NetSurf review (2026): is it any good?
Lightweight open-source browser with its own layout engine
NetSurf report card
Very good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for browsing on old or low-powered computers
NetSurf is a small, free browser with its own layout engine, made for old and low-powered machines. Its web standards support is narrower than mainstream browsers, and some features are RISC OS only.
Who NetSurf is for
- Fits if you have an old or low-powered computer
- Makes sense if you want a small program on RISC OS, Haiku or Linux
Who NetSurf is not for
- 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
Why NetSurf 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 under GPL v2 with no paid plans, so under 60% of this category's cheapest quarter.
- AFree plan and trialThe whole browser downloads at no charge, with no paid tier or caps.
- CFeaturesA browser with history and page tools on its own engine, but the site says it only strives for standards compliance.
- BEase of useNo rating on record. It installs as a small program, built for small systems.
- CPlatforms and integrationsMany systems on the site, but our listing counts Linux and Windows, and the downloads page lists no Mac build.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from The NetSurf Developers's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/netsurf#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/netsurf.svg" alt="NetSurf: 3.0 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where NetSurf stands among browsers
NetSurf'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).
NetSurf 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. NetSurf’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 NetSurf, or make your own?
Keep it
NetSurf 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
- Bookmarks: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- A web browser.
- A real app for Windows and Linux. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. NetSurf’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 NetSurf?
NetSurf is a small, free web browser written in C with its own layout engine. It runs on RISC OS, Linux and other Unix-like systems, Haiku, AmigaOS, Windows and Atari, and is licensed under GPL version 2. It is built to work on old and low-powered computers, so its web standards support is narrower than mainstream browsers.
Worth knowing
- 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.
Key features
- 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.
NetSurf pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, NetSurf is free to use.
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- Free and open source under GPL version 2, with no paid plans.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | The full browser, free to download under GPL version 2. |
Read from netsurf-browser.org on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with NetSurf before you buy.
NetSurf alternatives
- NetSurf vs Min
Free
Common questions
Does NetSurf have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. NetSurf is listed for Linux and Windows.
Does NetSurf have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. NetSurf is listed for Linux and Windows.
Is NetSurf open source?
Yes. NetSurf 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.