Hark vs Claude in Chrome: which one should you use?
Claude in Chrome and Hark are the same kind of thing: an extension that lets an AI agent click and type in your Chrome. They differ in who can use them, how much they ask you, and what they are built around.
Choose Claude in Chrome if you already pay for Claude and want a powerful, more autonomous agent that also connects to Claude’s desktop app. Choose Hark if you want to start free without an account, prefer an approval prompt before every final step, and want email actions and a tracker in the same panel.
At a glance
Hark and Claude in Chrome, side by side.
| Hark | Claude in Chrome | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Chrome extension — an AI agent in the side panel | Chrome extension that lets Claude act in your browser |
| Where it runs | Google Chrome on Windows, macOS, Linux and ChromeOS | Google Chrome on desktop only |
| Acts on websites | Yes — clicks, types and fills forms in your current tab | Yes — reads, clicks, types, navigates and fills forms |
| Approval before final steps | Always, before send, submit, book, pay or delete | Acts without per-step approval by default; manual approval can be turned on |
| Email help | Summaries, reply drafts and deadlines in Gmail & Outlook on the web | Can work in web mail as a general agent |
| Tracker for orders & deadlines | Built-in Tracker for orders, bookings, bills and deadlines | No dedicated tracker |
| Account needed | No account — install and use | Claude account on a paid plan |
| Free plan | 1 AI request per day, all modes | Not on the free plan |
| Paid plans | $5.99/week (2-day trial), $14.99/month or $39.99/year | Included with every paid Claude plan |
| AI models | OpenAI models, in Fast and Smart modes | Anthropic’s Claude models |
Choose Hark if…
- You want to try an agent today without a subscription or an account
- You prefer to approve each final step rather than supervise an autonomous run
- You want one-tap email summaries and reply drafts
- You want orders, bills and deadlines saved to a tracker
Choose Claude in Chrome if…
- You already have a paid Claude plan
- You want long, complex multi-step tasks handled with more autonomy
- You want the same assistant in Claude’s desktop and mobile apps
Two philosophies of control
Anthropic made Claude in Chrome generally available on August 26, 2026 for all paid plans. By default it can take browser actions without asking about each one, protected by a classifier that reviews every action and by scanning page content for prompt-injection attempts; you can switch to manual approval in settings. Hark starts from the other end: routine steps run on their own, but anything that sends, submits, books, pays, subscribes or deletes always stops for you. Neither is “right” — it is a choice between speed and a guaranteed checkpoint.
Access and price
Claude in Chrome is a benefit of a paid Claude subscription and is not offered on Claude’s free plan. Hark has a free plan with one request per day and no sign-up, and Hark Pro costs $5.99 a week, $14.99 a month or $39.99 a year. If you already pay for Claude, its extension costs you nothing extra; if you do not, Hark is the cheaper way to get an agent in Chrome.
FAQ
Hark vs Claude in Chrome: common questions
Is Claude in Chrome free?
According to Anthropic, Claude in Chrome is available on every paid Claude plan. It is not included in Claude’s free plan.
Does Hark use Claude?
No. Hark currently runs on OpenAI models. Hark is independent and is not affiliated with Anthropic.
Can I install both?
Yes. They are separate extensions with separate side panels and do not interfere with each other.
More comparisons
Hand your next task to Hark.
Add it to Chrome, open the side panel and say what you need. It takes about ten seconds.
Free plan included · No account needed · Works in Chrome on Windows, Mac, Linux and ChromeOS