Link building and outreach are vital strategies in SEO, helping you improve search rankings, drive traffic, and build authority. But let’s be honest, doing everything manually is time-consuming and inefficient.
That’s where Chrome extensions come in. With just a few clicks, you can gather SEO data, find verified emails, send personalized messages, and track opens all without leaving your browser.
In this article, we’ll explore 10 must-have Chrome extensions that can supercharge your link building and outreach efforts.
Why Chrome Extensions Matter for Outreach
- Save Time: Automate repetitive tasks like email finding or link checking.
- Instant Data Access: Get SEO metrics like DA, DR, backlinks, and traffic without logging into external tools.
- Better Outreach: Personalize messages, avoid grammar errors, and track email performance.
- Efficient Prospecting: Find leads from Google, LinkedIn, or competitor backlinks quickly.
10 Free Chrome Extensions for Link Builders
Below we’re diving into the best free Chrome extensions that make link building and outreach faster, easier, and more effective. Whether you’re finding prospects, checking website authority, or tracking emails, these tools cover it all.
1. Ahrefs Chrome Extension
Ahrefs is a handy free Chrome extension that shows important SEO metrics directly on Google search results and on any webpage. It helps you quickly check website authority and links when doing outreach or link building.
Install the Extension: Get the “Ahrefs SEO Toolbar” from the Chrome Web Store. Once installed, you’ll see the icon in the top-right of your browser.
See SEO Metrics on Google Search: When you search on Google, this toolbar shows Domain Rating (DR) and URL Rating (UR) under each search result. These numbers tell you how strong the website or page is.
Check SEO Data on Any Page: Visit any webpage and click the Ahrefs icon in the toolbar. It will display a quick summary of:
- Backlinks pointing to the page
- Estimated organic traffic
- Number of keywords the page ranks for
- Outbound links from the page
Identify Link Types on the Page: You can highlight different types of links on the page. The toolbar will color-code:
- Dofollow vs. Nofollow links
- Internal vs. External links (This helps you analyze the page’s link profile quickly.)
View On-Page SEO Elements: The toolbar also shows important page elements like:
- Title tag
- Meta description
- Heading tags (H1, H2, etc.)
- Any broken links found on the page
2. MozBar
MozBar is a popular free Chrome extension that shows important SEO metrics right on your browser. It’s very helpful for quickly evaluating websites during outreach and link building.
Install the Extension: Download and install MozBar from the Chrome Web Store. You’ll see its icon appear near the top-right of your Chrome browser.
View SEO Metrics on Google Search: When you search on Google, MozBar displays Domain Authority (DA) and Page Authority (PA) next to each result. These scores (from 1 to 100) show how strong the entire domain or the specific page is.
Analyze Any Webpage: Open any website and click the MozBar icon. It will show a toolbar at the top with:
- DA (Domain Authority)
- PA (Page Authority)
- Number of backlinks
- Spam score (how trustworthy the site is)
Check Link Types: MozBar highlights links on the page and shows whether they are dofollow or nofollow, helping you see the link quality.
Page Elements Inspection: You can inspect important on-page elements like titles, descriptions, and headings using MozBar’s tools.
3. SEOQuake
SEOQuake is a free Chrome extension that offers detailed SEO data and quick audits directly in your browser. It’s great for checking website strength and link profiles when you’re working on outreach campaigns.
Install the Extension: Search for “SEOQuake” on the Chrome Web Store and add it to your browser. The SEOQuake icon will appear near the address bar.
View SEO Metrics on Google Search: When you do a Google search, SEOQuake adds useful data next to each result such as:
- Alexa Rank
- Google Index status
- Number of backlinks
- Traffic estimates
Perform On-Page SEO Audit: Visit any webpage and click the SEOQuake icon. It will show you a detailed report including:
- Title tag, meta description, and keywords
- Internal and external links on the page
- Nofollow and Dofollow link count
- Keyword density and usage
- Page load time and mobile compatibility
Compare Domains: SEOQuake lets you quickly compare SEO metrics of multiple domains side by side, which helps when choosing outreach targets.
Export Data: You can export search results with SEO data to a CSV file for easy analysis.
4. Email Hunter (Email Finder)
Email Hunter Chrome extension is a lightweight and efficient tool designed to extract email addresses from web pages. Ideal for outreach campaigns, it allows users to gather contact information quickly without the need for manual copying.
- Automatic Email Extraction: Upon visiting a webpage, the extension automatically scans and extracts all email addresses present on the page.
- One-Click Copy: Users can copy individual email addresses or all extracted emails with a single click, streamlining the process of gathering contacts.
Important Notes:
- Personal Use Only: The Email Hunter extension is intended for personal use. It’s essential to use the gathered email addresses responsibly and avoid spamming.
- Data Privacy: Be aware of privacy laws and regulations regarding data collection and ensure compliance when using the extension.
5. Apollo
Apollo is a popular outreach tool that helps you find email addresses and contact information from LinkedIn profiles and company websites. It’s great for outreach campaigns when you need verified contacts quickly.
- Monthly Credits: The free plan gives you 50 contact credits per month. Every time you reveal a contact’s details, one credit is used.
- Email & Phone Finder: You can find emails and phone numbers from LinkedIn profiles and company domains.
- Verified Emails: Apollo provides verified emails, increasing your chances of successful outreach.
- Easy Copy & Export: You can copy contact info easily or export your contacts as CSV files even on the free plan.
How to Use Apollo (Free Version):
- Install the Apollo Chrome extension from the Chrome Web Store.
- Open the LinkedIn profile or company website of the person you want to contact.
- Click the Apollo icon in your browser toolbar.
- The extension will scan and display available emails and phone numbers.
- Copy the contact info directly or save it for exporting later.
Additional Notes:
- Credits reset every month.
- Paid plans are available if you need more contacts.
- Apollo’s verified data makes outreach more reliable and effective.
6. Hunter.io
Hunter.io is a well-known email finder extension that helps you quickly find professional email addresses associated with websites or domains. It’s widely used for outreach and link building.
- Monthly Searches: The free plan offers 25 searches per month. Each search lets you find email addresses linked to a specific domain or company.
- Domain Search: Find emails by typing a website domain (e.g., example.com) and get a list of emails connected to that domain.
- Email Finder: Find the email address of a specific person by entering their name and company domain.
- Email Verification: Hunter shows confidence scores indicating how likely an email is valid.
- Export Options: You can export your search results in CSV format for easier management.
How to Use Hunter.io (Free Version):
- Install the Hunter.io Chrome extension from the Chrome Web Store.
- Visit the website/domain you want to find emails for.
- Click the Hunter.io icon in the browser toolbar.
- The extension will display a list of email addresses related to that domain, along with confidence scores.
- You can click on any email to copy it or add it to your contact list.
- Use the Email Finder feature to search for a specific person’s email by entering their name and company domain.
Important Notes:
- The free plan limits you to 25 searches per month, so use your credits wisely.
- Hunter is reliable because it verifies emails with confidence scores, helping you focus on valid contacts.
- Paid plans offer higher limits and advanced features if you need more volume.
7. Grammarly
Grammarly is a popular writing assistant that checks grammar, spelling, and clarity in real time. For outreach campaigns, clear and error-free communication is key, and Grammarly helps you write professional emails that impress.
- Install the Grammarly Chrome extension from the Chrome Web Store.
- When composing outreach emails in Gmail, LinkedIn messages, or any web-based editor, Grammarly automatically highlights grammar and spelling mistakes.
- Click on the underlined errors to see suggestions and apply corrections instantly.
- Grammarly also helps improve sentence clarity and tone, making your emails sound more professional.
- The free version covers basic grammar, spelling, and punctuation checks.
Limitations of Free Version:
- Advanced style and tone suggestions are only available in the premium version.
- No plagiarism checking in the free version.
8. Email Tracker (by Mailtrack/MailSuite)
Email Tracker is a handy Chrome extension that lets you know when your outreach emails are opened, helping you track engagement and plan follow-ups effectively.
- Install the Email Tracker extension from the Chrome Web Store.
- Compose your outreach emails in Gmail as usual.
- The extension automatically adds a tiny, invisible tracking pixel to your email.
- When the recipient opens your email, you get a real-time notification or can check the email open status in your dashboard.
- Use this info to follow up at the right time or adjust your outreach strategy.
Free Version Limits:
- Most free trackers offer limited daily tracking or a restricted number of tracked emails.
- Check specific extension details for exact limits as they vary by provider.
9. Bulk URL Opener
Bulk URL Opener is a simple but powerful Chrome extension that helps you open multiple URLs at once in separate tabs, saving you time during link-building research and outreach.
- Install the Bulk URL Opener extension from the Chrome Web Store.
- Copy a list of URLs (one per line) that you want to visit for outreach or link prospecting.
- Click the Bulk URL Opener icon in your browser toolbar.
- Paste your list of URLs into the extension’s input box.
- Click “Open URLs” to instantly open all links in new tabs.
Additional Tips:
- Avoid opening too many tabs at once to prevent browser slowdown.
- Use it with organized URL lists to stay efficient.
10. Sticky Notes
Sticky Notes is a lightweight Chrome extension that lets you create digital sticky notes inside your browser. It’s great for leaving yourself quick reminders, tracking follow-ups, or saving outreach ideas while working.
- Install the Sticky Notes extension from the Chrome Web Store.
- Click on the extension icon to open a sticky note window.
- Start typing anything, a contact’s name, follow-up date, or a quick idea.
- Notes are automatically saved and will reappear the next time you open your browser.
Why Sticky Notes Is Useful for Outreach:
- Easily jot down follow-up dates, contact names, or reminders without leaving your browser.
- Helps manage outreach tasks in real-time without switching tools.
- Perfect for keeping short-term to-dos visible while you research or email prospects.
Why Choose These Chrome Extensions?
These Chrome extensions were handpicked based on personal experience and real-world outreach needs. In our daily link building and outreach campaigns, we’ve tested dozens of tools but these stood out in terms of practicality, performance, and ease of use.
They cover every essential function: from email finding and verification to grammar correction, link analysis, tracking, and productivity. While many other Chrome extensions exist, these are more than enough for anyone running serious outreach. They perform all the critical tasks that other tools offer without overwhelming your browser or slowing down your system.
We focused on tools that are reliable, beginner-friendly, and efficient, so you don’t need to install 20+ plugins just to get the job done. Quality over quantity, and your computer stays fast, too.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a seasoned SEO or just starting with outreach, these Chrome extensions can dramatically increase your productivity and success rate. From finding the right emails to sending polished messages and tracking their performance, this toolkit covers it all.
Start with the free versions and upgrade as your outreach scales. Smart link building isn’t just about effort, it’s about using the right tools efficiently.
FAQs
1. What is the best email finder tool?
The best email finder tools are Email Hunter, Apollo, and Hunter.io. They let you extract professional emails from websites or LinkedIn and verify them quickly. These tools are reliable, beginner-friendly, and offer free credits for outreach.
2. Which extensions are the best alternative to Grammarly?
QuillBot, WordTune, and ProWritingAid are strong Grammarly alternatives. They provide grammar correction, writing suggestions, and clarity checks. These tools also offer both free and premium plans based on your writing needs.
3. Do too many Chrome extensions slow down the browser?
Yes, installing too many extensions can slow down your browser and system. They consume memory and may run background processes even when not in use. It’s best to keep only the essential ones active for smooth performance.