The Fastest Browser You Haven't Heard Of

In a world where web browsers compete for your attention, speed is often the big promise that gets us curious. We’ve all seen the claims: “the fastest browser ever,” “lightning-quick performance.”

Most of the time, though, the difference is so tiny you’d need a stopwatch to care. Then there’s Thorium, a browser you’ve probably never heard of, but one that might just live up to its bold tagline: “the fastest browser on Earth.”

Thorium is a spin-off of Chromium, the open-source engine behind Google Chrome. It’s the brainchild of Alexander Frick, a developer who’s taken Chromium’s foundation and supercharged it with tweaks and optimizations.

Available for free across platforms like Linux, Windows (including Windows 7!!!), macOS, Android, and even Raspberry Pi!!!, Thorium is a one-man passion project (with a little help from a handful of contributors) that’s bound to turn heads for its speed.

But is it really as fast as it claims? And what’s the catch? Let’s dig in.

Speed: Does It Really Deliver?

Thorium’s big selling (well its free though) point is its performance. The developer claims it’s anywhere from 8% to 38% faster than plain Chromium, depending on your system and how you test it. That’s a hefty promise, so I looked into some real data to see if it holds up.

One test, run on a low-end PC with just 4GB of RAM and an Intel i3 processor, showed Thorium launching in a snappy 1.026 seconds—faster than Chromium and Chrome in the same setup.

However, when it came to Speedometer 3.0, a benchmark that measures responsiveness, the results from Zdnet were less clear-cut. Thorium scored 24.5, while Chrome hit 27.1 and Chromium landed at 25.1. Another test on Fedora 39 pitted Thorium against Brave, with scores of 19.2 and 19.5, respectively—close, but not a knockout win.

Here’s the twist, though: benchmarks like Speedometer 3.0 focus more on how quickly a browser reacts to clicks and interactions, not raw page-loading speed.

In real-world use, the story changes. Reviewers (most notably tech geek Chris Titus) and users consistently say Thorium feels faster. One tester noted that pages load almost instantly, like the browser’s predicting your next move. On the test by zdnet.com, for example, Thorium not only opened quicker but rendered the page noticeably faster than Chrome or Brave.

So, while the numbers don’t always crown Thorium king, the hands-on experience often does. If you’re tired of waiting for pages to pop up, this might be your new go-to.

My personal experience with web browsers

From my personal experience, yes, Thorium is indeed the fastest and the least bloated browser out there. I've been a user of multitudes of browsers and Thorium instantly gave me the realization that it makes life easier, especially when you're not under some ultra-fast speed internet.

I used Chrome like most people for years, before switching to the new Edge for a year or so. Then I switched to Firefox for another year or two. But nothing really felt like "this is it."

Then I kept looking for open source non-mainstream browsers and I used Floorp browser (a Firefox fork) for about 6 months, but the choppiness of a Firefox based browser soon started taking its tolls. Some websites would not load, some would, but in a real slow speed.

Firefox, although not popular anymore, still is used by those who prioritize safety. But that can often hamper your day-to-day life browsing, as most websites and web apps are designed specifically for Chromium based browsers.

As a result, I decided to switch back to Chromium based browsers, and in the lookout discovered several, including the Arc browser, and this almost one man project Thorium. It was going great, finally a Chromium based browser that didn't feel like a spyware/adware and also delivered fast speeds.

But after 6–7 months or so, I switched back to where it all starts—Goooooooooogle Chrome! Why? More on it in the latter section.

What’s Under the Hood?

Thorium’s speed isn’t some fluke, it’s engineered. Alexander Frick has fine-tuned the browser with a bunch of technical tricks that make it hum, especially on modern hardware. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s going on:

• Compiler Tweaks: Thorium uses advanced settings like SSE4.2, AVX, and AES, which let it tap into your CPU’s full potential. These are like giving the browser a turboboost on newer processors.
• LOOP and Polly Flags: These optimize how the code runs repetitive tasks, making everything more efficient.
• Profile Guided Optimization (PGO): This smart trick analyzes how the browser’s used and optimizes the most active parts for speed.

There’s a trade-off, though. Thorium’s file size is chunkier, around 250MB compared to Chrome’s 150MB. For most of us, that’s no big deal when the payoff is a snappier browser.

Features You’ll Love

Thorium isn’t just about speed, it’s practical, too. Since it’s built on Chromium, it works with all your Chrome extensions, so you can keep your ad blockers, password managers, or whatever else you rely on. The interface looks and feels like Chrome, so there’s no learning curve.

What’s really cool is how widely it’s available. Whether you’re on a Linux laptop, a Windows desktop, an Android phone, or even a Raspberry Pi, Thorium’s got you covered. That’s impressive for a small team.

It also throws in some extras, like DNS over HTTPS and Do Not Track turned on by default, which help keep your browsing a bit more private. Plus, there are custom patches that fix bugs and tweak the UI for a smoother ride.

The Security Catch

Here’s where things get tricky. Thorium is mostly a one-man show, with Alexander Frick leading the charge and just a couple of helpers pitching in. That’s awesome for dedication, but it raises questions about security.

Big browsers like Chrome and Firefox have huge teams pumping out updates and patches the moment a threat pops up. Thorium? It’s a bit slower on that front.

As of my research, its latest version was based on Chromium 130.0.6723.174 (February 2025), while Chromium itself was up to 137.0.7151.6 (1 May 2025). That lag could mean missing out on the latest security fixes. That is solely why I switched back to Google Chrome 2 months ago.

For the average user who just wants a fast browser for everyday stuff, streaming, shopping, scrolling, Thorium’s absolutely fine. It even has some privacy boosts baked in, such as the OG uBlock Origin (not the lite one) is activated by default.

But if you’re handling super-sensitive stuff or need top-tier security, this might not be your best bet. A bigger team means faster fixes, and Thorium just can’t match that pace yet.

Oh, and there was a bit of drama with the developer a while back, some controversy he’s since apologized for and sorted out. You can dig into that if you’re curious.

Should You Try It?

So, is Thorium worth downloading? It depends on what you’re after.

If you’re all about speed and don’t sweat the occasional delay in security updates, Thorium’s a no-brainer. It’s fast, sometimes jaw-droppingly so, and it’s got all the familiar features of Chrome with a performance edge. For casual users, it’s a fantastic pick.

But if you’re the type who needs every security patch the second it’s out, maybe stick with a heavyweight like Chrome or Firefox. Thorium’s small crew can’t keep up with the big dogs on that front.

Or you can use it along with another browser. You may use Thorium for regular web browsing or video streaming, and use a more mainstream browser for sensitive stuff such as banking or even, for some, using social media. I get it, that idea is not practical for many for various reasons, but it's worth considering.

Nonetheless, you should give it a spin. Grab it from the official build page (just search “Thorium browser download”). It’s free, easy to install, and might just surprise you. If speed’s your thing, Thorium’s worth a shot.