Last updated: 2026-07-26
The Chrome Web Store is an online marketplace developed by Google, designed to furnish users with a wide array of extensions, themes, and applications specifically tailored for the Google Chrome web browser. Launched in December 2010, the Chrome Web Store serves as a central hub where users can discover, install, and manage various tools and aesthetic enhancements to optimize their browsing experience.
Chrome extensions are small software programs that customize the browsing experience by enhancing the functionality and capabilities of the Chrome browser. These extensions cover a broad spectrum of utilities, ranging from productivity boosters, such as ad blockers and note-taking tools, to entertainment options like games and video downloaders. By integrating directly with the Chrome browser, extensions provide seamless and often indispensable features, turning the browser into a versatile platform capable of fulfilling diverse user requirements.
In parallel, Chrome themes allow users to personalize the appearance of their Chrome browser. Themes alter the visual interface, including the color scheme and background images of the browser, aligning it with the user’s aesthetic preferences. Users can select themes that reflect their personality, interests, or attune to specific moods, making their browsing sessions visually appealing. Whether for customization or enhancement, both extensions and themes contribute significantly to the Chrome ecosystem, fostering a dynamic and user-centric browsing environment.
The Chrome Web Store also hosts 14,575 Chrome applications. Unlike extensions and themes, Chrome applications are standalone web-based programs designed for ChromeOS devices — they run on Chromebooks and other ChromeOS hardware rather than inside the desktop Chrome browser. Google has wound down support for Chrome apps on Windows, macOS, and Linux, so this category is effectively a ChromeOS-only surface today.
The graph, updated as of 2026-07-26, shows the number of available Extensions on Chrome Web Store over time.
The graph, updated as of 2026-07-26, shows the number of available Themes on Chrome Web Store over time.
The graph, updated as of 2026-07-26, shows the number of available Applications on Chrome Web Store over time.
Chrome-Stats calculates these counts from the latest stable daily snapshot of public Chrome Web Store listing data. Each snapshot is available as a CSV download from the raw data export page, and includes active public extensions that our crawler can discover through public extension store pages.
These figures are third-party estimates rather than official totals from Chrome Web Store. The data can be rounded, delayed, localized, region-specific, or temporarily unavailable. Chrome-Stats keeps historical snapshots and removed listings as obsolete. Some extensions or apps may not be shown on Chrome-Stats if a developer has requested removal from the website. Read the full data methodology.
The following graph shows the distribution of active user for all Chrome extensions:
To see how active user grow after Chrome extension launch, we performed an analysis of all extensions on Chrome Web Store. For all extensions launched in a certain month, we determined which percentage of them had more than 1,000 and 10,000 active user. This analysis is updated daily. The following graph shows how the percentage of extensions that reaches each of those download milestones develops over time after launching the extension:
While the cumulative active user count tells you how popular a Chrome extension is overall, monthly growth tells you whether momentum is building or fading. The following chart groups all active Chrome extensions by how their active user count changed over the last 30 days, giving a snapshot of which extensions are gaining traction and which are losing it.
Chrome extensions on Chrome Web Store can be distributed in several ways — offered free of charge, sold for an upfront price, or made available for free with in-app purchases. The mix of monetization models gives a sense of how developers commercialize their work and what users typically pay for. The following chart shows the breakdown across all active Chrome extensions.
Browser extensions are built against a versioned platform contract called the manifest. Manifest V3 introduces stricter security and privacy boundaries (notably a service-worker background model and a declarative network-request API) and is replacing the older Manifest V2. The following chart shows how many active Chrome extensions are running on each manifest version — a useful signal for developers tracking the platform migration and for users gauging how modern an extension's foundation is.
Chrome extension ratings are a key metric that reflects user satisfaction and the overall quality of a Chrome extension. These ratings range from one to five, where five stars indicate exceptional performance and user satisfaction, while one star points to significant issues or shortcomings. Users must have installed a Chrome extension to rate it and leave reviews, sharing their experiences and providing feedback that can help other potential users decide whether to install the extension. These ratings also serve as valuable input for developers, guiding them to make improvements and address any issues.
The "Last Updated" time for Chrome extensions is a crucial piece of information displayed on each extension's Chrome Web Store page. This timestamp indicates the most recent date the extension was updated by its developers, providing users with an idea of how actively the extension is being maintained and improved. Regular updates often signify that developers are actively squashing bugs, enhancing security, and adding new features, which can significantly improve the user experience. Conversely, extensions that have not seen updates in a long time might be outdated, potentially less secure, or incompatible with the latest versions of Chrome.
The "Creation Date" of Chrome extensions indicates when they were first published on Chrome Web Store. This information helps users understand how long an extension has been available and its maturity level. Newer extensions might offer innovative features but could have more bugs or less community feedback, while older extensions have had more time to establish their reputation and refine their functionality. The following chart shows the distribution of Chrome extensions by their creation date.
Chrome extensions are organized into categories on Chrome Web Store to help users find tools that serve specific purposes. These categories reflect the diverse functionality that extensions can provide, from productivity and accessibility tools to entertainment and shopping assistants. The category distribution gives insights into which types of extensions are most prevalent and potentially most in demand by users. The following chart shows the distribution of Chrome extensions across different categories.
The file size of a Chrome extension can vary significantly depending on its features, assets, and complexity. Smaller extensions typically offer lightweight tools, whereas larger ones might include high-resolution media or robust capabilities. The following chart shows the distribution of Chrome extensions by their file size.
The geographical distribution of Chrome extension publishers provides interesting insights into the global development landscape. Different regions may have varying focuses, development practices, and target audiences, which can influence the types and quality of extensions produced. Understanding this distribution can help users appreciate the international nature of the extension ecosystem and the diverse perspectives that contribute to it. The following chart shows the distribution of Chrome extensions by the country of their publishers.
Permissions define what capabilities and access a Chrome extension has on your device or browser. These can range from accessing the network and storage to modifying content and communicating with external servers. Understanding which permissions are commonly requested provides insights into the typical functionality of extensions and potential privacy and security considerations. The following chart shows the most common permissions requested by Chrome extensions.
Data-backed analysis related to Chrome Web Store.
Chrome-Stats analyzed 62,827 current Manifest V3 extensions with at least 100 displayed users. Median rating counts rise predictably with audience size, but ratings per 1,000 current users fall more than tenfold—making size-adjusted comparisons essential.
Chrome-Stats analyzed 239,844 current Manifest V3 extensions. Featured listings accounted for nearly half of aggregate displayed user counts and showed stronger rating and store-presentation signals—but among extensions with at least 10,000 users, their update recency was almost identical to non-Featured listings.
Chrome has already disabled Manifest V2, but Google plans to keep the remaining listings in the Chrome Web Store until August 31. A Chrome-Stats snapshot shows what that final catalog looks like—and why a store page is no longer proof of Chrome compatibility.
