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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. Brave currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Brave logoBraveOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +25 of 574.6
2ungoogled-chromium logoungoogled-chromiumOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux3 of 366.5
3Thorium logoThoriumOpen sourceYesLinux, Windows, macOS +13 of 357.2
4Helium logoHeliumOpen sourceYesmacOS, Windows, Linux5 of 555.3
  1. Brave logo

    1. BraveTop pick

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

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    74.6

    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) ×0.15100
    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)
  2. ungoogled-chromium logo

    2. ungoogled-chromium

    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)
  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.

Brave logo

Best Chromium alternative for most people

Brave

Chromium-based with automatic updates and ad blocking.

ungoogled-chromium logo

Best Chromium alternative for a free option

ungoogled-chromium

Chromium with remaining Google requests and integrations stripped out.

Thorium logo

Best Chromium alternative for open source

Thorium

Performance-tuned Chromium build with extra codecs.

Google Chrome logo

Best Chromium alternative for Mac

Google Chrome

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

Helium logo

Best Chromium alternative for Windows

Helium

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

Brave logo

Best Chromium alternative for Linux

Brave

Chromium-based with automatic updates and ad blocking.

Brave logo

Best Chromium alternative for iPhone and Android

Brave

Chromium-based with automatic updates and ad blocking.

Chromium alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Chromium?

Brave ranks first right now. Chromium-based with automatic updates and ad blocking. ungoogled-chromium and Google Chrome follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Chromium?

Yes. Brave (open source), ungoogled-chromium (open source), Google Chrome (free) 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: Brave, ungoogled-chromium, Thorium and Helium.

Which Chromium alternatives work on Linux?

Brave, ungoogled-chromium, Google Chrome, 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.