Helium
An open-source Chromium browser that blocks ads, trackers and cookie banners by default without telemetry.
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About Helium
Helium is a Chromium-based browser that blocks ads, trackers, cookie banners and third-party cookies out of the box and resists fingerprinting. It makes no background requests or data collection without consent, so there is nothing to opt out of.
The interface is minimal, with four layout options, a frameless mode, vertical tabs, split view, tab groups and tab hibernation. It supports Chromium extensions and installable web apps, which makes it a straightforward switch for Chrome users who want privacy defaults.
Strengths
- Ad, tracker and cookie banner blocking on by default
- No telemetry or background requests without consent
- Runs Chromium extensions
- Vertical tabs, split view and tab hibernation
Limitations
- Younger project than established privacy browsers
- Built on Chromium, so it follows Google's engine decisions
Details
- Pricing
- FreeFree and open source, supported by sponsors.
- License
- GPL-3.0
- Developer
- imput
- Platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux
- How it runs
- Downloadable app
- Account
- Not required
- Best suited for
- Chrome users who want a private, uncluttered browser with no setup
- Categories
- Web browsers, Privacy tools
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.
Alternatives to Helium
Compare allSoftware that can replace Helium for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.
Brave
A Chromium browser that blocks ads and trackers out of the box, with no extension to install first.
Brave keeps Chromium with ad and tracker blocking by default and adds an Android build and Tor windows, but ships a crypto wallet, rewards programme and AI assistant.
Google Chrome
Google's browser, the Chromium-based one most web development is tested against.
Google Chrome offers the largest extension library and four-week updates from Google, but it is proprietary and ties closely into Google account and advertising systems.
ungoogled-chromium
Plain Chromium with every connection to Google web services stripped out, and nothing else changed.
ungoogled-chromium strips Google service calls from otherwise plain Chromium, but has no extension store connection and most privacy features stay off until you enable them.
Cromite
A hardened Chromium fork for Android, Windows and Linux with ad blocking and Google services removed.
Cromite compiles ad blocking into a hardened Chromium fork with Google services removed, adds Android but drops macOS, and is effectively a one-maintainer project.
DuckDuckGo Browser
Privacy browser with tracker blocking, cookie pop-up handling and one-click data clearing.
DuckDuckGo Browser blocks trackers and handles cookie pop-ups by default under Apache-2.0, adds Android, drops Linux, and has far narrower extension support.
Vivaldi
A Chromium browser for people who want tab stacks, split screen and a mail client in the same window.
Vivaldi is a Chromium browser with tab stacks, tiling, vertical tabs and built-in mail and calendar, but it is not fully open source.
LibreWolf
A Firefox build with the privacy settings already turned up and uBlock Origin included.
LibreWolf moves to a Firefox build with uBlock Origin and strict tracking protection included, and deletes cookies and site data on close by default.
Thorium
Use a Chromium-based browser with CPU-specific builds.
Thorium is an open-source BSD-3-Clause Chromium browser focused on CPU-specific builds rather than blocking, so you pick a build matching your processor.
Helium as an alternative
Listings that name Helium as an alternative.
Avast Secure Browser
A free browser from Avast with built-in ad blocking and anti-tracking protection.
Helium is an open source GPL-3.0 Chromium browser that blocks ads, trackers and cookie banners without telemetry on Windows, macOS and Linux, but has no Android build.
AVG Secure Browser
A free privacy-focused web browser from AVG that blocks ads, trackers and online threats.
Helium is an open source GPL-3.0 Chromium browser that blocks ads, trackers and cookie banners without telemetry on Windows, macOS and Linux, but has no Android build.
Epic Privacy Browser
Chromium browser that blocks trackers and routes traffic through an encrypted proxy.
Helium is open source under GPL-3.0, blocks ads, trackers and cookie banners by default, and adds a Linux build, but has no Android version or bundled proxy.
Midori
Lightweight browser with an ad blocker and privacy-focused defaults.
Helium is an open-source Chromium browser under GPL-3.0 that blocks ads, trackers and cookie banners by default, sends no telemetry, and runs on macOS as well.
Min
Browse with a minimal interface and grouped tabs.
Helium offers an uncluttered Chromium browser that blocks ads, trackers and cookie banners, runs Chromium extensions, and adds vertical tabs, split view and tab hibernation.
Opera Air
A browser from Opera designed to reduce distractions, with focus support and break reminders.
Helium is an open-source Chromium browser with ads, trackers and cookie banners blocked by default and no telemetry, adding Linux support and vertical tabs.
SRWare Iron
Chromium rebuild that strips out Google's tracking and reporting features.
Helium is an open-source Chromium browser with no telemetry and ad, tracker and cookie banner blocking on by default, but no Android build.
Ulaa
Privacy-focused Chromium browser from Zoho with separate browsing modes.
Helium is an open-source Chromium browser that blocks ads, trackers and cookie banners with no telemetry, but has no Android build or work and kids modes.
Zen Browser
A Firefox build with vertical tabs, workspaces and split view, aimed at people who found Arc appealing.
Helium is an open-source Chromium browser with vertical tabs, split view and default ad and tracker blocking, switching from Firefox extensions to Chromium extensions.
Similar software
Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.
