If you only use your browser to, well, browse the web, you have not yet begun to harness its power. Learn how extensions and bookmarklets can throw the doors of the internet wide open.

Your web browser can Google, it can YouTube, and it can even Twitter, but if that’s all you’re doing with it, you haven’t scratched the surface of its potential. A universe of extensions and bookmarklets is out there, and these free software add-ons give your browser the power to remove ads, reshuffle web pages to your liking, speed up your downloads, rip videos, and perform other wizardly feats. You can even get into the act with Mobile Safari on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Whether you’re just starting out or you’re already armed with a suite of your favorite extensions, our guide to the best browser add-ons will transform your time surfing. It’ll practically feel like magic.

Mac Extensions

It’s an exciting time to surf the web on a Mac. No, really! We’ve never had so many top-notch browsers to choose from. But as good as Chrome, Firefox, and Safari are, each can be made even better with extensions. (Wondering what this extension business is all about? Navigate to our beginner’s guide.) The right extension can improve your browser’s existing features and even add new ones. We’ve picked the most useful extensions no Mac user should be without, and then we unearthed some hidden gems you that’ll help you work easier and play harder online.

Power Surfer's Toolkit: You’ll surf smarter and faster with these must-have extensions. Don’t leave your homepage without them.

FreshStart

Save your current session or restore an old one.

This simple extension saves all tabs in a window (or just the ones you check) in sessions you can restore later. Sessions are saved with the date and custom names in a convenient dropdown window. Cooler still, FreshStart backs up all your windows and tabs at timed intervals to protect your browsing against crashes.

Compatible with: Chrome · tinyurl.com/ye7k4m6

GreaseMonkey

Don’t like how a webpage works? Get Greasemonkey. With it and some of the thousands of Greasespot scripts available online, you can make your favorite pages do your bidding. Want to strip ads out of Facebook? There’s a script for that. And Chrome users, set your faces to smug--most Greasespot scripts install in your browser without any extra extensions.

Compatible with: Chrome, Firefox · greasespot.net

Docs PDF/PowerPoint Viewer

Chrome’s PDF support is a little…nonexistent. Bring Google’s shiny new browser into the 21st century with this extension that displays PDFs and PowerPoint files as Google Docs right in your Chrome window.

Compatible with: Chrome · tinyurl.com/ydx44tn

Shareaholic

Shareaholic lets you broadcast to a zillion blogs and social networking sites, squash long URLs, and even email links to friends like folks did back in olden times. Don’t worry about running out of things to share—Shareaholic brings you the latest news from Twitter, OneRiot, and Buzzster as you browse.

Compatible with: Chrome, Firefox, Safari · shareaholic.com

Xmarks

Xmarks syncs and backs up bookmarks automatically across multiple computers and browsers. Better still, you can assign profiles (Work and Home, for instance) to browsers so only certain sets of bookmarks are synced. That’s handy if you don’t want business and pleasure links to mix on the same machine.

Compatible with: Chrome, Firefox, Safari · xmarks.com

ClickToFlash

ClickToFlash doesn’t just block Flash, it manages it. A click loads an individual Flash element, all Flash on a page, or adds the current domain to ClickToFlash’s list of unblocked sites with Flash content you want to play normally.

Compatible with: Safari · tinyurl.com/laoc8q

1Password

1Password is a Mac application and extension combo that saves login and form data as you surf, guarding it all with one password. It also generates strong passwords for secure sites and syncs them--with form data, credit card numbers, notes, and more--across multiple browsers and Macs. Better still, your sensitive data is secured in style with 1Password’s beautiful interface.

Compatible with: Firefox, Safari · agilewebsolutions.com

DownThemAll!

Grab a page's downloads quickly and easily.

DownThemAll accelerates your downloads, retries stalled attempts, and grabs all a page’s downloadable files with just a few clicks. Oh, and that acceleration? Our demo download crept along at 40kbps until DownThemAll gobbled up the same file at a smokin’ 150kbps.

Compatible with: Firefox · downthemall.net

StumbleUpon

StumbleUpon helps you find sites you didn’t know you liked. Just browse normally and rate sites with a thumbs up or down, or browse StumbleUpon categories that interest you. Soon StumbleUpon will know enough about you to recommend web pages that are right up your alley.

Compatible with: Chrome, Firefox · stumbleupon.com

PriceTrace Toolbar

Always get the best deal.

Attention, Kmart.com shoppers--and shoppers at over 40 other online stores. PriceTrace Toolbar lets you instantly compare an item’s price, view price trends, and subscribe to price alerts with a click. If you want to save money, put PriceTrace on the case.

Compatible with: Chrome, Firefox · pricetrace.com

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