While the vast majority sticks to Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or whatever browser came pre-installed on their phone, the world of web browsers is actually much bigger (and weirder) than you might think. There are some truly obscure browsers out there—and no, I’m not talking about Opera, Maxthon, or Tor.
I mean browsers so niche that you’d probably never stumble across them unless you actively searched for “weird obscure browsers” online. Lucky for you, I’ve already done the digging, so here are three rather strange browsers you might want to try or learn more about.
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Floorp
Floorp is a free, open-source browser based on Firefox that launched in 2021. Interestingly, it was initially Chromium-based but was switched to Firefox before even releasing to the public with version 7.0.0. At first, it was only available in Japanese, with an English version arriving in 2022. Today, it supports 23 languages, so it has long since moved past its original language barrier.
One of the browser’s key strengths is its comprehensive set of privacy features and modifications to Mozilla’s code. The developers stripped out telemetry to make tracking more difficult and added protections such as fingerprint resistance and third-party cookie blocking.
Another feature that appeals to power users is Floorp’s flexible user interface. Users have significant control over the browser’s appearance and functionality, from the tab bar to the overall layout. For instance, you can place tabs on the side if you prefer, and the customizable sidebar provides quick access to bookmarks, web panels, and tools.
Tab tiling, also known as split view, is another standout feature. It allows you to display multiple tabs side by side within the same window, which is excellent for multitasking, especially on large ultrawide monitors.
All in all, Floorp is a solid and private open-source browser based on Firefox. It’s a great alternative if you want to avoid Google but also Mozilla’s built-in tracking tools as well.
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Nyxt
Nyxt is a truly obscure browser that most people haven’t heard of. Launched in 2019, Nyxt calls itself “the hacker’s browser,” referring to its highly keyboard-centric, command-oriented navigation system. It’s written in Lisp and inspired by Emacs and Vim, making it the perfect browser for people who are adept with their keyboards and commands. The browser hardly requires you to use a mouse, meaning it has the potential to be one of the fastest ways to browse the web.
In fact, the vast majority of your browsing can be done without ever having to take your hands off the keyboard. When you open a page, the browser provides you with numerous keyboard shortcuts for the page’s interactive elements, such as the contents and in-line links. So, instead of having to click on a hyperlink, you can simply type a couple of letters automatically provided by the browser in its command prompt, and it’ll take you to that page.
One of Nyxt’s core features is fuzzy search. Instead of scrolling through dozens of tabs, you just start typing, and Nyxt filters results instantly. As exemplified on the browser’s official website, typing “wiki” shows all open Wikipedia tabs. Add a “b” and it narrows to pages with a “b” in the title, like “blue whale” or “hummingbird.” Type “bi” and only “hummingbird” remains.
This means instead of clicking through several open tabs with your mouse or cycling with Ctrl + number keys, you can find the right tab in less than a second by typing partial words. It’s a lifesaver for heavy tab users.
Nyxt also comes with other power-user features, such as running custom scripts on top of built-in commands, smart bookmark search, customizable autofills, and clipboard history. While Windows already has a system clipboard, having one built into the browser makes copy-pasting even more convenient.
Overall, Nyxt is a powerful, niche browser packed with advanced features. It’s far from a generic Chrome or Firefox alternative, and that’s exactly its appeal. Nyxt isn’t aiming for mass adoption, and you’ll run into the occasional bug or glitch, but since it’s open-source with an active (if small) community, you might figure out workarounds yourself and help the team if you have the technical know-how.
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Pale Moon
Pale Moon is a Firefox fork, but it is largely based on pre-Quantum Firefox, the major overhaul Mozilla introduced in 2017, so it is quite an old fork. In fact, Pale Moon launched in 2009, making it over fifteen years old—just a year younger than Google Chrome. Despite its age, it remains a relatively obscure browser with a small but loyal audience.
While it is not as fast as modern browsers due to its older codebase, Pale Moon is impressively efficient and stable, making it well-suited for older or less powerful computers. It is also free of Firefox’s telemetry and other tracking tools.
As you might expect, its design is reminiscent of classic Mozilla Firefox, and using it will make you feel like you’re stepping back in time to 2010. A benefit of this older code is that it still supports XUL-based extensions and themes that no longer work in modern Firefox. For users who rely on vintage extensions, this browser can be a lifesaver.
Pale Moon is still regularly updated and maintained, but it is worth noting that the older code can pose a security risk. Browsers are particularly susceptible to attacks, so despite their privacy features, their overall safety as a web browser is uncertain.
We’re so accustomed to mainstream browsers today that it’s easy to forget there are people out there using truly obscure alternatives. Nyxt offers a completely different way to navigate the web, Pale Moon is a modern browser built on ancient code, and Floorp is a lesser-known (but arguably better) alternative to the usual options.
Even if you continue sticking with the big names, it’s still fascinating to learn about these niche projects.