Remember iGoogle? So many people used it as their preferred web browser homepage back in the day, until the service was discontinued and taken offline on November 1, 2013.

 iGoogle Replacements 

A lot of people were disappointed given how handy of a homepage tool it was. If you haven’t yet found a good alternative since the permanent disappearance of iGoogle, here are several you may want to consider.

They’re no iGoogle, but some of them offer features that might bring back at least a small bit of that classic homepage experience.

Almost an iGoogle Clone: igHome

igHome is perhaps the most similar alternative to iGoogle. Although it’s not officially run by Google, it uses Google search and can connect to your other Google services, like Gmail.

  • Highly customizable.

  • Mobile-friendly.

  • Gadgets can disappear.

  • Some gadgets unavailable on secure version.

You can add all sorts of widgets to your page, set a background image and do almost everything that iGoogle allowed you to do. And it’s totally free to sign up!

Google’s Official Web Browser: Google Chrome Browser

This is actually what Google had hoped everyone would use to replace iGoogle.

  • Easy search.

  • Customize shortcuts.

  • Limited personalization.

  • No newsfeed.

You can personalize it somewhat similarly to iGoogle with web apps, themes, menu bars and extensions. It even works quite well on mobile devices.

It’s not quite like iGoogle, but if you want to stick with Google, then it will do. Set your page to bring up Google.com when you open a new window and you’ll be ready to go.

Great Looking Widgets Plus Tons of Search Options: Protopage

Now here’s another similar iGoogle alternative that’s comparable to igHome. It’s easy to see how much it resembles the layout and widgets of iGoogle.

  • Highly customizable.

  • Easy to find relevant content.

  • Outdated appearance.

  • Content is not shareable.

You can add all sorts of widgets, change the colors, set the background image and perform searches on some of the top search engines and sites.

As if that weren’t awesome enough, you can add tabs to your homepage for even more widgets and better organization.

Switch Between Widget and Reader View: Netvibes

Netvibes was actually the first personalized dashboard platform even before iGoogle launched in 2005.

  • Create custom dashboards.

  • Numerous apps and layouts.

  • Some features only available with premium subscription.

  • Learning curve to use.

It’s a powerful homepage and RSS reader tool with premium plans you can upgrade to if you want more features. The platform claims that it’s a place where “millions of people around the world personalize and publish all aspects of their daily digital lives.”

You can choose from over 200,000 apps, create custom layouts and publish great looking micro sites easily with just a few clicks.

Ideal If You Love Using Yahoo Products: My Yahoo

If you’re willing to give Yahoo a try, you can use the My Yahoo page as an option for personalized widgets and quick links. If you already have a Yahoo account or use Yahoo Mail, it may be easier to make the switch.

  • Headlines, emails, and more in one place.

  • Use existing Yahoo account.

  • Cluttered appearance.

  • Ad-heavy.

Unfortunately, your my Yahoo dashboard will show random advertisements throughout the page, which is a bit of a pain. It all depends on how far you’re willing to go to get a similar iGoogle experience.

Where You Can Get Real-Time Updates: Twitter

If it’s the latest news that you’re craving to read right off the bat when you open up a new browser window, maybe jumping on Twitter and setting it to your homepage is the right choice. If you follow enough news outlets or weather networks or whatever on Twitter, you can get your news fix practically in real-time.

  • Content variety.

  • Hashtags streamline results.

  • No widgets.

  • Limited customization options.

Twitter doesn’t have any fancy widgets or much of a personalized layout option but does have a highly visual feed nowadays and it could be a serious homepage option for people who want to be informed as quickly as possible.

Your Fix for Social News and Interesting Topics: Reddit

Reddit is another great source for news, often sometimes better than what the media outlets provide. The layout is slightly bland, but the information and links you can find there are priceless.

  • Easy to use.

  • Myriad topics to follow.

  • Simplistic layout.

  • Some topics not suitable for work.

There’s also a pretty great community too, so if you’re a fan of participating in discussions, Reddit could be a good choice for a homepage. You can choose from any one of the Reddit lists at the top that best suits your interests.

Your Homepage Simplified: My Way

If you don’t care that much for the widgets but want at least a few quick buttons to popular sites, My Way might be the best option for you. You get a Google enhanced search bad and a selection of site icons for fast access.

  • Well-organized.

  • No pop-ups.

  • Limited customization.

  • Cannot remove default links.

Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a way to customize your site buttons or much of anything else. If you want customization, you’re going to want to go with one of the other alternatives on this list.

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