Iridium Browser vs Thorium Browser (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Thorium Browser grades higher than Iridium Browser: 3.0 against 2.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Thorium Browser grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Which one is for you
Pick Iridium Browser if
- Fits if you want a Chromium browser that holds back partial queries and metrics by default
- Makes sense if you roll out browsers to staff, since Windows comes as an MSI
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want Chrome sync or Google sign-in, because neither works
- Not for you if you want automatic updates: you download each new build yourself
- Watch out: Google Safe Browsing is on by default and contacts iridiumbrowser.de and Google's servers
- Too light for phones: there is no Android or iOS version
Pick Thorium Browser if
- Fits if you want a Chromium build compiled for your CPU
- Makes sense if you still run Windows 7 or XP and need a Chromium build
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want one-click downloads, as links go out to separate GitHub repositories
- Not for you if you need iOS, since no version is listed
- Watch out: the 8 to 38% speed gain is the developer's own claim
- Tight if you want a finished site: its author describes the website as under construction
- Watch out: release availability varies by platform and CPU profile
How we grade them
| 2.8GPAIridium BrowserGood | 3.0GPAThorium BrowserVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree to use, with no paid plans listed, so under 60% of this category's cheapest quarter. | AFree to download, with no paid plans listed, so under 60% of this category's cheapest quarter. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe whole browser is free, including an MSI package and a portable Windows zip, with no cap to reach. | AEvery build is free, and the separate GitHub repositories carry no paid edition. |
| Features | CIt keeps the Chromium interface and extension model, but it lacks Google sign-in and Chrome sync because it ships without Google API keys. | CChromium plus UI and privacy patches, CPU-specific builds and Windows 7 and XP builds. The speed figures are the developer's own claim. |
| Ease of use | CNo rating on record. Updates mean downloading and installing the latest build by hand, which is more upkeep than a normal browser. | CNo rating on record. The site says it is under construction, and you pick a build for your CPU from separate GitHub pages. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWindows, macOS and Linux only. The download page lists no Android or iOS version. | BWindows, macOS, Linux and Android builds are listed, so computers and a phone, with no iOS version and no list of integrations. |
| Best for | a privacy-tuned Chromium browser on desktop | a faster-built Chromium fork on desktop |
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: Iridium Browser and Thorium Browser. How we grade
Price against what you get
Iridium Browser has no paid plan and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Thorium Browser has no paid plan and scores 2.3.
Thorium Browser scores higher for the same starting price. Of the other browsers on the chart, none scores higher than Iridium Browser for less, and none scores higher than Thorium Browser for less.
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
Where they differ
In commonFree planWindowsmacOSLinuxOpen sourceWeb browser
At a glance
| Iridium Browser | Thorium Browser | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Free to use. The site lists no paid plans. | Free to download. The site lists no paid plans. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Red Cool Beans UG | Alex313031 |
| Price read from | iridiumbrowser.de | thorium.rocks |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Iridium Browser
- Iridium does not update itself: updates mean downloading and installing the latest build manually.
- Signing in to Google and Chrome sync does not work, because the browser ships without Google API keys.
- Google Safe Browsing is on by default and contacts iridiumbrowser.de and Google's servers unless you turn it off.
- Not available for Android, iOS or other mobile systems. The download page lists only source code tarballs, and the FAQ describes Windows, macOS and Linux installs.
Thorium Browser
- The site says it is under construction, and downloads link out to separate GitHub repositories for Linux, macOS, Windows and Android.
- The performance figures on the site are the developer's own claim.
- Release availability varies by platform and CPU profile, according to the GitHub repository.
- No iOS version is listed.
Key features
Iridium Browser
- Chromium base
- Built from the Chromium code base, so it keeps the Chromium interface and extension model while changing privacy-related defaults.
- Privacy defaults
- Automatic transmission of partial queries, keywords and metrics to central services is blocked and only happens with the user's approval.
- Reproducible builds
- The project says all of its builds are reproducible and that its changes can be audited in a public Git repository.
- MSI deployment
- The Windows installer is an MSI package, which the site presents as a way for administrators to roll the browser out across an organization.
- Portable Windows version
- A zip-file portable edition runs without installing and can keep its data in a folder of your choice.
Thorium Browser
- Compiler optimizations
- Builds use SSE4.2, AVX and AES instruction sets, thinLTO and PGO among other compiler flags. The site claims an 8-38% speed gain over vanilla Chromium depending on benchmark and OS.
- Patches to Chromium
- UI changes and patches for Linux and Windows aimed at fixing bugs, improving usability and strengthening privacy and security.
- Multiple CPU profiles
- The GitHub repository lists build configurations for SSE2, SSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX, AVX2 and AVX-512 processors.
- Old Windows versions
- Separate builds are linked for Windows 7 and Windows XP, in addition to the regular Windows and Windows on ARM builds.
- Companion extensions
- The developer publishes extensions and apps for Thorium, such as a theme, a scroll-speed tweaker and a system monitor.
Plans
Iridium Browser
Free$0
Free to use. The site lists no paid plans.
Thorium Browser
Free$0
Free to download. The site lists no paid plans.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Iridium Browser or Thorium Browser?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Iridium Browser and Thorium Browser are free to use.
Which has a free plan, Iridium Browser or Thorium Browser?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Iridium Browser and Thorium Browser have a free plan.
Which platforms do Iridium Browser and Thorium Browser run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Thorium Browser lists an Android app. Both list macOS, Windows and Linux 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.