Compare Raindrop.io and New Tab Notes: Which Extension is the Best?

Raindrop.io lets you save, organize, and access bookmarks on any device. Features include highlights, annotations, and full-text search for easy web content management.
Transform your new tab into a distraction-free notepad with New Tab Notes. Offering rich text formatting, auto-sync, and customization, it's a handy tool for seamless note-taking.
Key Features
  • Full-Text Search: Search through the entire content of saved web pages and PDFs
  • Cross-Platform Sync: Access your bookmarks from any browser or device
  • Highlighting & Annotations: Mark important parts of web pages and add notes
  • Collections & Tags: Organize content with customizable collections and smart tags
  • Permanent Library: Keep copies of web pages even if they're taken down
  • Team Collaboration: Share collections with team members or make them public
  • Rich Text Formatting: Use markdown and shortcuts for easy text styling.
  • Auto-Sync: Notes are saved and synced across devices without an account.
  • Customization: Adjust fonts, zoom, and toggle between dark/light themes.
  • Export Options: Download notes as Markdown, HTML, or plain text.
Our Rating
8.9
8.6
Total users
741,698
1,232
Total ratings
1,803
16
Average rating
4.3 ⭐
4.7 ⭐
Entry Level PriceFreeFree
Chrome
Chrome Web Store logo
4.1
4.31
735 ratings
300.0K+Users
Chrome Web Store logo
4.4
4.62
15 ratings
1.0K+Users
Edge
Microsoft Edge Store logo
4.5
4.49
44 ratings
109.7K+Users
Microsoft Edge Store logo
5.0
5.0
1 ratings
232Users
Firefox
Mozilla Firefox Add-ons Store logo
4.3
4.34
289 ratings
32.0K+Users
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Safari
-
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Features
9.0

Raindrop.io offers an exceptional set of features that go far beyond basic bookmarking. The full-text search capability is particularly impressive, allowing users to find content within saved pages. The highlighting and annotation tools are well-implemented, making it easy to mark important sections of web pages. The team collaboration features are robust, and the permanent library feature ensures you never lose access to important content. Cross-platform sync works seamlessly, and the availability of browser extensions for all major browsers and mobile apps makes it accessible everywhere. The API access for developers and custom domains for public collections add significant value for power users.

8.7

New Tab Notes offers a range of functions for quickly and effectively storing information and ideas in a structured manner. Headings are generally used to achieve a clear structure of the notes so that you can return to the notes you are looking for on the note sheet, which is always updated.

Overview

The Markdown and shortcut support are particularly worth mentioning here, as they allow users to format the notes effectively and quickly. Anyone who already has experience with Notion, for example, will find it easy to use. However, new users may miss out on this function, as the markdowns are not described again in the extension itself and must be learned on the website. A small manual at the beginning should help new users to be able to use them as well. In addition to the headings, formats such as bullet lists, numbered lists, and codes can also be embedded.

Headings

Other functions such as highlighting notes or integrating links can also be very helpful. For advanced users, a few functions may still be missing here, for example, to highlight them visually using different font colors.

links

The automatic synchronization by the browser is used by the extension to synchronize data across devices. A big difference from other competitors is that the data is not stored on separate servers. Furthermore, the saved notes can be exported in various file formats so that they can be sorted and saved elsewhere later if necessary.

export

Overall, the extension offers all the essential functions for general users to create structured notes. For advanced users, however, additional organizational tools could be beneficial.

Performance
9.0

The performance of Raindrop.io is generally excellent. Bookmark saving is fast and reliable, search results are quick, and sync works efficiently across devices. The mobile app performs well, though there's room for improvement in some areas. Resource usage is efficient, and the browser extension is stable. Page loading is quick, though users might occasionally experience sync delays. Overall, the performance is solid and reliable for daily use.

8.8

In our tests, New Tab Notes works reliably and without any significant noticeable reduction in browser performance.
When opening a new tab, the extension loads quickly and smoothly. There may be short delays with large notes that need to be synchronized, but these are hardly noticeable.
Overall, the performance should be sufficient for most basic users without any performance problems, although there could still be room for improvement for advanced users.

Design
8.0

The interface design of Raindrop.io is clean, modern, and professional. The browser extension is intuitive and easy to use, while the web interface offers a responsive design that works well on all devices. The collections view is well-organized, and the visual hierarchy helps users navigate their bookmarks efficiently. The design is consistent across different platforms, though some users might wish for more customization options. The overall aesthetic is polished and user-friendly, though there's room for improvement in terms of personalization.

8.5

The design of New Tab Notes is clean and minimalistic. It creates a distraction-free environment where you can easily take structured notes without getting distracted.
Since the design is specifically meant to be distraction-free, this is good. However, there could be a few more customization options, especially when it comes to the color design, including the notes. Overall, the design fulfills its purpose, but it does not win a beauty award.

Value for Money
9.3

Raindrop.io offers good value for money, particularly for users who need its advanced features. The free tier, while limited, is sufficient for basic bookmarking needs. The Pro plan is competitively priced, especially with the annual discount option. The comprehensive feature set justifies the cost for power users, and regular updates show ongoing development. The support is responsive and helpful.

8.7

As a free extension, New Tab Notes offers excellent value for money. For the basic user, the range of functions should be sufficient, considering that it is a free tool. For advanced users, there are still a few functions missing that other providers already have. If these were also added free of charge, the price-performance ratio would be unbeatable.

Ease of Use
8.7

Raindrop.io excels in user-friendliness. The installation process is straightforward, and the browser extension is intuitive to use. The interface is easy to understand, even for new users, and saving bookmarks is quick and efficient. The organization system is logical and straightforward, and the keyboard shortcuts are well-implemented. The onboarding experience is smooth, and features are easily discoverable. The tool manages to pack powerful features while maintaining an accessible interface.

8.5

New Tab Notes was easy to install in the test and the learning curve was very fast. Even Basic users should have no problems finding and using most of the functions straight away. However, one suggestion for improvement would be a small tutorial for new users on advanced features such as markdowns and shortcuts. Everyone who installs but doesn't see the website with instructions may not know about these features.

Security & Privacy
9.5

Security and privacy are priorities for Raindrop.io. The implementation of 256-bit encryption ensures data is well-protected during sync. The company's commitment to not selling user data is reassuring, and the private-by-default approach respects user privacy. The privacy policy is clear and transparent, and the service is GDPR compliant. Regular security updates and a secure sync process demonstrate an ongoing commitment to user security. The handling of user data is transparent and trustworthy.

8.2

New Tab Notes is an extension that stores all data exclusively via the browser. This approach is ideal for the user, as it eliminates the need for an account and reduces the risk of data breaches associated with other external cloud storage. This was apparent to us in our tests, but it is not clear whether the basic user is aware of this, as we were unable to find a privacy policy from the provider either in the store or on the website.

This would be an important point of improvement to allow every user to read the extension's guidelines.

Conclusion

Raindrop.io is a versatile and powerful bookmark manager. The successful combination of feature-rich configuration and intuitive user interface makes the tool the first choice for both occasional users and power users.

Thanks to its cross-platform availability, users have access to their bookmarks anytime and anywhere. The free version with its partially limited range of functions will be enough for many users, while the Pro plan offers excellent value for money for all others.

Particularly noteworthy is the ability to save not just links, but complete websites, supplemented by practical functions such as markers and annotations. This makes Raindrop.io ideal for both students and professionals who regularly need to organize, comment on, and archive web content.

With New Tab Notes, ideas, and information can be quickly and easily noted and saved directly in the browser without distractions.

Text formatting features such as headings and the accompanying markdowns and shortcuts make it quick and easy to write them down in a structured way. The design is very user-friendly, but the extension could still benefit from additional export options and possibly more advanced functions.

Overall, it is the perfect choice for anyone looking for a simple and effective solution to quickly save notes.

Our Recommendation

In our comparison between Raindrop.io and New Tab Notes, Raindrop.io came out on top, scoring 8.9.

Raindrop.io is the most widely used, with over 742k users and 2k+ reviews—and it also delivered the strongest performance in our tests. User reviews reflect our findings.

Notably, New Tab Notes has the highest user rating in the Chrome Web Store at 4.70, which supports its strong performance in our review.

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? Raindrop.io stands out with a rating of 9. On the other hand, New Tab Notes lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.7.
  • Need top performance? Raindrop.io stands out with a rating of 9. On the other hand, New Tab Notes lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.8.
  • Design lovers, take note: New Tab Notes stands out with a rating of 8.5. On the other hand, Raindrop.io lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.
  • Want to get the most for your money? Raindrop.io stands out with a rating of 9.3. On the other hand, New Tab Notes lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.7.
  • If you hate complicated tools, Raindrop.io stands out with a rating of 8.7. On the other hand, New Tab Notes lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.5.
  • With privacy and security becoming ever more important, Raindrop.io stands out with a rating of 9.5. On the other hand, New Tab Notes lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.2.

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