Alternatives / Google Chrome
Looking for an open source Google Chrome alternative? We compared 8 open source browsers by engine, license, privacy features, extension support, and platforms. They range from Chromium-based browsers that keep Chrome extension compatibility to Firefox forks and an independent engine in alpha.
Written by Maxime DERAME
Last updated:
| Alternative | Best for | License |
|---|---|---|
| Ladybird | Independent browser engine | BSD-2-Clause |
| Zen Browser | Customizable Firefox-based browser | MPL-2.0 |
| Helium | Privacy-first Chromium browser | GPL-3.0 |
| Brave | Mature Chromium browser with built-in blocking | MPL-2.0 |
| Waterfox | Firefox fork without telemetry | MPL-2.0 |
| LibreWolf | Hardened privacy browser | MPL-2.0 |
| Flow | Spaces and Chrome extensions | GPL-3.0 |
| Midori Browser | Lightweight privacy browser | MPL-2.0 |
We looked for open-source web browsers that cover Chrome's core: everyday browsing, extensions, and sync or profiles. We verified each project's license, recent activity, stars, engine, and platforms in its repository. Chrome itself is built on the open-source Chromium project but ships with Google services and is not open source, so we group alternatives by engine: Chromium-based, Firefox-based, and independent. See our methodology for the full criteria.
Brave, Helium, and Flow use Chromium, so they keep Chrome extension compatibility and the best site compatibility, but they still depend on Google's engine. Zen, Waterfox, LibreWolf, and Midori use Firefox's Gecko engine, which diversifies the web but has a different extension ecosystem. Ladybird builds its own engine from scratch and is still in alpha.
Brave and Helium are the easiest switch: they use Chromium and run Chrome extensions, with ad and tracker blocking built in. Helium also supports Manifest V2 extensions, but it has no built-in sync or password manager. Flow keeps Chrome extension compatibility with a workspace-focused interface.
Ladybird is BSD-2-Clause. Brave, Zen, Waterfox, LibreWolf, and Midori are MPL-2.0, while Helium and Flow are GPL-3.0. Brave includes optional integrated services such as Brave Rewards, which have separate terms.
LibreWolf applies hardened privacy settings with uBlock Origin, which can break some sites. Waterfox removes telemetry and adds native ad blocking and tree-style tabs, and Zen adds vertical tabs, split views, and workspaces. Midori is a lightweight Firefox-based browser from Astian.
Ladybird, Zen, Helium, Brave, Waterfox, and LibreWolf were updated within days of this update. Flow's last commit was in May 2026, so its development is slower than the others. Ladybird is alpha software and not yet ready as a daily browser.
Google Chrome is a proprietary browser built on Chromium that includes Google account integration, usage statistics, and Google's own services and AI features. Open-source alternatives remove or reduce telemetry, block ads and trackers by default, give more control over settings, and offer different engines, at the cost of a smaller ecosystem and occasional site compatibility problems.
| Alternative | Engine | License | Platforms | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ladybird | Own engine (alpha) | BSD-2-Clause | Linux, macOS | Engine diversity |
| Zen Browser | Gecko (Firefox) | MPL-2.0 | Windows, macOS, Linux | Customization |
| Helium | Chromium | GPL-3.0 | Desktop | Privacy with Chrome extensions |
| Brave | Chromium | MPL-2.0 | Desktop and mobile | Built-in blocking and sync |
| Waterfox | Gecko (Firefox) | MPL-2.0 | Desktop and Android | Tab hierarchy and privacy |
| LibreWolf | Gecko (Firefox) | MPL-2.0 | Desktop | Hardened privacy |
| Flow | Chromium | GPL-3.0 | Desktop | Workspaces |
| Midori Browser | Gecko (Firefox) | MPL-2.0 | Windows, Linux, macOS, Android | Lightweight browsing |
Want the easiest switch from Chrome with built-in blocking
Brave is a mature Chromium browser with ad, tracker, and fingerprinting blocking, sync, mobile apps, and Chrome extension compatibility.
Want a privacy-first Chromium browser without extras
Helium blocks ads and trackers by default, supports Chrome and Manifest V2 extensions, and avoids a rewards or built-in password manager.
Want a customizable browser with vertical tabs
Zen is a Firefox-based browser with vertical tabs, split views, workspaces, and Zen Mods customization.
Want maximum privacy hardening
LibreWolf removes telemetry and hardens Firefox with uBlock Origin and fingerprinting protection, at some cost in compatibility.
Want Firefox without telemetry plus extra features
Waterfox adds native ad blocking, tree-style tabs, and private containers to a telemetry-free Firefox fork, on desktop and Android.
Want an independent browser engine
Ladybird builds a new engine from scratch without Blink, WebKit, or Gecko, but it is alpha software for now.
Want a workspace-oriented Chromium browser
Flow offers spaces, profiles, a command palette, and Chrome extension compatibility, with slower recent development.