https://9to5google.com/2025/03/31/honey-extension-users-dropped-chrome-march-2025/ Skip to main content Toggle main menu Go to the 9to5Google home page Switch site * 9to5Mac * 9to5Toys * Electrek * DroneDJ * Space Explored * About * Privacy * * * * * * * * * * * * Toggle social menu * * Toggle dark mode Search for: [ ] Submit Toggle search form * Exclusives * Pixel + Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold + Google Pixel 9 Pro XL + Google Pixel 9 Pro + Google Pixel 9 + Pixel 8 Pro + Pixel 8 + Google Pixel Watch 3 + Pixel Watch + Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 + Pixel Buds Pro * Nest + Nest Hub + Nest Hub Max + Nest Mini + Nest Audio + Nest Thermostats + Nest Cam + Nest Doorbell * Android + Android 15 + Android 14 + Auto + Wear OS + Samsung + OnePlus + Oppo + Xiaomi * Chrome + Google Chrome + ChromeOS * TV + Google TV + Android TV + Chromecast + Chromecast with Google TV * Workspace + Gmail + Google Meet + Google Chat + Google Calendar + Google Keep + Google Drive + Google Docs * YouTube + YouTube + YouTube Music + YouTube TV * Alphabet + Waymo + Verily Life Sciences + DeepMind + Google Ventures + Google Fiber + Access & Energy + Calico * Reviews * Videos * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Toggle dark mode * Google Chrome * Honey Honey has now lost 4 million Chrome users after shady tactics were revealed Avatar for Ben Schoon Ben Schoon | Mar 31 2025 - 7:20 am PT 2 Comments [paypal-honey-logo-1] Late last year the popular Chrome extension Honey (owned by PayPal) was revealed for employing a few shady tactics, and the extension has since lost around 4 million users on Google's browser alone. To recap the situation thus far, Honey has amassed millions of users over the past several years on the promise of finding coupon codes for various online stores. The free extension saw wide advertisements and was eventually purchased by PayPal in 2020 for $4 billion. In December 2024, a video on YouTube by the channel MegaLag exposed Honey for two shady practices. The first was how the extension took advantage of affiliate codes. Honey has always used affiliate programs to subsidize its service, but the video revealed that the extension would hijack these programs - removing affiliate codes from other refferers such as online creators and website - even if it didn't have coupon codes or cash back to offer in return. The practice was working behind the scenes with businesses to control which codes would appear to Honey users, effectively directly lying about its promise of finding the "best" coupon codes on the web. That video amassed over 17 million views, and Honey has now lost over 4 million users on Chrome. Advertisement - scroll for more content As we reported in early January, Honey had lost around 3 million users immediately after the video went viral, but ended up gaining back around 1 million later on. Now, as of March 2025, Honey is down to 16 million users on Chrome, down from its peak of 20 million. [image_2345e3] This drop comes after new Chrome policy has taken effect which prevents Honey, and extensions like it, from practices including taking over affiliate codes without disclosure or without benefit to the extension's users. Honey has since updated its extension listing with disclosure, and we found that the behavior shown in the December video no longer occurs. Are you still using Honey? More on Chrome: * Google Chrome policy update restricts shady affiliate extensions, like Honey * Chrome 135 for Android will start 'going edge-to-edge' [Gallery] * Google Lens powering new Screen Search in Chrome for iOS Follow Ben: Twitter/X, Threads, Bluesky, and Instagram Add 9to5Google to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More. You're reading 9to5Google -- experts who break news about Google and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Google on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don't know where to start? 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Honey Honey Author Avatar for Ben Schoon Ben Schoon nexusben Ben is a Senior Editor for 9to5Google. Find him on Twitter @NexusBen. Send tips to schoon@9to5g.com or encrypted to benschoon@protonmail.com. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Ben Schoon's favorite gear [Pixel-Watch-2-in-p] Google Pixel Watch 2 Ben's smartwatch of choice with his phone is the Google Pixel Watch 2. samsung galaxy s24 ultra Reserve Galaxy S24 Reserve the Galaxy S24 series for free and get a $50 credit, no obligation required.