Comparison · Verified Sep 30, 2026
TabBud vs Session Buddy
A long-running, local-first Chrome session manager with crash recovery and no account.
Overview
How TabBud and Session Buddy differ
Session Buddy is a Chrome extension for saving and restoring windows of tabs, browsing a timeline of past sessions, and keeping bookmark collections — all on the device. The marketing site and Chrome Web Store FAQ state there is no signup, no tracking, and no cloud copy of your tabs unless you export them yourself.
That local-first stance is the product. It is also the limit. Opt-in cloud storage is described as a future premium-level feature, not something you can buy today. TabBud is the inverse: an account, cloud sync on the free plan, and sharing on paid plans.
Features
Feature by feature
Verified Sep 30, 2026 — facts, not marketing scores.
| Feature | TabBud | SSession Buddy |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | One-time purchase | Free (cloud premium planned) |
| Individual paid plan | $49 once (Pro) | None today |
| Team plan | $99 once (Team) | None |
| Free tier | 200 cards, 20 collections, 5 spaces | Unlimited, local |
| Browsers | Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave | Chrome |
| Where your data lives | Cloud, encrypted, offline cache | Local device |
| Cloud sync | On Free plan | Planned |
| Notes on saved tabs | Rich text, synced, searchable | Not verified |
| Sharing & teams | Spaces (Pro), Collections with roles (Team) | Export/copy, 15+ formats |
| Account required | Yes, free (Google or email) | No |
Pricing
What it actually costs
Free. Cloud storage described as a future paid option, not currently offered.
- Free — $0 forever (200 cards)
- Pro — $49 once
- Team — $99 once
From sessionbuddy.com and the Chrome Web Store listing FAQ. TabBud: Free $0; Pro $49 one-time; Team $99 one-time.
Verdict
Which should you choose?
Where Session Buddy is stronger
- Free access to current features with no account, stated on the Chrome Web Store FAQ.
- Crash and history restore: windows and tabs as they were at a point in time, including pinned and incognito state (with the usual permission caveats).
- Import/export and copy/paste across 15+ formats (plain text, links, JSON, CSV, Markdown, HTML).
- Engineered for large libraries — the vendor claims thousands of tabs without freezing the browser.
- Privacy posture: local storage, no ads, no marketing email, no login.
Where TabBud is stronger
Free plan: 200 Cards · 20 Collections · 5 Spaces, with cloud sync and notes included.
- TabBud syncs across devices on the free plan. Session Buddy keeps data on the device, and its store FAQ describes cloud storage as a future premium feature.
- TabBud runs on Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Brave from one account. Session Buddy is a Chrome Web Store extension.
- TabBud stores your library in the cloud, so uninstalling and reinstalling restores it. Uninstalling a local-storage extension typically deletes its library, so export first.
- TabBud shares Spaces with view and edit roles from inside the product. Session Buddy shares by exporting files.
Choose Session Buddy if
Pick Session Buddy if you want a free, private, local session time machine in Chrome and you are disciplined about exports.
Choose TabBud if
Pick TabBud if you need the same library on Firefox and another PC without USB backups, plus notes and optional sharing.
TabBud vs Session Buddy FAQs
Yes. The Chrome Web Store FAQ says all current features are free and do not require an account. A cloud-based storage alternative, once offered, is described as the only premium-level feature.
No. Data stays on the device. TabBud syncs Spaces, Collections, Cards, and notes through an account.
Yes — crash recovery and a history timeline are core claims on sessionbuddy.com and the store listing.
It is a Chrome extension. TabBud is listed on Firefox Add-ons as well as the Chrome Web Store.
Session Buddy's sharing is export/copy in many formats. TabBud Pro/Team share Spaces (and Collections on Team) inside the product.
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More comparisons
Comparison verified against the vendor’s own published pricing page and store listing. TabBud figures come from tabbud.com/pricing.