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Otter Browser vs Pale Moon (2026): which should you pick?

As of Nov 13, 2026, Otter Browser and Pale Moon share a 3.0 GPA, both are free, so the choice depends on which platforms you need.

Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA

They get the same grade on all five counts.

Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.

Otter Browser

Open-source Qt browser that revives the classic Opera 12 interface

Free
Full detailsotter-browser.org

Pale Moon

Free open-source browser on its own Goanna engine, with legacy add-ons

Free
Full detailspalemoon.org

Which one is for you

Pick Otter Browser if

  • Fits if you miss the classic Opera 12 layout
  • Makes sense if you want a light, tweakable desktop browser

Look elsewhere if

  • Skip it if you use a Mac or a phone, as macOS is not named
  • Not for you if you want quick fixes: recent weekly reports show about seven commits by one author
  • Watch out: the weekly reports show 254 open issues, including 7 bugs
  • Too light for modern web apps if you rely on the newest standards

Pick Pale Moon if

  • Fits if you rely on legacy Firefox-style add-ons and full theming
  • Makes sense if you want a browser with no telemetry, as the site states

Look elsewhere if

  • Skip it if you need video calls in the browser, since WebRTC is disabled
  • Not for you if you stream DRM video, as there is no in-browser DRM
  • Too light for phones: no iOS or Android edition is listed
  • Watch out: official binaries need AVX, except the 32-bit Windows build
  • Tight if you want current web standards: it follows its own engine, not Firefox or Chrome

How we grade them

3.0GPAOtter BrowserVery good3.0GPAPale MoonVery good
Value for money
AFree software under GPL v3 with no paid plan, so under 60% of this category's cheapest quarter.
AFree and open source, with donations accepted and no paid plan, which is under 60% of this category's cheapest quarter.
Free plan and trial
AThe whole browser is free and open source, with no caps or paid tier.
AThe full browser for Windows, macOS, Linux and FreeBSD costs nothing, with portable and 7-Zip Windows versions.
Features
CA customizable, lightweight browser for power users, with the basics but a small team behind it.
CXUL add-ons, themes and NPAPI plugins, but WebRTC, an integrated PDF reader, DRM and parental controls are deliberately off in the main build.
Ease of use
BNo rating on record. You install a binary or AppImage and use it, with options to tune if you want.
BNo rating on record. You install it and go, though official binaries need a CPU with AVX, except the 32-bit Windows build.
Platforms and integrations
CWindows and Linux are listed. The project's site does not name macOS or any phone version.
CWindows, macOS, Linux and FreeBSD, with no iOS or Android edition on the download page.
Best fora customizable browser in the Opera 12 stylea customizable browser with legacy add-ons

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: Otter Browser and Pale Moon. How we grade

Price against what you get

Otter Browser has no paid plan and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Pale Moon has no paid plan and scores 2.3.

On this chart the two sit in the same place: the same score for the same starting price. Of the other browsers on the chart, none scores higher than Otter Browser for less, and none scores higher than Pale Moon for less.

Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged

D1.0C2.0B3.0A4.0Free$1$2$5$10$20$50$100$200More for lessCosts more, scores moreCosts less, scores lessCosts more, scores lessOtter BrowserPale Moon

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
The full chart of browsers, and the best at every price

Where they differ

    In commonFree planWindowsLinuxOpen sourceWeb browser

    At a glance

    Otter BrowserPale Moon
    PricingFreeFree
    Starts atFreeFree
    Free planFree and open source under the GPL v3, with no paid plans.Pale Moon is free and open source; the site accepts donations and lists no paid plan.
    Free trialNone listedNone listed
    macOS
    Windows
    Linux
    Made byOtter Browser projectMoonchild Productions
    Price read fromgithub.compalemoon.org
    CheckedNov 13, 2026Nov 13, 2026

    Worth knowing

    Otter Browser

    • The project's own site lists official binaries, with an AppImage for Linux and downloads for Windows on SourceForge; macOS is not named there.
    • Development is slow: its recent weekly reports show about seven commits by one author each week.
    • The weekly reports show 254 open issues, including 7 bugs.

    Pale Moon

    • Official binaries need a CPU with AVX support, except the 32-bit Windows build.
    • It has no WebRTC, built-in PDF reader or DRM, so some sites and video services may not work.
    • Compatibility with current web standards follows its own engine, not Firefox or Chrome.
    • Windows download is also offered on the Microsoft Store, and there is no iOS or Android edition on the download page.

    Key features

    Otter Browser

    Opera 12 style interface
    The project says it aims to recreate the best aspects of the classic Opera 12.x user interface and keep its spirit alive.
    Built with Qt
    The browser is written primarily in C++ and uses the Qt framework.
    Power-user focus
    The project says it focuses on features power users want while staying fast and lightweight.
    Free software
    Released under the GNU GPL v3, so anyone can read the code and contribute.

    Pale Moon

    Goanna engine
    Rendering runs on Goanna, a derivative of Gecko, on the UXP platform; the site calls it a true fork and an independent product.
    XUL add-ons and themes
    Add-ons and complete themes can change core browser functions and appearance, and many legacy Firefox extensions are compatible.
    No telemetry
    The site says the browser contains no ads, telemetry or data gathering.
    Plugin support
    It supports legacy NPAPI plugins such as Java, Flash and Silverlight, which most browsers have dropped.
    Features left out
    WebRTC, an integrated PDF reader, in-browser DRM and parental controls are deliberately disabled in the main build.

    Plans

    Otter Browser

    • Free$0

      The full browser, free software under GPL v3.

    Pale Moon

    • Free$0

      The full browser for Windows, macOS, Linux and FreeBSD, with portable and 7-Zip Windows versions.

    Common questions

    Which is cheaper, Otter Browser or Pale Moon?

    As of Nov 13, 2026, both Otter Browser and Pale Moon are free to use.

    Which has a free plan, Otter Browser or Pale Moon?

    As of Nov 13, 2026, both Otter Browser and Pale Moon have a free plan.

    Which platforms do Otter Browser and Pale Moon run on?

    As of Nov 13, 2026, only Pale Moon 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.
    How we review and grade