Privacy-first browser without distractions
Helium blocks ads and trackers, puts you in control, and has a clean, minimal interface. By default.
Download HeliumBuilt around privacy and consent
Helium blocks ads, trackers, cookie banners, third-party cookies, and tampers with fingerprinting. By default.
No data collection, no browser ads, and no background requests without consent. No need to "opt out" of anything.
With Helium, you're in control. Your business stays your business.
Skip the search engine
Browse the web even faster with !bangs. Built into Helium, processed locally, and routed
directly to the website you want. Bang, clack, done.
Jump to thousands of websites without having to go through a page of search results.
Transparent and open source
All Helium components are open source and available on GitHub. Development happens in
public, from commits to builds to releases.
You can build Helium yourself, self-host Helium services, fork or contribute to
anything.
Use it, inspect it, modify it, or help shape where it goes next.
The calmest browser, by default
Helium never gets in your way and removes most of the noise on all web pages, so you
can focus on what you came for.
Take a look yourself: drag the slider to see the difference between Helium and other
browsers.
Ready when you are
Helium can transfer everything important from your current browser. Try Helium for a week and leave the noise behind.
Even more details about Helium
Does Helium collect any personal data?
No. Helium makes zero web requests on first launch, has no analytics, and no first-party ads. All types of requests to Helium services must be acknowledged and approved by you. Helium services are anonymous and don't collect any personal data.
Does Helium support Chromium extensions?
Yes. Helium supports all Chromium extensions by default, and can import them from your old Chromium browser for you. Also, all requests to Chrome Web Store are anonymized via Helium services, so Google can't track your extension downloads/updates. No other browser does this.
Does Helium protect against fingerprinting?
Helium noises certain web APIs to make your browser harder to fingerprint and track. Helium also has protections against fingerprint analysis attacks, which we are not aware of any other browser doing at the time of writing. Please keep in mind that browser fingerprinting is impossible to prevent completely without breaking core functionality, no matter what other browser vendors may claim.
Does Helium update automatically?
Yes. Helium updates automatically on macOS and Windows when Helium services are enabled. Linux packages are always updated along with other platforms.
Is Helium actually fully open source?
Yes. All browser components and online services are open source. You can check out all source code on GitHub. You can read more about our commitment to transparency in this writeup.
Is Helium safe to use?
Yes. Helium always ships Chromium security updates as soon as possible, so your browser stays secure. Helium also enforces HTTPS, supports passkeys, and updates automatically.
What are Helium services?
Helium services are open source browser services used for things like updating browser components, !bangs, and filter lists. They can be self-hosted and used in your browser before any requests are made.
Does Helium support DRM-protected content?
Unfortunately, Helium does not support Widevine DRM, so some streaming services and protected media may not play in Helium. This is not done by our choice, but because Google restricts Widevine licensing to its partners. Everyone else has to get access via third-party partners, who charge a ridiculous recurring fee for licensing.
Does Helium come with password manager?
No. Helium does not include a built-in password manager. We strongly believe that your passwords should stay under your control, not locked to a browser vendor. Switch to a dedicated password manager and use its extension in Helium.
Is Helium based on Chromium?
Yes. Helium is a Chromium-based browser, with all Google service dependencies removed. Helium does not use any Google services directly.
Is Helium free?
Yes, both in terms of price and freedom. Helium is FOSS. We don't have a "free tier" with adware, and don't require a payment for "upgrading" to the bloat-free tier, unlike our competition. You will never see adware in Helium.
How does Helium make money?
The development of Helium is crowdfunded, sponsored directly by its users. We encourage you to sponsor it too.
Where can I report issues with Helium?
You can do it on GitHub, but please make sure that you're not creating a duplicate issue.
Does Helium support data sync?
Not yet. Track our blog, follow releases on GitHub, or follow our Twitter to be the first to know when this changes.
Is Helium available on mobile?
Not yet. Helium is currently a desktop browser, available in beta. Track our blog, follow releases on GitHub, or follow our Twitter to be the first to know when this changes.
What makes Helium different from other browsers?
Read this page again.