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

	Screencastify	Humble New Tab
	Screencastify is a popular Chrome extension for screen recording. It offers a range of features but has shifted many basic functionalities behind a paywall, affecting its overall value. Productivity	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. New Tab Open Source
Key Features	Record Desktop, Browser Tab, and Webcam: Capture any part of your screen. Edit Video: Trim, merge, and add text directly from your browser. Share Easily: Export as MP4, GIF, or MP3, and share via Google Drive or Classroom. Interactive Questions: Add questions to videos to engage viewers. Annotations: Draw on your screen in real-time to highlight key points. Captions: Add captions in multiple languages to make videos accessible.	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.
Our Rating	7.8	8.5
Total users	6,000,000	20,993
Total ratings	11,733	1,220
Average rating	4.0 ⭐	4.8 ⭐
Entry Level Price	Free	Free
Chrome	4.0 11.7K+ ratings 6.0M+Users	4.7 1.1K+ ratings 20.0K+Users
Edge	-	-
Firefox	-	4.8 130 ratings 993Users
Safari	-	-
Features	8.8 Screencastify offers a robust set of features, including screen and webcam recording, video editing and interactive questions. Leaving aside the fact that many features are only available for a fee, it's fair to say that it offers a lot of features. While recording, you can easily add spotlights and draw on the screen. The drawing tools offer a nice range of options, so you should have everything you need: The subsequent editor also offers many functions where you can cut the video to your needs. Here is what the basic editor looks like: It recently also added an AI feature that automatically adds captions, transcripts, titles, and descriptions. Furthermore, Screencastify offers another video editor when clicking "Edit Video" in the top right corner. This will open up another editor where you can do some more video editing. Here is how it looks like: In our opinion, this editor isn’t necessary if you already have your own video editing software, but it could be useful for some people. We’re not entirely sure if this is just an older version of the original editor. However, we did discover that you can export videos to MP4 for free, thanks to an "Export" button that lets you do so without any limitations. We’re not certain if this is intentional, but at least it works for us.	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.
Performance	7.5 The speed has deteriorated considerably with the latest updates. This is probably because more and more functions, such as the AI function, are being added. The tool has become slower, and creating links or accessing older videos takes longer than before. Many users have also complained about the performance in the reviews.	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.
Design	9.0 The design is intuitive and user-friendly. We think that navigation is very intuitive despite the many functions.	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: So, if you prefer a simple, distraction-free workspace, this tool might be the way to go.
Value for Money	5.0 As already mentioned, we are somewhat shocked by the limitations of the free version. Especially if you have used the app in the past and can export videos for free. In addition, even with the starter package for $7, you are limited to 10 exports. We find that many other providers offer much more for the 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.
Ease of Use	8.5 Screencastify is easy to use, with a minimal learning curve. Even beginners can quickly get the hang of it. However, we find that recent updates have introduced some complexities that are not absolutely necessary for a screen recorder.	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.
Security & Privacy	8.0 Unfortunately, an account is required, which in our opinion is not necessary for Screen recorder. However, Screencastify's privacy policy is very comprehensive and complies with standard data protection practices, including compliance with the GDPR and PCI-DSS certification for payment data. Screencastify takes reasonable security measures but, like all online services, cannot guarantee absolute protection.	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.
Conclusion	Screencastify was a fantastic tool in the past, and we used to use it daily. Unfortunately, recent updates have made it less user-friendly by hiding key features behind a paywall. For people who need a wide range of features, the tool is still an option. For others who just want to make a recording every now and then to export a video, Screencastify is unfortunately no longer an option.	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.
	Install Screencastify	Install Humble New Tab
Our Recommendation	In our comparison between Screencastify and Humble New Tab, Humble New Tab came out on top, scoring 8.5. Screencastify is the most widely used, with over 6 million users and 12k+ reviews, but Humble New Tab outperformed it in our review. User reviews for Screencastify 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. There are some noticeable differences between these extensions, so it's worth considering your priorities and the details below. Looking for the richest feature set? Screencastify 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. Need top performance? Humble New Tab stands out with a rating of 10. On the other hand, Screencastify lags behind in this area with a rating of 7.5. Design lovers, take note: Screencastify stands out with a rating of 9. 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, Screencastify lags behind in this area with a rating of 5. If you hate complicated tools, Screencastify stands out with a rating of 8.5. 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, Screencastify lags behind in this area with a rating of 8. 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.