Chrome on Android is falling behind — here are 5 features it needs now

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Chrome on Android hasn’t kept up. That’s not a hot take — it’s just where things stand. And this is something you only realize once you step out and try other browsers like Firefox, Brave, Edge, and Samsung Internet.

Extensions, proper privacy controls, customization, and background playback — competing browsers have been checking these boxes for years. The list of things Chrome still hasn’t gotten around to is longer than it should be, and it’s high time Google closed the gap.

If Chrome is to stay competitive, here are five missing features it needs to add right now.

This one is a no-brainer. At this point, almost every other popular Chrome alternative — Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Kiwi Browser, Samsung Internet — supports extensions on Android. It’s the most tempting reason to switch browsers.

Extensions can unlock many of the features Chrome currently lacks. It can bring in third-party password managers, price trackers, and, of course, ad blockers. I get that Google, being an advertising company, doesn’t exactly want people blocking ads, but that’s precisely what’s currently pushing people away from Chrome. Adding extension support on Android seems like the obvious fix.

To be fair, Google is working on a version of Chrome for Android that supports extensions . That sounds promising until you realize it’s only for Android-powered PCs, not for phones or tablets. If there’s one thing that could do Chrome a world of good, it’s this.

You know Chrome isn’t exactly customizable when the ability to move the address bar to the bottom makes headlines. That’s a low bar. Most popular Android browsers I’ve tried have one thing in common: flexibility. They all let you tweak the toolbar, the main menu, and the new tab page. Chrome is pretty barebones by comparison.