Difference between Chrome Apps and Extensions

Question

What is the difference between Chrome Apps and Extensions?

What can you do with apps that you can't do with extensions or vice versa?

Answer 1

Quoting from https://developer.chrome.com/webstore/apps_vs_extensions:

We’ve already had the concept of “web apps” in the browser for a few years, as something more rich and interactive than a website, but less cumbersome and monolithic than a desktop application. Examples include games, photo editors, and video players; all of these categories are viable as tightly focused apps running inside the browser. Google Chrome is just formalizing the web app concept in a way that will be familiar to anyone who’s used apps on a smartphone.

Extensions ... extend the functionality of Google Chrome and the websites being viewed in it. For example, they can extend Google Chrome by adding a new button to the address bar, such as an ever-present currency converter. Buttons like this can also apply to the current website being viewed—for example, click the currency converter button to convert all prices on the website you’re viewing. Similarly, you can introduce new items to the context menu, change the behavior of the omnibox (the input field on the address bar), access the user’s browsing history (with consent), and much more. You can alter web pages too—for example, embed a “mail this” button next to every link in every page, or customize the layout of your favorite website.

Compared to apps, extensions cut across websites and web apps; they are usually in effect across all websites (though some are site-specific). Apps don’t combine with other apps in this way; they run standalone, like any regular website.

(emphasis added)

From what I can tell, Chrome apps are just web applications that are registered with Chrome's Web Store (Gmail, e.g.). They're basically just glorified bookmarks. Google seems to have introduced them in order to make their browser more "operating system"-like, in preparation for tablets running Chrome OS. Since Chrome OS won't have any native applications apart from Chrome, they need some way for you to be able to "install" applications... even if those applications are just websites.

Extensions can actually affect the way that the browser behaves (ad blocking, e.g.). They can add buttons to Chrome's toolbars, intercept web requests, change the DOM, etc.

Answer 2

Here is an excellent resource from the Google Chrome team explaining the differences in detail.

It also contains a decision tree flow chart shown below.

Answer 3

Please refer to the following link: (chrome app vs extension). It basically says that there are two kinds of apps: hosted and packaged. Hosted apps are glorified bookmarks. But packaged apps provide you with a somewhat best of both worlds features- of both extensions and apps.
Extensions of course extend the core browser functionality providing little or no additional UI apart from what is already provided by chrome.

Answer 4

There are three Chrome distribution channels for developers.

In order of increasing functionality they are:

1. Chrome extensions — little to no UI
2. Chrome hosted apps
3. Chrome packaged apps

More information and fuller discussion is contained in this video.

Answer 5

quoting from http://www.chromeplugins.org/extensions/chrome-web-apps-extensions-spot-the-difference/

(as the explanation is very good)

Major Differences Between Chrome Extension and Chrome Web Apps

One of the major differences between Chrome extensions and web applications is their location. Majority of the Chrome extensions can be downloaded from Chrome Extensions Gallery whereas Chrome Web Apps can be installed from Chrome Web Store.

Another major difference between Chrome extensions and web apps is the fact that while extensions are used to enhance the functionality of the Chrome Browser, web apps run within the browser having a different user interface. Unlike web applications, extensions have little or sometimes no UI component.

From a technical perspective the major difference between Chrome Apps and extensions is the presence of “launch” parameter in apps which indicates Chrome to show when user starts an application installed by him/her.