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Google Chrome alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Google Chrome: collects more usage data than privacy-focused browsers, and newer extension rules limit some ad blockers. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Google Chrome, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Firefox currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Firefox logoFirefoxOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +25 of 566.5
2Brave logoBraveOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +25 of 562.6
3ungoogled-chromium logoungoogled-chromiumOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux3 of 355.3
4Helium logoHeliumOpen sourceYesmacOS, Windows, Linux5 of 553.6
  1. Firefox logo

    1. FirefoxTop pick

    Best for: People who want a mainstream, independent browser with strong privacy and ad-blocker support

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Google Chrome

    Independent engine and stronger privacy defaults, with full ad-blocker support.

    Pros

    • Independent Gecko engine
    • Full support for advanced ad blockers
    • Strong tracking protection by default

    Cons

    • Some sites are tested less and occasionally break
    • Smaller extension catalogue than Chrome
    • No longer supports Windows 8.1 and older
    Visit Firefox Compare with Google ChromeDetails 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 Firefox a good Google Chrome alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Positioning
    Independent browser
    Checked Oct 25, 2026firefox.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Extensions
    30,000+
    Checked Oct 25, 2026firefox.com(opens source in a new tab)
    PDF editing
    Built in
    Checked Oct 25, 2026firefox.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux
    Checked Oct 25, 2026firefox.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Minimum Windows
    Windows 10 (8.1 and older need ESR)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026firefox.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

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Google Chrome

    Same Chromium base and extensions, with ads and trackers blocked by default.

    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 Compare with Google ChromeDetails and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    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 Google Chrome 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. ungoogled-chromium logo

    3. ungoogled-chromium

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

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Google Chrome

    Chrome's open-source base with Google services and data sharing removed.

    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 ×0.363
    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 ungoogled-chromium a good Google Chrome 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)
  4. Helium logo

    4. Helium

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

    Open sourcemacOS, Windows, Linux

    53.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Google Chrome

    Lightweight Chromium build with uBlock Origin built in and no telemetry.

    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 ×0.357
    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 Google Chrome 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 Google Chrome alternative for…

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

Firefox logo

Best Google Chrome alternative for most people

Firefox

Independent engine and stronger privacy defaults, with full ad-blocker support.

Brave logo

Best Google Chrome alternative for a free option

Brave

Same Chromium base and extensions, with ads and trackers blocked by default.

ungoogled-chromium logo

Best Google Chrome alternative for open source

ungoogled-chromium

Chrome's open-source base with Google services and data sharing removed.

Microsoft Edge logo

Best Google Chrome alternative for Mac

Microsoft Edge

Chromium-based too, with memory-saving features and built-in Copilot.

Vivaldi logo

Best Google Chrome alternative for Windows

Vivaldi

Chromium extensions plus far more customisation and built-in mail and calendar.

Helium logo

Best Google Chrome alternative for Linux

Helium

Lightweight Chromium build with uBlock Origin built in and no telemetry.

Firefox logo

Best Google Chrome alternative for iPhone and Android

Firefox

Independent engine and stronger privacy defaults, with full ad-blocker support.

Google Chrome alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Google Chrome?

Firefox ranks first right now. Independent engine and stronger privacy defaults, with full ad-blocker support. Brave and Microsoft Edge follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Google Chrome?

Yes. Firefox (open source), Brave (open source), Microsoft Edge (free) and Vivaldi (free) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Google Chrome?

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

Which Google Chrome alternatives work on Linux?

Firefox, Brave, Microsoft Edge, Vivaldi and ungoogled-chromium run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Google Chrome?

The complaints we hear most: collects more usage data than privacy-focused browsers; newer extension rules limit some ad blockers; can use a lot of memory with many tabs.

How is this list ranked?

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