How to Find Low-Competition Chrome Extension Niches

The Chrome Web Store has over 180,000 extensions. But hidden within this crowded marketplace are niches with real demand and surprisingly little competition. Here's how to find them.

Why Niche Selection Matters

Building a "to-do list" extension means competing against hundreds of established players. Building a "to-do list for Notion users" or "to-do list that syncs with Todoist" means competing against far fewer — often with users who have specific needs that aren't being met.

The key insight: specificity reduces competition and increases the chances that your extension becomes the go-to solution for a particular use case.

Signs of a Good Niche

A promising low-competition niche typically shows these characteristics:

• 3-10 direct competitors — enough to prove demand, few enough to compete
• No dominant player — no extension with 1M+ installs
• Moderate ratings (3.5-4.2) — users want the solution but aren't fully satisfied
• Some abandoned extensions — competitors who gave up, leaving opportunities
• Specific keywords — niche terms rather than broad categories

The Niche Discovery Process

Here's a practical approach to finding your niche:

Step 1: Start Broad, Then Narrow

Begin with a broad category you're interested in. Let's say "productivity". This is too broad — you'll find thousands of competitors. Now narrow it:

• productivity → time tracking
• time tracking → pomodoro timer
• pomodoro timer → pomodoro timer with Spotify integration

Each step reduces competition while maintaining clear user intent.

Step 2: Analyze Each Level

Use ChromeNiche to check competition at each level of specificity. You're looking for the sweet spot: specific enough to have low competition, broad enough to have real demand.

Step 3: Check Activity Signals

Pay attention to how actively competitors are maintained. A niche where most extensions haven't been updated in over a year suggests either:

• The problem is solved and needs no updates (less opportunity)
• Developers gave up, leaving unsatisfied users (more opportunity)

Look at user reviews to understand which scenario applies.

Niche Ideas to Explore

Here are some patterns that often reveal low-competition niches:

• [Tool] + [Platform] — "screenshot tool for Jira", "bookmark manager for researchers"
• [Workflow] + [Profession] — "tab manager for developers", "citation tool for academics"
• [Problem] + [Context] — "distraction blocker for remote work", "reading mode for news sites"
• Integration niches — tools that connect two specific services

What the Market Verdict Tells You

When you analyze a keyword, the market verdict gives you a quick read:

• Green (Promising) — Low competition, potential opportunity. Worth exploring further.
• Yellow (Moderate) — Some competition exists. Success depends on differentiation.
• Red (Saturated) — High competition. Consider narrowing your niche or finding a unique angle.

Remember: Data Informs, You Decide

Market data is a guide, not a guarantee. A "red" market might still have room for a genuinely better solution. A "green" market might lack demand for a reason. Use the data to inform your decision, then trust your judgment about whether you can build something users will love.