What makes them the best:
- Free
- Easy to use
- Reliable
- Versatile
Why you should trust me: I’ve been working full-time in SEO (agency style, managing multiple accounts) since 2016, and have zero patience when it comes to software and website UX.
These extensions have saved me a ton of time when researching, reporting and verifying data.
Ahrefs SEO Toolbar
In terms of how many features it has and how often I use it, the Ahrefs SEO Toolbar browser extension is my MVP.
The first chunk of options in the left nav lets you quickly see page info. You can find it all in the source HTML, but this way is faster.
Most used for checking:
- Page title & meta description
- Headings
- Canonical URL
- Structured data
- Image alts
And also:
- HTTP status*
- Published/modified date
- OG tags
- Sitemap the page is in (or lack of one)
- Robots.txt
- Outgoing links (list, type, exportable!)
*For some websites HTTP status won’t display, in which case the Redirect Path extension is a good substitute.
The lower part of the left nav has tools to modify SERPs, plus customization options.
Use the local search simulator to break out of your default desktop experience for SERP analysis:
- Research: Use GA or GSC to find out which country most of your audience is in, and what device(s) they’re using.
- In the toolbar: Choose a location (country), domain (region-specific version of Google), language and device.
- On a search engine: Search something, then click the orange search icon to open up the simulated local search in a new tab
Other features:
- Highlight results from a specific domain to make them easier to spot
- Add position numbers
- Select a specific browser, device and crawler (user-agent switcher)
- Add a skinny banner with domain and page stats* to the top or bottom of your window (Metrics bar)
Everything listed above is FREE except for “Metrics” (which are the page stats you can add as a metrics bar if you want), stuff like domain rating, keywords, organic traffic, referring pages/domains - that part’s only available if you have an Ahrefs account.
It’s available for Chrome, Firefox and Safari (but has limited functionality in Safari).
Awesome Screenshot
Awesome Screenshot is a browser extension that lives up to its name:
- Capture a selected area, full page, or the visible part of a web page
- Edit any of the above to your heart’s content: crop, zoom, resize, highlight, blur, text, pen, box, rectangle (in whatever color)
- Choose PNG or JPG
- Take/edit a video & generate a shareable link
- Easily copy/paste, download or save as PDF
- Option to have date & URL appear at top of screenshots
This is all available in the FREE version. There’s even more if you pay.
Three potential drawbacks:
- If you capture a full web page and the page is too long, it’ll split it into two images, and you won’t be able to edit them.
- There’s no keyboard shortcut for Mac. They have customizable keyboard shortcuts for Windows only.
- Only for Chrome
For situations where you need to take a screenshot using a Mac keyboard shortcut (source HTML, elements that only appear on hover, etc) use Command + Shift + 5. Preview offers basically the same editing and copy/paste/save options as Awesome Screenshot, it’s just not as user friendly.
Mobile Simulator
Mobile FIRST makes it super easy to visualize how a web page looks on the mobile device of your choice, plus it’s fully interactive.
I use it mostly for:
- Checking how a web page looks/works on a phone
- Taking screenshots of the mobile view of a page
- Editing the source HTML in mobile view
You can choose from a ton of different Android & Apple smartphones as well as tablets, Apple Watch and some laptops. Note: certain device views are only available in the paid version.
You can also:
- Take a screenshot with or without the device frame (including full-page option) right in the simulator
- Record a video
- Change the orientation
- Choose day or night mode
- Hide browser header
- Hide device frame
It works on both web pages and SERPs. You can even do searches and click in/out of mobile results.
Pro tip: if you want to inspect a page to edit as HTML, engage the mobile simulator first, then inspect the page, or you’ll erase any changes.
Possible drawbacks: Only available for Chrome, and there are display ads (but they don’t get in the way).
I’m throwing in one more bonus browser extension - it’s not my favorite, but it’s useful for very specific tasks, and I haven’t found a better one that does the same things.
GMB Everywhere
Overall, GMB Everywhere is a helpful Chrome extension for local search research, but some of its features don’t work great (or at all). But the ones that do work are worth it for how much time they save you when auditing client/competitor business listings on Google.
Love:
- Use it on Google Search or Maps
- Audit any Google Business Profile to see status, place ID, website link, categories/services, how many other profiles link to the same domain or street address, knowledge panel ID & more
- Audit Google reviews to see total number, number of reviews with photos, number of reviews over time & keyword analysis
- Category finder tool: Enter any business category and get an exhaustive list of related categories & services with estimated monthly search volume.
Don’t love:
- “Teleport” function - not sure what the point is since you can just use the extension in Google Maps
- “Post” function doesn’t work (it’s meant to audit of all the posts/updates on a listing)
- You have to create a (free) account to be able to use any of the features
- If it’s been a while since you signed in, you have to sign in again
- Limited number of audits per month
The free version is good if you occasionally audit and optimize Google Business Profiles, but if local SEO is your bread and butter you’d need to upgrade.
<div class="post-note-cute">You made it all the way to the end of the page—I’m impressed! If this list is missing your personal favorite browser extension for SEO, please send it my way (thanks in advance). If you’re having a hard time finding an extension for a specific use case, <a href="https://momenticmarketing.com/contact">drop us a line</a> and we'll help if we can. I have a bunch of other good ones installed, they just didn’t make my personal all-star lineup.</div>
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