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13 browser plug-ins that will improve your web experience

With so many plugins to choose from, these are the ones you should look at first.

DESPITE THE GROWING popularity of smartphones and apps, a large proportion of our time is spent using desktop computers and browsers to get our work done or to pass the time.

With this, the popularity of browser plugins and extensions, adding additional features and services to your browser, have continued to grow in popularity, with the biggest ones like Chrome having their own stores.

While there are many to choose and download, which ones should you be looking at first. Here’s a small selection to get you started.

Disconnect

For: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera

If you’re cautious about sites tracking what you do, Disconnect is a handy way of blocking these sites and offering you more control over who sees what.

Disconnect / YouTube

Feedly
For: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera

One of the best RSS readers out there, Feedly presents articles in a magazine format, allowing you to catch up on the news. It can also act as a chronological news feed too if that works better for you.

Feedly Chrome Web Store Chrome Web Store

Click and Clean
For: Chrome, Firefox

If you want to clean your browsing history in one go (and then some), this plugin will do just that.

22535 Firefox Firefox

Duolingo
For: Chrome

The language learning app also has a plugin and it’s just as good as the mobile version. Using the same methods as the app, it’s a handy way of quickly brushing up on a new language when you have five minutes to spare.

Duolingo Chrome Web Store Chrome Web Store

Pocket
For: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer (bookmarklet)

An essential plugin (and app) for those who find interesting articles, but want to read them later.

Pocket Chrome Web Store Chrome Web Store

TooManyTabs
For: Chrome, Firefox

If you have, em, too many tabs open, this plugin will help you manage them and ensure you’re not left overwhelmed looking for specific pages.

visibotech / YouTube

Lazarus
For: Chrome, Firefox, Safari

If you’re working on a document or filling out a long form and your browser crashes, Lazurus is able to restore your work so you don’t have to go through the whole process again.

32000 Firefox Firefox

Flashblock
For: Chrome, Firefox

If you find your browser slowing down or crashing because of flash, downloading this will disable all flash content on a page.

Flashblock Chrome Web Store Chrome Web Store

Ghostery
For: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera

Another essential plugin for those who are concerned about their privacy online, Ghostery shows you who’s tracking your activity and gives you more info about them, and telling you how to opt-out or block what they’re doing.

GhosteryVideo / YouTube

LastPass
For: Chrome, Firefox

This password manager remembers everything for you. All you need is one master password and LastPass will allow you to access any accounts that require signing in to.

LastPass Password Manager / YouTube

Google Dictionary
For: Chrome

Instead of having to use Google’s address bar to figure out what a word means, Google Dictionary gives you the definition any time you double-click on a word.

Google dictionary Chrome Web Store Chrome Web Store

DownThemAll
For: Firefox

DownThemAll is essential for those who want to download everything they see from a web page. The plugin presents you with links, images and other content and lets you download them all or a selection.

Screen Shot 2014-07-13 at 12.22.11 Firefox Firefox

PanicButton
For: Chrome, Firefox

One the off-chance that you need to close all tabs immediately, PanicButton hides all of them in one fell swoop, and saves them as bookmarks. When the coast is clear, clicking it again will restore everything.

Screen Shot 2014-07-13 at 12.20.37 Chrome Web Store Chrome Web Store

Read: Here’s what happens every five seconds on the internet >

Read: These 17 web tools will improve your productivity >

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