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Chromium alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Chromium: official snapshot builds don't auto-update, and some codecs and features missing compared with Chrome. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Chromium, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. ungoogled-chromium currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1ungoogled-chromium logoungoogled-chromiumOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux3 of 366.5
2Brave logoBraveOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +25 of 559.6
3Thorium logoThoriumOpen sourceYesLinux, Windows, macOS +13 of 357.2
4Helium logoHeliumOpen sourceYesmacOS, Windows, Linux5 of 555.3
  1. ungoogled-chromium logo

    1. ungoogled-chromiumTop pick

    Best for: Technical users who want Chromium without any connection to Google

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Chromium

    Chromium with remaining Google requests and integrations stripped out.

    Pros

    • Removes Google background requests and sign-in
    • Stays close to standard Chromium
    • Free and open source

    Cons

    • No sync and awkward extension installs
    • Updates usually manual or via package manager
    • Builds come from community contributors
    Visit ungoogled-chromium Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is ungoogled-chromium a good Chromium alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Licence
    BSD-3-Clause
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    What it is
    Chromium without Google integration
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ungoogled-software.github.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Project status
    Active
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Brave logo

    2. Brave

    Best for: People who want Chrome compatibility with ads and trackers blocked by default

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Chromium

    Chromium-based with automatic updates and ad blocking.

    Pros

    • Strong ad and tracker blocking without extensions
    • Runs Chrome extensions
    • Free AI assistant with no account needed

    Cons

    • Crypto wallet and rewards features feel out of place to many
    • Some Brave services are upsold in the interface
    • Still depends on Google's Chromium engine
    Visit Brave Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Brave a good Chromium alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Ad blocking
    Built in (Shields)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026brave.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Engine
    Chromium
    Checked Oct 25, 2026brave.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Licence
    MPL-2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    AI assistant
    Leo, free with a premium tier
    Checked Oct 25, 2026brave.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Desktop platforms
    Linux, macOS, Windows
    Checked Oct 25, 2026brave.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Thorium logo

    3. Thorium

    Best for: Enthusiasts who want a speed-tuned Chromium with extra codecs

    Open sourceLinux, Windows, macOS, Android

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Chromium

    Performance-tuned Chromium build with extra codecs.

    Pros

    • Compiler optimisations for modern CPUs
    • Extra media codecs included
    • Runs on Raspberry Pi as well as desktops

    Cons

    • Often several Chromium versions behind
    • Security fixes arrive later than in Chrome
    • Multiple CPU-specific builds to choose from
    Visit Thorium Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Thorium a good Chromium alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Based on
    Chromium
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Licence
    BSD-3-Clause
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Linux, Windows, macOS, Android, Raspberry Pi
    Checked Oct 25, 2026thorium.rocks(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Helium logo

    4. Helium

    Best for: People who want a clean, private Chromium browser without Brave's extras

    Open sourcemacOS, Windows, Linux

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Chromium

    Privacy-focused Chromium build with automatic updates and uBlock Origin.

    Pros

    • uBlock Origin built in
    • No telemetry or sponsored content
    • Supports all Chrome extensions with auto-updates

    Cons

    • Still in beta
    • No sync or mobile app
    • Small, young project
    Visit Helium Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Helium a good Chromium alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Open source
    Yes, all components
    Checked Oct 25, 2026helium.computer(opens source in a new tab)
    Extensions
    All Chromium extensions
    Checked Oct 25, 2026helium.computer(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    macOS, Windows, Linux
    Checked Oct 25, 2026helium.computer(opens source in a new tab)
    Release stage
    Beta
    Checked Oct 25, 2026helium.computer(opens source in a new tab)
    Licence
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Chromium alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

ungoogled-chromium logo

Best Chromium alternative for most people

ungoogled-chromium

Chromium with remaining Google requests and integrations stripped out.

Google Chrome logo

Best Chromium alternative for a free option

Google Chrome

Auto-updates and full codec support, with Google account features.

Brave logo

Best Chromium alternative for open source

Brave

Chromium-based with automatic updates and ad blocking.

Thorium logo

Best Chromium alternative for Mac

Thorium

Performance-tuned Chromium build with extra codecs.

Helium logo

Best Chromium alternative for Windows

Helium

Privacy-focused Chromium build with automatic updates and uBlock Origin.

ungoogled-chromium logo

Best Chromium alternative for Linux

ungoogled-chromium

Chromium with remaining Google requests and integrations stripped out.

Google Chrome logo

Best Chromium alternative for iPhone and Android

Google Chrome

Auto-updates and full codec support, with Google account features.

Chromium alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Chromium?

ungoogled-chromium ranks first right now. Chromium with remaining Google requests and integrations stripped out. Google Chrome and Brave follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Chromium?

Yes. ungoogled-chromium (open source), Google Chrome (free), Brave (open source) and Thorium (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Chromium?

Yes: ungoogled-chromium, Brave, Thorium and Helium.

Which Chromium alternatives work on Linux?

ungoogled-chromium, Google Chrome, Brave, Thorium and Helium run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Chromium?

The complaints we hear most: official snapshot builds don't auto-update; some codecs and features missing compared with Chrome; still sends some requests to Google services.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Chromium, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.