October 08, 2025 · MarketReviews Team
Top 10 Chrome Extensions Every Developer Should Use (2025 Edition)
Developers spend hours inside browsers — testing, debugging, and experimenting.
So why not make Chrome your ultimate development workstation? 💻
In this 2025 guide, we’ve rounded up the 10 best Chrome extensions for developers, covering debugging, design, performance, security, and productivity.
Whether you’re a web developer, designer, or full-stack engineer, these tools will save you time, effort, and frustration every single day.
⭐ Quick Overview: Best Chrome Extensions for Developers (2025)
| Extension | Best For | Free/Paid | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. React Developer Tools | Debugging React apps | Free | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 2. Web Developer | Inspecting & editing pages | Free | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 3. Wappalyzer | Technology stack detection | Free / Pro | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 4. JSON Formatter | Reading JSON easily | Free | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 5. ColorZilla | Design & color picking | Free | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 6. Lighthouse | Performance & SEO audits | Free | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 7. Octotree | GitHub code navigation | Free | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 8. Postman Interceptor | API testing | Free / Pro | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 9. TabNine (AI) | Code autocompletion | Freemium | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 10. WhatRuns | Identify frameworks & tools | Free | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
1. React Developer Tools
Best For: Debugging React-based applications
Price: Free
Link: React Developer Tools on Chrome Web Store
This official extension by Facebook lets you inspect React component hierarchies, track state and props, and debug performance issues directly from Chrome DevTools.
💡 Pro Tip: Works perfectly with React 18 and frameworks like Next.js or Gatsby in 2025.
Why Developers Love It:
- Real-time component inspection
- Editable props and states
- Integrated with Chrome DevTools
2. Web Developer
Best For: On-page testing and analysis
Price: Free
Link: Web Developer Extension
Created by Chris Pederick, this extension adds a toolbar with dozens of tools for developers.
You can:
- Disable JavaScript or CSS temporarily
- Edit cookies and forms
- Validate code and check accessibility
✅ Ideal for both front-end testing and UI debugging.
3. Wappalyzer
Best For: Discovering what technologies a site uses
Price: Free / Pro (from $12/month)
Link: Wappalyzer on Chrome Store
Wappalyzer scans any website to reveal the tech stack behind it — from CMS and analytics tools to JavaScript libraries, frameworks, and server software.
Example: Visit a competitor’s site → instantly see they’re using WordPress + WooCommerce + Cloudflare.
Why It’s Useful:
- Great for researching competitors
- Helps with client project planning
- Works for both front-end and back-end tools
4. JSON Formatter
Best For: Reading messy JSON data
Price: Free
Link: JSON Formatter
Every web developer works with APIs — and JSON Formatter makes API responses human-readable.
It formats, color-codes, and organizes raw JSON for quick inspection.
Features:
- Auto-format JSON data
- Collapsible nodes
- Works offline
- Safe for confidential API results
💡 Perfect for: Front-end developers and API testers using fetch() or Axios.
5. ColorZilla
Best For: UI/UX designers and front-end developers
Price: Free
Link: ColorZilla Chrome Extension
ColorZilla lets you pick colors from any webpage, copy hex/RGB values, and create gradients.
Features:
- Eyedropper tool
- CSS gradient generator
- Color history tracking
Why It’s a Must-Have:
Perfect for developers working with CSS, themes, and branding in 2025.
6. Lighthouse
Best For: Performance, SEO, and accessibility testing
Price: Free
Link: Built into Chrome DevTools
Lighthouse is Google’s open-source, automated tool for auditing web pages. It checks:
- Performance
- Accessibility
- Best Practices
- SEO
Use Case: Optimize page speed and Core Web Vitals in 2025.
💡 Pro Tip: Run Lighthouse audits directly in Chrome DevTools → Audits tab.
7. Octotree
Best For: GitHub repository navigation
Price: Free
Link: Octotree for Chrome
Octotree enhances GitHub’s interface by showing a file tree view — making code browsing as easy as using VS Code.
Key Benefits:
- Collapsible sidebar for repos
- Fast navigation between files
- Works with private repos
If you browse GitHub daily, this extension will cut your time in half.
8. Postman Interceptor
Best For: API testing and debugging
Price: Free / Pro ($14/month for teams)
Link: Postman Interceptor Extension
Integrates Postman with your browser to capture and send cookies and requests directly.
Why It’s Powerful:
- Works with REST, GraphQL, and gRPC
- Allows real-time API testing
- Perfect for backend devs and QA teams
Combine it with the Postman Desktop App for full API management workflows.
9. TabNine (AI Assistant)
Best For: AI-powered code completion
Price: Freemium (Pro plans from $12/month)
Link: TabNine
TabNine uses AI (trained on billions of code snippets) to predict and autocomplete your code — even inside the browser.
Features:
- Real-time autocomplete suggestions
- Context-aware coding help
- Supports JavaScript, Python, and 20+ languages
💡 In 2025, TabNine integrates seamlessly with GitHub Codespaces and VS Code Web, making browser coding more efficient.
10. WhatRuns
Best For: Tech stack analysis
Price: Free
Link: WhatRuns Chrome Extension
Similar to Wappalyzer but lighter and faster. WhatRuns identifies:
- CMS platforms
- Frameworks
- Analytics tools
- Fonts & CDNs
Perfect for: Freelancers, marketers, and agencies exploring competitor tech stacks.
🧠 Bonus Extensions Worth Mentioning (2025)
| Extension | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Fonts Ninja | Identify and preview web fonts |
| Responsive Viewer | Test multi-device screen layouts |
| EditThisCookie | Manage cookies efficiently |
| Daily.dev | Curated dev news feed |
| Web Vitals | Track Core Web Vitals metrics |
How to Install Chrome Extensions Safely
- Visit the Chrome Web Store.
- Check developer reputation and reviews.
- Avoid extensions that request unnecessary permissions.
- Keep them updated regularly.
- Remove unused or suspicious extensions.
💡 Pro Tip: Use Chrome’s “Manage Extensions” page to disable or remove old tools to keep your browser fast.
Productivity Tips for Developers (Using These Extensions)
- Use Web Developer + Lighthouse together for full front-end audits.
- Combine Wappalyzer + WhatRuns for competitor research.
- Pair Postman + JSON Formatter for efficient API testing.
- Rely on ColorZilla + Fonts Ninja for design inspiration.
- Integrate TabNine + Octotree to speed up GitHub workflows.
Affiliate-Friendly Angle (Monetization Tip)
If you’re running a developer blog or YouTube channel, this article’s content can be easily monetized:
- Use affiliate links for TabNine Pro, Wappalyzer Premium, or Postman Teams.
- Include tool comparison charts and tutorials.
- Update annually to capture evergreen “2026 edition” traffic.
FAQs: Best Chrome Extensions for Developers 2025
Q1. Are Chrome extensions safe for developers?
Yes, but only install from trusted developers and review permissions before adding.
Q2. What is the most popular Chrome extension among web developers?
React Developer Tools and Lighthouse are the most widely used in 2025.
Q3. Can I use these extensions in Edge or Brave browsers?
Absolutely. Both browsers support Chrome extensions via the Web Store.
Q4. Are any of these AI-powered?
Yes — TabNine and some modern tools now use AI for code prediction and debugging.
Q5. How often should I update my extensions?
At least once a month to stay secure and benefit from new features.
Q6. Do these extensions slow down Chrome?
A few heavy ones might — disable those you don’t need daily to maintain performance.
Conclusion: Boost Your Web Development Workflow
The right Chrome extensions can transform your browser into a full development toolkit.
In 2025, efficiency matters more than ever — and tools like React Developer Tools, Lighthouse, Wappalyzer, and TabNine help you code smarter, debug faster, and deliver better projects.
So, install these top 10 Chrome extensions for developers, customize your setup, and make Chrome your ultimate productivity powerhouse. 🚀
🔗 Recommended Resource: Chrome Web Store – Developer Tools