Best AI Chrome Extensions: Boost Your Productivity & Earn Money

TL;DR

Looking for the best AI extension for Chrome? Sider AI offers complete assistance directly in your browser to summarize content, write faster and increase productivity, while HARPA AI combines GPT models with web automation to summarize blogs, videos and web pages, automate writing and manage emails. But Idlen is the only extension that pays you while you browse. Discover our complete comparison of 8 extensions with detailed benchmarks and find the one that matches your workflow.

Why AI Extensions for Chrome Are Game Changers

AI extensions for Chrome boost productivity by helping users summarize content, generate text, automate tasks and reduce manual effort. Unlike VSCode which targets developers, Chrome is used by everyone: marketers, writers, researchers, students, entrepreneurs.

The problem? You spend hours browsing, reading, writing, researching... and you earn nothing. With over 137,000 Chrome extensions available, how do you choose? And more importantly, how do you monetize your time on the browser?

This guide presents the 8 best AI extensions for Chrome in 2026, with a special focus on a unique solution: Idlen, the only extension that lets you earn money while you browse.

Comparison Table: The 8 Best AI Extensions for Chrome

The 8 Best AI Extensions for Chrome in Detail

1. Sider AI: The All-in-One Research Copilot

Overview Sider is like a research copilot living directly in Chrome. With over 10 million users, Sider lets you instantly summarize articles, compare AI-generated insights side by side, and get contextual explanations without interrupting your flow.

Best for: Researchers, students, marketers, professionals who do extensive research

Pros:

• ✅ Uses AI models like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and DeepSeek
• ✅ Built-in sidebar (no need to switch tabs)
• ✅ Side-by-side comparison of multiple AI models
• ✅ Sider 5.0 includes a new Deep Research agent that explores the web autonomously
• ✅ Free with premium options

Cons:

• ❌ No monetization
• ❌ Complex interface for beginners
• ❌ Consumes browser resources
• ❌ Requires API keys for some models

Pricing: Free (limited) or $10-20/month (Pro)

Verdict: Excellent for researchers and professionals who want access to multiple AI models without leaving Chrome.

2. HARPA AI: Powerful Web Automation

Overview HARPA AI is a browser extension powered by a hybrid AI engine that combines GPT models with web automation, boosting productivity and simplifying tasks by summarizing blogs, videos and web pages, automating writing and managing emails.

Best for: Professionals who automate web tasks, marketing teams, data researchers

Pros:

• ✅ Advanced automation: site update tracking, price monitoring, Zapier integration, excellent for SEO tasks
• ✅ GDPR compliant, doesn't store user data
• ✅ Form automation and data extraction
• ✅ Free with premium options

Cons:

• ❌ No monetization
• ❌ Learning curve (many features)
• ❌ Can slow browser with too many automations
• ❌ Dense interface

Pricing: Free (limited) or $10-30/month (Pro)

Verdict: Perfect for professionals who want to automate complex web tasks.

3. Perplexity AI: Smart Search

Overview Perplexity AI is a powerful tool that combines conversational AI with search capabilities to provide instant answers and summaries in your Chrome toolbar, quickly condensing articles and web pages into easy-to-read overviews, enabling quick queries directly from the toolbar and providing relevant answers to the current web page.

Best for: Students, researchers, professionals who need quick factual answers

Pros:

• ✅ Generates shareable links, compares information across sources for accuracy, supports voice commands
• ✅ Search without Google (direct answers)
• ✅ Free with premium options
• ✅ Simple and intuitive interface

Cons:

• ❌ No monetization
• ❌ Fewer features than Sider or HARPA
• ❌ Limited to search (no automation)
• ❌ Limited queries in free version

Pricing: Free (5 Pro searches/day) or $20/month (Pro)

Verdict: Excellent for researchers who want quick factual answers with sources.

4. Merlin AI: Unified Multi-Model Access

Overview Merlin is a 26-in-1 Chrome extension that provides unified access to multiple AI models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, DeepSeek and more, allowing you to instantly switch between top AI models like GPT o3, Claude-4.5 Sonnet and Gemini 2.5, working seamlessly across all websites including Google, LinkedIn, Twitter, Gmail and any web page.

Best for: Professionals who want to test multiple AI models, content creators, developers

Pros:

• ✅ Access to 26 different tools in 1 extension
• ✅ Generates instant summaries of YouTube videos, articles, web pages and PDFs with timestamps and key points
• ✅ Chat with files, image analysis, writing assistance with paraphrasing and tone adjustment
• ✅ Free with premium options

Cons:

• ❌ No monetization
• ❌ Cluttered interface (too many features)
• ❌ Can slow browser
• ❌ Learning curve

Pricing: Free (limited) or $10-20/month (Pro)

Verdict: Perfect for professionals who want access to all AI models without installing 10 extensions.

5. Grammarly: The Leading Writing Assistant

Overview Grammarly is the undisputed leader in writing assistance. Its Chrome extension acts as a real-time editor on almost every site—Gmail, LinkedIn, Google Docs—checking your grammar, spelling and punctuation, suggesting clearer wording and word choices to help you sound more polished and professional.

Best for: Writers, marketers, professionals who write a lot, students

Pros:

• ✅ Instant feedback and suggestions as you type, helps find the right tone
• ✅ Used by 96% of Fortune 500 companies
• ✅ Works everywhere (Gmail, LinkedIn, Google Docs, etc.)
• ✅ Free with premium options

Cons:

• ❌ No monetization
• ❌ Limited free version
• ❌ Can slow browser
• ❌ No automation

Pricing: Free (basic) or $12/month (Premium)

Verdict: Essential for anyone who writes regularly online.

6. Compose AI: Smart Autocomplete

Overview Compose AI is an AI-powered autocomplete and text generation tool that helps you write faster and more efficiently. If you struggle to write or respond to emails on time, this Chrome extension can automate the task for you.

Best for: Professionals who write many emails, writers, customer support teams

Pros:

• ✅ Assists in writing emails, creating bullet points, blog ideas, stories and other content
• ✅ Type "//" anywhere to see different options and instantly generate or refine your text
• ✅ Integration with Gmail, Google Docs, Facebook and other social media platforms
• ✅ Free with premium options

Cons:

• ❌ No monetization
• ❌ Less powerful than Grammarly for corrections
• ❌ Limited to text generation
• ❌ No automation

Pricing: Free (limited) or $10/month (Pro)

Verdict: Excellent for professionals who write many emails and short-form content.

7. Glasp AI: Highlighting and Note-Taking

Overview If you're looking for an extension focused solely on summarization, Glasp is a perfect choice. When you visit the official site, you can access their multiple products, like the Glasp reader, highlighter, transcriber and AI summary tool. To get the full experience in one click, the extension is essential.

Best for: Students, researchers, avid readers, professionals doing research

Pros:

• ✅ Highlighting visible on any web page in different colors with notes for future reference
• ✅ Glasp reader that opens a clean dashboard view of the same article for a distraction-free reading experience
• ✅ AI summary of articles
• ✅ Free with premium options

Cons:

• ❌ No monetization
• ❌ Limited to note-taking (no automation)
• ❌ Basic interface
• ❌ No content generation

Pricing: Free (limited) or $10/month (Pro)

Verdict: Perfect for students and researchers who take lots of notes.

8. Idlen: The Only Extension That Pays You

Overview Idlen is the only AI extension for Chrome that lets you earn money while you browse. While you read, research or work, Idlen displays targeted ads and pays you a share of the advertising revenue.

Best for: All Chrome users who want a passive income source, freelancers, content creators, students

Pros:

• ✅ Earn money while you browse (unique on the market)
• ✅ Completely free to use
• ✅ Zero impact on Chrome performance
• ✅ Targeted and non-intrusive ads
• ✅ Automatic passive income
• ✅ Works with all AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, etc.)
• ✅ Available on Chrome + Firefox + VSCode
• ✅ Installation in 30 seconds

Cons:

• ❌ Revenue depends on ad traffic
• ❌ Regional availability (some countries not supported)
• ❌ Fewer AI features than Sider or HARPA
• ❌ Requires an audience to generate significant revenue

Pricing: Free + revenue share (you earn a share of advertising revenue)

Use cases:

• Researcher spending 4h/day on Chrome → earns $5-20/month
• Marketer doing research → earns $10-30/month
• Student studying online → earns $3-15/month
• Team of 10 people → earns $50-200/month

Verdict: The best extension if you're looking for a passive income source while browsing. Unique on the market.

Detailed Comparison Table

Idlen vs Sider vs HARPA: Which Extension to Choose?

Here's a direct comparison of the 3 most popular extensions:

Sider AI: The Multi-Model Researcher's Choice

When to choose Sider:

• ✅ You do extensive research
• ✅ You want access to multiple AI models
• ✅ You like comparing answers side by side
• ✅ You need an autonomous research agent

When not to choose Sider:

• ❌ You want to earn money
• ❌ You have a small budget ($10-20/month)
• ❌ You're looking for a lightweight extension
• ❌ You need web automation

HARPA AI: The Web Automation Choice

When to choose HARPA:

• ✅ You automate complex web tasks
• ✅ You need price/site monitoring
• ✅ You do data extraction
• ✅ You work in a team (collaborative features)

When not to choose HARPA:

• ❌ You want to earn money
• ❌ You're a beginner (complex interface)
• ❌ You have a small budget
• ❌ You're looking for a lightweight extension

Idlen: The Passive Income Choice

When to choose Idlen:

• ✅ You want to earn money while browsing
• ✅ You're a freelancer or content creator
• ✅ You already use other AI tools (Sider, HARPA, etc.)
• ✅ You're looking for a passive income source
• ✅ You want a free extension with no hidden fees
• ✅ You have a small budget

When not to choose Idlen:

• ❌ You work in a company with anti-advertising policies
• ❌ You're in an unsupported country
• ❌ You're looking for the best search (use Perplexity)
• ❌ You're looking for web automation (use HARPA)

Recommendation Matrix: Which Extension for Which User?

FAQ: Your Questions About AI Extensions for Chrome

❓ Can I earn money with a Chrome extension?

Yes, with Idlen only. Idlen is the only extension that pays you while you browse. Other extensions (Sider, HARPA, Perplexity, etc.) don't allow you to earn money.

With Idlen, you earn a share of the advertising revenue displayed during your browsing. Revenue varies based on your traffic, but users report earning an average of $5-50/month.

❓ How much can I earn with Idlen?

Revenue depends on several factors:

• Time spent on Chrome per day
• Number of browsing sessions
• Geographic region (some countries have higher CPMs)
• Type of content viewed (some sectors have higher CPMs)

Estimates:

• User browsing 2h/day: $3-10/month
• User browsing 4h/day: $10-30/month
• User browsing 8h/day: $30-100/month
• Team of 10 users: $100-500/month

❓ What is the best AI extension for Chrome in 2026?

It depends on your priorities:

• Best search: Perplexity or Sider
• Best writing: Grammarly
• Best automation: HARPA
• Best multi-model access: Merlin
• Best monetization: Idlen
• Best value for money: Idlen (free + earnings)

❓ Sider vs HARPA: which one to choose?

Sider if you do extensive research and want to compare multiple AI models.

HARPA if you automate complex web tasks (monitoring, extraction, integrations).

Ideal: Use both together. Sider for research, HARPA for automation, Idlen to monetize.

❓ Does Idlen slow down Chrome?

No. Idlen runs in the background and doesn't affect Chrome performance. The extension is optimized to have minimal impact on system resources.

❓ How exactly does Idlen work?

1. You install the Idlen extension in Chrome
2. While you browse, Idlen displays targeted ads
3. You earn a share of the advertising revenue
4. Earnings accumulate and you can withdraw them

It's that simple. Zero effort, automatic passive income.

❓ Does Idlen work with other AI extensions?

Yes. Idlen works with all other extensions: Sider, HARPA, Perplexity, Grammarly, etc. You can use them together without conflict.

Ideal setup:

• Sider for research
• Grammarly for writing
• Idlen to earn money

❓ Which AI extension is free?

Several extensions are free:

• Perplexity: Free (5 Pro searches/day)
• Sider: Free (limited)
• HARPA: Free (limited)
• Grammarly: Free (basic)
• Compose AI: Free (limited)
• Glasp: Free (limited)
• Idlen: Free + you earn money

❓ Can I use multiple AI extensions at the same time?

Yes. You can install multiple AI extensions in Chrome. For example:

• Perplexity for search
• Grammarly for writing
• Idlen to earn money

They work together without conflict.

❓ Do AI Chrome extensions slow down my browser?

It depends on the number of extensions and their complexity. Too many extensions can slow your browser. It's recommended to start with one or two that solve your biggest problems, then add others as needed. Too many extensions can affect Chrome's speed and memory usage.

Tip: Install 3-5 extensions maximum for optimal performance.

Final Verdict: Which AI Extension to Choose for Chrome?

If you do extensive research: Perplexity or Sider

Perplexity offers the best search with factual answers and sources. Sider offers more features and access to multiple AI models.

If you write a lot: Grammarly

Grammarly remains the undisputed leader for correction and writing improvement. Used by 96% of Fortune 500.

If you automate web tasks: HARPA

HARPA offers the most powerful web automation with monitoring, data extraction and integrations.

If you want to earn money: Idlen

Idlen is the only extension that pays you while you browse. If you're a freelancer, content creator, or looking for a passive income source, Idlen is your solution.

Our Final Recommendation: Idlen + Perplexity + Grammarly

The winning combination: Use Perplexity for smart search, Grammarly for professional writing, and Idlen to monetize your time. This is the best strategy for Chrome users who want productivity + passive income.

Get Started Now with Idlen

Ready to earn money while you browse?

Download Idlen for Chrome →

Idlen is free, with no hidden fees, and you can start earning immediately. Install the extension, browse as usual, and watch your earnings accumulate.

Also available on:

• Firefox
• VSCode

Useful Sources

• Sider AI - Official Documentation
• HARPA AI - Official Site
• Perplexity AI - Chrome Extension
• Merlin AI - Chrome Web Store
• Grammarly - Official Extension
• Compose AI - Documentation
• Glasp - Official Site
• Idlen - Official Extension
• Chrome Web Store - AI Extensions