Compare Tab Notes and TimeOWare: Which Extension is the Best?

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.
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
  • 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
  • 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
7.9
8.5
Total users
1,459
216
Total ratings
40
3
Average rating
4.8 ⭐
5.0 ⭐
Entry Level PriceFreeFree
Chrome
Chrome Web Store logo
5.0
5.0
7 ratings
1.0K+Users
Chrome Web Store logo
5.0
5.0
3 ratings
216Users
Edge
-
-
Firefox
Mozilla Firefox Add-ons Store logo
4.6
4.64
33 ratings
459Users
-
Safari
-
-
Features
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.

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
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.

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
8.0

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.

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
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.

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
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.

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
8.5

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.

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

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.

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 Tab Notes and TimeOWare, TimeOWare came out on top, scoring 8.5.

Tab Notes is the most widely used, with over 1k users and 40+ reviews, but TimeOWare outperformed it in our review. We rate Tab Notes and 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.

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: Tab Notes and TimeOWare. In the Features category, Tab Notes has scored an average 7. It offers a basic set of features, but may be lacking in advanced functionality.
  • Need top performance? TimeOWare stands out with a rating of 9. 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, TimeOWare lags behind in this area with a rating of 7.5.
  • Want to get the most for your money? TimeOWare stands out with a rating of 9. On the other hand, Tab Notes lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.
  • If you hate complicated tools, TimeOWare stands out with a rating of 8.5. On the other hand, Tab Notes lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.2.
  • With privacy and security becoming ever more important, TimeOWare 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, TimeOWare is our top pick. But as always, the best choice depends on what matters most to you.