While Google Chrome is a popular desktop and mobile web browser, it does not allow extensions on Android. This limitation might be bothersome for users who wish to improve their browsing experience by adding more features and capabilities.
Luckily, some Android browsers accept extensions, and you may install them through the Chrome Web Store. In this post, I’ll look at some of the finest Android browsers that accept extensions, as well as how you can use them to improve your surfing experience.
Install Chrome Extensions with Kiwi Browser
Kiwi Browser is a fast, flexible browser for Android that lets you add Chrome extensions. It is based on the Chromium open-source project, which is the same code base that Google Chrome uses. Kiwi Browser allows you to install extensions from both the Chrome Web Store and zip files.
Here are the steps to install an extension from the Chrome Web Store in Kiwi Browser:
Step 1. Within the Kiwi Browser app, tap on the three dots located in the top-right corner of the screen and select the “Extensions” option from the drop-down menu.
Step 2. Toggle on the Developer Mode option.
Step 3. Click “+(from store)” to add an extension from Chrome Web Store or “+(from .zip/.crx/.user.js)” to install a Chrome extension manually.
Step 4. Click on the extension you want to install, and then click on the “Add to Chrome” button.
Step 5. Once the extension is installed, it will appear on the “Extensions” page of Kiwi Browser.
If the extension requires any additional setup or configuration, you can do so by tapping on the extension and following the on-screen instructions. The extension is now installed and ready to use in Kiwi Browser. While browsing the web, you can also access the installed extension by tapping the three-dot button.
Add Chrome Extension with Yandex for Android
Yandex Browser is a fast and secure browser that is popular in Russia and other countries. It also works with extensions, which let users add tools like ad blockers, password managers, and translation tools to their browsing experience.
Within Yandex Browser, you can go to the Chrome Web Store to add your preferred extension to Yandex. However, some extensions may fail to install due to compatibility issues. You can also tap the three-dot button and select Extensions > More Extensions to add Yandex-recommended extensions.
Lemur for Android Extensions
Lemur Browser is a privacy-focused Android browser that supports extensions. It allows you to install extensions from the Chrome Web Store and the Microsoft Edge Add-on Store. If you enable Developer Mode, you can also install custom extensions from files.
To install an extension in Lemur Browser on Android, follow these steps:
1. Open the Lemur Browser and tap on the four squares icon at the bottom right corner of the screen.
2. Tap on “Extensions” to open the extensions page. You can see a list of installed extensions and their status (enabled or disabled).
3. To add a new extension, navigate to the Chrome Web Store or Microsoft Edge Development.
4. Find an extension that you want to install and tap on it to open its details page. Tap on “Add to Lemur” to start downloading and installing the extension.
5. Once the installation is complete, you can see a confirmation message and a new icon for the extension on your extensions page. You can tap on it to access its options or disable it if needed.
Firefox for Android
Firefox for Android, the mobile version, allows you to install various add-ons to customize your browsing experience. It comes with its own extension store, where you can find some add-ons.
To install an extension in Firefox browser on Android, you can refer to these steps:
1. Open the Firefox browser on your Android device and tap the menu button (three horizontal bars) at the bottom right corner of the screen.
2. Tap Add-ons from the menu and then tap Browse all Firefox Add-ons.
3. Search for the extension you want to install or browse through the recommended extensions. You can also filter by category or rating.
4. Tap on an extension to see its details, reviews, and permissions. To install it, tap on the + button at the top right corner of the screen.
5. A pop-up window will show you what access the extension requires. Tap Add to confirm and install the extension.
After you install the extension, Firefox will give you the option to turn it on when you are browsing privately. You can check or uncheck “Allow in private browsing” from the add-on settings.
Firefox for Android does include many add-ons in the store. If you want to install more add-ons, I recommend you get Firefox Nightly. You can refer to this post to get more add-ons in Firefox Nightly.
Recommended Chrome extensions for Android
Tampermonkey: It allows you to run userscripts on websites. Userscripts are small programs that can modify the appearance, functionality, or content of web pages.
Honey: This extension helps you find coupons and deals for products you’re shopping online. It also tracks price drops on Amazon and finds the cheapest seller for a particular product.
Grammarly: This extension checks your grammar, spelling, and punctuation as you write online. It also offers suggestions for making your writing clearer and more concise.
Evernote Web Clipper: This extension allows you to save entire web pages or parts of them to your Evernote account. You can highlight key information with text or visual callouts and organize your notes into notebooks.
LastPass: This extension helps you create and store strong passwords for your online accounts. It also saves you time by automatically logging you into your favorite applications. You only need to remember one master password to access your LastPass vault.
Save to Pocket: This extension lets you save articles, videos, or web pages to your Pocket account for later reading. You can view them offline or sync them across all your devices.
AdBlock Plus: AdBlock Plus is one of the most popular ad blockers on the web, and it’s also available as an extension for Chrome on Android. This add-on can help you block ads and pop-ups, which can make your browsing experience much better by making it less cluttered and distracting.
Dark Reader: If you find that browsing the web on your mobile device strains your eyes, Dark Reader can help. This extension can switch website themes to a darker mode, which can be easier on the eyes and reduce eye strain.
Conclusion
Because there are Android browsers that support extensions, you may add additional features and functionalities to their mobile surfing experience. These browsers feature a choice of extensions to select from, whether you need an ad blocker, password manager, or translation tool.
All in all, try one of these browsers and install Chrome extensions on your Android device to improve the browsing experience. Now, it is your turn. Which browser would you like to try first?