# AI Sidebar

According to OpenAITools.app telemetry verified on 2026-11-11, AI Sidebar (chromewebstore.google.com) is an AI platform indexed under AI Browsers generating 0 monthly visits with a month-over-month traffic delta of +0 (0.0%). Its primary geographic market is Global (— traffic share), and it operates on a Free pricing model. Top competing alternatives by monthly volume include Chippy (2.99K visits/mo), Sider (2.64M visits/mo), Merlin AI (1.38M visits/mo).

A free GPT side panel for Chrome using your own OpenAI key

## Key Telemetry & Specifications

| Metric | Value |
| :--- | :--- |
| Tool Name | AI Sidebar |
| Handle | ai-sidebar |
| Status | active |
| Origin | independent |
| Maintenance | active |
| Official Domain | chromewebstore.google.com |
| Website URL | https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/ai-sidebar/bbiefdkbkllmalcnhfbklcgnomhohfia |
| Categories | AI Browsers, AI Assistant, AI Copilot, AI Productivity Tools |
| Pricing Model | Free |
| Monthly Visits | 0 |
| MoM Traffic Change | 0 |
| MoM Growth Rate | — |
| Primary Market | Global |
| Market Share | — |
| Direct Visits | 0 |
| Organic Search Visits | 0 |
| Social Visits | 0 |
| Referral Visits | 0 |
| Email Visits | 0 |
| Review Score | 3.8 |
| Saved Count | 0 |
| Supported Platforms | Browser Extension |
| Billing Platforms |  |
| Attributes | Features: Browser Extension; Pricing: Free |
| Tags | Chrome extension, AI assistant, OpenAI, GPT, Sidebar, Productivity, Web browsing, Summarization, Content generation, Research |

## Overview

AI Sidebar is a small Chrome extension from an independent developer that puts an OpenAI GPT chat box in Chrome's side panel. Rather than a full AI browser, it is a focused utility: open the panel, ask a question, or hand it the page you are on and ask for a summary or a rewrite. That design keeps the current page visible while you work, which matters more than it sounds like when you are comparing several sources or reading documentation.

The extension deliberately brings your own key. You paste an OpenAI API key into the settings, and the extension makes requests on your behalf, so you control which models you can access and how much you spend. There is no bundled subscription and no developer markup. In exchange, you need a working OpenAI account and you are responsible for keeping the key secure.

Expectations should stay modest. The listing shows version 1.0, updated in August 2024, and around two dozen users with no ratings — essentially an early, personal-scale project rather than a polished commercial assistant. It is genuinely useful for summarization and quick drafting, but anyone wanting deep integrations, multimodal support or frequent updates should compare it against larger, actively maintained AI sidebar extensions before committing.

## Pricing & Plans

Free. The extension is free to install from the Chrome Web Store and the developer does not charge for it. Because it relies on your own OpenAI API key, AI usage is billed separately by OpenAI according to your account's consumption.

## Key Features & Capabilities

- **Side panel chat:** Runs in Chrome's native side panel so the assistant stays visible beside the page you are reading instead of covering it in a floating window.
- **Page summarization:** Send the current article or page into the chat to get a condensed summary quickly when you are scanning research or long documentation.
- **In-context writing help:** Ask for explanations, rewrites, outlines or email drafts while staying in the same tab you are working in.
- **Bring your own OpenAI key:** You paste your own OpenAI key in the settings, so requests go to your own account and you control spend and model access.
- **Lightweight footprint:** The install is a small 48 KB package with no account sign-up and no bundled subscription, keeping it out of the way until you need it.

## Primary Use Cases

- **Summarize long pages in place (Researcher or student):** Ask for a condensed version of a long article, spec or report without leaving the tab or copying text into a separate chat app.
- **Draft replies and messages (Knowledge worker):** Get suggestions for replies, comments or short messages while the context stays visible in the panel next to the page.
- **Quick answers during browsing (Anyone doing web research):** Query GPT alongside the page you are evaluating to clarify jargon, compare options or sanity-check claims as you browse.

## Strengths

- Free to install with no subscription from the developer
- Uses your own OpenAI API key, so you control model choice and spending
- Side panel layout keeps the page visible while you chat
- Very small 48 KB install with no sign-up required

## Limitations

- Only 24 users and no ratings, so there is very little community feedback to rely on
- You must supply your own OpenAI API key, and usage is billed by OpenAI
- Last update was August 2024, so newer model features may be missing
- Basic sidebar UX compared with larger, more actively maintained AI extensions

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is AI Sidebar?
It is a Google Chrome extension that adds a GPT-powered chat sidebar to your browser. You enter your own OpenAI API key in the settings, and the panel then handles summarization, drafting and research-style questions on the page you are viewing.

### Is AI Sidebar free to use?
Yes. The extension itself is free to install. However, it uses your own OpenAI API key, so any costs come from your OpenAI account usage, not from the extension developer.

### Is AI Sidebar still maintained?
The listing was last updated in August 2024 and has around two dozen users. It works, but it is a minimal single-developer project, so manage expectations about feature depth and update cadence.

### Is my data safe?
According to the Chrome Web Store listing, the developer declares that data is not sold to third parties and is only used for core functionality. Page content you send goes to OpenAI through your own key, so review OpenAI's policies as well.

### Do I need an OpenAI account?
You need a valid OpenAI API key, which is available from OpenAI's developer platform. The extension does not include a bundled model subscription.

### What is AI Sidebar's monthly traffic and growth trend?
AI Sidebar currently receives 0 monthly visits, with a month-over-month traffic change of +0 (0.0% growth rate). Its primary source market is Global (— share), including 0 direct visits/mo and 0 organic search visits/mo.

### Is AI Sidebar free? What is its pricing model?
AI Sidebar operates on a Free pricing model. Free. The extension is free to install from the Chrome Web Store and the developer does not charge for it. Because it relies on your own OpenAI API key, AI usage is billed separately by OpenAI according to your account's consumption. Supported billing and checkout platforms include: not listed.

### What are the best AI Sidebar alternatives in 2026?
Based on OpenAITools.app category traffic and feature fit, the top five alternatives to AI Sidebar are: 1. Chippy (2.99K visits/mo); 2. Sider (2.64M visits/mo); 3. Merlin AI (1.38M visits/mo); 4. HARPA AI (537.46K visits/mo); 5. Kome AI (174.91K visits/mo).

### Which platforms and core AI capabilities does AI Sidebar support?
AI Sidebar is classified under AI Browsers, AI Assistant, AI Copilot, AI Productivity Tools, supports the following platforms: Browser Extension, and its core capability tags include: Chrome extension, AI assistant, OpenAI, GPT, Sidebar, Productivity.

## Alternatives

| Tool Name | Monthly Visits | Pricing Model | Compare |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| [Chippy](https://openaitools.app/tool/chippy) | 2,987 | Freemium | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/ai-sidebar-vs-chippy) |
| [Sider](https://openaitools.app/tool/sider) | 2,644,740 | Freemium | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/ai-sidebar-vs-sider) |
| [Merlin AI](https://openaitools.app/tool/merlin-ai) | 1,382,634 | Freemium | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/ai-sidebar-vs-merlin-ai) |
| [HARPA AI](https://openaitools.app/tool/harpa-ai) | 537,461 | Freemium | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/ai-sidebar-vs-harpa-ai) |
| [Kome AI](https://openaitools.app/tool/kome-ai) | 174,910 | Freemium | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/ai-sidebar-vs-kome-ai) |
| [Monica](https://openaitools.app/tool/monica-ai) | 4,512,775 | Freemium | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/ai-sidebar-vs-monica-ai) |
| [SigmaOS Airis (Alpha)](https://openaitools.app/tool/sigmaos-airis-alpha) | 90,910 | Freemium | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/ai-sidebar-vs-sigmaos-airis-alpha) |
| [Walles.ai - Your AI Browser Sidekick](https://openaitools.app/tool/walles-ai-your-ai-browser-sidekick) | 8,309 | Freemium | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/ai-sidebar-vs-walles-ai-your-ai-browser-sidekick) |
| [Docky.AI](https://openaitools.app/tool/dockyai-chatgpt-sidebar-chrome-extension) | 1,130 | Freemium | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/ai-sidebar-vs-dockyai-chatgpt-sidebar-chrome-extension) |
| [Web AIChat](https://openaitools.app/tool/web-aichat) | 0 | Free | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/ai-sidebar-vs-web-aichat) |
| [GPT Workspace](https://openaitools.app/tool/gpt-workspace-1) | 431,507 | Freemium, Free Trial, Paid | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/ai-sidebar-vs-gpt-workspace-1) |
| [Mochii](https://openaitools.app/tool/mochii) | 26,988 | Freemium | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/ai-sidebar-vs-mochii) |

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Source: https://openaitools.app/tool/ai-sidebar