON responses in the browser into formatted, collapsible, syntax-highlighted JSON. When you hit an API endpoint directly in the browser, instead of seeing a wall of unformatted text, you see properly indented JSON with clickable nested objects.

Before this extension, I was copying API responses into a separate tool to read them. Now I just open the URL and the response is instantly readable. It sounds minor until you realize how often you check API responses during development.

You can find it here: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/json-formatter/bcjindcccaagfpapjjmafapmmgkkhgoa?hl=en

2. React Developer Tools (or Vue DevTools)

If you work with React or Vue, the framework-specific dev tools are essential. They let you inspect the component tree, see props and state for each component, and track re-renders.

The regular browser inspector shows you the DOM. The React DevTools show you the components. The difference is like looking at compiled code versus source code. You see the actual structure of your application, not the HTML output.

I use this daily for debugging frontend issues. The state viewer alone saves me from adding console.log statements everywhere.

You can find it here: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/react-developer-tools/fmkadmapgofadopljbjfkapdkoienihi?hl=en

3. Wappalyzer

Detects the technologies used on any website. Visit a site and click the extension to see what frameworks, CMS, analytics, hosting, and CDN they use.

I use this for competitive research and curiosity. When a website feels fast, I check what they are using. When a website has a feature I like, I check how they built it. Over time, you develop an intuition for which technology choices lead to which user experiences.

It is also useful for job research. Before an interview, check what technologies the company’s product uses. You will have a better conversation when you know their stack.

You can find it here: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/wappalyzer-technology-pro/gppongmhjkpfnbhagpmjfkannfbllamg?hl=en

4. uBlock

The best ad blocker. Not a nice-to-have. A necessity. Modern web browsing without an ad blocker is unusable. Pop-ups, auto-playing videos, banner ads that shift the page layout while you are reading.

For developers specifically, uBlock also blocks tracking scripts and analytics that slow down page loads. When you are testing your own site’s performance, disable it temporarily. For everything else, keep it on.

It uses less memory than other ad blockers and it is open source. There is no reason to use anything else.

You can find it here: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/ublock/epcnnfbjfcgphgdmggkamkmgojdagdnn?hl=en

5. EditThisCookie v3

A cookie editor that lets you view, edit, add, and delete cookies for the current site. When you are debugging authentication issues, testing different user sessions, or checking what cookies your site sets, this extension makes it visual and easy.

I use it most often for switching between test accounts without logging out and back in. Edit the session cookie, change the value, and you are logged in as a different user. Much faster than the login flow.

It also helps when debugging cookie-related bugs. You can see exactly what cookies are set, their expiration dates, and their domains.

You can find it here: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/editthiscookie-v3/ojfebgpkimhlhcblbalbfjblapadhbol?hl=en

6. Lighthouse

Google’s built-in auditing tool, available as a browser extension for quick access. It analyzes performance, accessibility, SEO, and best practices for any page.

The performance score gives you a quick sanity check. Is my page fast? Are there obvious issues? The accessibility audit catches things like missing alt text, low contrast, and missing labels that are easy to overlook during development.

I run Lighthouse on every page I build before deploying. The suggestions are specific and actionable. It is free and it catches real issues.

You can find it here: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/lighthouse/blipmdconlkpinefehnmjammfjpmpbjk?hl=en

7. Vimium

Keyboard shortcuts for browser navigation. Press f and every clickable element on the page gets a letter label. Type the letters and you click the element. No mouse needed.

This sounds like a gimmick until you try it. Navigating the web with keyboard shortcuts is significantly faster than reaching for the mouse. Open links in new tabs, scroll, search, go back, all without your hands leaving the keyboard.

The learning curve is about a week. After that, using a browser without Vimium feels slow.

You can find it here: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/vimium/dbepggeogbaibhgnhhndojpepiihcmeb?hl=en

8. Web Vitals

Shows Core Web Vitals metrics for every page you visit. Largest Contentful Paint, First Input Delay, Cumulative Layout Shift. The numbers update in real-time.

When I am building a web application, I keep this visible to catch performance regressions immediately. Instead of running a separate audit, I can see the vitals in the corner of my browser as I use the site.

It is also useful for checking competitors. How fast does their site load compared to yours? The numbers are right there.

You can find it here: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/web-vitals/illmkcoedmdanbkoihjpipllkaoakccm?hl=en

9. Refined GitHub

Adds useful features to GitHub’s interface. Collapsible file trees in PRs, one-click to mark files as viewed, easier diff navigation, and dozens of small improvements.

GitHub’s default interface is functional but lacks many quality-of-life features. This extension adds them without changing the core experience. After using it for a month, standard GitHub feels incomplete.

The PR review improvements alone are worth the install. Navigating large PRs with many files is dramatically easier.

You cna find it here: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/refined-github/hlepfoohegkhhmjieoechaddaejaokhf?hl=en

10. daily.dev

A developer news aggregator that shows you trending articles, blog posts, and discussions from dev communities. It replaces your new tab page with a feed of technical content.

I use it passively. Every time I open a new tab, I scan the headlines. If something interesting catches my eye, I read it. It keeps me loosely aware of what is happening in the dev world without actively seeking it out.

The feed is customizable. You can filter by topics, sources, and tags. After tuning it for a week, it shows content that is actually relevant to your interests.

You can find it here: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/dailydev-the-homepage-dev/jlmpjdjjbgclbocgajdjefcidcncaied?hl=en

The Philosophy

I keep extensions to a minimum because each one adds memory usage, potential security risk, and complexity. These ten earned their spot by being useful enough that removing any of them would make my daily workflow noticeably worse.

Before installing a new extension, ask whether it solves a problem you have every day or just a problem you had once. The once problems do not need a permanent extension. These ten solve daily problems.

That being said I’m working on releasing a couple of Chrome Extensions myself as well.