What replaced The Great Suspender?

There is no direct replacement for The Great Suspender. Chrome Memory Saver is the closest built-in option for automatic tab discarding. Auto Tab Discard is the most feature-rich extension alternative for automatic tab suspension. The extension landscape for tab management is different from what The Great Suspender offered, but maintained options exist.

What is the best tab suspender for Chrome?

Chrome Memory Saver is the simplest choice for most users because it is built into Chrome. Auto Tab Discard is the best extension-based alternative for users who want more control over which tabs are discarded and when. The best choice depends on whether you need configurability or simplicity.

Is Chrome Memory Saver enough?

For most users, Chrome Memory Saver covers the basic need of discarding inactive tabs to save memory. It requires no setup and works automatically. If you need more granular control, Auto Tab Discard offers those options as an extension.

Is Auto Tab Discard a good Great Suspender alternative?

Auto Tab Discard is a practical option for users looking for automatic tab suspension controls. It offers customizable discard rules, can exclude specific domains, and is actively maintained. It is not a feature-identical replacement but serves the same core purpose of reducing memory usage from inactive tabs.

Should I use OneTab or Auto Tab Discard?

Choose Auto Tab Discard if you want tabs to suspend automatically based on activity. Choose OneTab if you prefer to manually save groups of tabs into lists, share them, or consolidate them at specific moments. Auto Tab Discard is closer to The Great Suspender in its automatic behavior.

Can tab suspension extensions lose tabs?

Tabs suspended by Auto Tab Discard or Chrome Memory Saver reload when clicked — they are not deleted. However, if an extension is uninstalled or disabled without saving sessions, some tab references may be lost. Always export important tabs or sessions before switching tools.

Is The Great Suspender still safe to install?

The Great Suspender was removed from the Chrome Web Store and disabled by Google in 2021. No official version is available. CRX copies from mirror sites may contain unwanted code, may be modified by third parties, and lack security updates. Do not install The Great Suspender from unofficial sources.

What should I avoid when choosing a tab suspender?

Avoid old CRX files of The Great Suspender or similar discontinued tab suspenders from mirror sites. Avoid extensions that request excessive permissions without clear justification. Avoid running multiple tab suspension tools simultaneously, as this can cause conflicts and unexpected behavior. Test restore behavior before relying on a new tool for important sessions.

Best Tab Suspender Extensions for Chrome

Quick Answer

For Chrome users looking for a tab suspender after The Great Suspender, the best option depends on the workflow. Chrome Memory Saver is the simplest built-in choice for reducing memory use. Auto Tab Discard provides more extension-based control over automatic tab unloading. OneTab is better for manually saving tab groups, while Workona is more useful for workspace and project organization. Users should avoid old Great Suspender CRX files from mirror sites because discontinued or modified extensions can create security and reliability risks.

View Great Suspender Alternatives View Auto Tab Discard Page

Tab Suspender Options Comparison

Option	Best for	Strength	Trade-off
Chrome Memory Saver	Basic memory saving	Built into Chrome — no install needed	Less configurable
Auto Tab Discard	Automatic tab unloading with more control	More control over discard behavior	Extension permissions required
OneTab	Manual tab group saving	Simple session cleanup	Not automatic suspension
Workona	Workspace organization	Project-based tab management	More complex than basic memory saving

Why Tab Suspension Matters

Opening many browser tabs uses memory even when tabs are inactive. Tab suspenders free up RAM by unloading tab resources while keeping the tab visible in your browser. The Great Suspender was one of the most popular tab management extensions until it was removed from the Chrome Web Store in 2021. Today, Chrome Memory Saver is built into Chrome, and several actively maintained extensions handle tab suspension in different ways.

Selection Criteria

Maintained Chrome availability — must be on the Chrome Web Store and actively updated
Clear tab and session behavior — how tabs are suspended and how they restore
Ability to export or recover sessions — in case of uninstall or browser reset
Permission transparency — understanding what access the extension requires
Fit for automatic suspension versus manual organization — different tools suit different workflows

Chrome Memory Saver: Built-in Option

Chrome Memory Saver is built directly into Chrome and turns off inactive tabs automatically without any additional installation. Open Settings > Performance > Memory Saver to enable it. This is the simplest option for most users who want memory savings without installing another extension. The tradeoff is minimal configurability — it is an on/off toggle.

Auto Tab Discard: Extension with Fine-Grained Control

Auto Tab Discard is a well-maintained open-source extension available on the Chrome Web Store. It lets you customize which tabs are discarded, set time thresholds, exclude specific domains, and control discard behavior more precisely than the built-in option. This is the closest extension alternative to The Great Suspender in terms of automatic tab suspension.

OneTab: Manual Tab Consolidation

OneTab works differently from automatic tab suspenders — it converts your open tabs into a list with one click. This manual approach saves memory without automatically suspending anything. OneTab is better for users who prefer to consciously save tab groups, share lists with others, or reduce clutter without background automation.

Workona: Workspace Organization

Workona is a more comprehensive workspace and session management tool. It lets you save tabs as workspaces, organize them by project, and sync across devices. If you manage large numbers of tabs across multiple projects, Workona provides session persistence and cross-device continuity that simple tab suspension tools do not.

Decision Guide

Choose Chrome Memory Saver if you want the simplest built-in option with no installation.
Choose Auto Tab Discard if you need configurable automatic tab unloading with more control.
Choose OneTab if you manually save and restore tab groups and prefer manual organization.
Choose Workona if you organize tabs by workspace or project and need session persistence.

What Not to Do

Do not install random CRX files from unknown download sites.
Do not assume a similar name means it is official.
Do not grant broad permissions without checking the developer.
Export settings before removing old extensions if you still need the configuration.

Best Options at a Glance

For simplest use:Chrome Memory Saver (built-in)

For most control:Auto Tab Discard

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

Chrome Performance > Memory Saver
Google Chrome HelpChrome DevelopersPrimary source
Supports: Chrome built-in Memory Saver feature overview and how to enable it
Auto Tab Discard Chrome Web Store
Chrome Web StoreChrome Web StorePrimary source
Supports: Auto Tab Discard MV3 availability and active maintenance status
OneTab Chrome Web Store
Chrome Web StoreChrome Web StorePrimary source
Supports: OneTab MV3 availability and developer identity
Workona Chrome Web Store
Chrome Web StoreChrome Web StorePrimary source
Supports: Workona MV3 availability and workspace organization features
9to5Google — The Great Suspender removed from Chrome Web Store
9to5GoogleNewsPrimary source
Supports: Removal reason, malware concern, and timeline for The Great Suspender

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Last updated: May 27, 2026