Min vs Qutebrowser (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Min grades higher than Qutebrowser: 3.2 against 2.6 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Min grades higher on features and ease of use. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Which one is for you
Pick Min if
- Fits if you keep lots of tabs open and want them grouped into tasks
- Works for people who want to search the text of pages they've visited
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you want it on your phone, as there are no mobile versions
- Tight if you want paid help when something breaks, since it's a small open-source project with no paid support
- Watch out: the releases are separate files for each system, such as Windows installers, Debian and RPM packages and macOS zips
Pick Qutebrowser if
- Fits if you like Vim-style keys and a minimal window
- Makes sense if you are comfortable installing Python and Qt
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want to point and click: it is built around the keyboard
- Not for you if installing Python and Qt sounds like a chore
- Watch out: on Linux, stable distributions may ship an older QtWebEngine on an old Chromium version
- Tight if you want fast fixes: the main maintainer works part-time, funded by donations
How we grade them
| 3.2GPAMinVery good | 2.6GPAQutebrowserGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree open-source software with no paid tier, and a program anyone can download and run. | AFree software under the GPL, supported by donations, so under 60% of this category's cheapest quarter. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe whole browser is free, with ad and tracker blocking already on. | AThe whole browser is free, with Windows and macOS builds on GitHub Releases. |
| Features | BTabs, tasks, Focus Mode, bookmark tags and full-text history search cover the browser's job, with nothing in the listing showing a gap. | CA keyboard-focused browser with optional ad blocking and built-in help. It does the browsing job on QtWebEngine. |
| Ease of use | BNo store rating on record. You install it and use it, with keyboard shortcuts to learn if you want them. | DNo rating on record. It needs Python 3.10 or newer and Qt 6.2 or newer, or Qt 5.15, and is run from the keyboard. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWindows, Mac and Linux only. The release files cover no mobile versions. | CLinux, macOS and Windows, desktop only, with no phone version. |
| Best for | a plain browser with tasks and history search | keyboard-driven browsing for Vim-style users |
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: Min and Qutebrowser. How we grade
Price against what you get
Min has no paid plan and scores 2.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Qutebrowser has no paid plan and scores 1.7.
Min scores higher for the same starting price. Of the other browsers on the chart, none scores higher than Min for less, and none scores higher than Qutebrowser 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 sourceKeyboard-firstWeb browserAd and tracker blocking
At a glance
| Min | Qutebrowser | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Min is free, open-source software with no paid tier. | Free software under the GPL, supported by donations. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | Min open-source project | qutebrowser project |
| Price read from | minbrowser.org | qutebrowser.org |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Min
- There are no mobile versions; the release files cover Windows, macOS and Linux.
- It is a small open-source project, so there is no paid support.
- The release list names Windows installers, Debian and RPM packages, and macOS zip files rather than a single installer per system.
Qutebrowser
- It needs Python 3.10 or newer and Qt 6.2 or newer, or Qt 5.15; Windows and macOS builds are on the GitHub Releases page.
- On Linux, stable distributions may ship an older QtWebEngine based on an old Chromium version.
- The primary maintainer works part-time on it, funded by donations.
Key features
Min
- Compact tabs and Focus Mode
- Tabs take little space, pages you have not looked at in a while fade out, and Focus Mode hides the other tabs.
- Tasks
- Tasks group and organize tabs, with keyboard shortcuts to switch between them, and tasks collapse automatically when unused.
- Full-text history search
- You can search the full text of every page you have visited, and the site says this happens on your device.
- Bookmark tags
- Bookmarks are organized with tags, and Min suggests similar pages based on what you have bookmarked.
- Ad and tracker blocking
- Most ads and trackers are blocked automatically, and the site says it does not share browsing history.
Qutebrowser
- Keyboard-driven
- Described as a keyboard-focused browser with a minimal GUI, inspired by dwb and Vimperator/Pentadactyl.
- QtWebEngine backend
- Uses the Chromium-based QtWebEngine by default, with an older QtWebKit backend that the project does not recommend because of security issues.
- Optional ad blocking
- Improved ad blocking with Adblock Plus syntax is available when the optional adblock library is installed.
- Built-in help and reporting
- A :report command and crash dialog send bug reports, and a :help command shows documentation.
Plans
Min
Free$0
The full browser, with ad and tracker blocking on by default.
Qutebrowser
Free$0
The full browser, free software under the GPL.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Min or Qutebrowser?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Min and Qutebrowser are free to use.
Which has a free plan, Min or Qutebrowser?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Min and Qutebrowser have a free plan.
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.