# Auto Tab Discard vs SuperchargePerformance: Compared (2026)

> Auto Tab Discard suspends tabs but has no ad blocking, forcing you to run a second extension. One alternative handles both with 195K rules built in.

- Canonical: https://www.superchargebrowser.com/library/vs-auto-tab-discard/
- Published: 2026-02-20
- Updated: 2026-09-04
- Source: SuperchargeBrowser (https://www.superchargebrowser.com)

> **Key takeaways**
> - Both extensions call **the same `chrome.tabs.discard()` API**. Per-tab RAM savings from suspension are identical.
> - **Auto Tab Discard** is open-source and does one thing cleanly. SuperchargePerformance popup: session RAM counter (conservative). No per-tab readout.
> - If **tab suspension alone is enough**, Auto Tab Discard covers it. Otherwise, SuperchargePerformance has the extras.

Both extensions call the exact same Chrome API — `chrome.tabs.discard()` — so the per-tab memory savings are identical. Auto Tab Discard does that one thing cleanly. SuperchargePerformance does the same thing and keeps going: ad blocking, tracker blocking, script control, memory metrics. Whether the additional features are useful to you is the whole decision.

## Feature Comparison

| Feature | SuperchargePerformance | Auto Tab Discard |
|---------|----------------------|-----------------|
| Tab suspension (discard API) | Yes | Yes |
| Suspension trigger | Configurable inactivity timer (5 or 15 min) | Configurable |
| Audio tab protection | Yes (skips tab.audible = true) | Yes |
| Pinned tab protection | Yes | Yes |
| Form input protection | Yes | Yes |
| Ad blocking | Yes (declarativeNetRequest) | No |
| Tracker blocking | Yes | No |
| Script blocking | Yes | No |
| Preloading | Yes | No |
| Memory-saved estimate | Yes (session total) | No |
| Cookie banner removal | Yes | No |
| Per-site whitelist | Yes (per feature or all features) | Yes (domain-based) |
| Open-source | No | Yes |
| Cost | Free core, optional PRO | Free |

## How the Discard Mechanism Compares

Both extensions call the same underlying Chrome API: `chrome.tabs.discard()`. When a tab is discarded:

- Its content is removed from memory
- The tab remains visible in the tab bar with favicon and title
- Clicking the tab triggers a network reload

Because the mechanism is identical, the per-tab memory savings from suspension are the same in both extensions. SuperchargePerformance additionally reduces memory in active tabs through ad and tracker blocking, which removes heavy assets before they are downloaded and parsed.

## What Auto Tab Discard Does Not Cover

Auto Tab Discard handles the tab lifecycle well. The gaps are real though: ads and trackers load normally in every tab, third-party scripts run unrestricted, and there's no dashboard showing how much RAM you've actually freed. You also get no preloading.

To reach feature parity with SuperchargePerformance using Auto Tab Discard, you'd need a separate ad blocker, a separate script blocker, and you'd still have no memory metrics. Whether that's fine depends on what you actually need from the install.

## Who Should Choose What

**Choose Auto Tab Discard** if:
- You want a purely open-source solution
- Tab suspension is the only feature you need
- You already have separate extensions for ad blocking and are comfortable managing multiple tools

**Choose SuperchargePerformance** if:
- You want tab suspension, ad blocking, and memory metrics in one extension
- You prefer a single whitelist that controls all features simultaneously
- You want to see actual RAM savings numbers in the popup dashboard

## Bottom Line

Auto Tab Discard is a capable open-source tool — if tab suspension is the only thing you need, it covers it well. If you also want ad blocking, script control, and memory metrics, running three separate extensions to get there makes less sense than one install that does all of it.

For related comparisons, see [SuperchargePerformance vs OneTab](/library/vs-onetab/) and [Chrome Memory Saver Review](/library/chrome-native-memory-saver-review/).

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Canonical URL: https://www.superchargebrowser.com/library/vs-auto-tab-discard/