The Puffin Browser Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Puffin 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.
Puffin Browser
The Insider’s Guide
Cloud-rendered browser that keeps Adobe Flash content working
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among browsers, read from Puffin Browser’s own pages.
Made by CloudMosa, Inc. · 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 Puffin Browser’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Puffin 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
2.2
GPA, above 12 of the 60 other browsers we grade
Puffin is a cloud browser from CloudMosa that runs web content on its servers and streams it to the device. The Flash edition is described as a legacy build for Adobe Flash content, with a virtual trackpad and gamepad. It is subscription-based on Android, from $1 a month with a 7-day trial, and the site also lists Windows and macOS installers.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Puffin Browser, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Pages render in the cloud, and you may need to set streaming quality and image resolution to manage data use.
- 1
Best for keeping old Flash content running from a phone
Puffin runs web pages on its own servers and streams them to you, and its Flash edition exists to keep Adobe Flash content working.
- 2
Paid plans start at $1 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $1 per month, or $0.25 per week prepaid.
- 3
You can try it first
7-day free trial on the monthly subscription (Android)
- 4
It runs on 3 platforms
Android, Windows and macOS.
- 5
Adobe Flash support
The Google Play listing calls this the legacy Puffin that keeps Flash content running in the cloud, where the page says Flash is streamed to your device.
- 6
Cloud rendering
Web pages run on Puffin's servers, so speed depends less on the device. The listing says servers are in the US and Singapore.
- 7
Virtual trackpad and gamepad
An on-screen gamepad can be configured so Flash games can be played from a phone, and a theater mode suits Flash videos.
- 8
A 2.2 GPA, above 12 of 60
That is against the other browsers we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Puffin Browser you would be making a web browser. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Puffin Browser at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $1 per month, or $0.25 per week prepaid
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 7-day free trial on the monthly subscription (Android)
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Android
- Made by
- CloudMosa, Inc., since 2009
- Category
- Browsers
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
- Store rating
- 3.9 on the App Store, 6,705 ratings
The report card
Best for keeping old Flash content running from a phone
Puffin runs web pages on its own servers and streams them to you, and its Flash edition exists to keep Adobe Flash content working. It costs $1 a month on Android after a 7-day trial, but the listing says it cannot move to the latest Chromium, so it is a niche browser, not a general one.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | $1 a month on Android, or $0.25 a week or $0.05 a day prepaid, well under the $4.20 that is 60% of this category's cheapest quarter. |
| Free plan and trial | D | There is no free plan. The only try-out is Android's standard 7-day trial on the monthly subscription, which goes through Google Play. |
| Features | D | One narrow job: it streams Flash content from servers and offers a virtual gamepad and trackpad. The listing says the engine cannot move to the latest Chromium. |
| Ease of use | C | No rating on record. Pages render in the cloud, and you may need to set streaming quality and image resolution to manage data use. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Android, Windows and macOS are listed, so it spans a phone and computers, but the Windows and macOS prices were not shown. |
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 Puffin Browser is for
- Fits if you have old Flash games or videos you still want to play
- Works for a phone you only need Puffin on now and then, since a day costs $0.05
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want a normal everyday browser: the listing calls it a niche Flash browser
- Not for you if you want a free plan, because there is only a 7-day trial
- Watch out: Puffin is blocked in certain regions and some schools, per the listing
- Watch out: on iOS the vendor's listing calls the app a client for a cloud server, not a browser itself
- Tight if you want Windows or macOS pricing: only the Android listing showed prices
Good to know
Good for
- People who still need to open Adobe Flash content
- Users on low-powered devices who want pages rendered in the cloud
- Anyone who wants to pay by the day or week
Worth knowing
- Prices were read from the Android Google Play listing; the Windows and macOS installers' pricing was not shown.
- The listing says the engine cannot move to the latest Chromium, so it is described as a niche Flash browser, not a general-purpose one.
- The listing says Puffin is blocked in certain regions (such as China, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates) and some schools.
- The vendor's iOS listing says the app is a client for a cloud server, like a remote desktop client, and not a web browser itself.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$1
A month to start
Puffin Browser is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $1 per month, or $0.25 per week prepaid.
Monthly subscription
$1
per month, Google Play, with 7-day free trial
Postpaid monthly plan for Puffin Flash Browser on Android; the trial is Android's standard 7-day one.
Weekly prepaid
$0.25
per week, prepaid
Short-term prepaid access for people who only need Puffin occasionally.
Daily prepaid
$0.05
per day, prepaid
One-day prepaid access, the lowest-commitment option on the Google Play listing.
Trying it first
7-day free trial on the monthly subscription (Android)
Read from play.google.com 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 Android
Cloud-rendered browser that keeps Adobe Flash content working. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: web browser, remote desktop.
One narrow job: it streams Flash content from servers and offers a virtual gamepad and trackpad.
- Adobe Flash support
- The Google Play listing calls this the legacy Puffin that keeps Flash content running in the cloud, where the page says Flash is streamed to your device.
- Cloud rendering
- Web pages run on Puffin's servers, so speed depends less on the device. The listing says servers are in the US and Singapore.
- Virtual trackpad and gamepad
- An on-screen gamepad can be configured so Flash games can be played from a phone, and a theater mode suits Flash videos.
- Data-use controls
- Streaming quality, image resolution and data compression can be adjusted to cut mobile data use.
- Desktop modes
- The Android listing lists desktop modes for a full web experience.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Android
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Puffin Browser is made by CloudMosa, Inc., and has been around since 2009.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
12/60
Other browsers it is graded above
Puffin Browser's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 12 of the 60 other browsers we grade, and level with 4.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 22 of 60) and worst on features (D, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $1 a month, against a middle price of $9.50 for the category: 0 of the 19 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. 23 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 61 browsers we grade, cut by the letter each got. Puffin Browser’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 22 of 60
- DFree plan and trialAbove 4 of 60
- DFeaturesAbove 0 of 60
- CEase of useAbove 5 of 60
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 39 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. Puffin 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
To replace Puffin Browser you would be making a web browser. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 44 of the 60 other browsers grade higher. It costs $12 a year.
What you could not
- A web browser.
- A fast, secure link to another computer through any network.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Android that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. Puffin 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
Opera, Brave, Google Chrome, Aloha Browser and Firefox
The 5 tools Puffin Browser is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.6GPA
Opera
Free plan · from $4/mo
Browser with a built-in ad blocker, free VPN and sidebar messengers.
- Opera has a free plan. Puffin Browser does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Opera lists Linux and iOS apps.
- Puffin Browser also covers remote desktop.
- 3.8GPA
Brave
Free plan · from $3.00/mo
Open-source browser that blocks ads and trackers by default.
- Brave has a free plan. Puffin Browser does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Brave lists Linux and iOS apps.
- Brave is open source, according to its own site.
- 3.6GPA
Google Chrome
Free
Google's free browser for desktop and mobile, with Gemini built in.
- Google Chrome has a free plan. Puffin Browser does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Google Chrome lists Linux and iOS apps.
- Puffin Browser also covers remote desktop.
- 2.8GPA
Aloha Browser
Free plan · from $7.99/mo
Private browser with a free VPN, ad blocking and a paid Premium tier.
- Aloha Browser has a free plan. Puffin Browser does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Aloha Browser lists an iOS app.
- Puffin Browser also covers remote desktop.
- 3.8GPA
Firefox
Free
Free, open-source browser from Mozilla with tracker blocking built in.
- Firefox has a free plan. Puffin Browser does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Firefox lists Linux and iOS apps.
- Firefox is open source and 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
12
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 Puffin Browser free?
No, Puffin Browser is a paid product, but you can try it first. 7-day free trial on the monthly subscription (Android).
How much does Puffin Browser cost?
Puffin Browser lists 3 plans. Monthly subscription: $1 per month, Google Play, with 7-day free trial.
What platforms does Puffin Browser work on?
Puffin Browser is available on Android, Windows and macOS.
How is Puffin Browser rated?
Puffin Browser's iPhone and iPad app averages 3.9 out of 5 from 6,705 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Does Puffin Browser have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Puffin Browser is listed for Android, Windows and macOS.
Does Puffin Browser have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Puffin Browser is listed for Android, Windows and macOS.
Is Puffin Browser open source?
Puffin Browser is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Who makes Puffin Browser?
Puffin Browser is made by CloudMosa, Inc. It dates from 2009.
What are the alternatives to Puffin Browser?
The closest alternatives to Puffin Browser in our directory are Opera, Brave, Google Chrome, Aloha Browser and Firefox.
How does Puffin Browser compare with other browsers?
Puffin Browser's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 12 of the 60 other browsers we grade, and level with 4.
Is Puffin Browser good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Puffin Browser A for value for money. Its paid plans start at $1 a month, against a middle price of $9.50 for the category: 0 of the 19 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Puffin Browser?
To replace Puffin Browser you would be making a web browser. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Puffin 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 CloudMosa, Inc.'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 CloudMosa, Inc. Prices change, so check puffin.com 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
- Puffin Browser, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/puffin-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, "Puffin Browser: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/puffin-browser
Know someone choosing between browsers?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/puffin-browser/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded browsers after Puffin 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 Puffin 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. Puffin Browser is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by CloudMosa, Inc. Prices and plans change: check puffin.com before you buy.