Thorium

A Chromium fork tuned for speed with compiler optimisations and extra media codecs.

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

About Thorium

Thorium is a Chromium fork maintained largely by one developer, Alexander Frick, with a focus on performance. Builds are compiled with optimisations for modern CPU instruction sets, and the browser adds media codecs such as HEVC and AC3 that plain Chromium lacks, plus a handful of interface tweaks and privacy-related patches. It supports Chrome extensions and Google sync can be enabled. Because it is maintained by a small team, it often runs several Chromium versions behind the current release, which means security fixes arrive later than in Chrome, a significant trade-off for an everyday browser. Different builds exist for different CPU types, which can confuse newcomers. It is free and open source under the BSD licence, with builds for Linux, Windows, macOS, Android and Raspberry Pi. It suits enthusiasts who want a fast Chromium with extra codecs and accept slower security updates.

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

What works

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

Why people leave

Often several Chromium versions behind
Security fixes arrive later than in Chrome
Multiple CPU-specific builds to choose from

Top Thorium alternatives

See all 4

1
Chromium
Up-to-date upstream builds with faster security fixes.
66.5
2
Brave
Chromium-based with prompt updates and ad blocking.
62.6
3
Helium
Privacy-focused Chromium build with automatic updates.
59.6
4
Google Chrome
Fastest security updates and full codec support.
57.2

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Thorium: common questions

Is Thorium free?

Yes. Thorium is free, open-source software.

Is Thorium open source?

Yes. The source code is on GitHub at Alex313031/thorium.

What platforms does Thorium run on?

Thorium is available for Linux, Windows, macOS and Android.

What are the best alternatives to Thorium?

The highest-ranked Thorium alternatives right now are Chromium, Brave and Helium. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 4 Thorium alternatives

Thorium facts

3 of 3 verified

Based on: Chromium; Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab); “Description: Chromium fork named after radioactive element No. 90.”
Licence: BSD-3-Clause; Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab); “License: BSD-3-Clause (BSD 3-Clause "New" or "Revised" License).”
Platforms: Linux, Windows, macOS, Android, Raspberry Pi; Checked Oct 25, 2026thorium.rocks(opens source in a new tab); “Chromium fork for Linux, Windows, MacOS, Android, and Raspberry Pi named after radioactive element No.”