A Session Buddy alternative that syncs
Session Buddy keeps your sessions on one machine. UtilEngine snapshots your tabs every hour, syncs sessions across devices, and lives inside a launcher with 50+ other commands.
Get it for $49Side by side
Both save and restore your tabs. They differ on sync, automation, and everything around the sessions.
| Session Buddy | 
UtilEngine
| |
|---|---|---|
| Sync across devices | Not yet, planned | Yes, sessions follow your account |
| Automatic snapshots | Saves sessions locally | Hourly snapshots of all windows, kept 14 days |
| Command palette launcher | No | Yes, on any page |
| Built-in utilities | No | 50+ commands: calculator, JSON, text, images |
| AI | None | 62 models with your own API key |
| Browsers | Chrome | Chrome, Brave, Edge |
| Account | None needed | Required for license and sync |
| Price | Free | $49 one-time |
Comparison based on the Session Buddy site and Chrome Web Store listing as of July 2026. Session Buddy is a solid free tool; if local-only storage is what you want, it may be all you need.
Why people switch
The most common reason is sync. Session Buddy stores everything locally and says cloud storage is planned, but today a session saved on your work machine stays on your work machine. UtilEngine sessions follow your account, so you close a window at the office and reopen it at home.
The second reason is trust after a scare. When Session Buddy moved to version 4 in 2024, some longtime users reported their saved collections were gone after the automatic update. To be fair, the developer shipped recovery instructions and the extension is actively maintained. But it taught a lot of people that one local copy of years of research is one copy too few. UtilEngine keeps hourly snapshots for 14 days and syncs saved sessions to your account, so there are always at least two places your tabs can come back from.
The third reason is scope. Session Buddy does sessions. UtilEngine does sessions inside a launcher that also handles a calculator, JSON tools, text utilities, tab search, and AI chat with your own key. If you were going to install three extensions, this is one.
How sessions work in UtilEngine
Save a window on purpose, or let hourly snapshots catch what you forgot.
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Competitor teardown
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Launch checklistSwitching, answered
Is UtilEngine free like Session Buddy?
No. UtilEngine is a one-time $49 purchase with a 14-day refund. There is no subscription, and all future updates are included.
Can I move my Session Buddy sessions over?
There is no importer today. The practical route is to restore a session in Session Buddy, then save that window in UtilEngine.
Does UtilEngine sync sessions between computers?
Yes. Sessions sync through your account, so a window saved on one machine restores on another.
What if I forget to save before closing?
Snapshots run every hour on their own and closing a window writes a final one. You can restore the last snapshot from the launcher.
Is my data stored on your servers?
Your data stays in your browser. Sessions sync through your account to keep devices in step, and nothing is shared with anyone.
Your tabs, on every machine
Sessions, hourly snapshots, and 50+ commands. One payment, yours forever.
Get it for $49One-time payment. 14-day refund, no questions asked.
