A vertical tabs Chrome extension lists your open tabs down the side of the window, usually in the side panel, instead of squeezing them along the top. Many add tab groups, search, saved sessions or bookmarks too. The eight below are Chrome Web Store listings in no particular order, and every one of them is a small extension.
Open enough tabs and the titles along the top shrink to tiny icons you can't tell apart. A vertical list down the side gives each tab a full line, so you can read the titles, group them and jump between them.
Search the store and you'll find plenty of extensions called some version of vertical tabs, often from very small makers. So this list keeps the publisher wherever the listing names one, and shows users and ratings so you can see how much use each has had. If you're shopping for a whole new browser instead, my list of Arc browser alternatives covers that side.
How the vertical tab extensions were chosen
Each extension was chosen from its Chrome Web Store listing and compared on what the 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. None of these listings says outright that it's free, so the free plan column reads Not stated for all eight.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chrome Vertical Tabs | Side tab view | Grouping tabs in a clean vertical view | Not stated |
| Tab Shelf | Side panel tab manager | Tab groups and multiple windows from the side panel | Not stated |
| tabVertikal | Side panel tabs with workspaces | Auto grouping, workspaces and tab suspending | Not stated |
| Vertical Tabs | Side panel tab manager | A plain vertical tab list in the side panel | Not stated |
| Vertical Tabs & Bookmarks | Tabs, bookmarks and history list | Searching tabs, bookmarks and history in one list | Not stated |
| Vertical Tabs in Side Panel | Sidebar tab list | Showing and managing tabs in the sidebar | Not stated |
| VertiTab | Tab and bookmark sidebar | Tree view, workspaces and saving sessions | Not stated |
| Zenith Vertical Tabs | Hover sidebar | A sidebar that appears on hover or with a shortcut | Not stated |
Eight side panel tab lists, A to Z
Chrome Vertical Tabs
Best for: Side tabs with structured groups in a clean vertical view, from a tiny listing with 713 users and 10 ratings.
Tab Shelf
Best for: Managing tab groups across several windows from the side panel, from tabshelf.com; 7,000 users and a 4.4 rating.
tabVertikal
Best for: Automatic tab grouping, workspace switching and auto suspend in the side panel, from tabrail.site, last updated August 12, 2024.
Vertical Tabs
Best for: A plain vertical tab manager in the side panel, from samihaddad.dev; 70,000 users and a 4.1 rating.
Vertical Tabs & Bookmarks
Best for: Quick search across tabs, bookmarks and history, plus saved sessions you can restore; 2,000 users, updated October 25, 2026.
Vertical Tabs in Side Panel
Best for: Showing and managing tabs in the browser sidebar, from guokai.dev, the most used listing here at 100,000 users.
VertiTab
Best for: Tabs and bookmarks in one sidebar with a tree view, workspaces and one click save and restore, from rabbitpair.com; a 4.7 rating.
Zenith Vertical Tabs
Best for: Keeping the screen clear, with a sidebar that appears on hover or with Alt+V, from a very small listing.
The perfect rating sits on very few reviews
Here's the one to watch. The highest rating on this list, a 5, belongs to Chrome Vertical Tabs, and it rests on 10 ratings from 713 users on its Chrome Web Store listing, as of Oct 2026. The lowest, Zenith Vertical Tabs at 3.9, sits on just 7 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.
With so few reviews, one or two people can swing a score either way. On small extensions like these, the number of ratings tells you more than the stars, so read both and then look at the last updated date.
Which side panel setup for which way of working
- You just want readable tab titles: a plain vertical list in the side panel does it.
- You juggle several projects: pick one with workspaces or tab groups, so each project's tabs stay together.
- You often lose tabs you meant to keep: pick one that saves and restores sessions.
- You live in bookmarks too: pick a sidebar that lists tabs and bookmarks in one place.
- You want the screen clear most of the time: pick a sidebar that only shows on hover or with a shortcut.
Worth checking on any small tab extension
Every extension here is small, so a few quick checks pay off. Look for a publisher name on the listing, see when it was last updated, and read what the privacy section says. Most of these listings say they won't collect or use your data, and where a listing doesn't say, that's worth noting before you install.
Do you make vertical tab extensions? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on going vertical in Chrome
Try the simplest one that matches how you work. If you only want readable tab names, a basic side panel list is enough; if you run several projects at once, workspaces and groups earn their keep. Give it a week before you judge it, because moving your eyes from the top of the screen to the side takes a little getting used to.
And if tabs are only part of the problem, my list of productivity tools and apps for small business has more ways to win back time.
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 is a vertical tabs Chrome extension?
It's an extension that lists your open tabs down the side of the window, usually in the side panel, so each tab gets a full, readable title.
Are vertical tab extensions free?
None of the eight listings here states that it's free in its own text, so check the listing before you install.
Can a vertical tabs extension save my sessions?
Some can. A few listings here name saved sessions or one click save and restore alongside the vertical list.
Why are there so many extensions called vertical tabs?
Lots of small makers use the same plain words in their titles. The publisher on the listing is the easiest way to tell them apart.
Is a vertical tabs extension the same as a tab manager?
They overlap. A vertical tabs extension changes where your tabs sit, while a tab manager is more about saving, searching and tidying them. Several here do a bit of both.
