Chrome Extension

How Profitable Is A Chrome Extension? (Updated for 2024)

Pat Walls

•

Updated: October 9th, 2024

How Profitable Is A Chrome Extension? (Updated for 2024)

So you want to start a chrome extension?

And the first question that came to your mind was, “well, are chrome extensions actually profitable?”

With a market size of $208B - there’s plenty of business to go around.

Especially considering:

You could start a chrome extension with as low as $5
Based on our data, chrome extensions generate an average of $874K per year
You could see gross margins as high as 85% with chrome extensions

There’s money to be made. Don’t worry.

But, I don't want to spoil it all. Below we’ll cover everything you need to know when it comes to the profitability of a chrome extension.

Let’s dive in!

Is a chrome extension profitable?

Yes, a chrome extension is generally a profitable business. However, you still need to consider several factors since these things always impact the overall outcome.

For instance, since average revenue is $874K per year with an estimated gross margin of 83%, you could expect to recover your investment within 12 months or even less.

But of course, it all comes down to how much you earn compared to the potential revenues of your chrome extension.

To determine whether your business is profitable, you should earn more than your expenses in the beginning months. However, while you're in your first month, it can be challenging to know what to expect.

Therefore, you should maintain a record of your monthly expenses and income to determine whether you're meeting your goals. By doing this step, you can see how your chrome extension is doing and if any changes or adjustments need to be made to enhance or maintain your efforts.

Is a chrome extension worth it?

If you’re wondering if a chrome extension is worth it, the answer is a big YES. With chrome extensions, you have the potential to earn $874K per year (this is based on data reported by real founders).

Further, you could have your initial investment back within months. Simply put, it’s a business worth a shot, especially if you have the resources and make the necessary efforts to achieve or surpass the target.

With a market size of $208B, it will be possible for you to build something that grows and turns into a flourishing business. As such, it’s the type of business you might want to consider starting.

Of course, you must learn and understand every aspect of running a chrome extension to ensure success. Still, as long as you have the initial investment and can endure a few months before your actual gains, this business could be worth it.

You might want to consider reading more specifics about successful chrome extensions case studies.

Examples Of Profitable Chrome Extensions

Here are a few examples of profitable chrome extensions, and a few more details about them:

1. Eightify ($540K/year)

Alex Kataev got the idea for Eightify after experiencing frustration with lengthy videos. At the same time, he realized the potential of AI, particularly GPT-3, to streamline content consumption.

He identified the need for a tool that could summarize videos quickly and efficiently, leading to the development of Eightify.

Is it profitable? Yes
What's the gross margin? 50%
How much money it makes: $540K/year
How much did it cost to start: $23K

This Site Gets 70M+ Visitors Per Year Using AI

Learn how Alex Kataev turned frustration with lengthy YouTube videos into a thriving business with Eightify, attracting over 100,000 users and generating an average of $45K per month with a freemium pricing model.

Read this case study

Read by 785 founders

2. Baxter Inc. ($12K/year)

The founder was having a tough time managing his Gmail inbox when he came up with the idea of a dashboard. He then interviewed dozens of regular American adults to see if the idea was appealing. Soon, he found out that the majority of people preferred a simple tool rather than a dashboard. This motivated him to build Baxter.

Is it profitable? Yes
How much money it makes: $12K/year
How much did it cost to start: $50K

How A Non-Technical Founder Started A Profitable Chrome Extension For Gmail

A case study on the founder of Baxter, a browser extension that helps Gmail users organize their inboxes by unsubscribing from newsletters, deleting unneeded emails, and automatically labeling and organizing emails, which generated over $1,000 in monthly recurring revenue in just nine months and successfully acquired an existing Gmail Unsubscribe extension to drive organic user growth.

Read this case study

Read by 1,916 founders

3. Bubbles ($1.92M/year)

The idea for the extension originated from Tom’s frustration with the inefficiencies of traditional communication methods such as email and Slack.

He found it challenging to effectively convey thoughts and ideas through these platforms, often requiring redundant meetings to clarify points.

Tom noted that existing screen recording tools were inadequate for facilitating a back-and-forth conversation, as they felt more like broadcasting rather than a threaded, interactive discussion. This gap led him to envision a solution.

Is it profitable? Yes
How much money it makes: $1.92M/year

How Tom Built Chrome Extension and Raised $8.1M Seed Round

Bubbles, a screen recorder and AI meeting notetaker, raised $8.5M in Seed funding and has grown to over 20,000 monthly active users, offering a Pro Plan @ $8/month and using SEO and freemium models for growth alongside founder Tom Medema's frustration with traditional communication methods.

Read this case study

Read by 448 founders

Learn more about starting a chrome extension:

Where to start?

-> How much does it cost to start a chrome extension?
-> Pros and cons of a chrome extension

Need inspiration?

-> Other chrome extension success stories
-> Marketing ideas for a chrome extension

Other resources

How much can you make with a chrome extension?

With a chrome extension, you can make an average of $874K revenue per year (based on data reported by real businesses).

You can start with an initial investment as low as $5. Then, with proper knowledge and sustained effort, you could have an ROI (return of investment) within 12 months.

How much does a chrome extension make a week?

Based on our data, average weekly revenue for a chrome extension ranges around $18.2K. As such, you could see monthly revenues of $72.8K.

To know if your chrome extension achieves the weekly profit target, you need to keep track of the total earnings you get per day. Afterward, you'll want to consider subtracting the expenses you have daily.

Learning your weekly profit can also show whether you're hitting your target goal for your chrome extension.

How much do chrome extensions owners make?

The income of a chrome extension owner can vary depending on various factors such as location, size, competition, and the owner's business skills.

But to give you some idea, the weekly revenue of an established chrome extension is about $18.2K. But this can be lower or higher depending on so many factors - it's almost impossible to say exactly.

While the potential for earning a good income as a chrome extension owner exists, success in this field requires a commitment to providing quality products and services and building a strong reputation within the community.

Chrome Extension Profit Margins

Generally speaking, a chrome extension can expect profit margin of around 83%. Profit margins refer to the percentage of revenue that remains after deducting all expenses associated with running a business. In the case of a chrome extension, profit margins can vary depending on various factors, such as the type and quality of products sold, the size of the store, and the level of competition in the area.

However, these figures can vary depending on the pricing strategy, inventory management, and overall efficiency of the business. To maintain healthy profit margins, chrome extension owners must focus on managing costs, negotiating favorable supplier terms, and providing high-quality products and services to attract and retain customers. By doing so, chrome extension owners can ensure long-term sustainability and profitability for their business.

Chrome extension owner salary

The salary of a chrome extension owner is an unpredictable figure. It's significantly influenced by numerous factors, including the store's location, its size, and the degree of competition. An owner of a well-established chrome extension, in a prime position, might see an average weekly salary around the ballpark of $15.1K.

But it's worth noting, such numbers aren't always consistent. The earnings can vary wildly, potentially swinging by as much as 80% either way.

Achieving consistent success and maintaining a reliable income stream in this industry requires a deep commitment. It's imperative to offer high-quality products, deliver impeccable customer service, and nurture a trusted bond with the community you serve.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, based on many of our examples, a chrome extension may be a promising business to start - but the success of your chrome extension mostly depends on your effort and your approach.

If you focus on these, you'll have a much higher chance of a profitable chrome extension.

Part of

Building A Chrome Extension: Everything You Need To Know

‹

›