Is OneTab open source?
OneTab does not appear to be publicly open source. Its official website, privacy page, and Chrome Web Store listing do not link to a public source repository, so treat the code as unavailable for public review.
That does not make OneTab useless. It was one of the first Chrome extensions to tackle tab overload. Click the extension button, and your open tabs collapse into a single list of links. You can restore tabs one by one or all at once, and OneTab says this can save up to 95% memory.
OneTab also says tab URLs are not transmitted to OneTab or others except when you intentionally use "Share as a web page." The practical trade-off is that saved tabs live in the browser database. OneTab warns that uninstalling the extension deletes stored tabs, and that browser crashes, sudden power loss, or browser database corruption can rarely cause data loss.
Why people still look for OneTab alternatives
For a long time, OneTab's simple list was enough. Chrome has moved on since then. Native tab groups changed how people organize research, projects, and daily work. OneTab still treats tabs as a flat list, so it does not preserve the color-coded groups you spent time setting up.
The usual reasons to switch are practical:
- OneTab flattens your carefully organized groups into a plain list. No tab group awareness at all.
- Your saved tabs live in the browser database. Uninstalling OneTab deletes them, and rare browser database corruption can cause data loss.
- You cannot go back to a previous version of your saved tabs. No snapshot history.
- OneTab's troubleshooting page references a OneTab v2 update on February 21, 2026, but the extension still does not preserve Chrome tab group structure.
- Some users report data loss or breakage after updates or crashes, but those reports should be treated as reliability concerns, not proven technical causes.
5 OneTab alternatives worth comparing in 2026
These tools solve different OneTab gaps. One is better for open-source tab control. Others focus on saved sessions, visual workspaces, or preserving Chrome tab groups.
| Feature | TabGroup Vault | Session Buddy | Workona | Toby | Tab Manager Plus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tab Group Support | Full (colors, names, structure) | Partial | Own workspace model | No | Partial |
| One-Click Save | Yes | Yes | Auto-save | Drag-and-drop | No |
| One-Click Restore | Yes (full group structure) | Yes (windows) | Yes (workspaces) | Yes (collections) | No |
| Cloud Backup | Google Drive | No | Yes (proprietary) | Yes (proprietary) | No |
| Snapshot History | Yes | Yes (session log) | No | No | No |
| Pricing | Free (10 snapshots) / $29 lifetime | Free | Pro from $7/month | Starter free up to 60 saved tabs / paid from $4.50/month yearly | Free |
| Multi-Profile Support | Up to 5 profiles | No | No | No | No |
| Privacy Focus | Local-first, optional Drive | Local only | Cloud-based | Cloud-based | Local only |
1. TabGroup Vault, for Chrome tab group users
TabGroup Vault at a glance · ★ 4.8 stars · 2,000+ users
Price: Free (10 snapshots) / $29 one-time lifetime Pro
Best for: Users who rely on Chrome tab groups and want reliable backup and restore
Key feature: Saves and restores tab group structures including names, colors, and tab order
TabGroup Vault was built for Chrome's tab groups. Where OneTab sees a list of URLs, TabGroup Vault sees the workspace you already arranged: group names, color coding, and tab order.
Saving takes one click and creates a snapshot of your current tab groups. Restoring also takes one click. It rebuilds those groups with the right names, colors, and tabs inside each group. OneTab cannot do that.
The free tier gives you 10 snapshots, enough to test the workflow. Pro is a one-time $29 payment for unlimited snapshots, Google Drive backup, auto-save on close, and support for up to five Chrome profiles. No subscription.
2. Session Buddy, for free session saving
Session Buddy is built around sessions. It automatically logs your browser sessions over time, giving you a history of which windows and tabs were open at different points. You can also name and save sessions manually, then restore them later.
The appeal is simple: Session Buddy is free and has been around for years. The limitation is that it thinks in windows, not tab groups. Restore a session and your tabs come back in the right windows, but tab group structure may be lost or only partly preserved.
Session Buddy is a strong choice if you do not use tab groups and just want a dependable way to save and restore your open tabs.
3. Workona, for heavy workspace users
Workona replaces your tab workflow with its own workspace model. Each workspace holds tabs, docs, and links that you can switch between. It syncs to the cloud and works across devices.
Workona's strength is the workspace model plus cloud sync. The trade-off is cost and complexity. Workona Pro starts at $7/month, and Team starts at $8/user/month with a 3-user minimum.
Workona makes sense if you want a full workspace management platform. It is overkill if you just want to save and restore tab groups.
4. Toby, for visual organizers
Toby replaces your Chrome new tab page with a visual dashboard of saved tab collections. You drag and drop tabs into labeled columns, building a board of links by project or topic.
Toby works well for people who think spatially. The catch is that it takes over your new tab page, which some users find intrusive. It also does not work with Chrome's native tab groups; you are using Toby's own system instead.
If you prefer a visual drag-and-drop interface and do not mind a custom new tab page, Toby is worth trying. Toby's Starter plan is free up to 60 saved tabs. Productivity is $6/month per member, or $4.50/month billed yearly, and Team is $10/month per member, or $8/month billed yearly. For the full breakdown, read Toby vs OneTab.
5. Tab Manager Plus, for real-time tab control
Tab Manager Plus goes in a different direction. Instead of saving tabs for later, it gives you a real-time popup view of every open tab across all windows. You can search, filter, rearrange, and close tabs from one panel.
It is useful for people who keep dozens of tabs open and need faster navigation right now. It does not save or restore sessions, though. Once you close a tab, it is gone. Think of Tab Manager Plus as a better tab bar, not a tab backup tool.
Tab Manager Plus is free and open source. Its GitHub repository lists an MPLv2 license, and the latest release is 6.0.0 from October 1, 2024. It is the clearest fit here if your main question is whether there is an open-source OneTab alternative.
How to choose the right OneTab alternative
Start with the job you need the extension to do:
| Your need | Best choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Save Chrome tab groups with colors and names | TabGroup Vault | Only extension built for native tab groups. One-time $29. |
| Free session saving (no tab groups needed) | Session Buddy | Reliable, free, saves/restores full window sessions. |
| Full workspace management platform | Workona | Cloud workspace model. Pro starts at $7/month. |
| Visual drag-and-drop organization | Toby | Visual new-tab dashboard. Starter is free up to 60 saved tabs. |
| Real-time tab search and navigation | Tab Manager Plus | Live tab overview across all windows. Free and open source. |
Cost comparison: OneTab alternatives
Price matters for a tool you will use every day. Here is the plain version:
| Extension | Monthly cost | 2-year total | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| OneTab | Free | $0 | No tab group support, no cloud backup |
| TabGroup Vault | Free / one-time $29 | $29 | One-time payment. No renewal ever. |
| Session Buddy | Free | $0 | No tab group support |
| Workona | From $7/month | $168+ | Subscription. Stores spaces in the cloud. |
| Toby | Free up to 60 saved tabs / from $4.50/month yearly | $0-$108+ | Subscription for larger individual or team use. Replaces new tab page. |
| Tab Manager Plus | Free | $0 | No save/restore. Live management only. |
Migration tip
Switching from OneTab does not have to be abrupt. Install your new tool alongside OneTab, test it for a week, and migrate once you trust it. Most of these extensions can run side by side without conflict.
What about OneTab's strengths?
OneTab still has some things going for it. It is free, simple, and focused. OneTab's troubleshooting page also references a v2 update on February 21, 2026.
If all you need is to collapse tabs into a list and reopen them later, and you do not use tab groups, OneTab still works for that narrow use case. The alternatives become more interesting when you need group awareness, cloud backup, snapshot history, or a cleaner workflow.
Final verdict
OneTab does not appear to be publicly open source, but it still works for quick tab cleanup. The right replacement depends on what problem pushed you away from it.
If you want an open-source OneTab alternative, start with Tab Manager Plus. If you rely on Chrome tab groups, TabGroup Vault is the most targeted solution at a fair one-time price. For free session saving, Session Buddy remains practical. For visual workspace management, compare Toby and Workona carefully before committing to a subscription.
Pick the one that matches the problem you actually have, install the free version, and give it a real week of use. You will know pretty quickly if it fits.