Compare Humble New Tab and Matter: Which Extension is the Best?

Humble offers a simple and customizable interface for your browser's new tab. It’s open-source, lightweight, and focuses on functionality, making it ideal for users seeking efficiency over aesthetics.
Matter uses AI to help you read and listen smarter—transcribe podcasts, speed up audio, and organize content for faster, more effective learning.
Key Features
  • Customizable Layout: Drag-and-drop functionality for easy organization.
  • Lightweight Performance: Minimal impact on system resources.
  • Open-Source: Available for tweaks and modifications.
  • Simple Design: Focuses on usability over aesthetics.
  • Cross-Browser Compatibility: Available for Chrome and Firefox.
  • AI Transcription: Convert podcasts and YouTube videos into readable text
  • Speed Listening: Listen to articles at 2x speed with natural-sounding voices
  • Service Integration: Connect with Kindle, Gmail, and popular note-taking apps
  • Content Organization: Save and categorize your reading materials efficiently
  • Cross-Platform Access: Access your content across different devices
Our Rating
8.5
9.0
Total users
20,993
20,000
Total ratings
1,220
29
Average rating
4.8 ⭐
4.1 ⭐
Entry Level PriceFreeFree
Chrome
Chrome Web Store logo
4.7
4.86
1.1K+ ratings
20.0K+Users
Chrome Web Store logo
4.1
3.75
29 ratings
20.0K+Users
Edge
-
-
Firefox
Mozilla Firefox Add-ons Store logo
4.8
4.80
130 ratings
993Users
-
Safari
-
-
Features
7.0

Humble New Tab Page shines in its simplicity and customization options. You can easily rearrange bookmarks, apps, and other elements using its intuitive drag-and-drop feature.

It’s not overloaded with unnecessary bells and whistles, which keeps it fast and efficient. However, compared to other tools, it lacks more advanced features like integrated to-do lists or news feeds.

If you’re looking for a straightforward way to manage your new tab content, it’s hard to beat. But for power users, the simplicity might feel like a limitation.

9.2

Matter's feature set is imposing, offering a comprehensive suite of tools that enhance the reading and listening experience. The AI transcription capabilities are particularly noteworthy, as they accurately convert spoken content into readable text.

text to speech

The speed listening feature with natural-sounding voices is a game-changer for consuming content efficiently. The integration options with popular services like Kindle and Gmail make it a versatile tool for content management. The regular updates and improvements show a commitment to enhancing the user experience.

Performance
10

Performance is where Humble New Tab Page really excels. It’s incredibly lightweight, ensuring that your browser’s speed isn’t compromised.

The extension loads quickly and doesn’t introduce any noticeable lag, even with multiple elements on the page. This efficiency makes it a great choice for users with older or less powerful computers.

9.2

Matter delivers reliable performance across all its features. Content processing is fast and efficient, handling various file types and formats smoothly. The sync capabilities work reliably across devices, ensuring content is always up to date. The tool uses system resources efficiently, maintaining good performance even with multiple features in use. Response times are quick, providing a snappy user experience. The stability across different platforms is impressive, though occasional minor issues may occur during heavy usage.

Design
7.0

The design of Humble New Tab Page is, well, humble. It’s clear that the focus is on function over form. While it’s not going to win any awards for aesthetics, the design is clean, uncluttered, and gets the job done. For users who value a visually rich experience, this might be a drawback.

The minimalist design is fully customizable, allowing you to change the font style, background colors, and overall layout. You can even set your own background image.

Here's a screenshot showing how easy it is to adjust the tool's appearance:

Customize the appearance of Humble New Page

So, if you prefer a simple, distraction-free workspace, this tool might be the way to go.

8.8

The interface design is clean and modern, making it easy to navigate through different features. The layout is intuitive, with a clear hierarchy that helps users find what they need quickly. The mobile-responsive design ensures a smooth experience across devices. While the design is generally excellent, there's room for improvement in some areas of the mobile interface.

Value for Money
9.5

It’s hard to argue with the value provided by a free, open-source tool that does exactly what it promises. Humble New Tab Page delivers solid performance without any hidden costs or premium upgrades.

It’s a fantastic option for users who want a customizable new tab experience without spending a dime. The only reason it doesn’t get a perfect score is that there are other free options with more features, albeit at the cost of simplicity and speed.

9.3

The free tier offers substantial value, providing access to most essential features without cost. The premium pricing is competitive compared to similar tools in the market. Regular feature updates ensure that users get ongoing value from their subscription. The cross-platform access adds significant value for users who work across multiple devices.

Ease of Use
7.5

Setting up and using Humble New Tab Page is simple. There's no need to sign up, and it provides a lightweight bookmark manager right in your new tab.

The options menu is easy to navigate, making it intuitive to customize things like fonts, colors, and spacing.

That said, it might take a bit of time to discover that you can drag and drop everything around, and not everyone may realize that you can adjust columns by right-clicking.

Once you figure this out, the drag-and-drop interface makes customization easy, even for those who aren’t tech-savvy.

However, advanced features like injecting custom CSS may be more suited for developers. Overall, though, the experience is very user-friendly.

9.0

Matter is very user-friendly, with a straightforward setup process that gets users started quickly. The controls are intuitive and well-placed, making it easy to access key features. The content organization system is logical and easy to understand. The onboarding process is helpful, guiding new users through the main features. The learning curve is minimal, allowing users to get the most out of the tool without extensive training.

Security & Privacy
10

Humble New Tab Page respects your privacy by not collecting or storing any user data, which is a significant plus in today’s digital age.

As it is open-source you can always double-check.

8.7

The tool takes security seriously, implementing robust data encryption to protect user information. The privacy-focused design ensures that user data is handled responsibly. The company maintains transparency about data handling practices through a clear privacy policy. Regular security updates help maintain a secure environment. While the security measures are solid, some users might want more control over their data sharing preferences.

Conclusion

Humble New Tab Page is a fantastic choice for users who value simplicity, speed, and customization.

While it may not offer the rich visuals or advanced features of other new tab extensions, its focus on functionality and user control makes it a standout tool. If you’re looking for a no-frills extension that just works, and you appreciate the transparency of open-source software, Humble New Tab Page is definitely worth considering.

It’s not the flashiest option, but it gets the job done.

Matter is a well-designed tool for increasing productivity. Its ability to change the way we consume content from text to speech is particularly ideal for those who need to process information quickly.

The free version offers enough functionality for casual users, while the premium features offer significant added value for power users.

Although there are some areas for improvement, Matter's core functionality and ease of use make it an excellent choice for anyone looking to enhance their reading and listening experience.

Our Recommendation

In our comparison between Humble New Tab and Matter, Matter came out on top, scoring 9.

Humble New Tab is the most widely used, with over 21k users and 1k+ reviews, but Matter outperformed it in our review. User reviews for Matter reflect our findings, while we rate Humble New Tab lower than users do.

Notably, Humble New Tab has the highest user rating in the Chrome Web Store at 4.76, which is even higher than our rating of 8.5.

In the end, the differences between these extensions are minimal, so your choice may come down to personal preference or specific features.


  • Looking for the richest feature set? Matter stands out with a rating of 9.2. On the other hand, Humble New Tab lags behind in this area with a rating of 7.
  • Need top performance? Humble New Tab stands out with a rating of 10. On the other hand, Matter lags behind in this area with a rating of 9.2.
  • Design lovers, take note: Matter stands out with a rating of 8.8. On the other hand, Humble New Tab lags behind in this area with a rating of 7.
  • Want to get the most for your money? Humble New Tab stands out with a rating of 9.5. On the other hand, Matter lags behind in this area with a rating of 9.3.
  • If you hate complicated tools, Matter stands out with a rating of 9. On the other hand, Humble New Tab lags behind in this area with a rating of 7.5.
  • With privacy and security becoming ever more important, Humble New Tab stands out with a rating of 10. On the other hand, Matter lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.7.

If you want a quick recommendation, Matter is our top pick. But as always, the best choice depends on what matters most to you.