Best AI tool to make a Chrome extension
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Hide YouTube Shorts. Add a "copy as markdown" button. Show your Steam wishlist prices in a popup. Chrome extensions are small, personal, and very vibe-codeable.
The short pick
Cursor — extensions are a handful of small files (manifest.json, a popup, a content script), which is perfect for an editor where you see every change. Free to start; Plus $8/mo, Premium $30/mo ✅.
Two facts the AI sometimes gets wrong, so tell it up front:
- New Chrome Web Store extensions must use Manifest V3 ("manifest_version": 3) ✅.
- Publishing needs a Chrome Web Store developer account with a one-time $5 registration fee ✅. You don't need it just to use your own extension.
Alternatives
| Tool | Good for | Price (checked Oct 16, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Claude Code | Agent does more on its own, including packaging | Claude Pro $20/mo ✅ |
| GitHub Copilot | Autocomplete as you learn the APIs | Free; Pro $10/mo ✅ |
| Bolt.new | Prototype the popup UI in the browser first | Free; Pro from $25/mo ⚠️ unverified |
How to start
- Make a folder, open it in Cursor.
- Prompt: "Create a Manifest V3 Chrome extension that ___. Use the fewest permissions possible and explain each one."
- Open
chrome://extensions, turn on Developer mode, click Load unpacked, choose your folder. - Test. After every change, hit the reload icon on the extension card.
- Before sharing, ask the AI: "List every permission and host this extension can access, and remove any we don't need."
Start free
👉 Free Vibe-Coding Starter Rules — a rules file + kickoff prompt that keeps any AI coder on track (small steps, ask before big changes, explain permissions). Drop it into this project.
Hit the wall later? The Codebase Fixer Agent — $8 cleans up a project that's gotten messy.