Tab Widgets vs Anori: A Widget-Rich New Tab Alternative
Anori is a free, open-source new tab extension that lets you compose a start page from a tidy set of widgets. If you like that idea but want more integrations — your inbox, calendar, music and smart lights on the same page — Tab Widgets is worth a look.
Where Anori works well
- Free and open source. Anori is AGPL-licensed with its source on GitHub, and every feature is available without paying.
- Works in Firefox too. Anori is published for Chrome, Edge and Firefox.
- Privacy-friendly by default. Analytics are opt-in, and sensitive permissions are only requested when you add a widget that needs them.
- Tab management built in. Tab stash, recently closed tabs and tabs on other devices are first-class widgets.
- Folders and themes. Group widgets into as many folders as you need, and pick from eight colour themes or create your own.
- Anki integration. A niche but handy widget if you study with flashcards.
Where Tab Widgets differs
- 70+ specialized widgets. Anori ships around 16 core widgets. Tab Widgets adds a Spotify player, Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, Philips Hue controls, TradingView markets, currency and unit converters, Pomodoro and countdown timers, ambient sounds, and more.
- Connected accounts. Read your inbox, check today's events, search Drive and control playback without leaving the new tab.
- Smart home controls. Toggle Philips Hue lights and scenes, or use the Sony Bravia remote, straight from your dashboard.
- Ready-made embedded apps. One-click widgets for ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, WhatsApp, Discord, YouTube, Google Docs and Maps, plus a general iframe widget for anything else.
- Freeform layout. Drag and resize widgets anywhere on the canvas instead of snapping everything to a grid.
- Cloud sync. With Pro, your dashboard follows you across devices automatically, with no exporting and importing configuration files.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Anori | Tab Widgets |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free (up to 10 widgets, 2 pages) or Pro |
| Open source | ✓ (AGPL) | ✗ |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge, Firefox | Chrome, Edge, web app |
| Widget count | ~16 | 70+ |
| Layout | Grid | Freeform or grid |
| Multiple pages | ✓ (folders) | ✓ (pages) |
| Notes, tasks, calculator | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weather and world clocks | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bookmarks and top sites | ✓ | ✓ |
| RSS reader | ✓ | ✓ (Pro) |
| Embedded pages (iframes) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Calendar | ✓ (basic) | ✓ (Google Calendar, Pro) |
| Gmail and Google Drive | ✗ | ✓ (Pro) |
| Spotify integration | ✗ | ✓ (Pro) |
| Smart home (Philips Hue) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Tab stash and synced tabs | ✓ | ✗ |
| Anki integration | ✓ | ✗ |
| Themes | 8 built in, plus custom | Wallpapers, custom CSS |
| Moving between devices | Export and import | Cloud sync (Pro) |
| Account required | No | No |
Who should switch?
- People who like Anori's widget-first approach but keep wishing for one more integration — email, calendar, music or markets.
- Users who want smart home and media controls on their new tab, not just notes and bookmarks.
- Anyone who works across several computers and wants their dashboard to stay in sync without manual backups.
If you use Firefox, or open source is a must-have, Anori remains the better fit.
Give it a try from the Chrome Web Store — it's free, no account needed.