A tab manager Chrome extension helps you find, group, save and restore your open tabs, so a crowded browser is easier to live with. Some are mainly session savers, some sort tabs into collections, and some show every tab in one view. Nine follow in no particular order, all from the Chrome Web Store, with the publisher wherever the listing names one.
Tabs pile up. You open one for later, then another, and by Friday there are windows you're scared to close in case you lose something. A tab manager gives you a way to see them all, save the lot and close them with a clear conscience.
Several of these share almost the same name, so I've kept the publisher where the listing names one. This page is about managing and saving tabs; moving them down the side of the window is a different kind of extension. For more on why the right small tools matter, my guide to productivity tools for solo operators is a good next read.
How the tab managers were selected
Each extension was selected from its Chrome Web Store listing and compared on what that listing shows: users, star rating, number of ratings, last updated date and the publisher. The users, ratings and dates in the entries further down are as each listing showed them, as of Oct 2026. In the free plan column, Yes means the listing text says the extension is free; Not stated means it doesn't say.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session Buddy | Session saver | Saving and restoring sessions, tabs and bookmarks | Yes |
| Tab Manager (1,000 users listing) | Toolbar tab organiser | Organising tabs across windows from a toolbar popup | Not stated |
| Tab Manager Auto | Automated tab manager | Hands off tab management | Not stated |
| Tab Manager Plus for Chrome | Tab finder and limiter | Finding tabs, spotting duplicates and limiting tabs per window | Not stated |
| Tab Session Manager | Session saver | Saving window and tab state, with auto save | Not stated |
| Tabmanager.io | Session manager | Managing, saving and restoring windows and tabs | Not stated |
| Tabs Manager | Tab viewer with thumbnails | Searching tabs with thumbnails and grouping | Not stated |
| Toby | Tab collections and session saver | Saving tabs into collections to restore later | Not stated |
| Workona Tab Manager | Tab manager | General tab management from a named company | Not stated |
Nine tab managers and session savers, A to Z
Session Buddy
Best for: Saving and restoring whole sessions with tabs and bookmarks, with every feature free, the listing says, and a privacy first approach.
Tab Manager (1,000 users listing)
Best for: Organising open tabs across several windows from a toolbar popup, from a small listing with a 3.6 rating.
Tab Manager Auto
Best for: Hands off, fully automated tab management, from a small listing last updated February 14, 2023, so check it still works for you.
Tab Manager Plus for Chrome
Best for: Seeing every window in one view, finding duplicates and capping tabs per window, from stefanxo.com; 200,000 users.
Tab Session Manager
Best for: Saving and restoring the state of windows and tabs automatically; 100,000 users and 450 ratings on its listing.
Tabmanager.io
Best for: Managing, saving and restoring windows, tabs and sessions, from tabmanager.io; 9,000 users and a 3.9 rating.
Tabs Manager
Best for: Viewing and searching open tabs with thumbnails and grouping across windows, from a small listing with 2,000 users.
Toby
Best for: Clearing tabs into collections in one click and restoring any session later on any device, from Launch Labs; 300,000 users.
Workona Tab Manager
Best for: A tab manager from Workona Inc., with 200,000 users and 3.8K ratings, updated October 9, 2026.
The most rated tab manager has the lowest score
Here's the number I'd look at twice. On the Chrome Web Store, Session Buddy has the lowest rating on this list at 3.3, yet it has 1,000,000 users and 25.1K ratings, as of Oct 2026. The highest, Tab Manager Plus for Chrome at 4.5, has 1.1K ratings.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Lots of users means lots of people rating it, for every reason under the sun. A lower average across thousands of ratings and a higher one across a few hundred aren't directly comparable, so read the recent reviews rather than the stars alone.
Which kind of tab tool for which habit
- You hoard tabs for later: pick a session saver, so you can close everything and bring it back.
- You keep losing the tab you need: pick one that searches open tabs and shows every window in one view.
- You open the same pages twice: pick one that finds duplicates.
- You switch devices: pick one whose listing says it restores sessions on any device.
- You'd rather not think about it: pick an automated manager, and check when it was last updated.
A quick check before you trust it with your sessions
A session saver holds the tabs you'd hate to lose, so check the publisher, the last updated date and the privacy section before you rely on it. Several listings here say they won't collect or use your data. Then save a test session and restore it once, early on, so you know it works before you need it.
Do you make tab manager extensions? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing a tab manager
Pick for your worst habit. If you hoard tabs, a session saver lets you close them without fear. If you lose tabs, a manager with search and a single view of every window helps more. Start with one, give it a fortnight, and only add another if it leaves a gap.
If your inbox is the other thing eating your day, here's how to get more done in Gmail without extra apps.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
What does a tab manager Chrome extension do?
It helps you see, search, group, save and restore your open tabs. Some focus on saving whole sessions, others on finding and tidying the tabs you've got open now.
Are tab manager extensions free?
One listing here says every feature is free. The others don't say on their listing, so check before you install.
What's the difference between a tab manager and a session saver?
A session saver stores a set of windows and tabs so you can restore them later. A tab manager is broader, and many of the listings here do both.
Can a tab manager restore tabs on another device?
One listing here says it restores any session later, on any device. If that matters to you, look for it on the listing before you install.
How do I tell tab managers with similar names apart?
Check the publisher named on the listing, and the user count. Several here share almost the same title.
