Why Is the Honey Chrome Extension Losing Users in 2025?
The Honey Chrome extension—once a fan-favorite tool for saving money online—is facing a major user exodus. In 2024, Honey, owned by PayPal, was exposed in a viral video that revealed questionable practices related to user data and tracking. Since then, millions of Chrome users have uninstalled the extension. As of July 2025, Honey has reportedly dropped to 14 million Chrome users, down from over 20 million at its peak. If you're wondering why this shift is happening and whether Honey is still safe to use, this post breaks it all down.
The Impact of the 2024 MegaLag Exposé on Honey's Popularity
The downfall of the Honey Chrome extension can be traced back to a popular video posted by YouTuber MegaLag in late 2024. In the video, MegaLag highlighted several concerns around how Honey collects user data, its tracking behavior, and lack of transparency. While PayPal made statements defending Honey and claiming improvements were on the way, the damage was already done. Chrome users began to question whether the coupon tool was worth the privacy trade-off. Despite minor updates and Google’s pressure on transparency, Honey's user numbers have continued to shrink month over month. Trust, once lost, is hard to win back—especially in the privacy-conscious environment of 2025.
Honey’s Chrome User Numbers Keep Falling Despite Changes
In July 2025, data from the Chrome Web Store showed Honey had just 14 million users—a drop of 6 to 7 million since its 2024 peak. Even more concerning is the rate of this decline. Just six weeks ago, the extension had 15 million Chrome users, which was already a million less than a few months before that. This steady decline suggests that user sentiment hasn't recovered despite Honey implementing changes and policy revisions to meet Google's requirements. What’s more, some tech-savvy users and digital privacy advocates argue that these updates have been surface-level at best.
Is Honey Still Trusted by 17 Million Users? The Numbers Don’t Add Up
Honey continues to advertise that it is “Trusted by 17+ million members,” but that claim doesn’t reflect Chrome-only statistics. It’s likely the number includes installs across Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge, but even then, the margin for error is shrinking. Independent research suggests that Honey's total user count might soon fall below its advertised trust metric if the trend continues. With online shoppers becoming increasingly aware of how browser extensions interact with their data, even long-time users are reassessing their loyalty. Alternatives that are open-source, more transparent, or privacy-first are starting to take Honey’s place.
Should You Still Use the Honey Extension in 2025?
While Honey may still function as a coupon finder, the steady loss of Chrome users and the shadow of past controversies are hard to ignore. If you're considering whether to install or keep using Honey, it's essential to weigh the benefits against potential privacy concerns. The browser extension space is evolving fast, and with rising awareness around data collection, users in 2025 are prioritizing transparency and trust more than ever. Honey's decline serves as a cautionary tale for all browser-based tools: deliver real value, but never at the cost of user trust.
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