Mozilla Firefox
Open Sourceby Mozilla
The major independent browser, built by a non-profit.
- Independent Gecko rendering engine
- Enhanced tracking protection by default
- Extensive extension ecosystem
Free alternatives to Google Chrome
5 web browsers programs worth considering instead of — or alongside — Google Chrome.
Alternatives to Google Chrome
Brave
Open Sourceby Brave Software
Chromium-based browser that blocks ads and trackers by default.
- Ad and tracker blocking built in
- Runs Chrome extensions
- Faster page loads on ad-heavy sites
Opera
Freeby Opera Software
Feature-packed browser with a free built-in VPN.
- Free built-in VPN
- Integrated ad blocker
- Sidebar messengers and workspaces
Vivaldi
Freeby Vivaldi Technologies
The power-user browser — customise almost everything.
- Tab stacking, tiling and hibernation
- Built-in mail, calendar and feed reader
- Deep interface customisation
Tor Browser
Open Sourceby The Tor Project
Anonymous browsing through the Tor network.
- Multi-hop traffic anonymisation
- Circumvents network censorship
- Blocks browser fingerprinting
About Google Chrome
Chrome is the browser most of the web is tested against, which in practice means the fewest compatibility surprises. It offers the largest extension library, tight Google account sync, and consistently fast JavaScript performance.
It is free and runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS. Below are 5 web browsers programs that cover the same ground — some open-source, some cross-platform, each free to use.
Google Chrome alternatives compared
| Program | Licence | Platforms | Best known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mozilla Firefox | Open Source | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Independent Gecko rendering engine |
| Brave | Open Source | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Ad and tracker blocking built in |
| Opera | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Free built-in VPN |
| Vivaldi | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android | Tab stacking, tiling and hibernation |
| Tor Browser | Open Source | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android | Multi-hop traffic anonymisation |
The alternatives in detail
Mozilla Firefox Open Source
Firefox is the last major browser not built on Google's Chromium engine, developed by the non-profit Mozilla Foundation. Notable for independent gecko rendering engine and enhanced tracking protection by default. Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS.
Brave Open Source
Brave is built on Chromium — so Chrome extensions and site compatibility carry over — but ships with aggressive ad and tracker blocking enabled out of the box. Notable for ad and tracker blocking built in and runs chrome extensions. Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS.
Opera Free
Opera bundles features that are usually add-ons elsewhere: a free built-in VPN, an ad blocker, a battery saver and integrated messengers in the sidebar. Notable for free built-in vpn and integrated ad blocker. Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS.
Vivaldi Free
Vivaldi is aimed squarely at people who want control: tab stacking and tiling, a built-in email client, notes, keyboard shortcuts for everything, and interface customisation far beyond what other browsers expose. Notable for tab stacking, tiling and hibernation and built-in mail, calendar and feed reader. Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android.
Tor Browser Open Source
Tor Browser routes your traffic through multiple volunteer-operated relays so no single point can link your identity to what you browse. Notable for multi-hop traffic anonymisation and circumvents network censorship. Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android.
How to choose
3 are fully open source (Mozilla Firefox, Brave, Tor Browser) — pick one of these if you value auditable code you can self-host. For the widest platform coverage, Mozilla Firefox, Brave, Opera run on three or more operating systems.
All 5 are free to download from the publisher's own website, so installing two or three and testing them on your own files is the fastest way to decide — it costs nothing but a few minutes.