# Chrome Alternatives in 2026: 50 Web Browsers Compared

> Find a Chrome alternative for your computer and workflow. Use the browser chooser, then compare 50 browsers by engine, features, and practical tradeoffs.

Author: [Flavio Copes](https://flaviocopes.com/about/) | Published: 2026-10-27 | Canonical: https://flaviocopes.com/alternative-browsers/

There are a lot of browsers to keep track of. Helium, Zen, Orion, Dia, Aside, Yab, Ardia, Crest. Some focus on privacy. Some bring back the sidebar and workspaces people liked in Arc. Others give AI agents access to your tabs.

But underneath those different interfaces, many share the same engine.

Helium and Ardia are based on Chromium. Orion and Yab use WebKit. Zen is based on Firefox. Crest can use both Chromium and WebKit on a Mac.

I wanted a directory that makes those differences easy to find. This covers the newer browsers alongside established alternatives, with a few specialist and experimental projects where they help explain the landscape. The focus is desktop browsing; Android-only entries are marked.

**Engine and availability information checked on October 24, 2026.** The links go to the projects themselves. This is a directory based on their published information, rather than a hands-on review of every browser.

## Find a browser to try

The chooser gives you up to three suggestions from 22 current desktop browsers. It checks your computer and requirements first. The order reflects features and workflows, not measured speed or a security score.

The full directory below also includes specialist browsers, experimental engines, and retired projects that the chooser doesn't recommend.

## First, what does “based on Chromium” mean?

The browser is the whole application. Its **rendering engine** is the part that turns HTML and CSS into the page you see.

[Chromium](https://www.chromium.org/Home/) is an open-source browser project. Its rendering engine is called [Blink](https://www.chromium.org/blink/). Google builds Chrome on Chromium, and other developers use it to build their own browsers.

**WebKit** is the engine behind Safari. It also powers independent browsers such as Orion and Yab. On Linux, projects can use its WebKitGTK port.

**Gecko** is Mozilla's engine. [Firefox uses Gecko](https://firefox-source-docs.mozilla.org/overview/gecko.html), and so do Firefox forks such as Zen and LibreWolf.

That gives us the main families below. The examples in the diagram refer to desktop versions:

```mermaid steps
flowchart TD
  accTitle: Chromium browsers use Blink
  accDescr: Chromium uses the Blink rendering engine. Helium, Ardia and Aside are examples of Chromium-based browsers.
  C[Chromium] --> B[Blink]
  B --> CB[Helium / Ardia / Aside]
%% step
flowchart TD
  accTitle: WebKit browsers
  accDescr: Safari, Orion and Yab use the WebKit rendering engine.
  W[WebKit] --> WB[Safari / Orion / Yab]
%% step
flowchart TD
  accTitle: Firefox browsers use Gecko
  accDescr: Firefox uses Gecko. Zen, Floorp and LibreWolf are based on Firefox.
  F[Firefox] --> G[Gecko]
  G --> FB[Zen / Floorp / LibreWolf]
%% step
flowchart TD
  accTitle: Crest on Mac supports two engines
  accDescr: Crest on Mac can render sites with Chromium's Blink engine or with WebKit.
  C[Chromium] --> B[Blink]
  B --> CR[Crest on Mac]
  W[WebKit] --> CR
```

Sharing an engine doesn't make two browsers identical. Their privacy defaults, update systems, extensions, tab organization, and AI features can be very different.

Also, installing a Chrome extension doesn't prove a browser uses Chromium. Orion and Yab support Chrome extensions while rendering pages with WebKit. Compatibility depends on the extension.

## Chromium-based browsers

Every browser in this section uses Chromium and Blink on the desktop, or on Android where noted. Some fork Chromium directly. Others embed it through Electron or QtWebEngine.

### Newer browsers and alternatives to Arc

| Browser | What it focuses on | What to know |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Ardia](https://ardia.dev/) | Arc-style sidebar, profiles, split panes, built-in blocking | Free and open source. Currently for Apple Silicon Macs. Uses Chromium. |
| [Aside](https://aside.com/) | An AI agent that works across logged-in websites and local files | For [Mac and Windows](https://aside.com/download). Its developers describe [patching Chromium and Blink](https://aside.com/blog/how-we-built-the-sota-browser-agent-that-outperforms-fable) to support background agent tabs. |
| [Helium](https://helium.computer/) | Minimal interface, privacy defaults, ad and tracker blocking | Open source and desktop-focused. Its FAQ says it removes Google service dependencies. Currently a beta for Mac, Windows, and Linux. |
| [Dia](https://www.diabrowser.com/) | AI assistance across tabs and work tools, profiles, split views | For Mac and Windows, from The Browser Company, which made Arc. Its [security page](https://www.diabrowser.com/security) confirms its Chromium base. |
| [Comet](https://www.perplexity.ai/comet) | Perplexity search and an assistant that can work with web pages | A [Chromium-based AI browser](https://www.perplexity.ai/help-center/en/articles/12781449-comet-for-enterprise) with ordinary browsing alongside its assistant. |
| [BrowserOS](https://github.com/browseros-ai/BrowserOS) | An open-source browser with an AI agent | The project also ships BrowserOS neo for external agents to drive. Both are Chromium forks for Mac, Windows, and Linux. |
| [Tabbit](https://go.tabbit.ai/download-ai-browser) | AI assistance and task automation | A Chromium-based browser for Mac and Windows, currently a public beta. |
| [Genspark Browser](https://www.genspark.ai/browser) | AI tools, on-device models, and automated browsing | For Mac and Windows. [LayerX's technical analysis](https://layerxsecurity.com/generative-ai/genspark-risks-and-vulnerabilities/) identifies Chromium as its foundation. |
| [Opera Neon](https://www.operaneon.com/) | AI agents that research and act on web pages | A separate product from regular Opera. Agent features require a subscription. |

Ardia is an option if you want an Arc-like interface while keeping Chromium. Yab takes a similar interface idea in a different direction with WebKit, and Zen does it with Firefox. You'll find both below.

Helium has some practical limits worth checking before switching. Its [FAQ](https://helium.computer/) says it currently has no built-in password manager, no sync, and no Widevine support. The last point affects some protected streaming services.

### Established Chromium browsers and specialist options

| Browser | What it focuses on | Engine or implementation note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Google Chrome](https://www.google.com/chrome/) | Google's general-purpose browser | Chromium / Blink. Included as the familiar reference point. |
| [Chromium](https://www.chromium.org/Home/) | The open-source browser project itself | The upstream foundation many browsers in this list build on. |
| [Microsoft Edge](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/microsoft-edge-chromium) | Microsoft integration and productivity features | Current Edge uses Chromium. The old EdgeHTML browser is a different implementation. |
| [Brave](https://brave.com/faq/) | Built-in ad and tracker blocking | A Chromium fork with its own privacy changes and additional services. |
| [Vivaldi](https://vivaldi.com/blog/vivaldi-browser-vs-google-chrome/) | Extensive customization and tab management | Chromium underneath its own interface. |
| [Opera One](https://www.opera.com/) | General browsing, tab organization, built-in tools | Part of Opera's Chromium-based desktop family. |
| [Opera GX](https://www.opera.com/gx) | Gaming-oriented customization and resource controls | Chromium-based, like regular desktop Opera. |
| [Opera Air](https://www.opera.com/air) | Fewer distractions, soundscapes, guided breaks | Another Opera browser using the same engine family. |
| [ungoogled-chromium](https://github.com/ungoogled-software/ungoogled-chromium) | Removing Google service integration from Chromium | A set of modifications to Chromium. Distribution and update arrangements depend on the build. |
| [Thorium](https://thorium.rocks/) | Performance-oriented Chromium builds | A Chromium fork with compiler optimizations and patches. |
| [Cromite](https://github.com/uazo/cromite) | Privacy changes and built-in ad blocking | A Chromium-based successor to Bromite. Check its releases for supported platforms. |
| [Ulaa](https://ulaa.com/) | Zoho's browser with separate browsing modes | Chromium-based; also has an enterprise offering. |
| [Min](https://minbrowser.org/) | Minimal interface, tasks, and focus mode | Built with Electron, which embeds Chromium. |
| [Horse](https://browser.horse/) | Organizing browsing into nested Trails | Built with Electron, so it uses Chromium / Blink. Its [release notes](https://browser.horse/changelog/3.3.4) identify the Electron engine updates. |
| [qutebrowser](https://qutebrowser.org/doc/faq.html) | Keyboard-driven browsing with Vim-like controls | Uses QtWebEngine by default, which is based on Chromium. |
| [Falkon](https://www.falkon.org/about/) | A lightweight KDE browser | Uses QtWebEngine, so it belongs in the Chromium family. Older QupZilla releases used WebKit. |

Opera's [security updates](https://blogs.opera.com/security/2026/02/update-your-browser-security-fix-for-chrome-zero-day-cve-2026-2441/) cover Chromium fixes across Opera, GX, Air, and Neon. The different names describe different products, rather than four independent rendering engines.

QtWebEngine and Electron also need a distinction. Using Chromium through one of these frameworks does **not** automatically provide every Chrome feature or extension API. Check the individual browser's extension support.

## WebKit-based browsers

WebKit gives us alternatives beyond Safari, including browsers with workspaces and Chrome extension support.

| Browser | What it focuses on | What to know |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Safari](https://www.apple.com/safari/) | Integration with Apple devices | Apple's browser, powered by WebKit. |
| [Orion](https://orionbrowser.com/) | Privacy, native Apple apps, extension support | Kagi's WebKit browser. Supports a selection of Chrome and Firefox extensions; compatibility varies. |
| [Yab, Yet Another Browser](https://yetanotherbrowser.com/) | Arc-style spaces, pinned tabs, Peek, Split View, and AI automation | Uses the WebKit supplied by macOS. Its site also offers an iPhone beta. |
| [SigmaOS](https://sigmaos.com/) | Workspaces and tabs treated like tasks | A Mac browser. Its [extension documentation](https://docs.sigmaos.com/tutorial/extensions) identifies it as WebKit-based, with Chrome extension support. |
| [GNOME Web](https://apps.gnome.org/Epiphany/) | A simple browser integrated with GNOME | Also called Epiphany. Uses WebKitGTK on Linux. |

Orion is especially easy to misclassify. Supporting Firefox extensions doesn't make it Firefox-based. Its [documentation](https://help.kagi.com/orion/) explicitly identifies WebKit as its engine.

Yab makes a different tradeoff from Ardia: it uses the engine already on your Mac, while Ardia ships Chromium. If a site behaves differently between them, the engine is one of the things to investigate.

For the Linux entry, [WebKit's download page](https://webkit.org/downloads/) includes Epiphany Technology Preview. WebKit is used outside Apple's operating systems too.

## Firefox-based browsers

These browsers use Gecko through Firefox or one of its derivatives. They vary quite a bit in their approach to privacy and interface design.

| Browser | What it focuses on | What to know |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Firefox](https://www.firefox.com/) | Mozilla's general-purpose browser | The upstream browser for this family. Desktop and Android use Gecko. |
| [Zen](https://zen-browser.app/) | Vertical tabs, workspaces, split views, interface customization | A Firefox-based alternative for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Still labeled beta on its download page. |
| [Floorp](https://floorp.app/) | Workspaces, split views, web panels, customization | Firefox-based. Its current desktop line uses Firefox Rapid Release rather than the older ESR base. |
| [LibreWolf](https://librewolf.net/) | Privacy defaults, removed telemetry, bundled uBlock Origin | A desktop Firefox fork. Check how your chosen installation method delivers updates. |
| [Waterfox](https://www.waterfox.com/) | Customization, private tabs, built-in blocking | Firefox-derived, with desktop and Android releases. |
| [Mullvad Browser](https://mullvad.net/en/browser) | Reducing tracking through browser fingerprinting | Developed with the Tor Project. It does not send your traffic through Tor. |
| [Tor Browser](https://www.torproject.org/download/) | Browsing through Tor with anti-fingerprinting protections | Based on Firefox ESR. Available on desktop and Android. |
| [Midori](https://astian.org/midori-browser/) | Privacy-focused browsing and workspaces | The current desktop browser is Firefox-derived. Old lists calling it WebKit-based describe an earlier implementation. |
| [IronFox](https://ironfoxoss.org/) | Privacy and security hardening on Android | Based on Firefox for Android, continuing the Mull lineage. |
| [Fennec F-Droid](https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.mozilla.fennec_fdroid/) | An Android Firefox build with proprietary components removed | Distributed through F-Droid. It still connects to some Mozilla services. |
| [GNU IceCat](https://www.gnu.org/software/gnuzilla/) | A free-software-focused Firefox derivative | The GNU project currently provides build tools rather than ready-made binary downloads. |

Zen and Floorp are the entries to look at if tab organization is your main reason for switching. LibreWolf and Mullvad Browser put more emphasis on privacy defaults.

Mullvad Browser and Tor Browser deserve separate entries. They share development work and anti-fingerprinting goals, but Tor Browser routes browsing through the Tor network. Mullvad Browser works with your normal connection or a VPN.

Midori is another reason to check current sources. Its [desktop repository](https://github.com/goastian/midori-desktop) documents the move from WebKit to Gecko. The browser's name stayed the same while its engine changed.

## Browsers that use more than one engine

Some browsers don't fit in a single column. The engine can depend on the platform, the selected backend, or even the site.

| Browser | Engine | What to know |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Crest](https://crestbrowser.com/guides/engines/) | Chromium and WebKit on Mac | Uses Chromium with a WebKit option per site. Its iPhone and iPad versions use WebKit. Arc-style spaces, sidebar, Peek, and Split View. Currently early access. |
| [DuckDuckGo](https://duckduckgo.com/app) | WebKit on Mac; Chromium through WebView2 on Windows | A privacy-focused browser with its own interface. Its [Mac](https://spreadprivacy.com/introducing-duckduckgo-for-mac/) and [Windows](https://spreadprivacy.com/windows-browser-open-beta/) implementations use different platform web views. |
| [Nyxt](https://nyxt.atlas.engineer/faq) | WebKit, plus an experimental Blink backend | A keyboard-driven browser extensible with Common Lisp. Its architecture supports different rendering backends. Primarily for Linux. |

Crest is the clearest example of why a “Chromium or WebKit?” question sometimes needs a longer answer. On Mac, [its engine guide](https://crestbrowser.com/guides/engines/) explains switching engines for individual sites. That also changes which page features and extensions are available. The engines keep separate cookies and storage, so switching can mean signing in to the site again.

## Independent engines and experimental browsers

These projects expand the list beyond the main three families. Their maturity and compatibility vary substantially.

| Browser or project | Engine | What to know |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Ladybird](https://ladybird.org/) | Its own independent engine | A browser being built from scratch. Still in development; its site says the first macOS and Linux alpha is coming later in 2026. |
| [Pale Moon](https://www.palemoon.org/technical.shtml) | Goanna | Goanna is a fork of Gecko. Pale Moon follows its own development path and extension ecosystem, so it belongs separately from current Firefox forks. |
| [Servo / servoshell](https://book.servo.org/trying/getting-servoshell.html) | Servo | Servo is an independent rendering engine written in Rust. Servoshell is its test browser, rather than a complete everyday browser. |

An independent engine needs to implement the web platform itself. That is a much larger undertaking than building a new interface around Chromium or WebKit. Expect differences in website compatibility, especially with experimental projects.

## Retired browsers and browsers being sunset

These belong in the history of this browser wave, with their status clearly attached.

**[Arc](https://arc.net/)** is Chromium-based on desktop. The Browser Company has announced that it will sunset Arc on **December 22, 2026**. Its announcement says new accounts stopped on October 22, and the desktop browser will become inaccessible at the sunset date. That makes it a migration consideration rather than a fresh recommendation.

**ChatGPT Atlas** was OpenAI's Chromium-based browser. It has been retired. OpenAI's [retirement notice](https://help.openai.com/en/articles/20001371-chatgpt-atlas-retirement) says it no longer receives updates. Keep it separate from the browsers available to try today.

**[Fellou](https://fellou.ai/)** used Chromium / Blink through Electron for its AI browser and automated workflows. [Arkose Labs' firsthand security investigation](https://www.arkoselabs.com/blog/standalone-agentic-browser-didnt-win) identifies that foundation and reports that Fellou had wound down by September 2026. Its marketing website remains online, so check the product's status before treating it as an available option.

## The desktop engine isn't always the phone engine

The tables mainly classify desktop browsers. You can't safely copy that label to an iPhone app with the same name.

For example, [Chrome uses Blink on desktop but WebKit on iOS](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Glossary/Google_Chrome). Firefox's desktop Gecko classification doesn't automatically describe Firefox for iPhone either.

Check the implementation for the platform you plan to use. Extension support and sync can differ between desktop and mobile too.

## How I would narrow the list

I would start with the problem I want to fix in my current browser.

If I wanted Arc's tab organization, I would compare **Ardia, Yab, Zen, and Crest**. That small group lets me compare a similar workflow across Chromium, WebKit, and Gecko.

Here is how that Arc-style group splits by desktop engine. Use the chooser to check which ones support your computer.

```mermaid
flowchart TD
  accTitle: Arc-style browsers by engine
  accDescr: Ardia uses Chromium and Blink, Yab uses WebKit, Zen uses Firefox and Gecko, and Crest on Mac offers Chromium and WebKit.
  A[Arc-style tabs and spaces] --> B[Chromium / Blink]
  A --> W[WebKit]
  A --> G[Firefox / Gecko]
  B --> AR[Ardia]
  W --> Y[Yab]
  G --> Z[Zen]
  B --> C[Crest on Mac]
  W --> C
```

If I wanted a minimal Chromium browser, I would look at **Helium** and check whether its sync and streaming limitations affect me. For more customization, I would compare **Vivaldi** and **Floorp**.

For AI work, I would compare **Aside, Dia, Comet, BrowserOS, Yab, and Opera Neon** by asking what the assistant can do with a real task. Reading a page, acting in a logged-in tab, and connecting to an external coding agent are different capabilities.

For web development, I would keep access to **Blink, WebKit, and Gecko** regardless of my everyday browser. Testing Chrome, Brave, and Edge mostly repeats testing the same engine family. Firefox and Safari add different implementations of the web platform.

You can also choose by what bothers you in your current browser:

```mermaid steps
flowchart TD
  accTitle: Choose by interface
  accDescr: Compare Helium for a minimal Chromium interface, or Vivaldi and Floorp for customization. Helium needs a check of sync and streaming requirements.
  A[What would you change?] --> M[A simpler interface]
  A --> C[More customization]
  M --> H[Helium]
  H --> L[Check sync and streaming needs]
  C --> V[Vivaldi / Floorp]
%% step
flowchart TD
  accTitle: Choose an AI workflow
  accDescr: Compare Aside, Dia, Comet, BrowserOS, Yab and Opera Neon using the same real task, checking whether you need page reading, actions in signed-in sites, or external agent access.
  A[What should AI do?] --> R[Read and explain pages]
  A --> T[Act in signed-in sites]
  A --> E[Work with an external agent]
  R --> B[Compare with the same real task]
  T --> B
  E --> B
  B --> C[Aside / Dia / Comet]
  B --> D[BrowserOS / Yab / Opera Neon]
%% step
flowchart TD
  accTitle: Choose browsers for web testing
  accDescr: For web development, test across Blink, WebKit and Gecko. Chrome, Brave and Edge share the Blink engine; Safari and Firefox add other engines.
  A[Test your website] --> B[Blink: Chrome, Brave or Edge]
  A --> W[WebKit: Safari]
  A --> G[Gecko: Firefox]
```

Before moving everything, try your password manager, video calls, important extensions, downloads, and any streaming services you use. Check the update mechanism too. A browser fork needs to keep delivering fixes from the engine it builds on.

If you want to understand how extensions fit into these browsers, my free [Browser Extensions Course](https://flaviocopes.com/courses/browser-extensions/) walks through building one.