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Best developer tools Chrome extensions

A developer tools Chrome extension extends Chrome DevTools or adds a toolbar shortcut for a task you'd otherwise do with code or a separate app. Our top pick is Wappalyzer: it is free to try and instantly shows the technology stack behind any website, which is useful for research, sales and competitive analysis alike.

Last reviewed · 4 listings · Independent, not affiliated with Google

Our picks

  1. Wappalyzer

    See the tech stack behind any website.

    Freemium Developer Tools

  2. JSON Formatter

    Pretty-print JSON right in the browser.

    Free Developer Tools ✓ Open source

  3. React Developer Tools

    Inspect React component trees and props.

    Free Developer Tools ✓ Open source

  4. Clear Cache

    Clear cache and cookies in one click.

    Free Developer Tools ✓ No account needed

Chrome's built-in DevTools cover most debugging needs, but a few extensions fill specific gaps: identifying what a website is built with, pretty-printing raw JSON responses, inspecting React component trees, or clearing cached data without digging through settings. Each one targets a narrow, well-defined job rather than replacing DevTools itself.

Identify the tech stack behind any website

Wappalyzer scans a page and reports the frameworks, analytics tools, CMS and hosting it detects, all from its toolbar icon. This is useful when researching a competitor's site, evaluating a client's existing stack before a project, or simply satisfying curiosity about how a page was built, without opening the page source manually.

Format JSON and inspect React components

JSON Formatter turns a raw JSON API response into a readable, collapsible tree directly in the browser instead of a wall of unformatted text. React Developer Tools adds a panel to Chrome DevTools showing the component tree, props and state of any page built with React, which speeds up debugging without adding console logs.

Clear cache while testing changes

When testing a deployed change, stale cached files can make it look like your fix didn't work. Clear Cache lets you wipe cached data for the current site in one click instead of opening Chrome's settings each time, which matters when you're testing the same page repeatedly during a session.

Best developer tools Chrome extensions: FAQs

What is the best Chrome extension for developers?

Wappalyzer is a strong general pick because it instantly shows the technology stack behind any website. Which extension is best depends on your task: React Developer Tools for React debugging, JSON Formatter for APIs.

How do I install React Developer Tools?

Search for React Developer Tools in the Chrome Web Store and click Add to Chrome. Once installed, open Chrome DevTools on a page built with React and a new Components tab appears alongside Elements and Console.

Why doesn't the React tab show up in DevTools?

The React Components tab only appears when the current page actually uses React. If it's missing, confirm the site is built with React and that the extension is enabled for that site, then reload the page.

What does Wappalyzer actually detect?

Wappalyzer identifies frameworks, content management systems, analytics tools, ecommerce platforms, hosting providers and other technologies used to build a page, based on patterns in its code and requests.

Is there a free way to format JSON in Chrome?

Yes. JSON Formatter is free and automatically pretty-prints JSON responses when you navigate directly to a JSON URL or API endpoint, turning raw text into a collapsible, readable tree.

How do I clear the cache for one site while testing?

Use an extension like Clear Cache to wipe cached data for just the current tab's domain, or manually click the site icon next to the address bar, choose Site settings, then Delete data.

Are developer extensions safe to use on client or work projects?

Most developer extensions like JSON Formatter and React Developer Tools only activate on pages you visit and don't need broad permissions. Check each extension's permissions before using it on sensitive internal tools.

What is the best chrome extension for web developers doing daily debugging?

A combination works best: React Developer Tools or a framework-specific equivalent for component debugging, Wappalyzer for quick stack checks, and Clear Cache for eliminating stale-cache issues during testing.

Does Wappalyzer work on Edge and Brave?

Yes, Wappalyzer is available for Chromium-based browsers including Microsoft Edge and Brave, since they support the same extension platform as Chrome.

Can I inspect a website's tech stack without an extension?

You can manually check page source, response headers and script URLs, but this is slower and less complete than a dedicated tool like Wappalyzer, which aggregates detection patterns automatically.