Best Google Chrome Extensions for Designers

It’s no secret that Chrome has become one of the most popular browsers. The ability to add extensions & cool features is life-changing for business owners and especially designers. I’ve found the best ones that I have to share with you! These are the Google Chrome extensions I use every day and there’s no harm in trying them out as they are free & easily removable. Here are my top Chrome extensions that I use as a small business owner & website designer.

My Favorite Chrome Extensions

1. GoFullPage

My go-to extension for capturing full-screen captures of my website creations. You can take a full-page screenshot of your current window and you can download it as an image or PDF. I use this every day in order to create my web design mockups and promote my work.

2. WhatFont

Ever go on a website and want to know what font they used on their website? I use this extension ALL the time. If you’re a designer like me, you probably spend way too much money & time trying to find new and stunning fonts. WhatFont allows you to identify any font on a website you’re loving. After clicking the extension button, you can hover over any font and it will let you know the font name, style, weight and size!

3. ColorZilla

Similar to WhatFont but for colours! If you find a colour scheme you like from a website or image, you can easily hover over the area with their eyedropper and you’ll get all of the details of the colour similar to Photoshop. The HEX code will copy itself for you to paste anywhere. I use ColorZilla a lot on Pinterest if I’m wanting exact colours for a website or brand project.

4. Wappalyzer

The best way to creep on your competitors and see what they’re using 😉 Ever go on a website and wonder what it was built on? Not sure if it’s with Shopify, Squarespace, Wix, etc? Wappalyzer shows you what CMS a website using as well as any marketing tools and technology they use on their website.

I’m using Rare Beauty as an example, as I love Selena’s brand website. I can see by analyzing her website that she uses Shopify to edit her website; she uses Zendesk for CSM and Live Chat, and Klaviyo for Marketing. If I were looking to start a makeup brand and were inspired by this brand, I would see what tools could help me grow my business in a similar industry.

5. Unsplash for Chrome

I don’t like having too many tabs open, and this happens a lot when searching for stock photos for my clients. Unsplash made it very easy to quickly search for photos from any page. Completely free to use! Simply input your keyword and choose from their selection of free stock photos. This allows me to see the images on the same tab that I’m designing and visualize which image looks best for that design.

6. Loom

For every custom client I work with, I always provide a screen-share video walking them through their website in progress and also their walkthrough tutorial. Loom is what I use for video messaging and sharing these videos, and my clients LOVE it.

With Loom, you can record your screen, voice and face and share it via email. What I love most about Loom is the ability for my clients to leave comments and emojis if they have questions or feedback during the video. I’m able to create folders for each client to access any tutorials or videos I’ve filmed for them.

7. Squarespace ID Finder

This Google Chrome extension is perfect for anyone using Squarespace. This allows you to find IDs for collections, sections and more for editing your website’s code. No more wasting time inspect through the website code to find the ID you’re looking for! It works on both 7.0 and 7.1 and I use it every time I have a Squarespace client.

8. Last Pass

I don’t know about you, but I constantly worry about security for my business and clients. LastPass is a password manager that generates/saves unique passwords and gives you secure access from your devices. I use LastPass for all of my passwords and other confidential information.

It lets you know if you have any weak or reused passwords to improve your security, and will alert you if your information is at risk. Now you can securely share your password with loved ones, always remember those tough SDAKSD@-1231 type passwords and it auto-fills for every site you visit. Protect yourself & your business!

9. Window Resizer

This extension is very popular amongst designers and developers! With Window Resizer, you can re-size the browser’s window to test your layout on different screen sizes. If you want to know what your website looks like through a mobile or tablet size, this is an easier way to do it.

10. Infinite Dashboard

This is the first thing that pops up when I open my browser! Instead of starting up to a boring typical page, they allow you to have everything you need on one tab. Install custom wallpaper, add a search bar connected to your preferred search engine, and have access to great futures. You can add custom bookmarks, apps, games, write notes/to-do lists and so much more.

11. CSSViewer

CSSViewer is a great extension for front-end developers or anyone wanting to know the styling of a website. It shows you the font, colour, positioning and everything else about the section you clicked on! This saves time compared to inspecting and trying to find a code.

Visit the Chrome Store!

There are thousands of other options for you to try out, and there are Google Chrome extensions out there for any type of industry. They are all free to use & easily removable if you end up not liking it. Give them a try on the Chrome Web Store!