The Helium Browser Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Helium Browser in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Helium Browser
The Insider’s Guide
Free open source Chromium browser with privacy defaults and !bangs
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among browsers, read from Helium Browser’s own pages.
Made by imput LLC · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Helium Browser’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Helium Browser’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.0
GPA, above 34 of the 60 other browsers we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Helium Browser, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It is in beta, has no Widevine DRM, no password manager and no data sync, and has no mobile version yet.
- 1
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.
- 2
It is free
Helium Browser has no paid plan at all. The whole browser is free; the FAQ says there is no ad-supported free tier and no paid upgrade.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
macOS, Windows and Linux.
- 4
Privacy by default
It blocks ads, trackers, cookie banners and third-party cookies, and adds noise to some web APIs to resist fingerprinting.
- 5
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.
- 6
Chromium extensions
All Chromium extensions are supported, and Chrome Web Store requests are anonymized through Helium services.
- 7
A 3.0 GPA, above 34 of 60
That is against the other browsers we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Helium Browser is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Helium Browser at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- imput LLC
- Category
- Browsers
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
The report card
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.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free, with no paid upgrade, and the FAQ says there is no ad-supported tier. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The whole browser is free, with no paid tier or ad-supported tier. |
| Features | C | Privacy defaults, Chromium extensions, tab tools and !bangs. The listing shows no password manager, no sync and no DRM, and it is still beta. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record. Install and browse, with nothing to set up. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Desktop only: macOS, Windows and Linux. No mobile version yet. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
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 it 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
Good to know
Good for
- People who want an ad-blocking Chromium browser with no account
- Users of Chromium extensions who want fewer Google dependencies
- Those who want to inspect or self-host the browser's services
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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Helium Browser is free to use.
Free, with no paid upgrade, and the FAQ says there is no ad-supported tier.
Free
$0
The full browser. Development is crowdfunded through user sponsorships, which the FAQ says are temporarily disabled.
The free plan
The whole browser is free; the FAQ says there is no ad-supported free tier and no paid upgrade.
Read from helium.computer on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: macOS, Windows and Linux
Free open source Chromium browser with privacy defaults and !bangs. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, self-hostable, keyboard-first, passkeys, web browser, ad and tracker blocking.
Privacy defaults, Chromium extensions, tab tools and !bangs.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Helium Browser is made by imput LLC.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
34/60
Other browsers it is graded above
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
- AFree plan and trialAbove 21 of 60
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 60
- BEase of useAbove 28 of 60
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 4 of 60
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 54 browsers. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Helium Browser is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
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.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Brave, Thorium Browser, LibreWolf and Vivaldi
The 4 tools Helium Browser is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.8GPA
Brave
Free plan · from $3.00/mo
Open-source browser that blocks ads and trackers by default.
- Only Brave lists Android and iOS apps.
- Helium Browser is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Helium Browser also covers passkeys and ad and tracker blocking.
- 3.0GPA
Thorium Browser
Free
Chromium fork tuned with compiler optimizations.
- Only Thorium Browser lists an Android app.
- Helium Browser is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Helium Browser also covers passkeys and ad and tracker blocking.
- 2.8GPA
LibreWolf
Free
Free, privacy-hardened browser built on Firefox.
- Helium Browser is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Helium Browser also covers passkeys.
- 3.8GPA
Vivaldi
Free
Customizable browser with built-in mail, calendar and feed reader.
- Only Vivaldi lists Android and iOS apps.
- Helium Browser is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Vivaldi is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Helium Browser free?
Yes. Helium Browser is free to use.
How much does Helium Browser cost?
Helium Browser lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Helium Browser work on?
Helium Browser is available on macOS, Windows and Linux.
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.
Who makes Helium Browser?
Helium Browser is made by imput LLC.
What are the alternatives to Helium Browser?
The closest alternatives to Helium Browser in our directory are Brave, Thorium Browser, LibreWolf and Vivaldi.
How does Helium Browser compare with other browsers?
Helium Browser's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 34 of the 60 other browsers we grade, and level with 9.
Is Helium Browser good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Helium Browser A for value for money. Helium Browser has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Helium Browser?
Helium Browser is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Helium Browser’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. 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.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by imput LLC. Prices change, so check helium.computer before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Helium Browser, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/helium-browser
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Helium Browser: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/helium-browser
Know someone choosing between browsers?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/helium-browser/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded browsers after Helium Browser, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Browsers Insider's GuideEvery one of the 61 browsers we grade, compared
- Brave Insider's GuideOpen-source browser that blocks ads and trackers by default3.8 GPA
- Firefox Insider's GuideFree, open-source browser from Mozilla with tracker blocking built in3.8 GPA
- Vivaldi Insider's GuideCustomizable browser with built-in mail, calendar and feed reader3.8 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Helium Browser’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Helium Browser is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by imput LLC. Prices and plans change: check helium.computer before you buy.