NetSurf vs Qutebrowser (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, NetSurf grades higher than Qutebrowser: 3.0 against 2.6 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
NetSurf grades higher on ease of use. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, features and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
NetSurf
Lightweight open-source browser with its own layout engine
Which one is for you
Pick NetSurf if
- Fits if you have an old or low-powered computer
- Makes sense if you want a small program on RISC OS, Haiku or Linux
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you rely on modern web apps, since standards support is narrower than mainstream browsers
- Not for you if you want a Mac build: the overview names Mac OS X but the downloads page lists none
- Watch out: Drawfile export and ArtWorks images are RISC OS only
- Too light for phones: no mobile version is listed
- Tight if you need a settled engine: its own engine is still in active development
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
| 3.0GPANetSurfVery good | 2.6GPAQutebrowserGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree under GPL v2 with no paid plans, so under 60% of this category's cheapest quarter. | AFree software under the GPL, supported by donations, so under 60% of this category's cheapest quarter. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe whole browser downloads at no charge, with no paid tier or caps. | AThe whole browser is free, with Windows and macOS builds on GitHub Releases. |
| Features | CA browser with history and page tools on its own engine, but the site says it only strives for standards compliance. | CA keyboard-focused browser with optional ad blocking and built-in help. It does the browsing job on QtWebEngine. |
| Ease of use | BNo rating on record. It installs as a small program, built for small systems. | 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 | CMany systems on the site, but our listing counts Linux and Windows, and the downloads page lists no Mac build. | CLinux, macOS and Windows, desktop only, with no phone version. |
| Best for | browsing on old or low-powered computers | 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: NetSurf and Qutebrowser. How we grade
Price against what you get
NetSurf has no paid plan and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Qutebrowser has no paid plan and scores 1.7.
NetSurf scores higher for the same starting price. Of the other browsers on the chart, none scores higher than NetSurf 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
- NetSurf also covers bookmarks.
- Qutebrowser also covers ad and tracker blocking.
At a glance
| NetSurf | Qutebrowser | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Free and open source under GPL version 2, with no paid plans. | Free software under the GPL, supported by donations. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | The NetSurf Developers | qutebrowser project |
| Price read from | netsurf-browser.org | qutebrowser.org |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
NetSurf
- The site says NetSurf only strives for standards compliance, and its own engine is still in active development.
- Some features such as Drawfile export and ArtWorks images are RISC OS only.
- The overview page names Mac OS X, but the downloads page lists no Mac build.
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
NetSurf
- Own layout engine
- Written in C with its own rendering engine, aimed at speed and low resource use.
- Runs on small systems
- The site says it keeps working from a modern PC down to a 30MHz ARM 6 computer with 16MB of RAM.
- Many platforms
- Downloads are listed for RISC OS, GTK on Linux and Unix-likes, Haiku and BeOS, AmigaOS, Windows and Atari.
- History and page tools
- Includes web page thumbnailing, local and global history, a hotlist for bookmarks, a cookie manager and search-as-you-type.
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
NetSurf
Free$0
The full browser, free to download under GPL version 2.
Qutebrowser
Free$0
The full browser, free software under the GPL.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, NetSurf or Qutebrowser?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both NetSurf and Qutebrowser are free to use.
Which has a free plan, NetSurf or Qutebrowser?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both NetSurf and Qutebrowser have a free plan.
Which platforms do NetSurf and Qutebrowser run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Qutebrowser lists a macOS app. Both list 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.