This is the Best Browser for an Old / Low-end PC [12 Tested]

Get good navigation speeds without draining your processor

by Matthew Adams

Matthew Adams

Windows & Software Expert

Matthew is a freelancer who has produced a variety of articles on various topics related to technology. His main focus is the Windows OS and all the things... read more

Updated on December 15, 2023

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Google, Opera One, and Mozilla have dropped Windows XP and Vista support in their latest releases. For Windows 7, the list is more extensive. We’re confident you’ll find the best browser for low-end PCs right here.

Even if Chrome was still compatible with Windows XP, the browser’s heavy RAM usage would stretch the resources of outdated PCs to the limit.

This happens because Chrome creates a new process for each of the tabs you have opened, and the resources required to do that far outweigh the benefits when using an older PC.

Considering RAM usage, we recommend installing a monitoring tool to manage your computer resources more efficiently.

Fortunately, these lightweight browser alternatives to Chrome will not hog system resources. Instead, they are streamlined and system resource-efficient:

• Opera One – Best browser for low-end PC
• UR Browser – No trackers or ads
• K-Meleon – Smart toolbars and hotkeys
• Pale Moon – Top browser for Windows XP
• Firefox – Resource-efficient
• Midori – Bloatware-free pack
• Maxthon – Excellent browser for Windows Vista
• Mypal Browser – Accommodates older hardware
• Falkon – Works on old Linux machines as well
• Lunascape Orion – Accelerated startup
• SeaMonkey – handy data management features
• Slim Browser – highly responsive browser

Most of these options also remain compatible with older operating systems and thus fit perfectly for usage on older and slower PCs.

How much RAM should a browser use?

To answer this question, we first need to be aware of the fact that there is no specific RAM-usage value that all browsers should attend to.

It all comes down to what type of user you are, and for what tasks you are using your browser:

Now that you have the data presented above, you can figure out the answer to your needs and requirements.

It goes without saying that if your CPU and other computer elements can not handle the amount of RAM specified above, lower values are acceptable as well, but with a more laggy experience.

What are the best browsers for old PCs?

Opera One – Best browser for low-end PC

Opera One is perhaps the greatest browser to use on your old Windows PC running Windows 7 and later versions for fast page-loading speeds and advanced AI tools.

As older PCs are not as well-equipped to deal with demanding tasks as the newer versions, the way is built brings great advantages, as it is optimized to consume as few computing resources as possible.

One important aspect that enables Opera One to offer such great speeds is the fact that no ads are allowed, so the loading page times are reduced considerably.

Blocking ads means preventing unnecessary scripts from slowing you down, but you may also click Manage exceptions to whitelist those websites that shouldn’t be subject to ad-blocking.

We all know that computers running old operating systems are favorite targets for hackers. Even so, Opera One has got your back putting your data security and privacy first.

With a VPN built into the browser, you can ensure that your IP will not be tracked across the web, and at the same time will allow you to act region-restricted content without issues.

Other useful features:

• Adblocker that loads webpages up to 90% faster
• Free VPN included
• Keyboard shortcuts instead of pointing and mouse clicking
• Tracker blocker that prevents data collection
• Intuitive and distraction-free browser experience

NOTE

Keep in mind that Opera One officially ended support for older Windows OS including XP and Vista.

Instead, it’s still a great browser that supports Windows 7 and Windows 10 and you can install it on your 5-year-old PC or more without any problems.

Opera One

Try the new Opera and you’ll enjoy a built-in ad-blocking feature and increased security.

Free Visit Website

UR Browser – No trackers or ads

UR Browser is a highly versatile browser that’s perfect for old computers. In addition, it packs many modern features that will help you quickly and safely surf the Internet.

This browser loads webpages faster than any other browser you used on your good old PC.

To deal with any online threats, it is recommended that you get a good antimalware tool that will work excellently with the UR browser.

This can be done quickly by choosing one option from the plethora of elements found on the UR Browser application store.

UR Browser doesn’t load any trackers or ads. As you all know, ads and cookies often slow down your browser. This issue is even more prevalent on old computers.

Protecting your online data is paramount for UR Browser. The tool offers you a series of options that allow you to filter who has access to your online data.

You can choose from 3 privacy levels, which automatically optimize the browser. These options have differing degrees of security, with low, medium, and high options.

Here are the features of each:

➡ Low Privacy

This level is recommended for websites you trust, as this would allow advertising in case the other levels don’t display a website correctly.

➡ Medium Privacy

This option allows you the most freedom by balancing the user experience and privacy. Therefore, it is recommended for everyday use.

➡ High Privacy

You can use this level when you want to be as anonymous as possible. Usually, on websites, you don’t trust.

UR-Browser also blocks dangerous websites that may install malware on your PC. In addition, automatic HTTPS redirects and the built-in virus scanner will stop virtually any cyber threat that may target your PC.

Other useful features:

• Your data is not shared with Google
• The browser relies on privacy-friendly search engine Qwant
• Built-in ad blocker
• You appear as a different user on the Internet
• The built-in VPN fully encrypts your connection

UR Browser

The UR Browser is an ideal choice if you still use an old computer. Third parties won’t be able to profile you.

Download Visit website

K-Meleon – Smart toolbars and hotkeys

K-Meleon has been available for more than a decade. This is a Mozilla-based browser that incorporates Firefox’s Gecko engine.

The browser’s UI design is comparable to Firefox, and the software has extensive customization options for its toolbars, menus, and hotkeys. This makes it a great option to use on your outdated PC, and do so in style.

Although you can’t add Firefox extensions to K-Meleon, this software still has plenty of handy plug-ins. These include ad-blockers, pop-up blockers, themes, customization options, etc.

It would be recommended that you try to keep your browser as clean as possible, meaning that you would only install the extensions that you need.

This will reduce the impact that the browser will have on your CPU, thus giving you a more streamlined experience.

K-Meleon is also a super quick browser that runs on Windows 95, XP, Vista, and other platforms that predate Windows 7. The software has a recommended 256 RAM system requirement.

As such, it can run on plenty of antiquated desktops or laptops. Keep though in mind that K-Meleon doesn’t get updated that often.

Another important aspect of this browser, even though it is light, is that you can customize a variety of elements, thus making it your own.

You can easily change the skin, buttons, toolbar, and even the menus from this software, not only making visual changes, but also an improvement in usability.

Other useful features:

• Highly extensible
• Very low RAM impact
• No malware and adware

⇒ Get K-Meleon

Pale Moon – Top browser for Windows XP

Pale Moon is a browser forked from Firefox’s source code. This is a stripped-down version of Firefox that runs on Windows XP and Vista.

This lightweight browser has its own add-on ecosystem, and even though the classic Firefox add-ons can work, there might be compatibility issues here and there.

The browser is built on technologies such as XUL and XPCOM, which makes it capable of good speeds while not hogging much of your PC’s resources.

Pale Moon requires just 256 MB of free RAM and it’s optimized for modern CPUs.

So this browser is even more system resource-efficient than Firefox, and it will run fairly quickly on low-spec laptops and desktops.

When it comes to the design, Pale Moon has a very similar UI structure compared to the older Firefox 3 versions, while having stripped out any design elements that are not useful.

The browser also shares many of Firefox’s customization options for tabs, page content, etc.

Even though this is a good browser option, it is worth mentioning that it doesn’t have any sandboxing capabilities and the Gecko fork used is an older version. This could influence the way newer web features are displayed (if at all).

The lack of this feature can stop people that need a sandbox environment to create apps, and also diminishes the security associated with this type of closed-end environment.

If you find that this is not a priority for you, then you won’t regret giving Pale Moon a try.

Other useful features:

• Independent from Mozilla and Google
• Supports all web standards in existence
• Open-source
• Supports complete themes

⇒ Get Pale Moon

Firefox – Resource-efficient

The latest Firefox versions are not supported on older versions of operating systems anymore. However, this is still the best browser for slightly outdated Windows 7 desktops or laptops.

Stability is key for this browser, while the customization features ensure that you can make this software feel like your own with just a few clicks of the mouse.

No matter if you want a theme that reflects your calm mind, or something that makes you think about the universe, you are covered.

Mozilla claims that Google Chrome hogs 1.77x more RAM than Firefox, and if you used Chrome for more than a few days, your system has felt its effects. So where does that leave Firefox, one might ask.

Is Firefox good for low end PC? To begin with, it is more resource-efficient than Safari, Chrome, and Edge, which ensures you can run more software alongside it.

Every tab you open in Firefox is not seen as a separate process, thus the resource allocation is done more efficiently.

Those add-ons include tab managers, ad blockers, and other extensions that you can strip down website page content with, which will further reduce each tab’s RAM usage and boost browsing speed.

When it comes to add-ons, Firefox offers thousands of options that include a variety of elements, from functionality-related enhancements to operational improvements.

Having access to so many customization options can prove efficient if you know what you’re doing.

As you’re interested in having your old PC run as optimally as possible, it is recommended to only choose add-ons that deal with functionality, like an ad-blocker and pop-up blocker.

Other useful features:

• Strong privacy settings
• Very good processing speeds
• Cloud backup services
• Included screen-capture tool
• Great mobile features

⇒ Get Firefox

Midori – Bloatware-free pack

Midori, which means green in Japanese, is a lightweight browser that is not known very well across the web but offers a low impact on system resources and very good speeds as well.

Midori’s developers have designed this software to be a streamlined alternative to more bloated browsers. While this browser packs less than alternative browsers, it has only 37 megabytes.

In comparison, Firefox requires 200 MB of hard drive storage. Thus, this is a decent browser with low memory consumption for outmoded PCs.

Midori does still incorporate the latest web technologies. The browser supports HTML 5 media codecs and CSS 3, which is optimal and gets the job done if your PC doesn’t work with other web browsers at efficient speeds.

This lightweight browser was also developed with a Webkit rendering engine that ensures it’s in the same league as Chrome when it comes to browsing speed.

The browser doesn’t have a huge repository of extensions but does include several add-ons that further enhance the software.

Other useful features:

• RSS support
• Spell checker included
• Remembers tabs open in the previous session
• Font and display customization

⇒ Get Midori

Maxthon – Excellent browser for Windows Vista

Maxthon is a highly-rated browser that is growing in stature. Maxthon’s homepage boasts that the browser has a 670 million user base.

Maxthon’s system requirements amount to a 1 GHz CPU, 512 MB RAM, and 64 megabytes of hard drive space.

The browser is also compatible with Windows 2000, XP, and Vista as well as the latest platforms; so it will run smoothly on most desktops and laptops.

Maxthon includes some tools and options you won’t find in the big four browsers (Chrome, Internet Explorer 11, Edge 14, and Firefox).

It includes a built-in ad blocker that you can remove ads with, which also reduces page tab RAM allocation.

Maxthon has extensive cloud synchronization and backup options so that users can seamlessly sync data across devices.

In addition, the browser incorporates software shortcuts; and Maxthon users can also capture snapshots with its built-in screenshot tool.

Other features that are worth mentioning are the tabbed interface that enables you to easily navigate from one website to the other and the fact that you can customize the toolbars.

This comes in extremely handy if you’re a user that wants optimization to the highest degree.

Some other useful features:

• Ability to import bookmarks with ease
• Great customization options
• AD Hunter stops ads from running
• Mute button in the lower part of the screen

⇒ Get Maxthon

Mypal Browser – Accommodates older hardware

If you’re looking for a different kind of browser, then Mypal Browser might be just what you need. The browser is designed to be compatible with older operating systems, and it still works on Windows XP.

There are two versions of this software, one based on Firefox Quantum, and while this is the more modern version, it’s unstable but it still works.

The other version is based on Pale Moon, but the development of that version has been abandoned, so while it works, it might be out of date.

Mypal Browser uses the Goanna rendering engine, thus ensuring maximum performance, even on older hardware.

The browser supports Pale Moon extensions, as well as legacy Firefox extensions that were released before Quantum. Customization is also a big part, and every part of the interface is customizable.

Overall, this is a great browser, especially if you’re on an older PC and you haven’t upgraded yet to a modern operating system.

Other useful features:

• Mature fork of Firefox
• Uses the Goanna rendering engine
• Support for Pale Moon and legacy extensions
• Perfect for older PCs and operating systems

⇒ Get Mypal Browser

Falkon – Works on old Linux machines as well

Falkon is a lightweight web browser and it’s available on multiple platforms. The software is using QtWebEngine for rendering.

Regarding the features, you can find all the standard features, such as bookmarks, history, and tabs. If you want, you can show your bookmarks or browsing history in a sidebar, which is a nice touch.

It’s worth mentioning that this software blocks ads by default thanks to the built-in AdBlock plugin. As for compatibility, the browser is compatible with Windows 7 and later, and it can also work on any version of Linux.

Falkon can be installed system-wide or you can install the portable version and use it to run it from a flash drive.

It’s worth mentioning that the software uses DuckDuckGo as the default search engine, so your search queries will remain private and secure from third parties.

We have to mention that this is a lightweight browser, so you won’t find some of the features that you usually use, most notably extensions.

The browser has limited extension support, so you probably won’t find your favorite extensions available. Overall, it’s a great browser, but it has a couple of limitations.

Other useful features:

• Available on multiple platforms
• Uses QtWebEngine
• Lightweight
• Available in portable version

⇒ Get Falkon

Lunascape Orion – Accelerated startup

Another lightweight browser that is worth checking out is Lunascape Orion. The software uses a special technology that delivers faster startup and JavaScript operations.

Unlike other browsers that use a single rendering engine, this one comes with three different ones. The available engines are Trident, Gecko, and WebKit, and you can easily switch between them from the address bar.

Each engine is configurable, so you can access the similar settings that you have available on other browsers. In addition to rendering engines, the software supports various add-ons.

It allows you to use Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Lunescape add-ons. Thanks to the floating sidebar, you can run multiple Gecko add-ons simultaneously and display them separately from the browser.

You can even split tabs into split-screen views and view the layout in three different engines, which can be useful if you’re a web developer.

Thanks to advanced tab management, you can open multiple pages in a single tab with the Tab menu, so it’s easy to manage your pages.

Overall, Lunascape Orion is an advanced browser with a wide array of features, and if you need a browser with multiple rendering engines, this one is a must-try.

⇒ Get Lunascape Orion

SeaMonkey – Handy data management features

If you’re looking for a multi-platform web browser, SeaMonkey is a perfect choice. The software works on all versions of Windows, starting from Windows 7.

However, you’re not limited only to Windows, and you can use it on Mac OS X 10.9 or newer and Linux. In fact, it’s a great alternative to conventional explorers if you’re looking for a lightweight browser for Mac.

Regarding the requirements, this browser is quite lightweight, and it needs 1GB RAM and 800MHz CPU.

As for the available features, you can find the tabbed browser interface as well as the ability to restore sessions if the browser suddenly crashes.

Extensions are also available, allowing you to customize your browser with additional features. Thanks to the Data Manager feature, all your data such as cookies, permissions, preferences, passwords, and autofill data will be located in a single place.

The browser also has a smart location bar that allows you to search visited web pages from the address bar. Of course, a popup blocker is available as well, so you don’t have to deal with intrusive ads anymore.

There’s also a useful feature that will find the contents of the page as you type, so you can find the information you need quickly.

We have to mention feed detection which allows you to easily subscribe to certain websites. Lastly, there’s a built-in email client, so you won’t have to use any third-party tools.

Overall, this is a pretty versatile web browser with a wide array of features, so it’s worth checking out.

Other useful features:

• Lightweight themes
• HTML editor
• Web development tools
• IRC chat

⇒ Get SeaMonkey

Slim Browser – Highly responsive browser

Slim Browser is designed to be fast and responsive while delivering an ad-free browsing experience. In addition to blocking the ads, the software also offers extensive tracking protection.

The browser supports customization via extensions, and it’s compatible with all Firefox extensions, so you can enhance it any way you want.

To make accessing your favorite sites faster, the software supports URL aliases, so you can open the desired website simply by typing a few letters.

You can also find other interesting features, such as a web page screenshot tool that allows you to take a screenshot of the whole page or just one of its segments.

The built-in download manager is also present, and thanks to the multi-thread support, you can speed up the download up to 12 times by creating multiple connections to the server.

This isn’t the only download feature, you can also download any YouTube video to MP4 format or convert it to MP3 right from the browser.

This is a simple browser, but it offers a couple of unique features, so you might want to consider it.

Other useful features:

• Instant photo framing and upload
• One-click Facebook integration
• Web page and text translation
• Weather forecast

⇒ Get Slim Browser

Which low-resource browsers are the fastest?

To answer this question, our team of testers has downloaded and installed all of the browsers we will cover in this article.

Each browser variant has been benchmarked using the Base Mark Web 3.0 test while using the same system, with the same configuration and number of running programs.

To understand the results, a higher score value implies better browsing speeds for the browsers presented below.

At the top of our list, we have UR Browser with a benchmark score of 1413.48, making it the fastest browser for all PCs and an excellent option for low-specced PCs worldwide.

Following close behind, we have Opera One with a score of 835.6, making it the second-fastest browser for PCs with low system resources.

Even though this browser was slower than UR Browser in our benchmark tests, it makes up tenfold by offering many unique features and customization options.

As you can see, two of the browsers could not be tested as the others. In the case of Midori, our testers have tried installing the browser on multiple devices.

Unfortunately, even though it installs, it doesn’t run at all, even with modified compatibility properties.

Regarding Lunascape Orion, even though the browser could be installed without issues, no benchmark tests could be run, as the Base Mark 3.0 test could not start.

Another essential factor to consider is your PC optimization, which can also increase the usability of all apps, including the browser.

What browser uses the least RAM?

Opera One takes the cake and has proven to have the least impact on your resources. If you’re wondering which browser is best for 1GB RAM, you’ll be pleased to know that it only uses around 600MB.

As we all know by now, not all browsers are built, work, or have the same capabilities, so understanding the intricacies of all these software options will allow you to make an informed decision.

One of the most impactful elements when it comes to using a browser on an older PC is the amount of CPU and RAM needed in order for the specific browser to run optimally.

The tests that we concluded were made using the same laptop while also playing the same youtube video at the same quality (720p).

Here are the results:

As you can see from the tests we performed, the browser which stands out with the most negligible impact on system resources is Opera One, using only 0.7 to 2.0% of the CPU and around 600MB.

This makes it the best browser for 1GB RAM PCs. It’s also the best browser for 2GB RAM PCs, for that matter.

In the same idea, this browser will also perform perfectly and offer you greater browsing speeds on a 4GB RAM system as well, making it the best browser for 4GB RAM laptops and PCs.

Close behind we have UR Browser that uses 0.8-2.0 % of the CPU’s power, and 650MB memory usage. This option could be fit to run on a 1GB RAM PC but loses in front of Opera One because of the security and stability differences.

The rest of the browsers, even if some are more lightweight than others, have shown varied results, so the decision might come down to the exact circumstances you find yourself in.

Taking the system usage data for each of these browsers and combining this information with the results of the benchmark tests, we can come to a set of very specific conclusions:

How can I improve my computer’s performance?

The exact answer to this question will depend on what operating system you have installed at the moment, but we will try to answer it in a more general manner.

➡ Clean up any software you don’t use

You can perform this action either by using specialized uninstaller software or by following the steps mentioned below to do it manually.

It is worth noting that these steps are for Windows 10, but they apply to most OSs.

1. Click Start and open the Control Panel by searching for it.
2. Choose Programs and Features from the list of options.
3. Scroll through the programs list and identify the ones that you don’t need.
4. Click on each of them and choose Uninstall.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

➡ Optimize your HDD

Optimizing your HDD will most certainly improve your PC’s speed, but don’t expect wonders to happen if the hardware capabilities are very limited.

By performing this step, an improvement of 3-4% is possible, with the rate increasing exponentially if your hardware is more capable.

➡ Upgrade your PC’s hardware

Even though this might seem like an obvious step, upgrading your PC with new components will play the biggest role when trying to optimize your PC’s speed.

A few elements you need to consider here include the following:

• Your PC’s motherboard capabilities

In case your PC is very outdated, then it will imply that the motherboard installed on your PC will not be capable of handling any new hardware, or, that it will only allow for a slight improvement.

Because the motherboard is the base on which your PC components interact and work, having a capable one makes a huge difference, both in terms of short-term and long-term usability.

If you find that your PC’s motherboard is not updated enough to help you build your PC for greater speeds, then the safest bet is to invest in a motherboard that allows for greater improvements.

In case your motherboard is capable enough, then following the next steps will prove helpful.

• Hardware compatibility

If now you have a newer version motherboard or if you found that it allows worthy improvements, then the next thing to consider is the new hardware compatibility with your PC’s base.

In the same way, not all motherboards are built the same, other computer hardware is the same. Some GPUs might work with your motherboard, and some won’t.

For this reason, it is recommended that before investing in a good CPU, you make sure that your motherboard can use it.

The same principles apply if you decide to invest in a GPU, Rapid Access Memory (RAM), or even HDD.

• Cost of improvements

When planning to upgrade your PC, and moved on from the first two elements mentioned above, you will need to consider what the overall cost of this improvement will be.

Are the improvements it will bring to the table worth it? If not, you might consider saving some money and investing later on in a new PC altogether.

In most cases, it is better to buy a new system and gradually build upon it, than to try and rebuild an outdated PC from scratch.

How do I update my browser on an old computer?

Assuming that your old computer is still running well enough to open and run the version of Windows it has installed, the answer to this question will come down to what browser you’re using.

As you might expect, we can not cover the exact steps for each of the browsers available on the market, but here are some useful tips to use in case your browser can not be found in the list above:

• Verify the Help, Settings, and About sections inside your browser. The update option is usually located here.
• If none of these options are available, check for the Update or Upgrade options inside the main menu.
• If none of the above-mentioned options are available, visit the official browser webpage for more information on this topic.

What are some old browsers that still work?

No matter if it’s out of curiosity and nostalgia, or if you simply want to use an older version of the browser on your system, here are some of the oldest browsers that still work:

• AOL Explorer
• Flock
• GreenBrowser
• Internet Explorer
• K-Meleon
• Maxthon
• Netscape Navigator

As you can see, not all of these options are included in our main list, as we made sure to choose the best options available.

Best browser for Windows XP

Tip

It is not safe to use the Windows XP operating system, as it hasn’t received any security patches since April 2014. Please make sure to upgrade your OS to a newer version of Windows as soon as possible.

Choosing the right browser for an operating system as old as Windows XP can be a tricky task, as most software developers have moved on from creating software that is compatible with this OS.

Using the built-in Internet Explorer browser should be avoided at all costs, as it can become a major security breach.

Added to that, in order to run other browsers on Windows XP, you will have two main options to choose from:

• Slimjet version 10
• Vivaldi version 1.0
• Firefox 43.0.1 for 32-bit XP
• Firefox 43.0.1 for 64-bit XP
• Mypal Browser
• K-Meleon 75

It would be recommended that you try both options and choose the one that fits your needs best.

Best browser for Windows Vista

Having a good browser for Windows Vista will impact your online experience tremendously, no matter what OS you are using.

This principle applies even more when talking about older OS versions, as compatibility and even security issues may arise as a result.

• Firefox 52.9 ESR
• Internet Explorer 9
• Google Chrome 49

These versions of the software should run on Windows Vista without any issues.

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