Falkon review (2026): is it any good?
Lightweight KDE web browser with a built-in ad blocker
Falkon report card
Good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for a light KDE browser on Linux
Falkon is KDE's free, open-source browser with an ad blocker on by default and a password manager. The download page lists Linux packages only, and it follows QtWebEngine for web compatibility.
Who Falkon is for
- Fits if you run a KDE Plasma desktop and want a browser that follows its theme
- Makes sense if you want an ad blocker on from the first launch
Who Falkon is not for
- Skip it if you use Windows or macOS, since the download page lists only Linux
- Not for you if you want the newest web features at once: it follows QtWebEngine, not Chrome or Firefox
- Tight if you want frequent updates: releases arrive with KDE Gear about three times a year
- Too light for phones: no mobile version is listed
Why Falkon gets a 2.8
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for moneyFree and open source, with no paid plan. KDE takes donations. That is below this category's $7 cheapest quarter.
- AFree plan and trialThe whole browser, ad blocker and password manager included, installs from distribution packages, Snap or Flatpak at no cost.
- CFeaturesAd blocker, password manager, themes, extensions, bookmarks and history. Web compatibility follows QtWebEngine rather than Chrome or Firefox releases.
- BEase of useNo rating on record. You install it from your distribution and use it, with nothing to set up.
- DPlatforms and integrationsThe download page lists Linux only. No Windows or macOS installer is shown, and no phone version.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from KDE's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
Make Falkon? Put this grade on your site
Paste this where you want the badge. It links here and follows the grade if it changes. About badges
<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/falkon#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/falkon.svg" alt="Falkon: 2.8 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Falkon stands among browsers
Falkon's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 23 of the 60 other browsers we grade, and level with 10.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 22 of 60) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Falkon has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 61 browsers we grade, cut by the letter each got. Falkon’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 22 of 60, level with 38
- AFree plan and trialAbove 21 of 60, level with 39
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 60, level with 46
- BEase of useAbove 28 of 60, level with 26
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 60, level with 3
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 54 browsers. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
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
Keep Falkon, or make your own?
Keep it
Falkon is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
What you could make
- Ad and tracker blocking: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- A web browser.
- A password vault, the last thing anyone should make for themselves.
- A real app for Linux. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. Falkon’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
What is Falkon?
Falkon is a free, open-source web browser made by KDE and built on the QtWebEngine rendering engine. It was formerly known as QupZilla. It ships with an ad blocker turned on and a password manager, supports theming and extensions, and follows Plasma theme settings on KDE desktops. The download page lists Linux packages.
Worth knowing
- The download page lists Linux only (distribution packages, Snap and Flatpak); no Windows or macOS installer is shown there.
- It uses QtWebEngine, so web compatibility follows that engine rather than Firefox or Chrome releases.
- Falkon releases arrive with KDE Gear, about three times a year.
- The about page says the project was started for educational purposes.
Key features
- Ad blocker on by default
- A built-in AdBlock plugin is enabled by default, and the 25.04 release notes mention fixes and new features for it.
- Password manager
- Falkon ships with a password manager and lets you tighten privacy and security settings further.
- Theming and extensions
- Themes change how the browser looks, and the site has an extensions page, including a Greasemonkey-style plugin mentioned in release notes.
- Plasma integration
- The site says Falkon integrates inside Plasma and follows Plasma theming preferences.
- Standard browser features
- Bookmarks, history and tabs are included, with bookmarks and history also shown in the sidebar.
Falkon pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, Falkon is free to use.
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- Falkon is free and open source. KDE accepts donations but the site lists no paid plan.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | The full browser, with its ad blocker and password manager, installed from distribution packages, Snap or Flatpak. |
Read from falkon.org on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Falkon before you buy.
Falkon alternatives
- Falkon vs Min
Free
Common questions
Does Falkon have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Falkon is listed for Linux.
Does Falkon have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Falkon is listed for Linux.
Is Falkon open source?
Yes. Falkon is open source, according to its own site.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.