Chromium-Based Browser Sidekick
What is Sidekick?
Sidekick is a Chromium-based web browser specifically designed for workplace productivity and team collaboration. Its core philosophy is to reduce tab clutter, minimize distractions, and integrate essential work tools (like Slack, Notion, Google Workspace, etc.) directly into the browser, creating a unified and organized workspace.
The Full History of Sidekick
The history of Sidekick is marked by a significant pivot in its business model and target audience, which can be broken down into two main eras.
Era 1: The Original “Sidekick Browser” (Pre-2020 – 2022) – The Visionary Productivity Tool
Founders and Vision: The original Sidekick browser was created by a company of the same name, Sidekick, founded by a team with backgrounds in productivity and software development. Their vision was personal productivity-centric: to combat the chaos of having dozens of open tabs and constant context-switching between browser windows and work apps.
Key Features & Value Proposition: The original version was already built on the powerful ideas that would define the brand:
Workspaces: Instead of traditional bookmarks, users could save and organize groups of tabs into “Workspaces” (e.g., “Marketing,” “Project Alpha,” “Research”) and launch them all with one click.
App Integrations: It featured a sidebar that could host web apps like Slack, Notion, and Google Calendar, allowing users to access them without opening a new tab.
Ad Blocker & Privacy: Included a built-in ad blocker and privacy protections.
Freemium Model: It was offered as a free browser with the option for a “Pro” subscription that unlocked more workspaces and advanced features.
Initial Reception: It gained a loyal following among productivity enthusiasts, tech workers, and knowledge workers who were frustrated with the inefficiencies of standard browsers. It was frequently featured in productivity blogs and newsletters.
The Pivot: Acquisition and a New Direction (2022)
Acquisition by Hyperwrite AI: In a pivotal move, the original Sidekick company was acquired in June 2022 by Hyperwrite AI (formerly OthersideAI), a company focused on AI-powered writing assistants.
Strategic Shift: The acquisition was not just about acquiring a browser, but about acquiring a distribution platform. Hyperwrite’s vision was to deeply integrate its AI technology into the very fabric of a user’s workflow. The browser was the perfect vehicle for this.
Era 2: The Modern “Sidekick Browser” (2022 – Present) – The AI-Powered Work Browser for Teams
Under Hyperwrite’s leadership, Sidekick underwent a fundamental transformation in its target audience and business model.
Rebranding and Relaunch: The browser was relaunched with a heavy emphasis on its new AI capabilities and a shift from individual users to teams and enterprises.
Integration of Hyperwrite AI: The most significant new feature was the deep integration of Hyperwrite’s personal AI assistant. This assistant could:
Answer questions based on the content of the current webpage.
Summarize articles, emails, and documents.
Draft content (emails, messages, reports) directly within the browser.
Act as a universal search across all connected work apps.
New Core Features for Teams:
Team Workspaces: The workspace concept was expanded to allow entire teams to share and collaborate on curated sets of links and resources.
Enhanced Security: A major focus for enterprise adoption, featuring data loss prevention (DLP), single sign-on (SSO), and centralized admin controls.
Deep Work App Integration: Even tighter integration with the entire SaaS stack (Salesforce, Figma, Jira, etc.) beyond the initial set of apps.
Radical Business Model Change: The free individual tier was discontinued. Sidekick is now explicitly a paid product with pricing tiers for Teams and Enterprises. This signaled a clear move away from the casual user and towards the B2B (Business-to-Business) market.
Key Factors in Its Evolution and Current Status
From B2C to B2B: The most critical aspect of its history is the shift from a Browser-to-Consumer (B2C) “prosumer” tool to a Browser-to-Business (B2B) platform.
The AI Catalyst: The acquisition by Hyperwrite AI was the catalyst that redefined the browser’s entire purpose. It was no longer just a tab manager; it became an AI-powered operating system for work.
Competitive Landscape: Sidekick now competes in a niche but growing space of “work browsers” or “enterprise browsers,” competing with solutions like Arc Browser (which is also exploring team features) and Microsoft Edge for Business, rather than just against Chrome or Firefox.
Summary: A Tale of Two Browsers
In essence, the history of Sidekick is the story of two different products sharing the same name and core philosophy of organized workspaces:
The Original (Pre-2022): A brilliant, user-centric productivity browser for individuals, focused on reducing tab clutter and integrating personal work apps.
The Modern (Post-2022): An AI-native, security-focused collaboration platform for teams and companies, where the browser acts as a layer of intelligence and organization on top of a company’s entire software ecosystem.
The modern Sidekick is a premium, paid product betting on the future of AI-integrated and team-oriented computing. Its legacy is that of a product that correctly identified a major pain point in digital work and evolved, through acquisition and strategic pivot, into a powerful solution for the enterprise market.
Sidekick was a Chromium-based browser tailored for professionals seeking to enhance productivity through a distraction-free online environment. It offered features such as:
Integrated Sidebar: Quick access to apps like Gmail, Slack, Notion, and Google Drive.
Multi-Account Support: Manage multiple accounts within the same app.
Workspaces: Organize tabs and apps by project or context.
Focus Mode: Minimize distractions during work sessions.
Split View: Simultaneously view and interact with two apps or tabs.
These features aimed to reduce tab clutter and enhance efficiency for users managing multiple tasks and applications.
📉 Discontinuation
Despite its innovative approach, Sidekick struggled to achieve sustainable growth. In August 2025, the company announced the decision to shut down the browser, offering refunds to users who had purchased the tool through platforms like AppSumo. [
🔄 Alternatives
With Sidekick’s discontinuation, users seeking similar functionalities might consider the following alternatives:- Ghost Browser: Offers workspaces and identities, allowing flexible session management with proxy support.
Vivaldi: A customizable browser with features like tab stacking and built-in productivity tools.
Arc Browser: Focuses on a minimalist design with integrated tools for enhanced workflow.
