Why it's a strong pick

Vue.js devtools lives in the official vuejs organization on GitHub, and it is open source under the MIT license. It uses Manifest V3, Chrome's current extension format. The repo was updated in October 2026. The last non-beta release in its feed is v8.2.1, from July 2026.

What it does

Vue.js devtools is a DevTools browser extension for Vue.js. It adds a panel to Chrome DevTools, so you can debug a Vue app where you already inspect pages. The docs say version 7 and later support Vue 3 only.

Key features

DevTools panel. Vue tools sit inside Chrome DevTools.
Built for Vue 3. Version 7 and later target Vue 3 apps.
Official repo. The code is public in the vuejs organization.
Open source. It uses the MIT license.
Manifest V3. It uses a service worker, as Chrome now expects.

Who it's for

Vue.js devtools is for developers building Vue 3 apps. If your app still runs Vue 2, this is the wrong pick. The docs point Vue 2 users to an older extension, v6.

What permissions does Vue.js devtools ask for?

The manifest on the repo's main branch asks for scripting and access to all sites. It runs two content scripts on all pages at document start, one in the page's own context. It also lists web-accessible resources. The store build may differ from this branch. We could not read the developer's privacy policy when we checked; read it before installing.

Can I use it with Vue 2?

Not this one. The docs say version 7 and later support Vue 3 only. For a Vue 2 app, install the v6 extension that the Vue docs link to. The docs also say to remove or disable older versions before you install a new one, so two copies do not clash.

Why does it need access to all sites?

The manifest runs content scripts on every page at document start. That lets the extension find Vue on any site you open. It is broad access that comes with the job. If you only debug one local app, review this access in Chrome's extension settings before you install, and decide whether you are comfortable with it.

FAQ

Is it open source? Yes, under the MIT license.

Does it work with Vue 2? No. Use the v6 extension from the Vue docs.

Is there a beta? The repo's main branch is working on version 9 beta. We cannot say what the store build includes, so check the listing.

Good to know

Before you install, remove or disable any older Vue devtools. The docs say to do this. Then reload your app and reopen DevTools.

Other developer tools to compare

Vue.js devtools is one of 13 picks in our developer tools guide:

Redux DevTools: debug Redux state.
Apollo Client Devtools: inspect Apollo Client apps.
Preact Developer Tools: inspect Preact components.
Lighthouse: audit page speed and quality.
JSON Formatter: read JSON responses.
React Developer Tools: inspect React components.
Requestly: Open-source HTTP interceptor: redirect URLs, modify headers and mock requests while you test.
Solid DevTools: debug SolidJS reactivity.
Ember Inspector: inspect Ember.js apps.
MobX Developer Tools: debug MobX apps.
Refined GitHub: Simplifies GitHub and adds 100+ small improvements for repos and pull requests. Works on GitHub.com only. Open source.
Header Editor: Rewrites request and response headers, redirects and blocks requests with rules you set. The Chrome build is the Lite version. Open source.