Session Buddy vs tabExtend

Session Buddy is a free Chrome extension for saving and restoring browser tabs, managing bookmarks, and organizing browsing. Users can save complete sessions or selected tabs, then restore them to their original windows, one window, or the current window. Its history view can restore tabs from an earlier point. Collections organize bookmarks, while unified search covers open tabs, collections, and tab history. Tabs and collections can be imported or exported in more than 15 formats, including JSON, CSV, Markdown, and HTML. Version 4.1 added automatic local backups, alongside manual backup and restore. Collections, history, and settings remain on the device rather than external services. The extension requests browsing-history permission but says it cannot read webpage content or form entries. The Free plan costs nothing and requires no account. Cross-device sync is not available.

tabExtend is a visual tab manager that adds notes, images, and reminders inside the browser. Users can save, close, and reopen groups of tabs with drag-and-drop or right-click actions. It also supports to-dos, colored notes, and reminders for sites and items. Workspaces and categories can be shared privately or publicly, with colleagues invited to collaborate in real time. Workspaces sync to the cloud for use across devices; tabExtend says its stored data is end-to-end encrypted and backed up twice a day. Search helps locate saved items, and groups can be generated from bookmarks and most-visited sites. The extension is available for Chrome, Brave, and Edge, with native apps for Android and iPhone/iPad. The free plan includes basic features and up to 30 saves, with unlimited time and no account required. Pro is $8 a month; Team is $21 a month for three seats, with additional seats at $7 each. The extension can replace the new-tab page and read browsing history; downloads, most-visited URLs, and bookmarks are optional permissions.