If you use Twitch to watch streamers play games, chat, or create art, you probably know that the interface isn't perfect. The Twitch web app has added features over the years, but if you're a power user, you're probably interested in more.

Thankfully, you can unlock a lot more functionality on Twitch by using browser extensions. Let's look at the best Chrome extensions that make Twitch even better.

1. BetterTwitchTV

BetterTTV Options menu

If you only install one Chrome extension for Twitch, make it this. As the name implies, BetterTwitchTV (also known as BetterTTV or BTTV) packs in a bunch of features that improve the Twitch experience.

There are way too many tools to list here, but some of the best features include:

  • Automatically claiming bonus Twitch channel points, so you don't have to click the treasure box all the time.
  • A more advanced emote menu, along with access to many more Twitch emotes through BTTV.
  • Hiding all sorts of clutter from the chat, such as clip embeds and bits.
  • The option to show deleted messages.
  • Display options to make chat messages more readable, such as preventing hard-to-read name colors.
  • Adding highlight keywords, which will play a sound when anyone uses them.
  • The option to join chat without showing in the list of active users.

It's easy to use, too. Just install the extension in your browser, then open a Twitch stream. At the bottom of the page by the Chat button, click the gear icon. There, you'll see some options under BetterTTV; click BetterTTV Settings to access all its options.

Whether you just want to hide some unnecessary UI elements or add useful shortcuts to Twitch, BTTV is worth the download.

Download: BetterTwitchTV (Free, subscription available)

2. Unwanted Twitch

Unwanted Twitch Extension

If there are certain channels, games, tags, or categories that you don't ever want to see on the platform, Unwanted Twitch can help. After installing it, you'll see an X icon at the top-right of panels on Twitch's various pages. Click this to add that item to your blocklist and you won't see it around Twitch anymore.

To see what you've hidden, click the extension's icon at the top-right of your browser and hit Manage Blacklist. There, you can see everything you've hidden and click Remove on anything if you changed your mind. It's also possible to add new blocked items here by entering names (separate from blocking people on Twitch manually).

It's a straightforward extension, but having the ability to totally hide content you aren't interested in will prove useful. You can also export/import your lists to share with friends.

Download: Unwanted Twitch (Free)

3. NowStreaming

NowStreaming Twitch Extension

If you want updates on your followed Twitch channels while you're browsing other sites, NowStreaming can help. To get started, open the extension, select the Stream List tab, and hit the Authenticate with Twitch button to sign in with your account. This is required for the extension to work, but it notes that it doesn't modify any data on your Twitch account.

Next, go to the Options tab, type your Twitch username, and click the Import from Twitch box. This will bring your followed channels into the extension, letting you see when they're online using the Steeam List tab. If you like, you can also manually enter the names of Twitch channels you want to track.

Once you've done this, make sure the Enable Notifications box is checked. Now, you'll get an alert when one of your followed channels goes live, and can check the Stream List tab to see who's online at any point.

It's a simple extension, but if you don't want to miss a stream going live, it's a handy way to keep track of live streamers without constantly opening a Twitch window.

Download: NowStreaming (Free)

4. Twitch Favorites

Twitch Favorites Extension

In a busy stream, it's easy to miss messages from your friends. Twitch Favorites provides a simple way to make messages from the people you care about most stand out. Simply add your favorite Twitch users to the extension, and Twitch Favorites will automatically highlight their messages.

Like most of the other extensions on this list, you'll need to click its icon from the top-right bar to access the options. If you don't see the icon for Twitch Favorites, click the puzzle piece icon to show all extensions. For any extensions you use often, you should click the Pin icon to keep them on the menu bar permanently.

Enter a username to add it to the list, and it will start showing as highlighted in any Twitch chat. Click the Settings gear to open the options page. Here, you can change the default color highlight option, as well as select a specific color for any person on your list.

Twitch Favorites is compatible with other Twitch extensions that also highlight messages, such as BTTV mentioned above. It has a separate highlight color field for those cases.

If you have a lot of Twitch friends with the same-colored username or just don't want to miss anything they say, this is a useful extension to keep around.

Download: Twitch Favorites (Free)

5. FrankerFaceZ

FrankerFaceZ Twitch Extension

We've looked at a couple of Twitch extensions that accomplish one simple function. FrankerFaceZ, or FFZ, is more akin to BetterTwitchTV in that it provides a suite of useful features. It's definitely the most comprehensive Twitch extension around and thus is an essential way to get more out of Twitch.

Access it by clicking the icon at the top-right of Twitch, to the left of your profile icon. Like BTTV, there are too many possibilities with this extension to list exhaustively. Some of them are also aimed at streamers or moderators, so they won't be useful for general viewers.

But you should find some of the below options interesting:

  • Hide the Unfollow button so you don't accidentally stop following your favorite channels.
  • Automatically open chat when opening an offline channel page, which is useful if you often arrive to streams early.
  • Change the appearance of the chat, such as the font.
  • Hide certain badges from the chat.
  • Add a keyboard shortcut to open the emote menu.
  • Show messages in bold when they mention you.
  • Adjust the volume of a stream by scrolling your mouse wheel while hovering over it.
  • Use an audio compressor to normalize the volume.

FFZ allows you to create multiple profiles, so you can have separate groups of settings for channels where you're a mod, when you're watching streams in a certain category, or similar. There are even add-ons for more features.

In case you like the features of both BTTV and FFZ, you can run them alongside each other. Just make sure that you don't duplicate functions between them!

Download: FrankerFaceZ (Free, subscription available)

Improve Twitch With the Right Extensions

With just a few installed add-ons, you can set up Twitch to work like you want. Whether you'd like to hide a few categories or want to spend an hour setting up all the detailed options in the full suites, give these Chrome extensions a try.

We definitely recommend BTTV or FFZ, since they pack so much into one place. If you've found Twitch frustrating before, these apps could change your mind.