Tab Shelf vs Toby: a board or a shelf?
Updated October 27, 2026
Both close tabs and bring them back. They differ in how much you have to set up to do it.
Toby is a board for organising links into Spaces and Collections, with an account, sync and team sharing. Tab Shelf is a shelf: one click clears the tabs you aren't using and keeps them on your computer, with no account. Choose Toby to share links with a team or reach them on every device. Choose Tab Shelf to clear your browser fast and keep working where you are.
Tab Shelf and Toby at a glance
| Tab Shelf | Toby | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A shelf for tabs you are done with for now | A board of Spaces and Collections for links you want to keep |
| Account | None | Sign in to use it. Google sign-on is offered |
| Where your tabs live | In your browser, on your computer | In your Toby account, synced across browsers and devices |
| Free plan | Free to use, with no cap on shelved tabs | Up to 60 saved tabs (cards) |
| Paid plan | Pro, $4.99 once | Productivity, $4.50 per member a month billed yearly ($54 a year) |
| Team sharing | No | Yes. Shared Spaces with unlimited members |
| Closing tabs | One click keeps your current tab and your last few active tabs, and shelves the rest | You save the tabs you choose, or a whole session, into a Collection |
| Duplicate tabs | Closed during every clean, free | Remove duplicate tabs is on the paid plan |
| Notes and tags | No | Yes |
| Browsers | Chrome and Edge | Chrome and other browsers, with sync between them |
Where Toby is stronger
- Teams. Toby lets you invite people into a Space so anyone can add and organise links. Tab Shelf is a personal tool and has no sharing.
- Reaching your links anywhere. Your Spaces follow you to every browser and device you sign in to. Tab Shelf keeps the shelf on one computer. You can export it to a file and import it on another.
- Context around a link. Notes, tags and starred items let you say why you saved a page.
Where Tab Shelf is stronger
- Speed. Press
Alt+Shift+Sand Enter. Your current tab and your last few active tabs stay open, and everything else is saved and closed. There is nothing to drag and nowhere to file it. - No account and no cap. You can start in ten seconds, and the free version does not stop you at 60 tabs.
- Price. Pro is a single $4.99 payment. Toby's paid plan is a yearly subscription.
- Safe by default. Pinned tabs, tabs playing sound and tabs with unsaved typing are never closed, and you can preview the list before you clean.
- Where you left off (Pro). Resume Points reopen a tab at your scroll position, video time or highlighted line.
Which one should you use?
Choose Toby if
- you work with other people and want shared collections.
- you want your saved links on every device.
- you like sorting links into projects with notes and tags.
Choose Tab Shelf if
- you mainly want your browser cleared right now.
- you don't want an account.
- you want a one-time price, or a free version with no tab limit.
Moving from Toby
Export your links from Toby, or copy them from a Collection, and open Import on your shelf. Tab Shelf reads any text, HTML or JSON file that contains your links and saves them as a session you can search and reopen.
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
Is Tab Shelf a Toby alternative?
For the job most people use Toby for, clearing tabs and getting them back later, yes. It does not do shared Spaces or sync between devices, so teams and people who need their links on several computers should stay with Toby.
Does Toby cost money?
Toby has a free Starter plan that holds up to 60 saved tabs. The Productivity plan is $4.50 per member a month billed yearly ($54 a year) and removes the limit. Check Toby's pricing page for the current numbers.
Can Tab Shelf sync between computers?
Not automatically. Your shelf stays on the computer where you made it. Export it to a file and import it on another computer when you need it there.
Do I need an account for Tab Shelf?
No. Tab Shelf has no account. Your shelf is stored in your browser.
Give your tabs somewhere to go.
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