Tab Rotator vs Revolver Tab Rotator: Which Should You Use?

By the Pick Ads team · Tested on Chrome · Published October 20, 2026 · Updated October 20, 2026

Verdict: Revolver - Tabs is no longer an option. It was a Manifest V2 extension, and its Chrome Web Store listing is gone. Current Chrome no longer runs MV2 extensions. If you're replacing it, look at goRotate, a new MV3 extension from Revolver's author, or Tab Rotator. goRotate is the closest like-for-like swap. Tab Rotator adds crash recovery and keep-awake.

Disclosure: We make Tab Rotator.

At a glance

	Tab Rotator	Revolver - Tabs (last released version)	goRotate
Per-tab intervals	Premium	Per-tab advanced settings	Not stated on listing
Auto-refresh	Yes, after each tab is shown (normal or hard); per-tab refresh is Premium	Optional reload before each tab is shown	Optional reload on each view
Fullscreen/kiosk	Plays Slides, Sheets, Excel Online and YouTube full screen via smart links; doesn't put Chrome in kiosk mode	No kiosk mode of its own	Built for Chrome full screen on unattended screens
Start with Chrome	Yes	Auto start option	Yes (added November 2025)
Pause when someone uses the computer	Yes	"Rotate only when inactive" option	Not stated on listing
Manifest V3	Yes	No (Manifest V2)	Yes
Languages	19	English	English
Price in USD	Free (up to 5 tabs); Premium $6.99/month or $69.90/year, one account = one screen	n/a (no longer available)	Free
Privacy (per developer)	Playlists stay on your device unless you turn on sync	n/a (listing removed)	Will not collect or use your data
Last updated	October 17, 2026 (v1.0.3)	v0.71; last code change August 3, 2018 (GitHub)	November 17, 2025 (v1.1.0)
Best for	All-day screens that must recover on their own	No longer installable	Revolver users who want the same author's MV3 tool

Sources: Tab Rotator listing, goRotate listing, Revolver - Tabs listing (unavailable). Revolver's features come from its open-source code and options page on GitHub. Last verified: 2026-10-20.

What each is

Revolver - Tabs by Ben Hedrington rotated through open tabs for kiosks and TV displays. It was one of the best-known tab rotators. Its published code is a Manifest V2 extension (GitHub). Chrome disabled MV2 extensions starting with Chrome 138 in July 2025 and removed all of them from the store on August 31, 2026 (Chrome for Developers). Opening its store page today shows no listing.

goRotate is the author's replacement. Its listing calls it a "fully new extension from original author of Revolver Tabs". It rotates your open tabs for as many seconds as you choose, can reload each tab on view, and added auto start in November 2025. It was made for Chrome in full screen on unattended screens.

Tab Rotator is our extension for dashboard TVs and kiosks. It's free for up to 5 tabs every 5 seconds to 60 minutes. It refreshes each page after it's shown and starts when Chrome opens. It also resumes after a crash, power cut or update, keeps the screen awake, and pauses while someone uses the computer. Premium adds unlimited tabs, per-tab timing and refresh, schedules, and reopening of expired logins. It also adds alerts and cloud sync.

Test setup and results

Revolver can't be installed in current Chrome, so a head-to-head isn't possible. We'll test Tab Rotator against goRotate on the same machine instead.

Pricing

Revolver can no longer be installed. goRotate shows no paid tier on its listing. Tab Rotator is free for up to 5 tabs and one playlist. Premium costs $6.99/month or $69.90/year, and one account covers one screen.

Key differences

Availability. Revolver can't be installed; goRotate and Tab Rotator are current MV3 extensions.
Recovery. goRotate lists auto start. Tab Rotator lists auto start plus resume after a crash, power cut or update.
Familiarity. goRotate comes from the same author and keeps the same idea: rotate your open tabs, with optional reload.
Extras. Tab Rotator adds keep-awake, pause-on-use, smart links for Slides, Sheets and YouTube, and built-in slides. Premium adds schedules and alerts.
Privacy. goRotate's developer declares no data collection. Tab Rotator keeps playlists on your device unless you turn on sync.

Choose Tab Rotator if…

Your screen must recover by itself after restarts.
You want keep-awake and pause-on-use built in.
You show Google Slides, Sheets or YouTube and want them full screen.

Choose goRotate if…

You liked Revolver and want the closest replacement from the same author.
You only need simple rotation with optional reload.
You want an extension that declares no data collection.

Migration steps

Write down the URLs and timing you used in Revolver (open tabs, interval, reload setting).
Install goRotate or Tab Rotator from the Chrome Web Store.
Set the interval and refresh, then turn on start with Chrome.
Remove Revolver from chrome://extensions if it's still listed there as disabled.
Test a Chrome restart and an OS reboot before leaving the screen unattended. See recovering a dashboard after a restart.

FAQ

Is Revolver still maintained? No. Revolver - Tabs was a Manifest V2 extension, and its Chrome Web Store listing is no longer available. Chrome removed all MV2 extensions from the store on August 31, 2026. The same author now publishes goRotate, which its listing describes as a fully new extension.

Which supports kiosk? None of these extensions turns on kiosk mode. That's done by Chrome or your operating system. Chrome has a --kiosk launch switch, which its source describes as "not Chrome OS kiosk mode". Tab Rotator and goRotate both run inside a full-screen or kiosk Chrome window. See our kiosk guide.

Migration steps? List the URLs, interval and reload setting you used in Revolver. Install goRotate or Tab Rotator, add the same pages, and set the timing and start-with-Chrome option. Remove the disabled Revolver entry. Then test a Chrome restart and a reboot before leaving the screen unattended.

More comparisons

Best Chrome extensions to rotate tabs: four current rotators side by side.
Tab Rotator vs TabCycle: a free, open-source alternative.
All Tab Rotator comparisons: signage platforms and extensions.

For kiosk setup, see Chrome kiosk mode for dashboard TVs.

Add Tab Rotator to Chrome - Free

Sources

Tab Rotator – Chrome Web Store: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/tab-rotator-auto-rotate-r/ahbfijbckbicepnejpkljkkbiikjcdkb
goRotate – Chrome Web Store: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/gorotate-rotate-through-o/jhkfmnapfhbolleochedngmapebghedi
Revolver - Tabs – Chrome Web Store (no longer available): https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/revolver-tabs/dlknooajieciikpedpldejhhijacnbda
Revolver - Tabs source code (manifest and options page) – GitHub: https://github.com/benhedrington/revolver-chrome-extensions
Manifest V2 support timeline – Chrome for Developers: https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/develop/migrate/mv2-deprecation-timeline
Chromium source, chrome_switches.h: https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src/+/main/chrome/common/chrome_switches.h

Last verified: 2026-10-20