FREEDOM251

Freedom251 › Compare

Side by side

Iridium Browser vs K-Meleon

Both stand on web browsers. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.

Iridium Browser

Free plan Open source LinuxMacWindows

Choose Iridium if you want a free, open-source desktop browser with privacy-focused changes and public source code. Look elsewhere if you need mobile availability, automatic browser updates, Google sign-in out of the box, or Widevine-dependent media services.

Visit Iridium Browser

K-Meleon

Free plan Open source Windows

K-Meleon focuses on a small, configurable Windows browser with Gecko rendering, ad blocking, and straightforward privacy settings. Its listed stable release is old, which readers should weigh before choosing it.

Visit K-Meleon

The facts

Iridium BrowserK-Meleon
Free planYesYes
Open sourceYesYes
Runs onLinux, Mac, WindowsWindows
Lowest paid planFree or on requestFree or on request
Plans published11
MakerIridium BrowserNot published
Websiteiridiumbrowser.dekmeleonbrowser.org
On web browsers#45 of 154#49 of 154

Iridium Browser: what it does well

  • Free and open source.
  • Available for Linux, macOS, and Windows.
  • Blocks automatic transmission of partial queries, keywords, and metrics by default.
  • Offers source code through a public Git repository.
  • Qwant is the default, and users can choose another search engine.

What to know first

  • No Android, iOS, or other mobile versions.
  • Browser updates must be downloaded and installed manually.
  • Some extensions may not work, and extension updates are manual.
  • Widevine-dependent services will not work.

K-Meleon: what it does well

  • Free and open source under GPL
  • Lightweight Windows-focused design
  • Built-in ad blocking
  • Configurable menus and extension macros
  • Cookie and SSL privacy controls

What to know first

  • Windows-only platform
  • Latest stable release listed from 2015
  • Based on Mozilla ESR 31.8
  • No free trial is listed

Alternatives to Iridium Browser Alternatives to K-Meleon The whole list