Compare Matter and TimeOWare: Which Extension is the Best?

Matter uses AI to help you read and listen smarter—transcribe podcasts, speed up audio, and organize content for faster, more effective learning.
TimeOWare helps you track and manage your online time easily. With its simple design and easy website blocking, TimeOWare is a valuable tool for enhancing digital well-being.
Key Features
  • 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
  • Time Tracking: Easily see how much time you spend on each website.
  • Daily Usage Stats: Get a clear overview of your daily online activity.
  • Website Blocking: Block distracting sites with a simple click.
  • Privacy-Focused: No data is transmitted; everything stays on your device.
  • Open Source: Check out the code on GitHub for transparency.
Our Rating
9.0
8.5
Total users
20,000
216
Total ratings
29
3
Average rating
4.1 ⭐
5.0 ⭐
Entry Level PriceFreeFree
Chrome
Chrome Web Store logo
4.1
3.75
29 ratings
20.0K+Users
Chrome Web Store logo
5.0
5.0
3 ratings
216Users
Edge
-
-
Firefox
-
-
Safari
-
-
Features
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.

7.0

TimeOWare offers basic functions for checking the time spent on websites. These include time recording on websites, where the percentage of total time taken up by each website is displayed directly in real-time in a statistic.

statistics

Another feature is the blocking of websites. Websites can easily be blocked manually if you think that you no longer want to use this website. Here we would like to see the manual blocking of websites.

block websites

However, it lacks advanced features such as detailed analytics or customizable alerts that some users may find useful. Nevertheless, the core features are well implemented and serve the main purpose of improving digital well-being.

Performance
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.

9.0

TimeOWare works reliably, with no noticeable slowdowns or performance issues during use.
The extension runs in the background and provides real-time updates on time spent without affecting browser speed.

Design
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.

7.5

The design of TimeOWare is clear and intuitive, making it easy to find your way around immediately. All available functions can be used directly. The minimalist interface ensures that users are clearly shown which websites may pose problems for their digital well-being. In our tests, however, we found that there could be a little more customization options to adapt the displays to our own needs.

Value for Money
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.

9.0

As a completely free tool, TimeOWare offers excellent value for money as it provides essential time management features at no cost whatsoever.
The open-source nature of the extension also adds value as it allows users to review and modify the code if desired.
The only reason it doesn't get full marks is that some features offered by competitors are not yet available.

Ease of Use
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.

8.5

TimeOWare is easy to use, with little set-up time.
Once installed, it starts tracking time immediately. Likewise, the limited settings are self-explanatory and should be easy for anyone to understand.

settings

In our tests, we noticed that if several tabs are opened next to each other, they are also added up in the extension at the same time. The total number of hours is therefore higher than the actual number in the browser. This can be somewhat confusing for new users.

total time
Security & Privacy
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.

10

TimeOWare is characterized by security and privacy, as it does not transmit any user data to the outside world and all information is only stored offline on the user's device.
This privacy-focused approach is a key benefit for users who are concerned about data security. Users can also check the code used on GitHub themselves if they have any concerns.

Conclusion

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.

TimeOWare is a great choice for anyone who wants to manage their online time more effectively and realize how much time is spent on websites.

Its simple design and privacy-focused approach make it, in our opinion, a standout option in the time management space.

We felt in testing that a little more customization and even more features could further improve the extension. Overall, however, we think TimeOWare is already a valuable tool for anyone looking to improve their digital well-being.

Our Recommendation

In our comparison between Matter and TimeOWare, Matter came out on top, scoring 9.

Matter is the most widely used, with over 20k users and 29+ reviews—and it also delivered the strongest performance in our tests. User reviews for Matter reflect our findings, while we rate TimeOWare lower than users do.

Notably, TimeOWare has the highest user rating in the Chrome Web Store at 5.00, 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, TimeOWare lags behind in this area with a rating of 7.
  • Need top performance? Matter stands out with a rating of 9.2. On the other hand, TimeOWare lags behind in this area with a rating of 9.
  • Design lovers, take note: Matter stands out with a rating of 8.8. On the other hand, TimeOWare lags behind in this area with a rating of 7.5.
  • Want to get the most for your money? Matter stands out with a rating of 9.3. On the other hand, TimeOWare lags behind in this area with a rating of 9.
  • If you hate complicated tools, Matter stands out with a rating of 9. On the other hand, TimeOWare lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.5.
  • With privacy and security becoming ever more important, TimeOWare 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.