How to upload chrome extension for free in Chrome app store?

[Elite Turtle]

Hi,

I have created a chrome web extension and I want to create it for free. But I have to pay a $5 fee to do so. Is there any way to not pay the registration fee and still publish your extension? I think it's really unjust because Firefox entitles you to create one for free, but it takes a while to get it reviewed. I honestly think that it should provide free service for beginners. Any help would be appreciated.

[Brian T. Nakamoto]

Hi Elite,

My understanding is that the fee is a test to reduce fraud by requiring Chrome developers who want distribution via the Web Store to have access to a bank account. You don't need to register as a developer for the Web Store if you just want to practice creating Chrome extensions. Mozilla is pretty much adopting the Chrome extension framework for Firefox so you can prove your Chrome extension for free with AMO before deciding to invest $5 to distribute it to Chrome users. Opera also uses the Chrome extension framework.

-Brian

[Appliances Choices]

Thanks for the kind response and explanation. i also want to upload a chrome extension of my vat calculator website. i want to pay 5$ but don't know all the steps to upload it on web store.

[Stefan Van Damme]

Hi @applianc,

See this Chrome documentation on how to upload your first Chrome extension to the Chrome Web Store:

https://developer.chrome.com/docs/webstore/publish/

And you need to pay only 1X the 5 USD amount to activate your developer account on the Chrome Web Store:

https://developer.chrome.com/docs/webstore/register/

Thanks,

Stefan vd

[densch123]

Hello, not my question but if I have written an extension that I only wanna use for maself alone,
is there some way to use it permanently without getting it on the app store?

I currently for testing purposes have only loaded it temprarily but since it is compelted and I will use it in the future without wanting to reinstall it every time, would be great if it could be permanently isntalled in my chrome browser without it having to become an official app store app.

Also firefox is better, publishing extensions there is free -.-

[densch123]

And of course, they only accept shitty credit card.
Too bad I ain't like stupid Muricans that love to pay needlessly credit card fees everywhere when bank accounts are super free...

well no developer account for me then, cause I sure as hell dont pay credit card fees jsut to get a damn developer account -.-

stupid murican companies only know how to make people waste money for literally nothing -.-

[Robbi]

MS Edge also has its own store, and the developers are not required to pay any fees.

It would seem that only Google charges.

[Stefan Van Damme]

@schue...

You can always load your own written Chrome extension in Chrome 'developer mode':

chrome://extensions/

However, that will be not good for daily use and the web browser can disable your Chrome extension.

At the Microsoft Edge Add-ons store, payment is required to create a developer account (Microsoft developer account 19USD):

https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-store/register/#:~:text=How%20much%20does,renewal%20is%20required.

You can upload your Chrome extension for free on the Opera add-on store:

https://dev.opera.com/extensions/getting-started/

Thanks,

Stefan vd

[Robbi]

At the Microsoft Edge Add-ons store, payment is required to create a developer account (Microsoft developer account 19USD):

I haven't paid a single cent

[Stefan Van Damme]

@Robbi,

I checked it again, in the previous Microsoft Edge store a paid account was needed (as I did for my first Microsoft Edge extension).

The new Edge add-on store is no registration fee anymore, you can use Microsoft or GitHub account to publish your first Microsoft Edge extension:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/extensions-chromium/publish/create-dev-account#:~:text=There%20is%20no%20registration%20fee%20for%20submitting%20extensions%20to%20the%20Microsoft%20Edge%20program.
That is good news for developers.

Thanks,

Stefan vd