Alternatives to Orion
WebKit browser supporting Chrome and Firefox extensions
Orion ranks #4 of 14 in Browsers, with an Alt Score of 74. It is proprietary, freemium from $5/month and available on macOS and iOS. 10 of 12 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
Privacy-conscious users on Mac, iOS, or Linux who want a fast, customizable browser but don't want to give up the Chrome or Firefox extensions they already rely on.
A WebKit-based browser with built-in ad-blocking and anti-tracking, and zero telemetry by design. It natively runs extensions from the Chrome Web Store, Firefox Add-ons, and Safari Extensions Gallery without a compatibility layer. It's user-funded via subscription or lifetime license, with no ad partnerships, and integrates with Kagi's search and translation tools.
Install Orion and it opens as a standard browser; from there you can import extensions directly from the Chrome or Firefox stores and adjust granular settings to control ad-blocking, tracking protection, and appearance.
Why people leave Orion
Dashed reasons are sourced facts; the rest are opinions. Vendors can dispute.
Sign in to add a reason — new reasons go through moderation before appearing.
Ranked alternatives
Ordered by Alt Score. Click any score to see the breakdown.
Feature comparison
Rows come from the Browsers checklist (16 rows). Human-verified cells only. ? means the value has not been verified.
| Browsers checklist | Orion | Vivaldi | Brave | Waterfox | Firefox | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | ||||||
| Starts at | ||||||
| License | ||||||
| Platforms | ||||||
| Engine (Chromium / Gecko / WebKit) | ||||||
| Built-in ad blocker | ||||||
| Built-in VPN or proxy | ||||||
| Vertical tabs | ||||||
| Tab groups & workspaces | ||||||
| Extension ecosystem compatibility | ||||||
| Sync (E2E encrypted) | ||||||
| Battery / memory saver mode | ||||||
| Privacy: fingerprinting protection | ||||||
| Telemetry opt-out | ||||||
| Profile containers | ||||||
| Reader mode |
Sources & verification
15
Every fact and feature listed for Orion is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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License Proprietary verified 2026-07-11
We're working on it! We've started with some of our components and intend to open more in the future.
https://help.kagi.com/orion/faq/faq.html -
Pricing model Freemium verified 2026-07-11
While the Orion browser is free to use, Orion+ is an optional way for you to support the Orion project.
https://help.kagi.com/orion/orion-plus/orion-plus.html -
Starts at $5/month verified 2026-07-11
$5 per month, $50 per year, or $150 for lifetime
https://help.kagi.com/orion/orion-plus/orion-plus.html -
Platforms macOS, iOS verified 2026-07-11
Orion is a free, lightning-fast, privacy-focused, WebKit-based browser for Mac, iOS, and soon Linux.
https://help.kagi.com/orion/ -
Status active verified 2026-07-11
We are working on Orion for Linux and Windows
https://help.kagi.com/orion/faq/faq.html -
Engine (Chromium / Gecko / WebKit) Yes verified 2026-07-11
Orion is a free, lightning-fast, privacy-focused, WebKit-based browser for Mac, iOS, and soon Linux.
https://help.kagi.com/orion/ -
Built-in ad blocker Yes verified 2026-07-11
Orion blocks both first-party and third-party ads, trackers and other annoyances by default
https://help.kagi.com/orion/faq/faq.html -
Vertical tabs Yes verified 2026-07-11
You can enable vertical tabs by clicking the View menu and choosing Show Vertical Tabs Sidebar.
https://help.kagi.com/orion/features/vertical-tabs.html -
Tab groups & workspaces Yes verified 2026-07-11
In Orion, Tab Groups are also called Named Windows. You can sync the tabs in a Named Window across Orion on all devices.
https://help.kagi.com/orion/features/tab-groups.html -
Extension ecosystem compatibility Yes verified 2026-07-11
The only browser with multi-platform extension support Safari, Chrome, and Firefox extensions • all in one browser.
https://orionbrowser.com/extensions -
Sync (E2E encrypted) Partial verified 2026-07-11
Enable cross-device sync of your tabs, bookmarks, and reading list
https://help.kagi.com/orion/features/syncing-data.html -
Privacy: fingerprinting protection Yes verified 2026-07-11
Orion is the only browser on the market that comes with full first-party and third-party ad and tracking script blocking, built-in by default, making sure invasive fingerprinters never run on the page
https://help.kagi.com/orion/privacy-and-security/preventing-fingerprinting.html -
Telemetry opt-out Yes verified 2026-07-11
Orion has no built-in telemetry, so it can never 'phone home' and risk exposing your data.
https://help.kagi.com/orion/faq/faq.html -
Profile containers Yes verified 2026-07-11
Containers enable users to separate specific activities into color-coded containers. The main benefit of containers is that they are isolated from one another, allowing the user to use sites (e.g., em
https://help.kagi.com/orion/features/containers.html -
Reader mode Yes verified 2026-07-11
Sometimes you just want to read the article on a website, not wade through ads, video embeds, and other distractions.
https://help.kagi.com/orion/features/reader-mode.html
FAQ
Yes. Vivaldi, Brave and Waterfox have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.
Brave, Waterfox and Firefox — every license claim links its source.