Alternatives · Browsers
Chromium alternatives
As of Nov 13, 2026, the best Chromium alternative for most people is Google Chrome (3.6 GPA), first in our ranking of browsers. The best free one is Brave (3.8 GPA).
Chromium compared with 10 alternatives: Google Chrome, Thorium Browser, Iridium Browser, Brave, Vivaldi and 5 more.
Chromium is free to use. All 10 alternatives are free or have a free plan.
Listings checked up to Nov 13, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChromiumThis tool | Free | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Google Chrome | Free | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Thorium Browser | Free | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux, Android |
| Iridium Browser | Free | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Brave | Free plan · from $3.00/mo | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Vivaldi | Free | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Blisk | Free plan · from $11.99/mo | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Hyperbeam | Free plan | Yes | Web |
| Lightpanda | Free plan · from $19/mo | Yes | macOS, Linux |
| Slimjet | Free | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Wolvic | Free | Free | Android |
Price against what you get
Chromium has no paid plan and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. None of the 9 alternatives on this chart both scores higher and starts lower.
Google Chrome, Thorium Browser, Brave, Vivaldi and Slimjet score higher without starting lower.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from Chromium
Google Chrome
Google's free browser for desktop and mobile, with Gemini built in
- Google Chrome is free.
- Google Chrome also lists iOS and Android apps.
- Google Chrome also covers password manager and passkeys.
Suits: Google Account users who want the same bookmarks, passwords and tabs on every device
Thorium Browser
Chromium fork tuned with compiler optimizations
- Thorium Browser is free.
- Thorium Browser also lists an Android app.
Suits: Linux and Windows users who want a faster Chromium build
Iridium Browser
Privacy-hardened desktop browser built on Chromium
- Iridium Browser is free.
Suits: People who want a Chromium browser with fewer calls to Google
Brave
Open-source browser that blocks ads and trackers by default
- Brave starts at $3.00 per month, or $29.99 per year (Search premium).
- Brave also lists Android and iOS apps.
- Brave also covers password manager and video calls.
Suits: People who want ads and trackers blocked without installing extensions
Vivaldi
Customizable browser with built-in mail, calendar and feed reader
- Vivaldi is free.
- Vivaldi also lists Android and iOS apps.
- Vivaldi is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Vivaldi also covers notes, calendar, email client, screenshots and rSS reader.
Suits: Power users who keep dozens of tabs open
Blisk
Developer browser for testing sites on many devices at once
- Blisk starts at $11.99 per month, billing basis not confirmed.
- Blisk also covers screen recording and screenshots.
Suits: Front-end developers checking responsive layouts
Hyperbeam
API for embedding shared cloud browsers and virtual computers
- Hyperbeam also lists a web app.
- Hyperbeam lists no Windows, macOS and Linux apps, which Chromium has.
- Hyperbeam also covers remote desktop.
- Hyperbeam does not cover web browser, which Chromium does.
Suits: Developers adding a shared browser to a collaboration or watch-party app
Lightpanda
Lightweight headless browser for automation and AI agents
- Lightpanda starts at $19 per month for 300 browser hours.
- Lightpanda lists no Windows app, which Chromium has.
- Lightpanda also covers workflow automation.
Suits: Developers running crawlers and scraping jobs at scale
Slimjet
Free Chromium-based browser with a built-in ad blocker
- Slimjet is free.
- Slimjet also covers ad and tracker blocking.
Suits: People who want an ad-blocking browser without installing extensions
Wolvic
Open source web browser for VR and AR headsets
- Wolvic is free.
- Wolvic also lists an Android app.
- Wolvic lists no Windows, macOS and Linux apps, which Chromium has.
Suits: People who want a browser on a Quest, Pico or similar headset
Limits worth knowing in Chromium
- Chromium builds do not auto-update, so users have to fetch new builds themselves.
- The download page says Chrome builds auto-update and suit most users; Chromium builds suit checking a fix.
- Builds come from arbitrary revisions and do not necessarily match a user-facing Chrome release.
- The page offers no installer for Android or iOS.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Chromium?
The alternatives to Chromium in this directory are Google Chrome, Thorium Browser, Iridium Browser, Brave, Vivaldi, Blisk, Hyperbeam, Lightpanda, Slimjet and Wolvic. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Chromium.
Is there a free alternative to Chromium?
Yes. Google Chrome, Thorium Browser, Iridium Browser, Vivaldi, Slimjet and Wolvic are free to use. Brave, Blisk, Hyperbeam and Lightpanda have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Chromium alternatives work on Android?
The Chromium listing does not include an Android app. Google Chrome, Thorium Browser, Brave, Vivaldi and Wolvic list one.
Which Chromium alternatives work on iOS?
The Chromium listing does not include an iOS app. Google Chrome, Brave and Vivaldi list one.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 5, 2026 to Nov 13, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.