Vimium for Chrome: What It Lacks + BEST Additions (2026)

Key takeaways

• Vimium v2.4.2 is on the Chrome Web Store as of March 2026, MV3, fully functional. It didn’t die with MV2.
• Vimium C is an independent fork with per-site key maps, CJK URL search, and 8 global browser shortcuts.
• Neither covers the session layer. Add SuperchargeNavigation for workspaces, snapshots, and cross-context tab search.

If you searched “Vimium alternative” expecting bad news — Vimium is actually fine. The original extension migrated to Manifest V3 and is on the Chrome Web Store at version 2.4.2 (updated March 10, 2026). It works on Chrome 146. The f hint labels, vomnibar, j/k scrolling — all intact.

So why does this page exist? Two reasons. First, many users still think Vimium died with MV2 and are looking for replacements that already exist. Second, Vimium solves page-level navigation but not session-level navigation — there are tools that complement it for tab search, workspaces, and session recovery.

The Current State of Vimium on Chrome

As of March 2026, there are two actively maintained Vimium-family extensions on the Chrome Web Store:

Vimium (by philc, v2.4.2, updated March 2026) — the original. Migrated to MV3. All core features work: f/F hint labels, j/k/gg/G scrolling, vomnibar (o/O/T), marks, custom key mappings. Available on Chrome, Edge, and Firefox.

Vimium C (by gdh1995, v2.12.2, updated April 2025) — an independent fork with the same core plus extras. Available on GitHub. Key additions over original Vimium:

• Per-site key mapping overrides — different bindings for different websites
• CJK (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) URL search in history and bookmarks
• 8 global browser shortcuts that work even when no page has focus
• Omnibox keyword v for vomnibar access from Chrome’s address bar
• More granular configuration options

Both extensions share the same MV3 limitation: they cannot run on chrome:// pages (settings, new tab, extensions page) or on some Google-owned properties with strict Content Security Policy. This is a Chrome platform constraint, not a bug in either extension.

The Feature Map

Vimium and Vimium C overlap heavily on page-level navigation. SuperchargeNavigation operates at a different level — session and workspace management. The table shows where each tool’s scope starts and stops:

SuperchargeNavigation does not do vim-style hint labels or vim motions. If those are what you need, Vimium or Vimium C already have you covered.

What Vimium Doesn’t Cover

Vimium and Vimium C excel at page-level interaction — navigating content without a mouse. They don’t manage browser sessions. There’s no concept of saving a tab set, switching project contexts, or recovering from accidental closures. That’s a different layer entirely.

SuperchargeNavigation operates at the session layer:

• Alt+K command bar — search across all open tabs, recently closed tabs, and saved workspaces. Similar to Vimium’s T command but broader in scope and available from contexts where content scripts can’t inject.
• Named workspaces — save a complete tab set under a project name, close it, restore it later.
• 50 auto-snapshots — every few minutes, a snapshot of your tabs is recorded. Accidentally closed a window? Rewind through the timeline.
• Shift+Click peek — load a preview overlay of any link without switching tabs or opening a new one.
• Alt+Scroll / Alt+Arrow — cycle through open tabs with the keyboard, with group-aware Shift+Scroll variant.

Running Vimium and SuperchargeNavigation Together

The combination works cleanly. Vimium (or Vimium C) injects content scripts into web pages for hint labels and scrolling commands. SuperchargeNavigation runs in Chrome’s side panel via the side panel API. They operate in completely separate parts of the browser UI and don’t step on each other.

Install both if you want page-level vim navigation plus session-level workspace management. Check that SuperchargeNavigation’s Alt+K and Alt+Scroll defaults don’t conflict with any custom Vimium key mappings — if they do, either tool’s shortcuts can be remapped.

Chrome Platform Limits

Chrome restricts what any extension can do on certain pages:

• No extension can inject into chrome:// or chrome-extension:// pages
• The chrome://newtab override is restricted to extensions with explicit NTP permission
• Some Google properties (Docs, Drive, certain pages with strict CSP) block content script injection

These limits apply to Vimium, Vimium C, and SuperchargeNavigation equally. On Firefox, extensions face fewer restrictions — Tridactyl runs with broader access there. If you frequently work on pages where Chrome blocks injection, Firefox remains the more capable platform for keyboard-driven browsing.

Which Vimium to Install

If you want the original with no extras: Vimium by philc. Version 2.4.2 as of March 2026. Straightforward, well-maintained, does exactly what it always did.

If you want per-site key mappings and CJK support: Vimium C by gdh1995. Version 2.12.2. More configurable, same core features, actively maintained.

Both are free, open source, and use the same host permissions. Pick either — the core experience is nearly identical.

If X, Do Y

• You thought Vimium was dead — it’s not. Install Vimium or Vimium C, both work on Chrome 146.
• You want more configurable key mappings or CJK URL search — Vimium C has those extras.
• You want to search open tabs and switch between project contexts with the keyboard — add SuperchargeNavigation alongside Vimium.
• You want both vim navigation and workspace management — install Vimium + SuperchargeNavigation, they’re complementary.
• You relied on Vimium on chrome:// pages — that capability is gone on Chrome regardless of extension; Firefox with Tridactyl is the right platform for that workflow.