5 Best Chrome Extensions for
Note-Taking (2026)
Take notes directly alongside YouTube videos without switching apps. We tested every major Chrome extension to find the ones worth installing.
The biggest friction in YouTube note-taking is switching between your video and your notes app. Chrome extensions solve this by putting your notes right next to the video in a sidebar panel.
But not all extensions are created equal. Some are bloated with features you don't need. Others are too basic to be useful. We tested 5 extensions on real learning sessions to find the best options for different needs.
Looking for non-extension tools too? See our full comparison of YouTube note-taking apps which includes web apps like Notion and Obsidian.
Quick Summary
1. MensorAI
4.8/5 · 1K+ users · 7-day free trial, plans from $9/mo
How to Get Started
- 1. Install from the Chrome Web Store (one click)
- 2. Navigate to any YouTube video
- 3. Click the MensorAI icon or use the keyboard shortcut to open the sidebar
- 4. Take rich-text notes in the sidebar panel while the video plays
- 5. Use /ask to ask AI questions about the video content
Key Features
- Rich text editor with headings, lists, bold, italic, and more
- AI Q&A — ask questions about the video and get context-aware answers
- Automatic video metadata capture (title, channel, thumbnail)
- Searchable library of all your video notes
- Action items to track what you want to implement
Pros
- AI Q&A is genuinely useful for clarifying complex topics
- Rich text editor is more capable than competitors
- Clean, non-intrusive sidebar design
- Notes are organized and searchable across all videos
Cons
- Newer extension with a smaller user base
- No screenshot capture feature yet
- AI features require an account
Verdict: Best overall for learners who want AI assistance alongside their notes. The Q&A feature sets it apart from every other extension on this list.
2. YiNote
4.2/5 · 30K+ users · Free (open source)
How to Get Started
- 1. Install from the Chrome Web Store
- 2. Open any YouTube video
- 3. Click the YiNote icon to open the note panel
- 4. Click the "+" button or press Alt+N to add a timestamped note
- 5. Export your notes as a PDF or text document
Key Features
- Automatic timestamp capture when you add a note
- Click any timestamp to jump back to that moment
- Export notes as PDF, HTML, or plain text
- Works with YouTube, Coursera, and Udemy
- Completely free with no usage limits
Pros
- Free forever with no strings attached
- Timestamps are automatic and clickable
- Works on multiple video platforms
- Open source — transparent and trustworthy
Cons
- No AI features
- Very basic text formatting (no rich text)
- Development appears to have slowed
- No cloud sync — notes are stored locally
Verdict: Best free option. If you want simple, no-frills timestamped notes and don't need AI or cloud sync, YiNote does the job.
3. Glasp
4.5/5 · 100K+ users · Free plan, Pro from $8/mo
How to Get Started
- 1. Install and create a Glasp account
- 2. Open a YouTube video
- 3. Glasp shows the transcript alongside the video
- 4. Highlight sections of the transcript and add notes
- 5. Your highlights are saved to your Glasp profile
Key Features
- Transcript-based highlighting
- AI-powered video summaries
- Social feed — see what others highlighted
- Works with web articles and PDFs too
- Export to Notion, Obsidian, or Readwise
Pros
- Large community of users sharing highlights
- Works across videos, articles, and PDFs
- Good export integrations
- AI summary generation
Cons
- Highlights are public by default (privacy concern)
- YouTube note-taking is secondary to web highlighting
- Social features can be distracting for focused study
- Free plan limits on AI features
Verdict: Best for social learners who want to see what others highlighted. Less ideal if privacy matters or you want a dedicated YouTube note-taking experience.
4. Rocket Note
4.3/5 · 10K+ users · Free plan, Pro from $4.99/mo
How to Get Started
- 1. Install from the Chrome Web Store
- 2. Open any YouTube video
- 3. Click the Rocket Note icon to open the sidebar
- 4. Take a screenshot of the current frame with one click
- 5. Add text notes alongside your screenshots
Key Features
- One-click screenshot capture of video frames
- Screenshots paired with timestamped notes
- Export notes with screenshots as PDF
- Simple, clean sidebar interface
- Organize notes by video
Pros
- Screenshot feature is unique and useful for visual content
- Most affordable premium tier on this list
- Very clean, simple interface
- Good for tutorials with important visual elements
Cons
- No AI features
- Limited text formatting
- Smaller user base means fewer updates
- Screenshot storage takes up space
Verdict: Best for visual content where screenshots matter — coding tutorials, design walkthroughs, or diagram-heavy lectures.
5. NoteGPT
4.4/5 · 200K+ users · Free plan, Pro from $9.99/mo
How to Get Started
- 1. Install and create a NoteGPT account
- 2. Open any YouTube video
- 3. Click the NoteGPT icon to generate a summary
- 4. View the AI-generated summary with timestamps
- 5. Add your own notes alongside the summary
Key Features
- Auto-generated video summaries with key points
- Timestamp-linked summary sections
- Chat with AI about the video
- Mind map generation from video content
- Supports YouTube, web articles, and PDFs
Pros
- Large user base and active development
- Auto-summaries save time on long videos
- Mind map feature is unique
- Supports multiple content types
Cons
- Free plan is quite limited (few summaries per day)
- Most expensive premium tier ($9.99/mo)
- Summary quality varies significantly by video
- Interface can feel cluttered with features
Verdict: Best for users who primarily want auto-generated summaries rather than manual note-taking. Good if you process many videos quickly.
What to Look For in a YouTube Note-Taking Extension
When choosing an extension, consider these factors:
- Non-disruptive design: The sidebar should not block the video or resize it awkwardly. Good extensions overlay without interference.
- Note organization: Can you find your notes later? Extensions that auto-tag notes with video metadata (title, URL) save you from the "I know I wrote this somewhere" problem.
- Export options: Your notes shouldn't be locked in. Look for extensions that let you export to markdown, PDF, or integrate with your existing note system.
- Privacy: Some extensions send your data to third-party servers. Check the privacy policy if this matters to you.
- Active development: Extensions that haven't been updated in a year may break with Chrome updates. Check the "last updated" date on the Chrome Web Store.
Whatever extension you choose, the technique matters more than the tool. Our guide to YouTube note-taking methods covers 7 proven approaches that work with any tool.
Ready to Take Better YouTube Notes?
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