Add to Chrome — free

A current checklist for a Session Buddy alternative

A Session Buddy alternative is easiest to evaluate as an archive-migration project, not as a contest of ratings. Start with the collection you cannot afford to damage: choose a few saved items that represent single-window, multi-window, pinned-tab, and large-session cases. Tabwell's current migration code expects Session Buddy-style JSON with sessions, windows, and tabs, then creates one imported snapshot for each non-empty source window. It carries the fields it recognizes and uses one neutral Imported group rather than guessing native Chrome group structure. Once you reorganize an imported window and save a new Tabwell snapshot, Tabwell can preserve that native group title, color, and collapsed state. This page gives you acceptance checks, rollback steps, and a cutover sequence so you can decide whether Tabwell is a suitable alternative without relying on claims about Session Buddy's internal network behavior or historical reviews.

Build an acceptance sample

Select three to five source items with different shapes. Record each item's name, number of windows, tab count per window, pinned tabs, and several known URLs. Export using the current Session Buddy workflow and keep an untouched copy.

Understand Tabwell's conversion boundary

For the JSON shape Tabwell supports, every non-empty source window becomes its own imported snapshot. URL, title, order, and pinned state are carried when present. The importer creates a single grey Imported group because it does not treat missing native group fields as evidence. This boundary is visible and testable before full cutover.

Validate before scaling up

  1. Import the acceptance sample during the local Pro trial.
  2. Compare imported snapshot and tab counts with your worksheet.
  3. Open sampled URLs and inspect pinned state.
  4. Reorganize one imported snapshot into native Chrome groups.
  5. Save, close the disposable window, and restore that new Tabwell snapshot.

If any required field is missing, stop with the original archive intact and investigate before importing more.

Plan the steady state

Tabwell stores snapshots locally, exports JSON, and offers periodic recovery points. It does not sync across devices. Free keeps up to five snapshots total and one automatic recovery slot; Pro adds archive-scale history, search across indexed saved tab titles, URLs, and group names, importers, and configurable intervals. Snapshots, tab titles, and URLs stay in local IndexedDB. Billing and license requests use Tabwell's billing service and Polar without sending tab data. Optional redacted crash diagnostics can be enabled; they are off by default. See the privacy policy. Current prices, purchase options, and terms are listed on the pricing page.

FAQ

What should be in a migration acceptance sample?

Include single-window, multi-window, pinned-tab, and larger saved items. Record names, window counts, tab counts, pinned state, and sample URLs before exporting.

How does Tabwell split a Session Buddy-style export?

Its current importer creates one imported snapshot for each non-empty source window in the sessions and windows JSON shape it supports.

Why do imported tabs start in one grey group?

The importer does not invent native Chrome group metadata when the accepted source fields do not provide it. Reorganize the tabs, then save a new Tabwell snapshot.

What is the safe rollback?

Keep the original export unchanged and do not remove the source extension or archive until tab counts, sampled URLs, pinned state, and a test restore all pass.

Is migration available during the trial?

Yes. The importer is available during the local 14-day Pro trial. Current prices, purchase options, and terms are listed at https://tabwell.org/pricing.html.