Frequently asked questions

Getting started

What is ReadyTab?

ReadyTab is a new-tab browser extension that brings your team’s links, tools, and resources into shared boards, alongside your own personal workspaces. Collaborate with trusted teammates or share a board they can view. Your new tab is still a customizable command center, with search, themes, routines, and an optional desktop launcher. Explore ReadyTab for teams.

Which browsers does ReadyTab support?

ReadyTab works on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Brave. Install it from the Chrome Web Store (also used by Edge and Brave) or from Firefox Add-ons.

Can I import my existing bookmarks?

Yes. Choose folders or individual links from your browser bookmarks, preview the groups, and assign them to workspaces before importing. Nested folders become separate groups. Imported groups are arranged four across with heights fitted to their contents. Your browser bookmarks are not changed. You can also import and export ReadyTab backups as JSON.

How do I start without importing bookmarks?

Choose Popular sites to pick from 18 sites, name your own groups and add large icon shortcuts, or choose Start blank to create an empty group. Theme, clock and search settings apply immediately from the start screen. Your first import or addition offers Undo for ten seconds.

Pricing & plans

Is ReadyTab free?

Yes. Free includes unlimited local workspaces, groups and links, bookmark import, the new start screen, popular-site shortcuts, all 13 themes and the theme editor, per-workspace backgrounds, Spotlight search, notes, tasks, routines, JSON import/export and companion app launchers. You can also join shared boards and edit them with an owner’s edit key without buying a license.

What is the difference between Sync and Full?

Sync is for your own devices: encrypted personal cloud dashboards, optional automatic sync and saved-version history. Full includes Sync and adds share-code creation, public web publishing and managed-board ownership with optional shared editing. Both paid plans also include password-protected workspaces and link health checks. Sync does not include publishing or board ownership.

How much do Sync and Full cost?

Sync costs CHF 7 per year. Full costs CHF 25 per year and includes personal sync plus publishing and shared-board ownership. There is no monthly plan. Full is also available as a CHF 52.99 lifetime license. See the pricing page for the full plan comparison and current offers.

What happens to my data if my paid plan expires?

Your local workspaces and data remain yours. Paid cloud operations stop when the required access expires; local workspaces are not deleted. Shared editing also requires the board owner to retain publishing access. You can keep using Free and export your local data as JSON.

What happens if I replace my license key?

Cloud dashboards, history and hosted boards remain tied to the original license; they are not automatically copied to a new key. Your current local data stays on the device. Before switching, use the warning’s JSON export shortcut. It exports only the current local dashboard, not all saved cloud dashboards, version history or locked protected spaces. Back up other dashboards separately while the original key is still active.

The desktop launcher

How does the desktop launcher work?

ReadyTab can open native apps, files, folders, and shell commands from your new tab. App links that use a URL scheme work on their own; to open files, folders, and commands you install a free companion app for Windows, macOS, or Linux that bridges the browser and your desktop. No coding is required - see our full guide.

Do I need administrator rights to install the companion app?

On most systems the companion installs at the user level and does not require administrator rights. Follow the companion setup guide for the exact steps on your operating system.

Which operating systems does the companion app support?

The companion app runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, so the desktop launcher works on all three.

Sharing & boards

Is Full a separate team license for every editor?

No. The board owner needs Full. Collaborators can use Free with the board’s access token, any board password and an edit key when they need to contribute. Owners can name keys for people or groups, and several people may use one key. There are no paid editor seats. Share the board credentials, not your billing license key.

Can I revoke editing access?

Yes. The owner can replace or revoke each named edit key independently. Everyone using that key loses editing access; other keys continue working. To manage access separately, give each person a different key. Names are labels, not verified identities, and anyone holding a key can use it. Revoking an edit key does not remove viewing access.

What if two people save changes to the same board?

Conflicting saves are stopped for review. You can compare versions, export your changes, or explicitly discard them and use the latest version. Pending edits are saved locally for recovery after a reload or interruption and require review before sending. Recovery drafts exist only while work is pending and are removed after a confirmed save or explicit discard. If local recovery fails, ReadyTab warns you to keep the tab open and export your changes.

What are public boards?

A public board is a read-only version of one of your workspaces that you publish as a link anyone can open in a normal browser - no extension required. It is encrypted in your browser, and you choose exactly what is included before publishing.

What are managed boards?

Managed boards are connected workspaces in ReadyTab, read-only by default. A Full owner can create named edit keys for people or groups and choose Open shared board to join the connected team tab. Edits autosave; the visible board fetches updates every 30 seconds and when you return. Conflicting edits require review. Use the connected tab for teamwork; the original source remains a separate local copy. Manage all sharing modes from Settings → Spaces → Sharing.

Can I share a workspace with someone who doesn't have the extension?

Yes. Publish the workspace as a public board and share the link - anyone can open it in their browser without installing ReadyTab. You can also share a workspace by snapshot code to other ReadyTab users, who import it as their own local copy.

Privacy & security

Does ReadyTab track me or show ads?

No. ReadyTab does not track you, show ads, or sell data. It is local-first: your dashboard works offline and your data stays on your device unless you use optional cloud or sharing features. Website analytics are described in our privacy policy.

Where is my data stored?

By default everything is stored locally in your browser. You can export it to a JSON file at any time and import it back. If you enable Sync or Full cloud sync, your data is encrypted in your browser before it is uploaded, and the server stores only unreadable encrypted blobs.

How does cloud sync keep my data private?

Cloud sync is optional and available with Sync or Full. Your dashboard is encrypted in your browser before upload. Use manual sync or enable automatic sync, and use saved-version history when you need to restore an earlier cloud snapshot.

What are protected workspaces?

Protected workspaces encrypt a workspace locally with a passphrase using AES-256. They stay locked until unlocked. This feature is included with both Sync and Full.

Anything else

What languages is ReadyTab available in?

ReadyTab is available in 10 languages: English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Chinese. It follows your browser language or a language you choose.

Still have a question? Email support@readytab.cloud or browse the documentation.