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Best alternatives to Backspace for Navigation (2026)

10 Chrome extensions that do a similar job to Backspace for Navigation, closest first. Each shows real store users, its rating, how recently it was updated and how many permissions it asks for.

Backspace for Navigation today

≈3K users4.0★ from 129 ratingsNot updated for 2+ years2 permissions

Backspace for Navigation alternatives, compared

  1. 1

    BackNav Backspace

    Reactivate Backspace Shortcut for Page Navigation with BackNav

    ≈10K users5.0★ from 2 ratingsUpdated 21 months ago4 permissions
    • About 3.3× more users than Backspace for Navigation
    • Updated more recently
    • Asks for more permissions (4 vs 2)
    • Listed under Accessibility
  2. 2

    Backspace to go Back

    Restores browser behavior of navigating to previous page when pressing the Backspace key.

    ≈100K users4.0★ from 560 ratingsNot updated for 3+ yearsNo special permissions
    • About 33× more users than Backspace for Navigation
    • Updated less recently
    • Asks for fewer permissions (0 vs 2)
    • Listed under Workflow & Planning
  3. 3

    Go Back With Backspace

    Re-enables the backspace key as a back navigation button (except when writing text).

    ≈300K users3.9★ from 1.4K ratingsNot updated for 2+ years5 permissions
    • About 100× more users than Backspace for Navigation
    • Updated less recently
    • Asks for more permissions (5 vs 2)
  4. 4

    Enable Backspace

    Enable backspace navigation with just one click!

    ≈4K users3.0★ from 7 ratingsUpdated 3 months ago1 permissions
    • A similar number of users to Backspace for Navigation
    • Updated more recently
    • Asks for fewer permissions (1 vs 2)
    • Listed under Tools
  5. 5

    Swipe Navigation Gesture (back & forth)

    [FOSS] Navigate back and forth with 2-finger swipe gestures

    ≈1K users4.8★ from 12 ratingsUpdated 10 months ago1 permissions
    • About 3.0× fewer users than Backspace for Navigation
    • Updated more recently
    • Asks for fewer permissions (1 vs 2)
  6. 6

    Right Click Tab Navigation

    Right Click Tab Navigation

    ≈1K users4.5★ from 20 ratingsNot updated for 5+ years1 permissions
    • About 3.0× fewer users than Backspace for Navigation
    • Rated 0.5 stars higher
    • Updated less recently
    • Asks for fewer permissions (1 vs 2)
    • Listed under Accessibility
  7. 7

    Mouse Gesture Navigation

    Control Chrome with mouse gestures. Right-click and drag to go back/forward, close tabs, open new tabs, and more.

    352 users5.0★ from 2 ratingsUpdated 6 months ago7 permissions
    • About 8.5× fewer users than Backspace for Navigation
    • Updated more recently
    • Asks for more permissions (7 vs 2)
    • Listed under Tools
  8. 8

    Navigate Up WE

    Navigate up one or more URL levels.

    ≈1K users3.4★ from 10 ratingsNot updated for 4+ years7 permissions
    • About 3.0× fewer users than Backspace for Navigation
    • Updated less recently
    • Asks for more permissions (7 vs 2)
    • Listed under Tools
  9. 9

    BrowseCut | Navigate with Keyboard Hotkeys, Vim Motions, Vimium Shortcuts

    Cut time browsing. Just type to click links and navigate. Be productive, prevent RSI, stay in flow with smart shortcuts.

    ≈1K users4.6★ from 50 ratingsUpdated 5 months ago2 permissions
    • About 3.0× fewer users than Backspace for Navigation
    • Rated 0.6 stars higher
    • Updated more recently
    • Listed under Accessibility
  10. 10

    Landmark Navigation via Keyboard or Pop-up

    Allows you to navigate a web page via WAI-ARIA landmarks, using the keyboard or a pop-up menu.

    ≈10K users4.6★ from 10 ratingsNot updated for 2+ years6 permissions
    • About 3.3× more users than Backspace for Navigation
    • Updated more recently
    • Asks for more permissions (6 vs 2)
    • Listed under Accessibility

Backspace for Navigation alternatives: questions

What is the best alternative to Backspace for Navigation?

By users, the most popular alternative is Go Back With Backspace with ≈300K users and a 3.9-star rating. The closest match by what it does is BackNav Backspace.

Which Backspace for Navigation alternative has the best rating?

BrowseCut | Navigate with Keyboard Hotkeys, Vim Motions, Vimium Shortcuts has the highest rating of these alternatives with 50+ ratings: 4.6 out of 5 from 50 ratings.

Is there a Backspace for Navigation alternative that asks for fewer permissions?

Backspace to go Back asks for 0 permissions, against 2 for Backspace for Navigation.

How many alternatives to Backspace for Navigation are there?

We list 10 close alternatives to Backspace for Navigation on the Chrome Web Store, picked by what they do and ranked by how close they are.

Users and ratings are the figures shown on the Chrome Web Store, re-checked continuously. Alternatives are matched on name, description, category and topic. Browse best-of lists by niche.