Session Buddy alternatives
By default, Session Buddy keeps your saved tabs in files on your device. If you want the same job, pick Tab Session Manager: free, open source, with automatic saving. For a simpler local list, pick OneTab. For project organization with an account, pick Toby or Workona. For automatic cleanup instead of saving, pick Tab Wrangler.
Why do people leave Session Buddy?
The vendor's own pages give two reasons. It says version 3 is going to stop working, and version 4 replaces the Web SQL Database that version 3 used. It also says automatic data transfer is no longer possible after Chrome v124, and it offers a migration tool. By default data stays only on your device, so back up often.
We list only what the vendor states. See our Is Session Buddy safe? check.
Session Buddy and its alternatives at a glance
| Extension | How it handles tabs | Account needed | Open source | Where data lives | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Session Buddy | Saves open tabs into collections | No | Not stated | Files on your device by default | Local sessions you back up yourself |
| Tab Session Manager | Saves sessions manually or automatically | Not stated | Yes (MPL-2.0) | Not stated | The closest free match |
| OneTab | One list of your open tabs | No | Not stated | Local browser storage | Simple and local |
| Toby | Collections and spaces, side-panel view | Yes | Not stated | Toby's servers | Organizing tabs by project |
| Workona | Project spaces with tab suspension | Not stated | Not stated | Cloud, per the vendor | Spaces with cloud sync |
| Tab Wrangler | Closes idle tabs into a searchable Tab Corral | Not stated | Yes (GPL-3.0) | Locally in the browser | Automatic cleanup |
What is the closest alternative to Session Buddy?
Tab Session Manager. It is a free, open-source session saver under MPL-2.0. It saves manually or automatically, saves all windows or just the current one, and exports sessions. It uses Chrome's Manifest V3 and its shortcut is Ctrl+Shift+L. Check its privacy policy before you rely on it, as we have not read it.
What is the simplest Session Buddy alternative?
OneTab. One click moves your tabs into a single list you can restore later. Its privacy page says tab info is not sent to the OneTab developers or anyone else, apart from lists you share as a web page. The trade-off is a flat list, not a project organizer. See OneTab vs Session Buddy.
Which Session Buddy alternative organizes tabs by project?
Toby or Workona, if you accept an account. Toby keeps saved tabs in collections and spaces, but needs an account and stores your tabs on its servers. Workona's pages describe project spaces with automatic cloud save and sync; those are vendor claims, and we could not confirm its account rules. See Toby vs Session Buddy.
Which Session Buddy alternative cleans up tabs automatically?
Tab Wrangler. It is not a manual session saver. It closes tabs that sit idle (one hour by default), keeps them in a searchable Tab Corral, and never closes pinned tabs or tabs playing audio. Its README says it has no tracking, no analytics and no advertisements. It restores the latest 25 closed tabs with scroll position, a browser limit.
What if I only need backups or memory?
The Marvellous Suspender suspends idle tabs to free memory, and since version 9.0.0 it also has scheduled session backup and restore, with optional Google Drive link. The Marvellous Suspender asks for a long list of permissions, so read them first. Auto Tab Discard frees memory only.
FAQ
Should I stay on Session Buddy?
If it works for you, yes. By default its data stays on your device and it needs no account. Back up often, as the vendor advises.
Does any alternative sync across devices?
Workona says it does, in its own pages. Session Buddy keeps data on your device by default, and version 4.2.0 adds optional premium cloud collections, which we did not test.
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All six are third-party extensions, not built by Xplorekit. We don't show ratings or user counts because we can't verify them.