Both tools solve the same problem: too many tabs, not enough memory. But they make very different bets on pricing, workspaces, and who owns your data. Here's the straight version.
| Area | OneTab | Anchor Tabs |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free forever (unlimited tabs + workspaces) · Pro one-time $19.99, no subscription |
| Workspaces / grouping | Single flat list | Yes — group sessions by project (work / shopping / research) |
| Search | Basic | Instant filter by title or URL across all sessions |
| Data ownership | Stored locally, but recovery is fragile | Local-first; export to JSON anytime, free, even without Pro |
| Sync across devices | No (or via cloud, vendor-held) | Planned for V1.2 via your own Google Drive (you hold the keys) |
| Vendor lock-in | Low | None — you can export and leave whenever |
It's free, dead simple, and has millions of users. If you just want to collapse 40 tabs into a list and don't care about grouping, it's fine. We're not going to tell you it's broken — it isn't.
1. Workspaces, not one giant list. OneTab dumps everything into a single queue. Anchor Tabs lets you keep "work", "shopping", and "research" as separate sessions so restoring one doesn't dump the other thirty on your screen.
2. One-time buyout, not a subscription. Pro is $19.99 once. No monthly drain. Free tier is unlimited and never nags.
3. You can leave anytime. Export everything to JSON for free, with or without Pro. We don't hold your data hostage — that's a promise, not a marketing line.
4. Local-first, no server. Your tabs live on your device. The extension sends no network requests in free mode; the only request it ever makes is a one-time license check when you activate Pro.
Cross-device sync is planned for V1.2 and not shipping yet. Today, sessions stay on the device you saved them on (export/import moves them between machines). If sync is a hard requirement right now, wait for V1.2 or use a cloud-based alternative. We'd rather tell you than pretend.
Try the free version — no account, no nags.
Install free on EdgeAnchor Tabs is available on the Microsoft Edge Add-ons store. A Chrome version is on the way. Read the privacy policy.
Yes. The free version is unlimited — unlimited tabs and unlimited workspaces — and never nags you to upgrade. Pro is a one-time $19.99 buyout, not a subscription.
No. OneTab stores everything in a single flat list. Anchor Tabs groups your sessions into separate workspaces (work / shopping / research) so restoring one doesn't dump the others on your screen.
Yes, for free, to JSON, with or without Pro. You are never locked in — if you want to leave, export everything and go.
Yes. Your tabs stay on your device. Free mode makes zero network requests; the only request it ever sends is a one-time license check when you activate Pro. No server, no analytics, no tracking.
Cross-device sync via your own Google Drive (you hold the keys) is planned for V1.2 and not shipping yet. Today, sessions stay on the device you saved them on; export/import moves them between machines.
Edge now (Microsoft Edge Add-ons store). A Chrome version is on the way.