Right-now switching
The side panel stays visible while you work, so switching between workspaces is a single click with no popup. Sessionat requires opening the popup UI, which is one click more.
Sessionat vs Side Space
Side Space puts tab lists in Chrome's Side Panel API — a workspace-switcher that lives in the native side panel introduced in Chrome 114. Sessionat solves a different problem: auto-saving sessions for later recall with AI search. Here's when each tool fits.
Installs (Chrome)
Sessionat
2,000+
Side Space
Small install base
Rating
Sessionat
4.3★ (35)
Side Space
n/a★ (See CWS)
Last update
Sessionat
April 2026
Side Space
Page refresh pending
Pricing
Sessionat
Free · Pro $19/mo
Side Space
Freemium
Data verified April 2026
The trade-off
Different tools, different jobs
Side Space is a right-now tool. Its job is fast tab switching in the side panel while you work — like Arc's Spaces, but as a Chrome extension. If your pain is “I have 40 tabs and need to jump between 4 projects right now,” Side Space is the right shape.
Sessionat is a later tool. Its job is capturing the full state of what you browsed and letting you ask plain-English questions about it three weeks later. If your pain is “which tab had that TypeScript spec?” Sessionat is the right shape.
They're complementary, not competitors. Many users run both: Side Space for right-now workspace switching, Sessionat for the long-term “where did I see this?” recall. We ship a popup UI, not a side panel, because side-panel UI competes with Chrome's native vertical-tab feature (shipping March 2026). We don't want to bet the product on an API Chrome is already absorbing.
Note: our detailed stats for Side Space are being refreshed for 2026. Check the Chrome Web Store listing for current install count and reviews before making a choice.
| Feature | Sessionat | Side Space |
|---|---|---|
| Side-panel workspace UI | ✗ | |
| Fast right-now tab switching | Popup | |
| Auto-save sessions (long-term recall) | ✗ | |
| AI semantic search | ✗ | |
| AI chat about browsing history | ✗ | |
| Local-first storage | ||
| Keyword search across saved sessions | Visible tabs only | |
| Free tier | ||
| Chrome extension |
Honest assessment
What Side Space does better
Arc-like UX on Chrome
Side-panel spaces approximate the Arc browser experience without requiring you to install a new browser. If that's what you want, Side Space delivers it natively.
FAQ
Real questions we get about Side Space.
Can I use Side Space and Sessionat together?
Yes — they do different jobs. Side Space for right-now workspace switching, Sessionat for long-term session archiving and AI search. Many power users run both.
Why doesn't Sessionat have a side panel UI?
Chrome is shipping native vertical tabs in Chrome 146 (March 2026). Building a side-panel UI that competes with native vertical tabs is a losing bet. We focused on the capture + recall problem instead.
Does Side Space have AI?
Based on our most recent check, no — Side Space is a workspace switcher, not an AI tool. Data may have changed; check their Chrome Web Store listing for current state.
Which is lighter on memory?
Both are lightweight. Side Space runs a side-panel iframe that's always open (slightly heavier when visible). Sessionat runs a background service worker that sleeps between saves (slightly heavier when auto-saving, negligible when idle).
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