Open source
TSM is fully open-source on GitHub. You can audit every line of code, fork it, self-build, or keep using the last-known-good version forever. Sessionat is closed-source today.
Sessionat vs Tab Session Manager
Tab Session Manager (TSM) ships the best auto-save timer in the open-source category — configurable down to 30 seconds, optional Google Drive sync, no telemetry. But its 3.5★ rating is the lowest of any serious session tool in 2026, and the one-star reviews all tell the same story: data loss. Sessionat offers the same auto-save reliability, with durability invariants a 2k-user extension survives on.
Installs (Chrome)
Sessionat
2,000+
Tab Session Manager
100,000+
Rating
Sessionat
4.3★ (35)
Tab Session Manager
3.5★ (427)
Last update
Sessionat
April 2026
Tab Session Manager
February 2026
Pricing
Sessionat
Free · Pro $19/mo
Tab Session Manager
Free (open-source)
Data verified April 2026
The trade-off
The honest trade-off
TSM's v7.3 update shipped February 2026 and addressed several data-durability issues, but the existing 1-star reviews don't auto-update. Some come from users who lost sessions during the MV3 migration (pre-v7); others are newer, reporting empty session lists after a Chrome update.
What TSM genuinely does well: open-source code (auditable), Google Drive sync (optional), 0.5-minute auto-save intervals, zero telemetry, and the most comprehensive export format in the category. If data sovereignty and auditability are your priority, TSM is a genuinely reasonable choice.
Sessionat's position: the same auto-save reliability, plus AI, but with a closed-source backend. If open-source is a hard requirement, pick TSM v7.3 or later and back up to Drive. If you'll trade closed-source for AI + a smaller 1-star complaint surface, Sessionat.
| Feature | Sessionat | Tab Session Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Timer auto-save | ||
| Open-source code | ✗ | |
| Google Drive sync | ✗ | Optional |
| AI semantic search | ✗ | |
| AI chat about history | ✗ | |
| Bulk AI categorization | ✗ | |
| Export formats | JSON | |
| Privacy: local-first | ||
| Zero telemetry | ||
| Rating health | 4.3★ | 3.5★ |
| Active maintenance (< 6 months) |
Honest assessment
What Tab Session Manager does better
Optional Google Drive sync
You control your sync provider. Sessionat's cross-device sync goes through our servers (Pro tier). TSM's sync is directly into your Google Drive — no vendor cloud in the middle.
Most comprehensive export
TSM exports to JSON, plaintext, Markdown, CSV, and formats compatible with Session Buddy — the broadest round-trip support in the category. Sessionat exports JSON only today.
FAQ
Real questions we get about Tab Session Manager.
Can I import my TSM sessions into Sessionat?
Yes. Export from TSM as JSON (Menu → Export → JSON). Import into Sessionat via Settings → Import. Each TSM session becomes a Sessionat saved session; auto-save metadata carries over.
Why is TSM rated 3.5★ when it is technically good?
Data-loss reviews drag the rating. Several 1-stars come from users who lost sessions during the MV3 migration (2023–2024) or during Chrome auto-updates. TSM v7 addressed most of these; the old reviews remain visible.
Is Sessionat open-source?
The Chrome extension itself is not open-source today; we're evaluating publishing it. The data contract is fully documented, exports are clean JSON, and all local data lives in IndexedDB under your control.
Does TSM have AI?
No — TSM is pure session management with no AI features. Its author's stance is that AI doesn't belong in a privacy-first session tool. That is a valid philosophical position; Sessionat takes the opposite view (AI is opt-in and one-shot).
Which has better auto-save reliability in 2026?
Both are solid on current versions (Sessionat 4.2+, TSM 7.3+). Our state persists through chrome.storage.local + chrome.storage.session with 2k-user field testing. TSM's current version is also solid, but the rating surface still carries the old data-loss complaints.
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