Juniya Sankara

We tested 15 browsers on Windows 11 and 10 and compared them on speed, privacy, customization, and extensions. Some surprised us, others disappointed. See which ones made the cut, our comparison table, and the top pick for every type of user.

Helium is a free, open-source Chromium browser that removes Google’s proprietary services, background tracking, and bloat. It comes with uBlock Origin pre-installed and anonymizes your requests to the Chrome Web Store so Google cannot track which extensions you install. We have a review with screenshots, video and an installation guide for Windows.

LibreWolf is an independent Firefox fork that removes all background data collection, sponsored content, and distractions from the browser. It comes with uBlock Origin pre-installed, cookies that delete themselves when you close the browser, and DuckDuckGo as the default search engine. Check our review, screenshots and installation guide.

Floorp is an open-source Firefox fork from Japan that focuses on giving you control over every part of the browser interface. It includes vertical tabs, a multi-row tab bar, workspaces with container isolation, split screen view, and PWA support. Review with screenshots, keyboard shortcuts and an installation guide for Windows.

Zen Browser is a free, open-source Firefox fork that rethinks how your browser should look and feel. It replaces the standard tab bar with a vertical sidebar, adds workspaces to keep your tabs organized, and lets you preview links without opening new tabs. Check our review with screenshots, keyboard shortcuts and an installation guide for Windows.

Waterfox is an independent browser built on Firefox’s Gecko engine that removes all of Mozilla’s background data collection and tracking. Features Total Cookie Protection, DNS encryption and Chrome extension support. The developer has publicly refused to add AI. Full review & screenshots with setup instructions for Windows.

Thorium is an open-source Chromium browser compiled with AVX2 and SSE4 CPU optimizations for maximum hardware performance. It strips Google tracking, supports Widevine for Netflix playback, and offers full Chrome Web Store extension compatibility. Complete review with screenshots and an installation guide for Windows 11, 10, and 7.