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A web browser optimized for Windows for faster performance

A web browser optimized for Windows for faster performance

Vote: (133 votes)

Program license: Free

Developer: Pale Moon

Version: 31.3.1

Works under: Windows

Vote:

Program license

(133 votes)

Free

Developer

Version

Pale Moon

31.3.1

Works under:

Windows

Pros

  • Extremely fast
  • Lightweight
  • Supports older plugins that are obsolete in other browsers

Cons

  • Must be configured manually
  • May not always include the latest security updates

Pale Moon is an alternative open-source web browser that's based on the classic version of Firefox. It's designed to be extremely customizable without sacrificing anything in the way of support for older hardware. If you need a lightweight application that will allow you to stream videos and play games without overheating your CPU, then Pale Moon might be the best browser for you.

Those who deploy it on GNU/Linux PCs or Macintosh computers can copy their profiles over to the Windows version once they have it installed. Since Pale Moon is packaged like any other application, it shouldn't be difficult to get it up and running. Once you have the homepage up, you can toggle it as your default browser and all website links will automatically open in it afterwards.

Unlike most modern browsers, Pale Moon always runs in single-process mode and renders HTML code with the Goanna engine. It features the classic Firefox user interface along with a creative theme that's based around the animal concepts that Firefox got its name and icon from. Creative power users can even access an about:config screen, which allows them to further fine tune every single aspect of the software's interface.

Interestingly enough, Pale Moon defaults to using DuckDuckGo as its search engine, though users are free to select Bing or any other search engine that they'd prefer. Perhaps most interesting for gamers is the continued support for add-ons based on the XUL, XPCOM and NPAPI technologies. These were removed in most modern browsers, but they're important for those who play certain types of online games.

Pros

  • Extremely fast
  • Lightweight
  • Supports older plugins that are obsolete in other browsers

Cons

  • Must be configured manually
  • May not always include the latest security updates