Key takeaways
- Chrome extensions are small add-ons that give the browser abilities it does not have out of the box. Install them from the Chrome Web Store, manage them under the three dots, More Tools, Extensions.
- Chrono Download Manager — a proper visual view of your downloads in a tab, instead of hunting through File Explorer later.
- Sortd for Gmail — turns your inbox into drag-and-drop columns you name yourself, so what matters to the business is visible at a glance.
- LastPass — one password to reach all the others, with a unique generated password per site. Traders log into brokers, banks and exchanges all day; reusing one password across them is the risk.
- Speedtest by Ookla — ping, download and upload from the browser, so you can tell a provider problem from a computer problem.
- Grammarly, Save to Google Drive and Click&Clean round it out — writing checked as you type, files saved to Drive with a right-click, and cache and history cleared in one click.
- Try one or two rather than all seven. Anything that does not earn its place, remove it — every extension can read the pages you visit, including your broker.
- Not sure where your machine stands? The free benchmark test takes about two minutes.
What Are Chrome Extensions?
Chrome extensions are small software programs that add capabilities to the Chrome browser on your trading computer. Google allows both external and internal developers to create these programs. As a Google Chrome user, you can go to the Chrome Web Store, search the store for the extension you need, and use the Add to Chrome button to start using it. To manage your Chrome extensions, click on the three vertical dots (aka the kebab) in the upper right corner of the Google Chrome window. Navigate to More Tools —> Extensions. Click on the Details button to see all the options for any given extension, including removal and toggling on/off. Here are some 7 Chrome extensions to level up trading day productivity:1. Chrono Download Manager
As you know, when you download a document, PDF, or image to your trading computer, a small bar appears in the bottom left corner of the Chrome browser. Once the download is complete, you can click on the bar to open the file. However, if you try to find the file later, you have to search for it in Windows Explorer. Chrome has a default download manager. But it's hidden under the kebab on the upper right side of the browser. The Chrono Download Manager provides a more visual interface using a browser tab. This interface makes it super easy to keep track of your downloads. Alternatively, you can search your downloaded files directly from the handy Chrono Download Manager drop-down menu.2. Sortd for Gmail
Sortd for Gmail is an extension for better organizing your Gmail. You can visually arrange your emails into lists and put them into priority order. It's basically a mash-up of email and a personal Kanban board. Sortd allows you to create a board of columns with your own custom titles. For example, you might have these columns: To Do, Follow Up, Read Later. Sortd lets you drag and drop emails into these columns. You can see what's important for your trading business at a glance. It will save you time and effort in both your business and personal communication.3. Last Pass
Traders deal with sensitive financial information all day and website logins. With each login and password, you have to pull out your passwords folder or you are unsafely using the same password for each website. A more secure alternative is to use the LastPass extension which provides saves your login and password for each website that you use. After you have it saved and you go back to a frequented website, it will autofill that information for you, saving you so much time. It suggests a secure and unique password for new websites or websites that you have to update the password periodically. This will make your passwords very hard to remember, but you only have to remember one password to get into LastPass.4. Speedtest by Ookla
As a trader, I'm sure you're very sensitive to the speed of your internet communications. You'll quickly notice a slowdown on your trading laptop or desktop. But you won't know the cause. Is it your internet provider or a computer issue that’s causing the problem? The Speedtest extension can help you answer that question. It will test and report your ping, download, and upload speeds. This makes it easy to spot a problem with your internet connection.5. Grammarly
Grammarly is a great service that allows you to upload documents to its website to pinpoint and correct writing mistakes. If you are a regular Grammarly user, you’ll be happy to know you can install their extension directly on your Chrome browser for real-time feedback. The Grammarly extension will improve the quality of your communications. No more sending emails with spelling mistakes or careless grammar errors!6. Save to Google Drive
For Google Drive users, the Save to Google Drive extension saves time. Without this extension, if you want to put a file or folder on your Google Drive, you must use the Save As button and find the local folder connected to the cloud storage service. This extension adds browser actions and a right-click context menu to help you save audio, video, and even page links directly to Google Drive. It's particularly handy for saving PDF documents from the web.7. Click&Clean
Since you are using sensitive and financial data websites, you might be clearing your cache and browser history frequently. The use of Click&Clean, allows you to do 1-click options for clearing cache and browsing history, and an additional feature of a privacy test for security. Keeping your browser clean can also clean up some space and speed things back up if your browsing seems slower.Final Word
I hope the above information helps you start your journey with Chrome extensions. Try one or two and see if they make life easier. If not, you can always delete them. There are more trading computer tips like this in our EZ Trading Computers buyer's guide called "How To Buy a Trading Computer." If you found this helpful, you'll want to check out the other computer How-To's I've created on this page. You can always call us if you have questions: 800-387-5250.Frequently Asked Questions
What are Chrome extensions?
Small programs that add capabilities to the Chrome browser — written by Google and by outside developers. You add them from the Chrome Web Store, and manage them under the three dots in the top right, then More Tools and Extensions.
Are browser extensions safe on a trading computer?
Treat them carefully. Most extensions can read every page you visit, which includes your broker account and balances. Install only ones you actively use from developers you recognise, and remove anything you cannot explain — a forgotten extension is a standing risk.
Which Chrome extension is most useful for traders?
A password manager such as LastPass, for the simple reason that traders log into brokers, prop firms, exchanges and banks all day. It generates a unique password per site and fills them in, which removes the habit of reusing one password everywhere.
How do I test my internet speed from the browser?
The Speedtest by Ookla extension reports ping, download and upload without leaving the page you are on. It is the fastest way to tell whether a slowdown is your internet provider or something on the machine itself.
How do I remove a Chrome extension?
Click the three dots in the top right of Chrome, go to More Tools, then Extensions. Each one has a Details button with the option to remove it or switch it off. Be ruthless — anything you did not install deliberately in the last six months should go.
