How to sync tabs between Chrome and Firefox

If you use both Chrome and Firefox (maybe Chrome at work, Firefox at home, or you’re just hedging your bets) you’ve probably noticed the obvious problem: their sync features don’t work together.

Chrome syncs to Chrome. Firefox syncs to Firefox. And if you want to continue reading that article you found at lunch? Good luck remembering which browser you had it open in.

Why browser sync doesn’t help you

Both browsers have built-in sync. It works fine for keeping your Chrome tabs in sync across devices, or your Firefox tabs across devices. But that’s it.

There’s no “sync to the other browser” option. Google and Mozilla aren’t exactly motivated to make switching easy.

What you’re stuck with:

• Manually copying URLs between browsers
• Emailing yourself links (we’ve all done it)
• Using shared bookmarks, which is tedious
• Just… forgetting about it

None of these are good.

Your actual options

Option 1: Pick one browser and commit

The simplest solution. Stop using two browsers.

Downsides: Maybe you can’t. Work might require Chrome. Firefox might be better for privacy on personal stuff. Some sites just work better in one or the other.

Option 2: Use a read-later service

Services like Pocket, Instapaper, or Raindrop let you save articles to read later. They work across browsers.

Downsides: They’re designed for articles, not for “I have 40 tabs open on a project and need to get back to them tonight.” You’d have to save each tab individually.

Option 3: Export and import manually

Firefox can export tabs to a file. Chrome has extensions that do the same. You could export from one and import to the other.

Downsides: This is a pain. You won’t actually do it regularly. And by the time you need those tabs, you’ve forgotten which export file has them.

Option 4: Use a cross-browser tab manager

This is what actually works if you need real sync between browsers. A separate service that saves your tabs and lets you access them from any browser.

TabHaven does this. You save tabs from Chrome, they show up when you open Firefox. Extensions for both browsers, plus a web app if you’re on a device without either.

Full disclosure: I built TabHaven because I had this exact problem. I switch between browsers constantly, and I kept losing tabs every time I hopped from one to another.

What to look for in a cross-browser tab manager

If you’re evaluating options, here’s what matters:

Browser extensions for both Chrome and Firefox. Web-only tools add too much friction. You want one-click saving.

Search. If you’ve saved hundreds of tabs, you need to find them again. Good search by title and URL is non-negotiable.

Organization. Folders, tags, workspaces. Something to keep different projects separate.

Privacy. Your browsing history is personal. Look for clear data practices.

Sync speed. Save a tab in Chrome, open Firefox, it should be there. Not “sync in the next hour.”

The workflow that works

Here’s what I do:

1. Working in Chrome, find tabs I want to keep → right-click, “Save to TabHaven”
2. Later, open Firefox → click the extension, search or browse, open what I need
3. Done

No copying URLs. No emailing myself. No trying to remember which browser had what.

The tabs are just… there. Both browsers read from the same place.

Wrap up

Browser vendors aren’t going to solve this for you. They want you locked into their ecosystem.

If you genuinely need tabs available across Chrome and Firefox, your options are:

• Pick one browser (limiting but simple)
• Use a read-later service (works for articles, not for tab hoarding)
• Use a cross-browser tab manager like TabHaven (what actually solves the problem)

Whatever you pick, stop emailing yourself links. Life’s too short.