The best tab managers for Chrome in 2026
Updated October 27, 2026
Seven tools that keep tab piles under control, and who each one suits. We make Tab Shelf, so it is on the list and we say so.
Pick by what you do with a tab after you close it. Want it gone and findable: Tab Shelf or OneTab. Want it kept by project: Workona or Toby. Want it kept for good: Raindrop.io. Want a full workspace: Shiori. Want to travel back in time: Session Buddy.
How to choose
- Clear tabs now, find them later: Tab Shelf, OneTab.
- Sort tabs into projects: Workona, Toby, Shiori.
- Keep links permanently: Raindrop.io.
- Recover sessions after a crash: Session Buddy.
These are listed by need, not ranked. Each has a catch, and we say what it is.
The tab managers
Tab Shelf, if you want your browser cleared in one click
Press a shortcut and your current tab and recent tabs stay open while the rest go to a shelf grouped by session and site. Search it, reopen one tab or a session, and undo a mistake. It is free with no account, and Pro ($4.99 once) adds Resume Points and Autopilot. We make it, so weigh this entry accordingly.
The catch: Chrome and Edge only, no sync between computers, and no notes or tags.
OneTab, if you only want the tabs gone
Click once and every tab becomes a list. It is free, needs no signup, and can share a list as a web page. It also offers folders, notes and encrypted sync.
The catch: It closes all your tabs, including the one you are reading, and the list is organised by the time you saved it.
Session Buddy, if you think in sessions
Saves windows as sessions, restores their layout, keeps a timeline, and copies tabs as links, Markdown, CSV or JSON. Free.
The catch: Its interface has more to learn, and it won't clear tabs for you automatically.
Toby, if you share links with a team
A board of Spaces and Collections with notes, tags and sync across browsers. The free Starter plan holds 60 saved tabs.
The catch: You need an account, and unlimited tabs and duplicate removal require the paid plan.
Workona, if your work is split into projects
A Space for each project shows only that project's tabs, autosaves them, syncs and suspends idle tabs.
The catch: It takes setup and habit, and the Pro plan starts at $7 a month.
Raindrop.io, if you are building a library of links
A bookmark manager with unlimited free bookmarks, collections, highlights and apps on every platform.
The catch: It saves pages, not tabs. It won't close your tabs for you.
Shiori, if you want a workspace on your new tab
Replaces the new tab page with collections, spaces and groups that hold links, notes, to-dos, images and timers, with a tab switcher and an optional AI helper.
The catch: It replaces your new tab page, and the free plan stops at 100 items.
Side by side
| Price | Account | Browsers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tab Shelf | Free, Pro $4.99 once | No | Chrome, Edge |
| OneTab | Free | Optional, encrypted | Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari |
| Session Buddy | Free | No | Chrome |
| Toby | Free to 60 tabs, then $4.50 a month billed yearly | Yes | Chrome and others |
| Workona | From $7 a month | Yes | Chrome, Edge, Firefox |
| Raindrop.io | Free, Pro subscription | Yes | Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, mobile |
| Shiori | Free to 100 items, from $6 a month | Optional | Chrome, Edge, Helium |
Sources
Facts about other products come from their own sites, checked on October 27, 2026. Plans and prices change, so confirm before you buy.
Questions
What is the best tab manager for Chrome?
It depends on the job. For a fast clear-out, Tab Shelf or OneTab. For project workspaces, Workona or Toby. For a permanent library, Raindrop.io.
What is the best free tab manager?
OneTab, Session Buddy and Tab Shelf are free to use without an account. Raindrop.io's free plan has unlimited bookmarks but needs an account.
Do tab managers save memory?
Closing a tab frees the memory it used. Managers that close tabs and store them, like Tab Shelf and OneTab, release it fully. Tab suspension keeps the tab in the strip but unloads it.
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