Alternatives to Internet Explorer
The browser that was the internet
It is proprietary and available on Windows. 3 of 12 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
The browser that was the internet. Internet Explorer has been discontinued; the active alternatives listed here are maintained products you can switch to.
Windows users who needed a built-in web browser preinstalled on their PC, particularly in corporate and government environments that relied on legacy ActiveX controls and intranet applications.
A graphical web browser bundled with Windows that rendered HTML, ran ActiveX controls and Java applets, and supported tabbed browsing, favorites, and add-ons in its later versions. It included features like InPrivate browsing, SmartScreen phishing filtering, and Compatibility View for older sites. Microsoft ended support for IE 11, the final version, on June 15, 2022, redirecting users to Microsoft Edge.
Users launched Internet Explorer from Windows to enter URLs or search terms and navigate the web; enterprise sites requiring legacy compatibility could still be accessed afterward through Internet Explorer mode within Microsoft Edge.
Why people leave Internet Explorer
Dashed reasons are sourced facts; the rest are opinions. Vendors can dispute.
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Ranked alternatives
Ordered by Alt Score. Click any score to see the breakdown.
Every fact and feature listed for Internet Explorer is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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Status discontinued verified 2026-07-11
Yes, Internet Explorer 11 is the last major version of Internet Explorer. The Internet Explorer 11 desktop application went out of support for certain operating systems starting June 15, 2022
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/faq/internet-explorer-microsoft-edge -
License Proprietary verified 2026-07-11
software"), these Guidelines further define how you may and may not use the soft"
In addition to the Software License Terms for the Internet Explorer Administration Kit 11 (IEAK 11, referred to as the
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/internet-explorer/ie11-ieak/licensing-version-and-features-ieak11 -
Platforms Windows verified 2026-07-11
Internet Explorer is a component of the Windows operating system (OS) and follows the Lifecycle Policy for the product on which it is installed and supported.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/faq/internet-explorer-microsoft-edge -
Engine (Chromium / Gecko / WebKit) Yes verified 2026-07-11
Trident"."
Mshtml.dll is sometimes referred to by its code name,
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/internet-explorer/ie-developer/platform-apis/aa741312(v=vs.85) -
Extension ecosystem compatibility Partial verified 2026-07-11
ActiveX Controls. ActiveX controls are a very powerful mechanism for extending the abilities of HTML.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/internet-explorer/ie-developer/platform-apis/aa741312(v=vs.85) -
Reader mode Partial verified 2026-07-11
Reading view is a new feature in Internet Explorer 11 for Windows 8.1 that helps you focus on the main content of the Web page you want to read.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/archive/blogs/ie/introducing-reading-view-in-ie-11
FAQ
Yes. Arc, Brave and Chrome have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.
Brave, DuckDuckGo Browser and Firefox — every license claim links its source.