Pale Moon review (2026): is it any good?
Free open-source browser on its own Goanna engine, with legacy add-ons
Pale Moon report card
Very good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for a customizable browser with legacy add-ons
Pale Moon is a free browser on its own Goanna engine that still runs XUL add-ons and old plugins. It leaves out WebRTC, a PDF reader and DRM on purpose, so some sites and video services may not work.
Who Pale Moon is for
- 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
Who Pale Moon is not for
- 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
Why Pale Moon 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 and open source, with donations accepted and no paid plan, which is under 60% of this category's cheapest quarter.
- AFree plan and trialThe full browser for Windows, macOS, Linux and FreeBSD costs nothing, with portable and 7-Zip Windows versions.
- CFeaturesXUL add-ons, themes and NPAPI plugins, but WebRTC, an integrated PDF reader, DRM and parental controls are deliberately off in the main build.
- BEase of useNo rating on record. You install it and go, though official binaries need a CPU with AVX, except the 32-bit Windows build.
- CPlatforms and integrationsWindows, macOS, Linux and FreeBSD, with no iOS or Android edition on the download page.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Moonchild Productions'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 Pale Moon? 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/pale-moon#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/pale-moon.svg" alt="Pale Moon: 3.0 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Pale Moon stands among browsers
Pale Moon'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).
Pale Moon 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. Pale Moon’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 Pale Moon, or make your own?
Keep it
Pale Moon is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
What you could not
- A web browser.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. Pale Moon’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 Pale Moon?
Pale Moon is a free, open-source browser built on its own Goanna rendering engine and a hard fork of Mozilla code called UXP. It focuses on customization, with full theming and XUL add-ons, and says it has no ads, telemetry or data gathering. Official builds cover Windows, macOS, Linux and FreeBSD.
Worth knowing
- 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
- 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.
Pale Moon pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, Pale Moon is free to use.
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- Pale Moon is free and open source; the site accepts donations and lists no paid plan.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | The full browser for Windows, macOS, Linux and FreeBSD, with portable and 7-Zip Windows versions. |
Read from palemoon.org on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Pale Moon before you buy.
Pale Moon alternatives
Common questions
Does Pale Moon have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Pale Moon is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does Pale Moon have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Pale Moon is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Is Pale Moon open source?
Yes. Pale Moon 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.