Chroomonas dispersa is a species of cryptophyte alga in the family Chroomonadaceae, found in freshwater and brackish aquatic environments. The specific epithet dispersa suggests a widely scattered or diffuse distribution or cellular arrangement. Cryptophytes in the genus Chroomonas are small, motile, unicellular flagellates widely distributed across freshwater, brackish, and marine environments globally. They are particularly important constituents of the nanoplankton and picoplankton size fractions in many aquatic systems. The combination of photosynthesis and occasional mixotrophy — the ability to ingest bacteria or dissolved organic matter — in some cryptophyte lineages gives these organisms metabolic flexibility that contributes to their ecological success across a range of trophic conditions. Chroomonas dispersa has been documented from European freshwater habitats and contributes to the baseline biodiversity of these systems. Cryptophytes as a group have been studied for their potential in biotechnology, including as sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids and natural pigments. The species has not been assessed by the IUCN.