Compare Humble New Tab and Tab Notes: 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.
Tab Notes lets you jot down notes right in your browser tabs. It's got an easy-to-use interface and works smoothly, making it a great tool for anyone looking to boost their productivity.
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.
  • In-Browser Note-Taking: Tab Notes excels in allowing users to take notes directly within their browser, eliminating the need to switch between applications.
  • Synchronization: The ability to sync notes across multiple devices ensures that users have access to their notes wherever they go, though this feature is limited to the premium version.
  • Customizable Interface: While the interface is clean and user-friendly, it offers limited customization options, which could be expanded to enhance user experience.
  • Open Source: The code can be read in full on GitHub
Our Rating
8.5
7.9
Total users
20,993
1,459
Total ratings
1,220
40
Average rating
4.8 ⭐
4.8 ⭐
Entry Level PriceFreeFree
Chrome
Chrome Web Store logo
4.7
4.86
1.1K+ ratings
20.0K+Users
Chrome Web Store logo
5.0
5.0
7 ratings
1.0K+Users
Edge
-
-
Firefox
Mozilla Firefox Add-ons Store logo
4.8
4.80
130 ratings
993Users
Mozilla Firefox Add-ons Store logo
4.6
4.64
33 ratings
459Users
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.

7.0

In our tests, the functions of Tab Notes proved to be ideal for quickly creating notes directly in the browser. If you need to develop ideas or jot down information quickly while browsing, you don't have to jump back and forth between apps.

notes

Notes can be synchronized across different devices with GitHub gists to keep everything in one place.

There is a dark and light mode function, but we would like to see more customization options here.

The option to access your notes offline can also be an advantage. This also includes the export function, where the notes are exported as a text file.

txt

Functions such as “Customize: Edit font, font size and more” and “Styled text: Make your text bold, italicized or underlined.” are listed as features on Github. These were not found in our tests in the extension on Chrome and Firefox. We feel that this function is important to be able to structure the notes a little, which would further improve the extension.

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.

7.5

In terms of performance, Tab Notes is fast and responsive. It doesn't take up any resources, so your browser runs smoothly. Only the settings selection page didn't work for us. Selected options could not be saved here.

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.

8.0

The user interface is very clear and easy to use. We had no problems finding my way around and using the tool. In our test, we noticed that we would like to see a few more themes and color options. The layout is intentionally simple to minimize distractions, but it would be important to have different layout options for the font.

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.

8.0

The price-performance ratio of Tab Notes is fine. The extension is completely free. Compared to other free tools, however, the functions and customization options are somewhat limited. However, if you are looking for a simple extension for short notes without any frills, you will find it here.

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.

8.2

We found Tab Notes to be super easy to use. Installation and subsequent navigation is a breeze, and you can get started straight away without needing a manual. Due to the small number of functions, it is suitable for anyone, no matter how tech-savvy they are, to take simple notes. Only the non-functioning of the settings page can confuse new users.

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.

8.5

Tab Notes uses standard encryption to protect your data. Advanced security options are not available. The privacy policy is also kept very simple and does not provide detailed information about data management. In general, the basic security and data protection guidelines are adhered to, but in our opinion they could be presented in more detail.

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.

Tab Notes is a good tool for anyone who wants to write down ideas as a note as quickly as possible without having to sort them out too much.

Its intuitive and simple design increases productivity by reducing distractions when you just want to make a quick note. It could still be improved in areas such as customization and the number of features.

Overall, it's worth considering for anyone who wants to quickly collect notes and possibly sort them into another application later.

Our Recommendation

In our comparison between Humble New Tab and Tab Notes, Humble New Tab came out on top, scoring 8.5.

Humble New Tab is the most widely used, with over 21k users and 1k+ reviews—and it also delivered the strongest performance in our tests. We rate Humble New Tab and Tab Notes lower than users do.

Notably, Tab Notes has the highest user rating in the Chrome Web Store at 4.80, which is even higher than our rating of 7.9.

There are some noticeable differences between these extensions, so it's worth considering your priorities and the details below.


  • Can't decide on features? It's a close call: Humble New Tab and Tab Notes. In the Features category, Humble New Tab has scored an average 7. It offers a basic set of features, but may be lacking in advanced functionality.
  • Need top performance? Humble New Tab stands out with a rating of 10. On the other hand, Tab Notes lags behind in this area with a rating of 7.5.
  • Design lovers, take note: Tab Notes stands out with a rating of 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, Tab Notes lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.
  • If you hate complicated tools, Tab Notes stands out with a rating of 8.2. 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, Tab Notes lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.5.

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