Picture-in-Picture Extension (by Google) Alternative: Compared Side by Side

Picture-in-Picture Extension (by Google) vs Picture in Picture for Videos

If you are searching for a Picture-in-Picture Extension (by Google) alternative, here is the honest comparison. Both extensions pop the current tab’s video into Chrome’s floating window with one click. Google’s is open source, tiny and has four million users, but it was last updated in February 2025 and discloses that it handles user activity. Ours is updated regularly, supports 55 languages, lets you pick your own shortcut and collects nothing. The facts from both listings are below.

Updated October 8, 2026 · Applies to Picture in Picture for Videos 1.6

Side by side

	Picture in Picture for Videos	Google’s extension
Rating	4.5 (22 ratings)	3.9 (2.7K ratings)
Users	100,000+	4,000,000
Current version	1.6	1.14
Last updated	October 4, 2026	February 13, 2025
Size	34 KB	9.9 KB
Languages	55 languages	English
Activation	Toolbar icon, one click	Toolbar icon, one click
Keyboard shortcut	Any shortcut you set at chrome://extensions/shortcuts	Alt+P (Option+P on macOS), fixed
Data collection	Discloses that it collects no data	Discloses that it handles “user activity”
Store badges	Verified website owner; clean policy record	Featured; Google is a verified trader
Source code	Closed source	Open source on GitHub
Price	Free	Free

Figures were read from the two Chrome Web Store listings on 2026-10-08. Google’s listing is here; ours is here.

Where Google’s extension is the better choice

You want open source. The code is public on GitHub under GoogleChromeLabs, which matters if you audit everything you install.
You want the smallest possible footprint. At 9.9 KB it is a third of ours. In practice both are negligible.
You are used to Alt+P. The shortcut is fixed, but it is well known.

Where Picture in Picture for Videos is the better choice

You want an extension that is still being updated. Our current version is 1.6 from October 4, 2026; the changelog shows the cadence. Google’s has been static since early 2025.
You do not want any data handling. Our store disclosure is “does not collect or use your data”. Google’s discloses that it handles user activity.
You use Chrome in a language other than English. We ship 55 languages.
You want your own shortcut. Chrome lets you bind any key combination to our icon at chrome://extensions/shortcuts.
You want a support channel. We answer email and keep an honest supported sites page.

What is identical

The floating window itself. Both extensions use Chrome’s picture-in-picture window, so size, position memory, play and pause controls, and the “back to tab” button are the same. The difference is which sites each one gets the video out of: ours is tested on Netflix, Prime Video and Hotstar as well as YouTube and Twitch; see Netflix picture-in-picture on Chrome.

Our recommendation

If you have Google’s extension installed and it works for you, there is no urgent reason to switch. If you are choosing today, pick the one that is maintained and collects nothing: install Picture in Picture for Videos, then read how to use picture-in-picture in Chrome for the keyboard-shortcut setup.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Google picture-in-picture extension still maintained?

Its last update on the Chrome Web Store was version 1.14 on February 13, 2025. It still works on current Chrome because it uses the standard picture-in-picture API, but it has not received fixes or changes for more than a year and a half.

Do both extensions use the same floating window?

Yes. Both ask Chrome to enter picture-in-picture on the page’s video, so the window, controls and playback are Chrome’s own. The differences are in how you trigger it, what data is disclosed, and how actively each is maintained.

Can I run both at the same time?

You can, but there is no reason to. Both do the same job on click. Keep whichever one you prefer and remove the other to avoid two icons in the toolbar.

Why does Google’s extension have a lower rating with far more users?

Volume. With four million users, every site where the built-in picture-in-picture option is missing produces one-star reviews that say “does not work on Netflix”. Google’s extension only triggers Chrome’s standard behaviour. Ours is tested on Netflix, Prime Video and Hotstar; see the supported sites page.