GNOME Web

The GNOME desktop's simple WebKit browser, also known as Epiphany.

Verified facts: 3 of 3
Alternatives ranked: 4
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About GNOME Web

GNOME Web, historically called Epiphany, is the default browser of the GNOME desktop and elementary OS. It uses WebKitGTK, the Linux port of the engine behind Safari, and follows GNOME's design: a clean header bar, few settings, and tight integration with the desktop, including the ability to turn sites into standalone web apps. It includes built-in ad and tracker blocking, reader mode, Firefox Sync support for bookmarks and passwords, and support for some web extensions. Because WebKitGTK is not as widely tested by web developers as Chromium or Gecko, some sites have rendering or performance problems, and video playback depends on your system's codecs. It is free software under the GPL and is mainly available on Linux, typically through Flathub or your distribution. It suits GNOME users who want a lightweight, integrated browser that matches their desktop.

Best for: GNOME desktop users who want a simple browser that fits the desktop.

What works

Clean design that matches GNOME
Turns sites into standalone web apps
Built-in ad and tracker blocking

Why people leave

Some sites render or perform poorly on WebKitGTK
Limited extension support
Linux only

Top GNOME Web alternatives

See all 4

1
Firefox
Default on many Linux distributions, with better site compatibility.
66.5
2
Falkon
KDE's lightweight browser, using a Chromium-based engine.
62.6
3
Chromium
Open-source Chromium packaged by most distributions.
59.6
4
LibreWolf
Privacy-hardened Firefox available as Linux packages and Flatpak.
57.2

Why people left GNOME Web

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GNOME Web: common questions

Is GNOME Web free?

Yes. GNOME Web is free, open-source software.

Is GNOME Web open source?

Yes. The source code is on GitHub at GNOME/epiphany.

What platforms does GNOME Web run on?

GNOME Web is available for Linux.

What are the best alternatives to GNOME Web?

The highest-ranked GNOME Web alternatives right now are Firefox, Falkon and Chromium. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 4 GNOME Web alternatives

GNOME Web facts

3 of 3 verified

Desktop: GNOME; Checked Oct 25, 2026apps.gnome.org(opens source in a new tab); “The web browser for GNOME, featuring tight integration with the desktop”
Licence: GPL-3.0; Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab); “License: GPL-3.0 (GNU General Public License v3.0).”
Engine: WebKit; Checked Oct 25, 2026wiki.gnome.org(opens source in a new tab); “Web is the web browser for the GNOME desktop and for elementary OS, based on the popular WebKit engine.”