Google Chrome vs Maxthon (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, we pick Google Chrome: it is first in our ranking of browsers, and it grades higher too, 3.6 against 3.2.
Checked Oct 5, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Google Chrome grades higher on features and platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Google Chrome
Google's free browser for desktop and mobile, with Gemini built in
Free
Maxthon
Chromium-based browser with notes, password manager and AI chat
Free plan
Which one is for you
Pick Google Chrome if
- Fits if you have a Google Account and want the same bookmarks and passwords on every device
- Works for mixed households, with versions for Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want ads and trackers blocked out of the box, which Brave and Opera do
- Not for you if your computer is short on memory, going by how often people grumble about Chrome's appetite
- Watch out: older-style extensions are switched off for good, and third-party cookies are only blocked by default in Incognito
- Pricey if auto browse is the draw: it needs a Google AI Pro or Ultra plan, priced nowhere on Chrome's pages, and is U.S. only
- Watch out: Gemini in Chrome isn't on Android, Enhanced Safe Browsing sends data to Google, and desktop needs Windows 10 or macOS 13
Pick Maxthon if
- Fits if you want notes and a password manager inside the browser itself
- Works for people who use a browser on both a computer and a phone
Look elsewhere if
- Watch out: the membership price isn't shown unless you log in, so we can't tell you what it costs
- Skip it if you want a built-in ad blocker on desktop, as it's an optional extension there
- Not for you if you use Linux, as the download page has no Linux version
- Watch out: the iOS version is listed through TestFlight on the download page
How we grade them
| 3.6GPAGoogle ChromeExcellent | 3.2GPAMaxthonVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree on every platform, with nothing in the browser itself held back: sync, the password manager, tab groups, extensions and Safe Browsing all come with it. The only paid thing nearby is auto browse, which wants a Google AI Pro or Ultra subscription, works in the U.S. only, and has no price on Chrome's pages. | AThe browser is free to download and use on Windows, Mac, Android and iOS, with sync and the built-in VPN. A paid membership exists, but its price wasn't readable. |
| Free plan and trial | AFree outright, on every device, and there's no second tier of the browser to be sold up to. Sync, Google Password Manager, passkeys, Safe Browsing, tab groups and the Chrome Web Store are all in the free version. Only auto browse sits behind a subscription. | AThe browser, sync, split screen and the VPN from Bright Data are free. |
| Features | BTab groups, vertical tabs, split view, a password manager with passkeys, Safe Browsing and Safety Check, and the biggest extension store there is. The hole is blocking. There's no ad or tracker blocker on the feature list, and Gemini depends on your account, country and device. | CPrivacy tools, notes, a password manager, media tools and AI chat. The ad blocker is built into the mobile versions only, and on desktop it's an optional extension. |
| Ease of use | B4.69 from about 3.9 million App Store ratings, a hair under the 4.7 the top browsers here manage, and the iPhone reviews explain why: tabs closing on an update, typing that lags in text boxes. Setting it up is nothing, mind: sign in and your bookmarks are already there. | BNo store rating on record. You install it and browse, with the extra tools a click away. |
| Platforms and integrations | AWindows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad and Android, with bookmarks, passwords, payment details and open tabs syncing across the lot once you sign in. You can throw a tab from the laptop to the phone and walk out of the house. | BWindows, Mac, Android and iOS, with sync between them. The iOS version is listed through TestFlight, and there's no Linux version. |
| Best for | the same browser on every device you own | a browser with notes, a password manager and a VPN built in |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Google Chrome and Maxthon. How we grade
Where they differ
- Google Chrome also covers password manager and passkeys.
- Maxthon also covers notes and ad and tracker blocking.
In commonFree planWindowsmacOSiOSAndroidAI featuresWeb browser
At a glance
| Google Chrome | Maxthon | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | Not published |
| Free plan | Chrome is downloaded and installed at no charge on every platform. The auto browse feature of Gemini in Chrome needs a separate Google AI Pro or Ultra subscription. | The browser is free to download. A paid Maxthon membership exists, but its price could not be read without logging in. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Maxthon | |
| Price read from | support.google.com | maxthon.com |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Google Chrome
- Auto browse, where Gemini carries out multi-step tasks, is available only to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in the U.S.
- Gemini in Chrome needs a signed-in, eligible account in a supported country, and Google's FAQ says it is not available on Android yet.
- Enhanced Safe Browsing requires browsing data to be sent to Google.
- Desktop requirements start at Windows 10, macOS 13 Ventura, and 64-bit Ubuntu 18.04, Debian 10, openSUSE 15.5 or Fedora Linux 39.
Maxthon
- The membership price is not shown to visitors who are not logged in, so it is not recorded here.
- The ad blocker is built into the mobile versions; on desktop it is an optional extension.
- The iOS version is listed through TestFlight on the download page.
- There is no Linux version on the download page.
Key features
Google Chrome
- Tab groups, vertical tabs and split view
- Tabs can be grouped, labeled and color coded, stacked down the side of the window as vertical tabs, or shown two at a time in split view.
- Sync across devices
- Signing in to Chrome brings bookmarks, saved passwords, payment info and open tabs to any phone, tablet or computer, and a tab can be sent from one device to another.
- Google Password Manager and passkeys
- Google Password Manager is built in to save, manage and generate passwords. Passkeys allow sign-in with a fingerprint, face, PIN or pattern.
- Safe Browsing and Safety Check
- Safe Browsing warns before a dangerous site or download, with an optional enhanced mode. Safety Check reviews saved passwords, extensions and settings and points out anything that needs attention.
- Gemini in Chrome and AI Mode
- Gemini in Chrome answers questions using the context of open tabs, and Skills save prompts for reuse. AI Mode, Google's AI search, accepts tabs, files and images as context.
- Extensions and performance controls
- Extensions from the Chrome Web Store add features, Energy Saver and Memory Saver limit resource use, and Google ships a new Chrome update every four weeks.
Maxthon
- Privacy tools
- Anti-tracking, incognito mode, automatic data cleaning on exit and a free VPN provided by Bright Data.
- Maxnote and Passkeeper
- Maxnote organizes notes and URLs, and Passkeeper fills passwords, addresses and payment details and syncs them across devices.
- Browsing tools
- Split screen, reading mode, read aloud, mouse gestures, super drag and tab search.
- Media tools
- A video float bar, video download, screen capture and a resource sniffer.
- AI chat
- The homepage describes a multi-model AI chat built into the browser.
Plans
Google Chrome
Free$0
The full browser on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iPhone and iPad, with sync through a Google Account.
Maxthon
Free browser$0
The browser for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, with sync, split screen and the built-in free VPN.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Google Chrome or Maxthon?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Google Chrome is free, and Maxthon publishes no starting price.
Which has a free plan, Google Chrome or Maxthon?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both Google Chrome and Maxthon have a free plan.
Which platforms do Google Chrome and Maxthon run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Google Chrome lists a Linux app. Both list macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.