When it comes to choosing web browsers for Windows, it all boils down to personal taste. Maybe you like a web browser’s speed, reputation for privacy or security, color, clean lines, straight edges, round curvy tabs, Web 3.0 support, add-ons, extensions, developer tools, or a quick way to clear browsing data.
With people being more concerned about privacy nowadays, some web browser companies have started introducing paid browsers or are developing their own search engines.
27 Web Browsers for Windows!
This page briefly introduces, in no particular order, a list of all web browsers for PC. Some of them are available on Mac or Linux too. If you’re looking for a lightweight browser, the fastest browser, or the best web browser for your needs, you should find it here. (Links to the official pages open in a new tab.)
1. Aloha Browser (early access beta)
Aloha Browser is a privacy-focused browser for Windows based on the open-source Chromium platform. It has been available as a mobile web browser for Android and iOS since 2016 but has only recently become available for PC in early access beta form.
Aloha comes with a free and unlimited encrypted VPN service built-in. We learned of Aloha thanks to some users visiting us via alohafind.com, the private search engine from the same team. If a free VPN and browsing privately appeal to you, take Aloha Browser for a spin.
2. Lunascape Phoebe (beta)
Computer enthusiasts will probably remember Lunscape Orion, a pioneering triple-engine web browser with many features. The development of Orion eventually tailed off, and each time we updated this page (even two years later), it was sad to see no further changes. Lunascape Phoebe (beta) has now shown up and looks to be Orion’s replacement, and we are excited to see how this latest Lunascape browser evolves from here. Upon first testing, it seems to be very fast!
There isn’t too much official under-the-hood documentation for Lunascape Phoebe at the moment. Still, they do quote the following features: It reduces display speed by 5 to 25% compared to a standard web browser, it has an ad blocker, privacy protection, mouse gestures, EPUB reader, Password manager, and you can switch between search engines.
3. Vivaldi
Vivaldi gets better and better. It’s a feature-rich browser built around privacy, and you should give it a try. We still appreciate simple one-click options right there on the interface, like access to Downloads and History.
The Notes feature (for taking notes while you browse) is helpful, and the Capture Page button (for taking screenshots) is handy for content creators. The Take a Break button is unique. The elegant themes invite you to take your time and set Vivaldi up to your liking. Vivaldi comes with a built-in game too. What’s not to like?
4. Microsoft Edge
The latest Microsoft Edge comes with Windows 11 and 10 and uses the open-source Chromium engine, so now Edge can use all of the browser extensions and add-ons from the Chrome Web Store, just like Google Chrome. Edge is ready for Web 3.0, so it can be used with a cryptocurrency wallet like MetaMask. Last year, Microsoft announced the availability of the new Chromium Edge browser for all supported versions of Windows and macOS.
Since the beginning, some of us Windows Insiders have stayed with Edge, and it’s constantly improving with extra new features. Click here for Microsoft Edge Tips.
5. Google Chrome
Google Chrome continues to be the most popular web browser, and the plethora of browser extensions available from the Chrome Web Store continues to grow. It’s helpful to know that Chrome is one of the very few browsers that doesn’t block third-party tracking cookies by default, though. If privacy is something you are starting to think about, you might consider your web browser options.
There are quite a few browsers built around the popular open-source Chromium Engine, which drives Chrome, including Edge. If cryptocurrency is your thing, you’ll be pleased to know that Chrome is Web 3.0 ready. The developer and performance testing tools built into the Chromium Engine, such as Lighthouse, are handy.
6. Opera GX
Opera GX is a browser to complement gaming. Opera GX has a built-in ad blocker, access to extensions, switchable exclusive wallpapers, and in-browser sound effects. You can limit memory and CPU usage, use a free no-log unlimited VPN, access Twitch, and watch pop-out videos. Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Telegram, and VK are accessible from the sidebar.
If that’s not enough gaming support, you can also custom colorize your interface and get access to gaming deals and news.
7. Brave
Brave passed 25 million monthly active users this year. Brave lists the following built-in features: Invasive ads blocked, cross-site trackers blocked, cookies blocked, fingerprinting blocked, malware & phishing protection, no IP addresses collected, and anonymized network routing (in Tor mode). Brave is Web 3.0 ready and supports the MetaMask crypto wallet.
The Brave blog quotes Brave as the industry’s most advanced browser offering 3-6x faster browsing and ending surveillance capitalism with a private ad and payment platform, Brave Rewards, that gives you the option to earn cryptocurrency by viewing certain ads or content.
On Nov 8, 2021, Brave announced a new partnership with Solana. Coming in the first half of 2022, Solana will become the default blockchain for Dapp support in Brave. Brave recently released their search engine, Brave Search beta.
8. Opera
We’ve always liked the simplistic style and fast page-loading performance of Opera. It was one of the first browsers with a built-in ad blocker, which was tried and tested in the Opera developer browser.
Opera now comes with a built-in VPN, cryptocurrency wallet, video pop-out, a snapshot tool, Twitter, Instagram, and a video player in the sidebar, plus fully integrated built-in messengers, including Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Telegram, VKontakte, and Twitter. Check out the clickable tabs, too, to go to the top or back to where you were on the page.
9. Puffin Secure Browser [$20 a year / $2 a month]
Puffin Secure Browser is a paid browser that offers a faster and more secure browsing experience. Supporting Windows, Mac OS, and Raspberry Pi, cloud-based Puffin Secure Browser fully encrypts its traffic and is said to be safe to use with public non-secure WiFi – something which one cannot say for many browsers. Puffin also boasts a cloud-based Adblocker, a cloud-based JavaScript engine to isolate malicious code and DNS protection against common cyber threats. They offer a free 30-day trial, although you will need a payment method to sign up.
Note: Upon updating/revisiting this page, I installed Puffin and didn’t need to supply a payment method, and there appears to be no sign that I’m using a trial version. Puffin Secure Browser is still listed under `Products’ on their website, though, and their FAQ states that Puffin Secure Browser provides a one-month free trial. It’s a little confusing, so feel free to comment below if you understand the situation more clearly.
10. Firefox
With more people concerned about privacy now, Firefox is a top web browser to consider. With an emphasis on privacy, and proudly non-profit, non-corporate, and non-compromised, Firefox is one of our all-time favorite browsers.
As of November 9, 2021, Firefox is the first major browser to be available in the Windows Store. Firefox comes with Enhanced Tracking Protection by default and surpasses Chrome in privacy and speed.
As with other top web browsers these days, Firefox is Web 3.0 ready and supports the cryptocurrency wallet MetaMask.
The web developer tools in Firefox are excellent (F12). If web dev is your thing, you might consider using Firefox Developer Edition. Either way, have a read of The Mozilla Manifesto to learn more about Mozilla’s mission behind the Firefox web browser. Firefox supports tons of add ons and is available on Windows, Mac, and Linux. The built-in Eyedropper is a nice touch for content creators.
11. Internet Explorer (to be retired on June 15, 2022)
Internet Explorer has come with most versions of Windows for a long time, and it’s still a web browser that works. However, over the years, it has gotten a reputation of falling short from a user experience, web development, and webpage design consistency standpoint.
Many web designers and developers don’t even test using IE anymore for the above reasons. Microsoft introduced IE’s replacement Microsoft Edge with Windows 10, and it no longer includes Internet Explorer with Windows 11. Internet Explorer will be retired on June 15, 2022. If you happen to open Internet Explorer now, a banner at the top recommends you switch to Edge. For anyone always using Internet Explorer, we recommend choosing one of the many other web browsers for Windows here.
Here’s Microsoft’s announcement that Internet Explorer will be retired on June 15, 2022.
12. Lunascape Orion
Lunascape Orion was a highly customizable web browser with three main rendering engines – Trident, Gecko, and WebKit. It also supported a plethora of add-ons. Lunascape was looking to be a compelling browser; however, development tailed off in 2018. Fear not, though. It seems like Lunascape Phoebe is going to be Orion’s replacement.
13. Pale Moon
Pale Moon is an Open Source web browser for Windows and Linux. It is originally based on the Firefox browser and uses Goanna’s layout engine, similar to the Gecko engine. The browser purposely excludes several features to balance general use, performance, and online technical advancements.
There are plenty of extensions, themes, search plugins, and language packs to make Pale Moon your own.
14. Comodo Dragon
Comodo Dragon is a Chromium-based web browser developed by the established Cybersecurity company Comodo.
Comodo Dragon has SiteInspector malware scanning technology, social media integration, an easy-to-use interface, secure DNS service, and privacy and performance enhancements.
15. Comodo IceDragon
Comodo IceDragon, also by Cybersecurity company Comodo, is based on Firefox and has the following features: Chromium technology, domain validation technology, prevents all browser download tracking, privacy enhancements that surpass those in Chromium’s technology, and it stops cookies and other web spies.
16. Midori
For Windows, Mac, Android, and Linux, Midori is a lightweight browser with a simple UI. It’s practical for less powerful or older computers, and it was the default web browser that came with elementary OS. In 2019, the Midori project joined the Astian Foundation, and the browser now uses the Electron software framework. Development seems to have slowed down since.
Note: At the time of updating/revisiting this article, the Midori website appears to be undergoing some changes and development. A countdown timer suggests that a newer version of Midori for Windows is coming in eight days. We’ll keep Midori on this list in the meantime and update this page when we know more info.
17. BriskBard
BriskBard offers the power of ten applications in one. This browser’s main features include the web browser, a built-in media player, email client, IRC chat client, RSS and Atom reader, Usenet newsreader, FTP client, contact manager, and more.
As you can see in the screenshot below, BriskBard also offers the choice of three different rendering engines. At the time of updating this post, the latest release of Briskbard was 2.8.0 on 10/19/2021.
18. Maxthon
Now Maxthon 6, this cloud browser is billed as the `World’s First Blockchain Browser.’ Maxthon 6 offers Maxnote, Resource Sniffer, Passkeeper, Split screen browsing, Incognito window, and custom UI and themes.
Maxthon also supports Chrome extensions and comes with Vbox, a tool for managing blockchain identities, with which you can get an unblockable ID (with NBdomain), have access to blockchain apps, and pay or get payments.
Maxthon 6 has come a long way. To learn more, visit the official site above, or check out Wikipedia.
19. SlimBrowser
SlimBrowser is based on the Trident engine and has a more advanced UI (compared to Slimjet). It comes with a built-in ad-blocker, a right-click text translation, an HTML validator, downloadable skins, and many other valuable features.
20. Epic Privacy Browser
Epic Privacy Browser is available for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. Epic offers always-on private web browsing, a one-click encrypted proxy (hides your IP address), and blocks ads, trackers, fingerprinting, crypto mining, ultrasound signaling, and more. Protect your browsing history from your ISP & other data collectors with Epic’s free built-in VPN.
Find out how Epic protects you.
21. Coowon
Coowon browser is a web browser built for web gamers. Based on Chrome, it offers translucent and floating windows, record and play mouse clicks, a screenshot tool, a game-friendly sidebar, a hide key, and more.
22. Firefox Developer Edition
Firefox Developer Edition is the popular Firefox browser version designed for developers, and it has excellent developer tools built into the browser. If you fancy a web browser change, especially if you’re a web developer, Firefox is one of the top dogs (or foxes) to try.
23. Chrome Canary
Chrome Canary is a `Nightly Build for Developers’ version of the ever-popular Google Chrome. If you’re a developer or early adopter or want to try out the latest features coming to Chrome, this is the version to install.
24. Tor Browser
If web browsing privacy is high on your list of values, chances are you’ve heard of Tor Browser. Tor Browser helps you browse the internet anonymously and protect your privacy by using a distributed network of relays run by volunteer users worldwide.
I mentioned Tor in 7 Apps I Install with Windows 11. If you’re selling state secrets, building the next nuclear warhead, or just concerned about online privacy freedoms, give Tor Browser a try.
25. Torch Browser
Torch Browser is relatively new compared to many browsers in this list, and it comes with some excellent customization options. Torch Browser’s features include an integrated Media Grabber for saving audio and video and Torch Torrent for downloading torrents. A built-in media player can play partially downloaded torrents, and a unique music portal, Torch Music offers your favorite music plus YouTube videos.
Torch Games offers hundreds of instantly playable games with no downloads or sign-ins required. Torch Browser also makes online sharing more straightforward with its new Drag & Drop feature to share words, links, images, search for terms, and translate text.
26. SeaMonkey
SeaMonkey is based on Firefox and comes with the browser, email & newsgroup client with an included web feed reader, an HTML editor, IRC chat, and web development tools.
27. Slimjet
Slimjet shares some of the features of SlimBrowser, but is based on the Blink engine and has a clean and straightforward UI. Slimjet comes with an ad blocker, download manager, intelligent form filler, YouTube video downloader, online video recorder, weather condition and forecast, an ecosystem of plugins and themes, and advanced anti-tracking options.
Unfortunately, the number of web browsers keeps changing!
So, there you have it—a quick list of 27 available web browsers for Windows in no particular order. Unfortunately, the number of web browsers keeps changing! We removed Avant and Maelstrom back in March 2020 and Chromodo in August 2021. We are keeping an eye out for Midori updates, and Internet Explorer will be retired on June 15, 2022.
Have we forgotten one? Which Web Browser for Windows do you Use and Why?
Grant is a longtime PC enthusiast. He loves talking about computers and seeing other people enjoy theirs. When he’s not aspiring to be a better blogger, Grant enjoys playing Apex Legends. Grant lives in Japan as an English teacher and vegetable farmer.
