Chrome Extensions v.s Firefox Add-ons: Why You Should Migrate?

By Nakodari on Dec 08 2009 23 Comments

You would have noticed that we have started reviewing extensions for Google Chrome as well. What was to be a quick testing, turned out to be a non-stop reviews for extensions. The only reason users were stuck with Firefox was add-ons and now they have no reason to stay.

Google Chrome Extensions are far more light-weight and responsive when compared with Firefox. Also one of the most annoying part of Firefox was to restart the browser every time a new extension was installed, disabled, or uninstalled. Google Chrome however never requires any restart.

The latest developer version 4.0.2 of Chrome supports extensions and it’s time to migrate. If you are a novice users, it is recommended that you wait till the next public version of Google Chrome comes out.

Slowly over time, the developers behind the popular add-ons for Firefox are releasing extensions for Google Chrome as well. It is a matter of time before everyone starts changing their default web browser. ;)

  • http://twitter.com/Vordreller Vordreller

    I won't be changing to Chrome anytime soon. I can't stand the way it looks. It's hideous, I just can't stand it.

    • Joshua

      You really jumped the gun on that one. Chrome extensions are very limited and to be quite honest, they just suck. I tried using an ad block extension and it added a toolbar with an advertisement to the bottom of the browser. Talk about being counterproductive and hypocritical.

      I agree with Vordreller, Chrome is hideous. I find the whole feel of the browser is off for me. I suppose I'm to use to Firefox (with Windows 7 look). I really don't see any reason to switch.

      Firefox works perfect, with the help of extensions it: blocks all advertisements and popups, has in browser screenshot editing, fits in well with Windows 7 ( http://countedfor.deviantart.com/art/Windows-7-… ), among many other reasons I don't feel like listing.

  • Sheikums

    I always thought chrome extensions are more like userscripts and Stylish scripts? I'm probably wrong.

  • redapple

    i dont see any reason why should migrate – chrome extensions are lame comparing to firefox ones, and yes… theyre more like userscripts.

    if i would migrate after all i would choose SRWare Iron than Google Chrome with their spyware-like s*t

    • http://twitter.com/David_Levine David Levine

      I agree in the context of, if I were to choose Chrome, I would go with a version based on Chromium rather than the one put out by Google. Other versions have more options and do not collect statistics like Google does.

  • Adrianne

    I switched to Chrome for about three months, working with the developers build. I am back on Firefox. Chrome is a nice streamlined system, and I miss the lack of resource hogging, but in the end, Firefox just gave me what I was looking for in terms of customization. Everyone uses their browser in a different way, and Chrome just can't replace some of my favorite addons. Not to mention that Chrome had a problem loading my online classroom.

    • kwanbis

      What you mean by “resource hogging”? If anything, chrome uses MANY times the memory that firefox uses.

  • http://infernodot.blogspot.com/ Infernodot

    My only answer for your complain about firefox's addons is: https://jetpack.mozillalabs.com/

  • metmet

    don't migrate to chrome because it will not have as many extensions as firefox add ons. Plus this is more than just addons. We have to consider security and reliability. Im sticking to firefox because i support their cause and i need the adblock addon. I can't imagine how many flash ads i see using chrome or any other browser.

    • Nakodari

      Chrome has Adblock extensions as well.

  • dhanush

    btw i think u didn't check the new chrome extensions…………
    they have a addon similar to adblock known as adblock+
    and they have flashblock also to block the flash

  • http://twitter.com/devi59 Rob Zinke

    I jumped back to Chrome after testing shortly after it's release. WOW I LOVE THIS NOW

  • http://twitter.com/devi59 Rob Zinke

    I jumped back to Chrome after testing shortly after it's release. WOW I LOVE THIS NOW

  • Joshua

    You really jumped the gun on that one. Chrome extensions are very limited and to be quite honest, they just suck. I tried using an ad block extension and it added a toolbar with an advertisement to the bottom of the browser. Talk about being counterproductive and hypocritical.

    I agree with Vordreller, Chrome is hideous. I find the whole feel of the browser is off for me. I suppose I'm to use to Firefox (with Windows 7 look). I really don't see any reason to switch.

    Firefox works perfect, with the help of extensions it: blocks all advertisements and popups, has in browser screenshot editing, fits in well with Windows 7 ( http://countedfor.deviantart.com/art/Windows-7-… ), among many other reasons I don't feel like listing.

  • Nakodari

    Chrome has Adblock extensions as well.

  • http://twitter.com/devi59 Rob Zinke

    I jumped back to Chrome after testing shortly after it's release. WOW I LOVE THIS NOW

  • Joshua

    You really jumped the gun on that one. Chrome extensions are very limited and to be quite honest, they just suck. I tried using an ad block extension and it added a toolbar with an advertisement to the bottom of the browser. Talk about being counterproductive and hypocritical.

    I agree with Vordreller, Chrome is hideous. I find the whole feel of the browser is off for me. I suppose I'm to use to Firefox (with Windows 7 look). I really don't see any reason to switch.

    Firefox works perfect, with the help of extensions it: blocks all advertisements and popups, has in browser screenshot editing, fits in well with Windows 7 ( http://countedfor.deviantart.com/art/Windows-7-… ), among many other reasons I don't feel like listing.

  • Nakodari

    Chrome has Adblock extensions as well.

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  • gmillerguy

    I have tried to use chrome but it doesn't even display the rich-text editor in ebay. I constantly run across pages with forms that won't submit properly, I think because of chrome's ability to use AJAX consistently.
    I do like several of the extensions for chrome and love the ability to install without a restart, etc. But the extensions for chrome do mostly suck compared to many firefox plugins. Bookmarking, RSS, and Search engine addons are also better on firefox IMO. As each release of Firefox since 3.0 gets slimmer as they get rid of some changes they made to the code base in 2.5, it will get faster and faster on the restart.
    Plus, as a developer I find the code inspector in chrome to be totally insufficient compared to Firebug. Chrome has firebug light, but it is a pile.

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  • http://www.plafstudies.com/ PLAFstudies.com

    No way! Firefox is better.

  • Firefox is old

    Firefox was great when it came out, but it’s getting slower and slower all the time, and the developers are becoming freetarded to the point of making the user experience suck.

    I’m trying Chrome and it’s very nice. It feels unfinished, but it kicks Firefox’s ass in a number of ways.

  • hema

    I came across your article and its interesting.I believe a big reason to stick to firefox is the addons for every thing you may like to do on a webpage. If only they can tweak the speed issue a bit, FF will be undisputedly the best one.I use chrome for heavy pages (like games etc.) as its a bit faster..but when it comes to productivity i will certainly go with FF.In fact All of chrome’s popular extensions are available in Firefox. A nice list has been compiled at
    http://indigic.com/2010/07/firefox-addons-matching-google-chromes-favorite-extensions/
    I found it useful. Also if you like look and feel of Chrome you can make FF look like chrome using the following guide by lifehacker..
    http://lifehacker.com/5044518/enable-chromes-best-features-in-firefox
    I will suggest to use both to squeeze the best of both worlds untill we have a clear winner..cheers!!!

  • Owen Valentine

    So, as someone who’s just tried using Chrome again after having used Firefox for a decent while (I was a Chrome user for a while, but it stopped rendering stuff properly at one point – an issue mostly caused by my ISP, granted)
    And man, it still doesn’t do it for me. As much as Chrome’s extensions are many and varied, it seems to disallow modification of the browser’s actual functions. Which is where I become sad.
    For one, I use a lovely addon for Firefox called Roomy Bookmarks Bar. It shortens my bookmarks to favicon-only until I hover over a bookmark. Which is wonderful. The only thing Chrome can give me in that regard is a userscript-esque modification of each website I visit, giving me a separate bookmarks bar that does the same thing.
    I mean come on, really? Surely it can’t be *that* much of a security problem to have people modify the bookmarks bar?
    The reason why I even tried Chrome again in the first place is because Firefox keeps hanging (and I mean pretty much every pageload), and well, props to Google for the (seeming) lightness and general awesome. But I just don’t like a browser that reminds me of Apple products.