Are you tired of constantly battling typos, grammar errors, and a lack of inspiration while writing online?
If so, then you may be interested in exploring the world of Chrome writing extensions. These handy tools are designed to help writers of all levels improve their writing process, efficiency, and accuracy.
In this article, we'll discuss what the best writing extensions for the Chrome browser are, their key features, and benefits.
Let’s get started!
Disclosure: Although I receive affiliate compensation at no additional cost to you to support this site that compensation in no way influences my recommendations, which are strictly informed by my 10+ years of online business experience consulting for clients large and small. My aim is to always recommend tools that offer the best return for your investment (for more details, read my Affiliate Disclosure).
What Are Chrome Writing Extensions?
Writing extensions are plugins that can be added to the Google Chrome browser to enhance your content creation workflow.
These extensions provide value-added features, tools, and functionalities to improve your overall writing experience.
They range from simple grammar and spelling checkers to advanced writing tools with features such as outlining, distraction-free modes, and more.
When it comes to cost, while Google Chrome extensions are free of charge in and of themselves, their sponsoring platforms may require you to carry a paid account for the extension to work properly.
How Do Chrome Writing Extensions Work?
Chrome writing extensions are installed directly onto the Google Chrome browser, providing easy access to their features and functionalities from within browser-based apps.
They can be added to any web page where text can be entered, such as an email client, online document editor, or even social media platforms provided you’re accessing them from your laptop or desktop computer (Chrome extensions do not work on mobile devices.)
Chrome writing extensions are designed to automatically provide suggestions and corrections while you write, improving your overall writing process.
Types of Chrome Writing Extensions
Writing extensions come in many different shapes and sizes, offering a variety of features to meet the needs of different writers.
Some of the most common types include:
- Grammar and Spelling Checkers: These types of extensions provide you with an automated tool to check your work for spelling, grammatical, and other writing errors. This helps you to improve your writing accuracy and avoid common mistakes.
- Writing Productivity: These extensions provide you with data and statistics about your writing, such as word count, reading level, and time spent writing. This information can be useful to track your progress, set goals, and monitor your productivity.
- Distraction-Free Writing Modes: These extensions aim to help you focus on your writing by reducing distractions such as notifications, pop-ups, and other disruptive sounds.
- Outlining and Organization Tools: These extensions offer a range of tools to help you organize your thoughts and structure your writing. This may include outlining tools, mind-mapping tools, or simple note-taking capabilities. These tools help you plan your writing and ensure your ideas are clearly organized.
- Writing Templates and Inspiration (optional): These types of tools are not available as a Google Chrome extension but are incredibly useful for writers, so I decided to include them in this article. They provide you with access to pre-written templates and inspiration to help jump-start your writing. This may include prompts, story ideas, or templates for specific types of writing such as blog posts or emails. This can be useful if you struggle with writer's block or need help getting started.
A bit later on in the article, you’ll find a list of the best Chrome writing extensions for you to try out in each of the above categories.
Features and Benefits of Chrome Writing Extensions
The features and benefits of Chrome Writing Extensions are extensive, making them a valuable addition to any writer's toolkit.
Some of the most notable benefits include:
Improved writing efficiency
With the help of Chrome writing extensions, you can quickly identify and fix common writing issues as you type, such as spelling and grammatical errors, saving time and improving your writing efficiency.
Better writing experience
Chrome writing extensions provide you with a range of tools and features designed to enhance your writing process while you write, providing you with feedback, suggestions, and ideas in real time to help you create a more enjoyable and productive writing experience.
Enhanced productivity
Whether it’s through improved writing efficiency, access to inspiration and templates, or writing analytics, these extensions can help you stay focused and on track with your content calendar and writing goals.
Increased writing accuracy (if English is your second language)
One of the key benefits of Chrome writing extensions is the ability to quickly and easily identify and correct writing issues to follow proper language rules, which can improve the overall quality of your writing and make it look more professional, even if English is not your first language.
Additional writing tools and features
Depending on the extension, you can benefit from a wide range of additional writer assist features, like AI-powered content generation, that are made available with a paid premium account on the hosting platform sponsoring the extension.
What Are the Best Chrome Writing Extensions?
There are many great Chrome Writing Extensions available, but here are some of the top options for writers:
Grammar and Spelling Checkers
Grammarly: Grammarly is a powerful writing assistant that provides real-time grammar and spelling checks, advanced punctuation suggestions, and improved word choice suggestions.
Microsoft Editor: The Microsoft Editor is a writing extension that provides writing assistance with grammar, spelling, and style suggestions online.
ProWritingAid: ProWritingAid is a comprehensive writing tool that provides a wide range of features for writers, including grammar checks, style analysis, thesaurus, and much more, including AI-assisted writing.
Writing Productivity
RescueTime: RescueTime is a time tracking and productivity tool that helps you understand how you spend your time on your devices. With features like website and app blocking, goal setting, and productivity tracking, RescueTime can make it easier to stay focused and get more done.
Toggl Track: Toggl Track is a productivity and time tracker writer extension for chrome that helps you track your progress and get more done. Toggl Track places a timer into any web tool and allows real time productivity tracking with all the data stored on your Toggl account.
Distraction-Free Writing Modes
Difree: Difree is a distraction-free editor designed to help you focus on your writing. With a simple, unobtrusive and easy-to-use user interface, it eliminates unnecessary bells and whistles that can often distract you from your writing.
Distraction Free Mode: Distraction Free Mode is a Chrome extension that turns your Google Docs editor into a distraction-free mode by hiding all controls and buttons so you can focus on creation.
Let's Write: Let's Write is a distraction-free Chrome extension designed for the Google Docs environment to help you write with increased focus. It simply hides the Google Docs menu bar and the tool bar, removing the temptation to play with their settings.
Outlining and Organization Tools
Airstory: Airstory is a writing tool designed to help you organize your thoughts and ideas into a cohesive and well-structured document. With features like outlines, templates, and card-based organization, Airstory helps you plan, write, and revise your writing.
Jasper: Jasper is a cutting-edge AI writing assistant that helps writers create original content, faster. With its advanced natural language processing technology, Jasper can assist with writing tasks such as content generation, summarization, and storytelling.
Rytr: Rytr is another popular AI writing assistant to help you create article outlines along the lines of Jasper. Rytr helps you plan, organize, and write your work with the help of AI. It’s also great for fiction writers.
Writing Templates and Inspiration*
750 Words: 750 Words is a writing tool that helps you write every day and track your progress. With features like word count tracking, reminders, and a daily writing prompt, 750 Words makes it easier to write every day with a measure of personal accountability.
Writers' Workbench: Writers' Workbench is an all-in-one writing tool that includes features like grammar and spelling checking, outlining, and writing templates. This extension offers a streamlined interface that lets you focus on your writing, while providing helpful tools and resources to improve your work.
The Write Practice: The Write Practice is a platform designed specifically for writers looking to improve their skills. This extension provides writing prompts, exercises, and resources to help you improve your craft.
*Not available via Chrome browser
Please note that what’s best for one writer’s individual needs and preferences may not be best for another, so you’ll need to try out a few different options to find the one that works best for you.
Conclusion
Chrome writing extensions provide a wealth of features and benefits to help you improve your writing process, efficiency, and accuracy.
Whether you're a professional writer or a beginner, a blogger or a student, these extensions can become a valuable addition to your writer’s arsenal.
So, why not try some today and see how they can help you improve your writing?