Best free alternatives to Google Chrome for Windows and Mac
Updated · FPTWaze editors
Looking for a Chrome alternative? Compare Firefox, Brave, Edge, Vivaldi and Opera by privacy, extensions, sync and operating system support.
Quick answer: The best alternatives to Google Chrome are Mozilla Firefox (open source, Win, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS), Brave (open source, Win, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS), Microsoft Edge (free, Win, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS), Vivaldi (free, Win, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS) and Opera (free, Win, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS).
The best alternatives to Google Chrome are Mozilla Firefox, Brave and Microsoft Edge. Google Chrome is Google's browser for desktop and mobile, built on the open-source Chromium project. It syncs bookmarks, passwords and open tabs through a Google account and supports extensions from the Chrome Web Store. People look for another browser when they want stronger privacy defaults, a browser that is not tied to a Google account, or a different set of built-in tools. The options below cover those needs and run on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS / iPadOS.
Independent open-source browser with strong privacy protection by default.
Mozilla Firefox suits people who want an independent, open-source browser with privacy protection on by default. Enhanced Tracking Protection blocks many trackers and cross-site cookies out of the box. A Firefox account syncs bookmarks, history, passwords and tabs between devices. Firefox uses its own Gecko engine rather than Chromium, and an Extended Support Release is available for organizations.
Chromium-based browser that blocks ads and trackers by default.
Brave suits people who want ads and trackers blocked without installing an add-on. Brave Shields blocks ads, trackers and fingerprinting by default, and Brave supports Chrome extensions. Its optional extras, such as a private search engine, a VPN subscription and an AI assistant, can all be turned off for a plain, fast browser. Brave is open source under MPL-2.0.
Microsoft's Chromium-based browser, included with Windows.
Microsoft Edge suits people who use Windows and want a Chromium browser that is already included. It is the default browser on Windows 10 and 11 and shares the Chromium engine with Chrome, so most Chrome extensions work. Edge adds vertical tabs, a built-in PDF reader with annotation and sleeping tabs to save memory. It is freeware and can sync with a Microsoft account.
Highly customizable browser with tab stacking, mail and calendar built in.
Vivaldi suits power users who want to change the layout of their browser. Nearly every part of the interface can be rearranged, and tabs can be stacked, tiled side by side or hibernated. It includes an email client, calendar, feed reader and notes, all of them optional. Vivaldi is freeware and is built on the Chromium project.
Browser with a built-in ad blocker, free browser VPN and messenger sidebar.
Opera suits people who want extra tools built into the browser. It is built on Chromium and adds a sidebar for messengers, a free browser-level VPN, a battery saver and workspaces for grouping tabs. It also includes a built-in ad blocker. Opera is freeware. The same company makes Opera GX, aimed at gamers, with limits for CPU and RAM use.
To choose among these browsers, start with the systems you use and the license you prefer. Firefox and Brave are open source under MPL-2.0, while Edge, Vivaldi and Opera are freeware under proprietary licenses. If you want a Chromium engine and Chrome extensions, Brave, Edge, Vivaldi and Opera are built on the same base as Chrome. If you want an engine outside Chromium, choose Firefox. All five run on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS / iPadOS, so the platform list rarely decides the choice.
Frequently asked questions
Are there free alternatives to Google Chrome?
Yes. Mozilla Firefox and Brave are open-source browsers under the MPL-2.0 license. Microsoft Edge, Vivaldi and Opera are freeware. All of these alternatives run on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Which alternative to Google Chrome is open source?
Mozilla Firefox and Brave are open source under the MPL-2.0 license. Google Chrome is built on the open-source Chromium project, but Chrome itself is freeware under a proprietary license.
Which Google Chrome alternative supports Chrome extensions?
Brave supports Chrome extensions. Microsoft Edge shares the Chromium engine with Chrome, so most Chrome extensions work in Edge.
Is Mozilla Firefox more private than Google Chrome?
Mozilla Firefox turns on Enhanced Tracking Protection by default, which blocks many trackers and cross-site cookies. Mozilla is a non-profit developer of Firefox.
Still prefer Google Chrome? The most widely used web browser, built on the open-source Chromium project.
How this guide was made: written with AI assistance from the facts in our catalog (license, platforms, what each program does) and checked by an editor before publication.
