Helium Browser review (2026): is it any good?
Free open source Chromium browser with privacy defaults and !bangs
Helium Browser report card
Very good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for a private Chromium browser with no tracking
Helium is a free open source Chromium browser with privacy by default, no data collection and !bangs. It is in beta, has no Widevine DRM, no password manager and no data sync, and has no mobile version yet. Updates on macOS and Windows depend on Helium services being enabled.
Who Helium Browser is for
- Fits if you want a Chromium browser that collects nothing and you do not need sync
- Works for people who like !bangs and Chromium extensions
Who Helium Browser is not for
- Skip it if you stream protected video, as there is no Widevine DRM
- Not for you if you want a password manager or sync across devices, as it has neither
- Watch out: the download page warns that unexpected issues may occur in beta
- Skip it if you want a phone browser, as there is no mobile version yet
Why Helium Browser gets a 3.0
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for moneyFree, with no paid upgrade, and the FAQ says there is no ad-supported tier.
- AFree plan and trialThe whole browser is free, with no paid tier or ad-supported tier.
- CFeaturesPrivacy defaults, Chromium extensions, tab tools and !bangs. The listing shows no password manager, no sync and no DRM, and it is still beta.
- BEase of useNo store rating on record. Install and browse, with nothing to set up.
- CPlatforms and integrationsDesktop only: macOS, Windows and Linux. No mobile version yet.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Helium'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 Helium Browser? Put this grade on your site
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/helium-browser#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/helium-browser.svg" alt="Helium Browser: 3.0 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Helium Browser stands among browsers
Helium Browser's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 34 of the 60 other browsers we grade, and level with 9.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 22 of 60) and worst on features (C, above 2).
Helium Browser has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 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. Helium Browser’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
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 4 of 60, level with 34
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 Helium Browser, or make your own?
Keep it
Helium Browser 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.
- Passkeys, which rest on security you cannot improvise.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. Helium Browser’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 Helium Browser?
Helium is a Chromium-based desktop browser that blocks ads, trackers and cookie banners by default and says it collects no personal data. It supports Chromium extensions, vertical tabs, split view and tab groups, and has built-in !bangs for jumping straight to sites. It is free, open source and currently in beta.
Worth knowing
- It is in beta, and the download page warns that unexpected issues may occur.
- There is no Widevine DRM support, so some streaming services and protected media may not play.
- There is no built-in password manager and no data sync, and no mobile version yet.
- Automatic updates on macOS and Windows depend on Helium services being enabled.
Key features
- Privacy by default
- It blocks ads, trackers, cookie banners and third-party cookies, and adds noise to some web APIs to resist fingerprinting.
- No data collection
- The site says it makes no web requests on first launch and has no analytics; requests to Helium services must be approved by you.
- Chromium extensions
- All Chromium extensions are supported, and Chrome Web Store requests are anonymized through Helium services.
- Layout and tab tools
- Four layout options, a frameless mode, vertical tabs, split view, tab groups, MRU tabbing and tab hibernation.
- !bangs
- More than 13,000 bangs are processed locally and send you directly to a site, skipping the results page.
- Open source services
- Browser components and online services are open source on GitHub, and Helium services can be self-hosted.
Helium Browser pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, Helium Browser is free to use.
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- The whole browser is free; the FAQ says there is no ad-supported free tier and no paid upgrade.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | The full browser. Development is crowdfunded through user sponsorships, which the FAQ says are temporarily disabled. |
Read from helium.computer on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Helium Browser before you buy.
Helium Browser alternatives
- Helium Browser vs Brave
Free plan · from $3.00/mo
Common questions
Does Helium Browser have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Helium Browser is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does Helium Browser have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Helium Browser is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Is Helium Browser open source?
Yes. Helium Browser is open source, according to its own site. It can also be run on a server of your own.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.