Most of us don’t give our browsers much thought. We open Chrome or Safari, pile on 30 tabs, and juggle logins until the mess becomes “normal.” Kevin Stratvert, a tech YouTuber who reviews productivity tools, wanted a browser that didn’t just load pages but actually helped him think and work better.
When he discovered Shift, he realized he could design his browsing experience from scratch: the layout, the workflows, even the way his digital life is organized.
“Traditional browsers weren’t designed for a world where your browser is basically your operating system. Shift lets me redesign everything, from the layout to my workflows.”
Kevin’s setup at a glance
- Spaces: Work, Personal, Demo
- Apps: Gmail, YouTube, Trello, LinkedIn, and social platforms
- Template: Organizer, customized into a clean and minimal layout
- Favorite detail: The Carbon Meter in his toolbar
Check out how Kevin set up his Shift browser below:
Building a browser that actually fits
Kevin dove straight into the Builder, the drag-and-drop interface that lets you move toolbars, rearrange buttons, and set up your browser exactly how you want it. Instead of a cookie-cutter layout, he picked the Organizer template as a starting point, then stripped away anything unnecessary.
No clutter, no wasted space. Just the controls he relies on, plus one key detail: he placed the Carbon Meter right in his toolbar so he could measure his browsing footprint in real time.
“With Shift, it feels more like designing your own workspace. You decide what belongs and what doesn’t.”
Kevin even shared his setup as a downloadable template: Kevin Stratvert’s Custom Shift Browser. It’s built for busy digital pros who want a cleaner, more minimal browser. His version removes the Bookmarks bar and navigation buttons, adds a Space Switcher to the top toolbar for quick context-switching, and pins his go-to apps, like Gmail, Trello, and YouTube, right into the layout. The result is a browser that feels focused and frictionless, giving him everything he needs in one glance.
Apps that never disappear
Instead of treating apps like disposable tabs, Kevin made them part of his browser. Gmail, YouTube, Trello, LinkedIn, social platforms—just some of the 1,500 integrated apps that are available within Shift. Once pinned, they’re always there, complete with unread badges and one-click access.
That means no typing URLs, no digging through tabs, and no wondering which account you’re signed into. Everything he needs is surfaced exactly when he needs it.
Switching lives in one click
One of Kevin’s biggest pain points was managing multiple identities. Logging in and out of accounts or keeping track of incognito windows was messy and frustrating. Shift’s Spaces solved that instantly.
He set up three: one for his side project (the Kevin Cookie Company), one for personal projects, and one for demos. Each has its own apps, theme, and accounts, so switching between them is as simple as clicking an icon. No crossover, no confusion.
His template leans heavily on Spaces, making it simple to jump between personal and professional worlds without breaking focus. This is why he calls Shift a flexible workspace, not just a browser.
“I can go from my work inbox to my personal Gmail in one click, without breaking focus.”
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Read MoreA browser that cares about impact
Kevin also called out something you don’t usually see in a browser: Shift is the world’s first carbon-neutral browser. With the Carbon Meter, he can see the footprint of his browsing and know that Shift offsets 100% of it through partnerships with vetted environmental groups.
For him, it’s peace of mind: he can work online the way he always does, while Shift takes responsibility for the environmental cost.
Kevin states Shift isn’t for casual users who only open a handful of tabs each day (lucky them). It’s for digital power users: freelancers juggling multiple clients, remote workers trying to separate work and personal life, creators who live inside their browser.
Try it yourself: Download Kevin Stratvert’s custom Shift template and start building a setup that’s as focused and flexible as his.
