# Helium browser

51 Hacker News commenters recommended Helium browser and 11 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 11 of 13 months; owners who said how long report a median of 0.5 years (3 owners). It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** Chromium-based browser with uBlock Origin built in, no Google bloat, and good speed; caveat: critics say it is still Chromium.

## Why people recommend it

- Built-in uBlock Origin support (6 comments): "it's fast, basically just ungoogled chromium, and has full support for ublock origin" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48474758)) "they're maintaining manifest v2 support for uBO and even ship it OOTB" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46301111)) "Helium browser is Chromium based but still supports uBlock Origin" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49527147))
- Chromium without Google bloat (5 comments): "Helium has all the benefits of Chromium but none of the Google bloat or other crazy AI, Crypto, Gaming or whatever ideas other browsers ship." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48019820)) "this is the browser I use now. it's basically ungoogled chromium without all the nonsense" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50201852)) "a privacy oriented Chromium fork without bullshit and focus on performance" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49943210))
- Fast, stable, efficient performance (4 comments): "Helium (which is based on Chromium) loads in a second or two close to a hundred tabs." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48479229)) "it's fast, basically just ungoogled chromium, and has full support for ublock origin" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48474758)) "I've been impressed with how efficient and stable the Helium browser has been for me" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47236981))
- Recommended as a Chrome alternative (4 comments): "If you are on any of these browsers, especially Chrome please switch to Helium." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48437698)) "I will suggest people to use helium browser over this closed source browser." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48973799)) "There are already better browser like firefox, helium, chromium." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48663646))

## What people warn about

- Still Chromium, tied to Google (4 comments): "once Google completely strips all that out of Chromium project, that won't be a tenable option" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48848152)) "Chromium-based, so it's a non-starter." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48568940)) "it's still Chrome with different paint" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49130800))
- Linked to crypto scheme (3 comments): "Take the Helium crypto scheme of antennas on roofs, but replace antennas with networked cameras, and instead of a scam it’s a protest." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48171236)) "Helium is just another crypto pyramid scheme that pollutes the airwaves." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46451458)) "proof-of-coverage gaming vectors that plagued early Helium deployments" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47197659))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Arc browser](https://hackerapproved.com/p/arc-browser.md): 78 recommend
- [Dillo](https://hackerapproved.com/p/dillo.md): 49 recommend
- [Pale Moon](https://hackerapproved.com/p/pale-moon.md): 18 recommend
- [MacSurf](https://hackerapproved.com/p/macsurf.md): 12 recommend
- [Glide Browser](https://hackerapproved.com/p/glide-browser.md): 11 recommend

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Helium browser", https://hackerapproved.com/p/helium-browser/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).