Try the Fastest Chrome Extension for Notes
Speed matters. Simplicity matters. Quick Note Tab delivers both. No signup. Just notes.
10 Best Chrome Extensions for Notes (2025)
Quick Comparison Table
| Extension | Best For | Price | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Tab Notes | Rich text formatting | Free | Full markdown support |
| nuTab | Notes + Favorite links | Free | Combined notepad & bookmarks |
| Quick Note Tab | Speed & privacy | Free | Instant new tab access |
| LunaNotes | YouTube learning | Free / Paid | AI-powered YouTube notes |
| Tactiq | Meeting transcription | Free / Paid | AI meeting notes & summaries |
| Fleeting Notes | Obsidian users | Free | Quick capture → Obsidian sync |
| Sticky Notes Extension | Visual organizers | Free | Drag-and-drop sticky notes |
| Gmail Notes | Email management | Free | Notes attached to emails |
| GoodPlan | Daily journaling | Free | Date-organized notes + tasks |
| Notes for Google Drive | Google ecosystem users | Free | Auto-sync with Google Drive |
New Tab Notes - Best for Rich Text Formatting
What it does:
Opens a notepad in every new tab. Type markdown. It formats as you type. Bold, italic, headings, lists, code blocks. Text shortcuts insert dates and times. Notes sync through the browser. No account needed.
Pros:
- ✓ Full markdown support with auto-formatting
- ✓ Extensive keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl+B, Ctrl+I, etc.)
- ✓ Export to Markdown, HTML, or plain text
- ✓ Smart text shortcuts (:date:, :time:, emojis)
- ✓ Auto-formats copied text from websites
- ✓ Dark/Light themes with customizable fonts
Cons:
- ✗ Replaces new tab page (not optional sidebar)
- ✗ Learning curve for markdown syntax
- ✗ More complex than simple plain text editors
Best for: Writers who draft content in the browser. Developers who write documentation. Anyone who exports notes to other formats.
Not great for: Simple text capture. Replaces the new tab page. If you want plain text only, look elsewhere.
Price: Free
nuTab - Best for Notes + Favorite Links
What it does:
Notes at the top. Bookmarks at the bottom. One new tab for both. Markdown works. Keyboard shortcuts work. Data stays on the device.
Pros:
- ✓ Dual functionality: notes AND favorite links in one place
- ✓ Rich text formatting with markdown support
- ✓ Export notes to markdown format
- ✓ Beautiful dark/light themes
- ✓ Fast loading - optimized for speed
- ✓ Privacy-focused: data saved locally only
Cons:
- ✗ Larger file size (1.39MB vs competitors' ~50KB)
- ✗ Smaller user base (1,000 users)
- ✗ Replaces new tab page (not optional)
Best for: People who save links while writing notes. Need both in one place.
Not great for: Minimal file size fans. Those with existing bookmark managers.
Price: Free
Quick Note Tab - Best for Lightning-Fast Capture
What it does:
Quick Note Tab opens a notepad in new tabs. Start typing immediately. No clicks. No menus. Notes save automatically. Data stays on the device.
Pros:
- ✓ Fastest time-to-first-character (literally instant)
- ✓ Privacy-first: local storage only, no cloud sync
- ✓ Lightweight: <50KB, won't slow the browser
- ✓ Free forever, no upsells or premium tiers
Cons:
- ✗ No sync between devices (by design for privacy)
- ✗ Plain text only (no formatting, images, embeds)
- ✗ No mobile app (Chrome desktop only)
Best for: Quick capture. Instant access. No setup time. Privacy matters more than features.
Not great for: Rich formatting. Mobile apps. Team collaboration. Look at New Tab Notes or nuTab for those.
Price: Free
LunaNotes - Best for YouTube Learning
What it does:
Works inside YouTube. Video pauses when you type. Notes link to timestamps. AI writes summaries. Creates diagrams and flashcards. Web app included.
Pros:
- ✓ Auto-pause YouTube when typing (never miss content)
- ✓ AI-generated summaries and structured notes
- ✓ Timestamped notes linked to video moments
- ✓ Visual diagrams and flashcards from notes
- ✓ Screenshot capture with annotations
- ✓ Cross-platform sync (web app + extension)
Cons:
- ✗ Requires account (no local-only option)
- ✗ AI features limited by credits (100/month free)
- ✗ Paid plans for heavy usage ($4.99-9.99/month)
- ✗ Only works inside YouTube (not new tab notepad)
Best for: Online learning. YouTube courses. Video tutorials. Need AI summaries and study materials.
Not great for: General notes outside YouTube. Local storage fans. No account needed elsewhere.
Price: Free (100 AI credits/month), Starter $4.99/month (1,000 credits), Plus $9.99/month (10,000 credits)
Tactiq - Best for Meeting Transcription
What it does:
Transcribes meetings in real-time. No bot joins. Works with Meet, Zoom, Teams. GPT-4 writes summaries. Extracts action items. Exports to Docs, Notion, Slack, PDF. Updates CRMs automatically.
Pros:
- ✓ Massive user base (1,000,000+ users, Featured)
- ✓ No-bot transcription (no interruptions in meetings)
- ✓ Real-time transcription with GPT-4 summaries
- ✓ Works with Meet, Zoom, and Teams
- ✓ Enterprise-grade security (SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA)
- ✓ Rich integrations (Notion, Slack, HubSpot, etc.)
Cons:
- ✗ Meeting-specific only (not for general notes)
- ✗ Requires account sign-up
- ✗ Paid plans for advanced features
- ✗ Large file size (2.1MB)
Best for: Sales calls. Customer meetings. Remote teams. Daily video conferences.
Not great for: General browsing. Few meetings. Browser note-taking outside calls.
Price: Free (basic transcription), Pro plans available for AI features and integrations
Fleeting Notes - Best for Obsidian Integration
What it does:
Quick capture for Obsidian users. Notes sync to Obsidian vault. Works offline. End-to-end encrypted. Bi-directional links. Mobile widgets. Open source.
Pros:
- ✓ Seamless Obsidian sync (dedicated plugin)
- ✓ Offline-first design (works without internet)
- ✓ End-to-end encryption (privacy guaranteed)
- ✓ Open source (transparent code)
- ✓ Bi-directional linking with backlinks
- ✓ Cross-platform (web, mobile, extension)
Cons:
- ✗ Requires Obsidian (not standalone)
- ✗ Learning curve for Obsidian ecosystem
- ✗ Smaller user base (20,000 users)
- ✗ Less frequent updates (last update Oct 2023)
Best for: Obsidian users. PKM builders. Already invested in Obsidian ecosystem.
Not great for: Standalone note-taking. Value depends entirely on Obsidian. Useless without it.
Price: Free
Sticky Notes Extension - Best for Visual Note Organization
What it does:
Visual sticky notes board. Drag notes anywhere on screen. Voice dictation works. Digital clock included. Bing search bar. No account needed.
Pros:
- ✓ Visual spatial organization (drag notes anywhere)
- ✓ Voice dictation for hands-free input
- ✓ Lightweight (565KB - smallest on this list!)
- ✓ No account required
- ✓ Digital clock widget built-in
Cons:
- ✗ Low rating (2.6/5 - lowest on this list)
- ✗ Very small user base (559 users)
- ✗ Limited reviews (5 ratings only)
- ✗ Replaces new tab with Bing search (mandatory)
- ✗ No updates since August 2023
Best for: Visual organization. Spatial thinkers. Voice dictation users. Like physical sticky notes on desk.
Not great for: Reliability seekers. 2.6/5 rating is a red flag. Tiny user base. Better options exist.
Price: Free
Gmail Notes - Best for Email-Specific Notes
What it does:
Attaches notes to Gmail conversations. Color-coded stickers. Central dashboard. Search works. Navigate to emails. Good for templates.
Pros:
- ✓ Deeply integrated into Gmail interface
- ✓ Multiple notes per email conversation
- ✓ Color-coded notes (visual organization)
- ✓ Central dashboard with search functionality
- ✓ Navigate directly to related email threads
- ✓ Perfect for customer service templates
Cons:
- ✗ Gmail-only (not for general note-taking)
- ✗ Very small user base (150 users)
- ✗ Limited reviews (4 ratings)
- ✗ Large file size (2.88MB)
Best for: Customer service reps. Email template managers. Project managers tracking threads. Live in Gmail.
Not great for: General notes. Outside Gmail useless. Don't live in inbox.
Price: Free
GoodPlan - Best for Daily Journaling & Planning
What it does:
Daily journal in new tab. Each day gets a page. Daily notes left. Permanent notes right. Tasks roll over to next day if unfinished. Weekly view available. Dark theme 9PM-8AM.
Pros:
- ✓ Date-specific organization (automatic daily pages)
- ✓ Dual system: daily + permanent notes side-by-side
- ✓ Smart task rollover (unfinished → next day)
- ✓ Google Calendar integration
- ✓ Quick-add text from websites (context menu)
- ✓ No account required, keyboard accessible
Cons:
- ✗ Very large file size (3.38MB - heaviest on this list)
- ✗ Replaces new tab (not optional)
- ✗ Complex interface (learning curve for features)
- ✗ Smaller user base (7,000 users)
Best for: Daily journaling. Habit tracking. Task planning with rollover. Write daily reflections.
Not great for: Quick capture. Minimal interfaces. 3.38MB is heavy. Feature-rich means complex.
Price: Free
Notes for Google Drive - Best for Cloud Backup
What it does:
Saves notes to Google Drive as you type. Syncs across devices. Auto-generates titles from first line. Drag to reorder. Text formatting works. Access Drive folder directly.
Pros:
- ✓ Automatic Google Drive sync (instant cloud backup)
- ✓ Large user base (50,000+ users, 1.1K reviews)
- ✓ Featured badge and 4.7/5 rating
- ✓ Multilingual support (54 languages)
- ✓ Text formatting (bold, italic, lists)
- ✓ Drag and drop note reordering
Cons:
- ✗ Requires Google account (mandatory sign-in)
- ✗ Notes stored in cloud (not for privacy purists)
- ✗ Larger file size (1.05MB)
- ✗ Dependent on Google Drive availability
Best for: Google ecosystem users. Automatic cloud backup. Switch devices often. Need notes everywhere.
Not great for: Privacy purists. Local storage only. No Google account.
Price: Free
Quick Comparison: Which Extension is Right for You?
Choose Quick Note Tab if:
- ⚡ Speed matters most
- 🔒 Privacy over cloud sync
- 🎯 Plain text is enough
- 🪶 Lightweight matters (<50KB)
Choose New Tab Notes or nuTab if:
- 📝 Need rich formatting
- ✍️ Draft content in browser
- 📤 Export to other formats
- 🔖 Want bookmarks too (nuTab)
Choose Tactiq or LunaNotes if:
- 🎥 Attend many meetings
- 🤖 Want AI summaries
- ⏱️ Need timestamps
- 📊 Work remote
Choose Notes for Google Drive or Fleeting Notes if:
- ☁️ Need cloud backup
- 🔗 Use Obsidian (Fleeting)
- 🌐 Switch devices often
- 🔐 Account sign-in okay
Choose GoodPlan or Gmail Notes if:
- 📅 Journal daily (GoodPlan)
- 📧 Live in Gmail (Gmail Notes)
- ✅ Manage tasks
- 🎨 Like structure
FAQ: Chrome Extensions for Notes
Which Chrome extension is best for taking notes?
Depends on use case. Quick Note Tab for speed. New Tab Notes for formatting. Tactiq for meetings. LunaNotes for YouTube. Pick what fits.
Are note-taking Chrome extensions safe?
Check privacy policies. Quick Note Tab stores locally. New Tab Notes stores locally. Tactiq and LunaNotes use cloud. Notes for Google Drive needs Google account.
Can Chrome note extensions work offline?
Some can. Quick Note Tab works offline. New Tab Notes works offline. Fleeting Notes works offline. Cloud-based ones need internet for sync.
Do I need to create an account?
Not always. Quick Note Tab needs no account. New Tab Notes needs no account. Tactiq needs account. LunaNotes needs account. Notes for Google Drive needs Google account.
Which extension is fastest for quick capture?
Quick Note Tab opens with new tab. Instant access. No clicks needed. Others require clicking icons or opening apps.
For more questions about Quick Note Tab specifically, visit our full FAQ page.