Where Do You Go For Declined Google Chrome Extensions
The release of the official Google Chrome extensions gallery was a big step for Google and the Google Chrome web browser.
The Google browser lacked a central location for extensions, something that Mozilla offered on the official Mozilla website for Firefox users, or Microsoft at the Internet Explorer 8 website.
With the release come reports that not all extensions are accepted by Google. One of the first to witness this was extension developer Deepesh Agarwal who wanted to submit a Youtube downloader to the extension gallery.
The extension was declined by Google with reference to the developer TOS that explicitly state that extensions that support the "unauthorized download of streaming content or media" will not be included in the gallery.
The terms of service contain 17 actions that are prohibited including the display of material not suitable for persons under 18 years of age, displays of links that violate intellectual properties, or the previously mentioned unauthorized download of streaming media.
Word of caution:It is important that you verify the extensions before you install them. Malicious extensions may do all sorts of harmful things.
Here are a few websites where you can go to download extensions that will not be hosted by Google's official Google Chrome extensions gallery:
Chrome Extensions
Chrome Extensions is a third party website that hosts and reviews Google Chrome extensions. The website provides one click installations with information about the supported versions of the Chrome browser as well as categories, a feature that is missing from Google's official website. [link]
Update: Categories are now also available on the official repository. It appears that the site has not been updated in a while. While you may still find some extensions there that work in recent versions of Chrome, most probably won't.
Chrome Plugins
The website is powered by an active forum that is frequented by many extension developers. The extensions that are offered are not as easy to navigate but the good ones should all be there. [link]
The site has not been updated since 2015. This indicates that it is no longer maintained actively.
My Chrome Addons
A blog that reviews extensions and themes for the Google Chrome web browser. It links to the developer's website for download links and further information. [link]
And the last site has not been updated since 2015 as well.
There are also lots of blog posts that cover Chrome extensions like our coverage of five Google chrome extensions for Google services.
There you have it. Three alternative websites for Google Chrome extensions plus guaranteed coverage of the best here at Ghacks.
The situation in 2017
Google has tightened the screws in regards to installation of extensions from third-party sites and locations. The company announced back in 2014 that it would disable all Chrome extensions starting in May that were not hsoted in the official store by then.
While this involves only Stable and Beta versions of Chrome, those are the versions used by the majority of users. Chrome Dev and Canary users still have options to install those extensions though.
Third-party Chrome stores are more or less dead at this point. While you still find some extensions hosted on sites like GitHub, there does not seem to be a central resource that lists all those extensions in an easy to access manner.
I didn’t trust Google with Chrome and extensions from start. This article says that I was right.
I am of the opinion that there is a small problem w/ Google’s Terms of Service. Much stuff in Youtube & other places has been offered into the public domain, & there is no violation of copywrite statutes going on at all. The authors WANT their stuff downloaded & shared, w/ the caveat that it not be used commercially, in some cases.Anyway, that is my thinking.