Falkon
Falkon, formerly QupZilla, is a QtWebEngine based cross-platform web browser.
It aims to be a lightweight web browser available through all major platforms.
Falkon has all standard functions you expect from a web browser. It includes bookmarks, history (both also in sidebar).
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application type
Germany
EUPlatforms
- Linux
- KDE Plasma
- Flathub
- Haiku
- Snapcraft
Features
Properties
- Lightweight
- Privacy focused
Features
- Built-in Ad-blocker
- Based on QTWebEngine
- Cross-Platform
- Speed dial
- Portable
- Fast speed
- Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
- Built-in RSS reader
- Multiple languages
Falkon News & Activities
Recent News
- POX published news article about KDE Plasma
KDE Gear 25.12 brings enhancements to Itinerary, Dolphin, Kate, Photos and other KDE appsKDE Gear 25.12 is now available, introducing a series of new features and improvements across the K...
- Maoholguin published news article about KDE Plasma
KDE Gear 24.08 released: major enhancements across Dolphin, Konsole, Kdenlive, and moreThe KDE Project has announced the release of KDE Gear 24.08, the latest stable version of its open-...
Recent activities
POX added Falkon as alternative to Glide Browser
sebastianpaczoski added Falkon as alternative to Wave Browser- sebastianpaczoski updated Falkon
klim added Falkon as alternative to Ora Browser- zawius liked Falkon
UniqueGo added Falkon as alternative to Norton Private Browser- HumanistAtypik liked Falkon
POX added Falkon as alternative to Nook Browser- babsors liked Falkon
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What is Falkon?
Falkon, formerly QupZilla, is a QtWebEngine based cross-platform web browser.
It aims to be a lightweight web browser available through all major platforms.
Falkon has all standard functions you expect from a web browser. It includes bookmarks, history (both also in sidebar) and tabs. Above that, it has by default enabled blocking ads with a built-in AdBlock plugin.
During the Akademy 2017 Konqueror BoF, the ex-maintainer of 
Konqueror , David Faure, proposed to integrate QupZilla into KDE in order to replace the aging Konqueror. His reasoning is that QupZilla is already much more advanced in terms of webbrowsing features, and there is almost nobody working in Konqueror, so there is no point in duplicating efforts.
Comments and Reviews
Falkon is very lightweight and runs quickly. If I need to quickly load a webpage, I run it through Falkon. However, if you're looking for in-depth customisation, such as through extensions, then Falkon doesn't have much in that regard. At least it comes with AdBlocker built in, and Greasemonkey, so if you're savvy with Greasemonkey scripts, then Falkon will do just fine for you.
KDE dropped their Windows version of Falkon, it was abandoned anyway.
There's a problem for Distro users too, this gets updated on average thrice a year and for a web browser that's not a good thing.
Source: https://www.falkon.org/download/#about-the-releases
It can still be gotten for Windows from Softonic.
@TBayAreaPat While you may find a way to download its installer, KDE no longer updates/maintains its Windows version. Its latest Windows version is 3.1 which is from Late Q1 of 2019. Source: https://download.kde.org/Attic/falkon/3.1/
Good balance of features and light weight for low-end hardware like the PineTab2 and virtual machines. More capable than NetSurf or Dillo, and faster than Firefox, Chrome, Vivaldi or Angelfish. It also runs well under LXQt, which I like to use on that low-spec hardware.
Downsides: No support for Chromium extensions, and the Falkon extension pool is small. No support for external password managers, but works with auto-type. No bookmark sync, but you can send pages from your phone to the desktop using KDE Connect if Falkon is your default browser.
It is by far the fastest and simplest browser i've come across so far. While it currently doesn't provide many useful extensions, it is still delivered with a built-in AdBlocker that does a wonderful job. A favourite for old and slow computers !
For Windows, you cannot install chrome extensions. To run Falkon on windows, you will require Visual C++ Redistributable Packages for Visual Studio 2013. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=40784 https://falkon.en.softonic.com . Installation is glitchy. Says to click Install then it tells you it's already running.. Click ok despite the message about cancelling . I miss Adguard or Ublock Origin. Adblock just doesn't cut it for me. (no chrome extensions)
it's lightweight and simple
Love Falkon and it is alive again!!! After 3.1 update in March 2019 no more updates came but 3.2 released January 2022 so it is 'officially' active again. Despite being under KDE project, it works with all distros/GUIs of Linux and also Windows back to Win7. It is not specific to KDE.
I use it as my testing and sandboxing web browser. Ensures items stay separated and has always provided functionality necessary.
It is also the best lightweight browser I found that can provide access to net without sacrificing much, maintaining security, and very light on resources. If you have a device that is older and resource hog browser is the lone item making it unbearable, this is the solution to that. On older devices I run this and only open the 'normal' browsers when I have to. I already extend out device life to 10 yearish mark. Even dozen years old with Ubuntu on Gnome 3.3x and using Falkon instead of other browsers as able, devices can hit 12-15 year mark easily (this written during ubuntu 20.04, 22.04 ltsr releasing in few weeks) those older devices cannot handle kde even so falkon maybe even more useful in keeping devices running.
If more people knew about Falkon, it could help cut down on e-waste, seriously. Many people could get another year of use of their device with hardly any pain-point if they just had a lightweight browser like Falkon. I have a family member that uses a 10 year old device over school device they provided to them that is less than 3 years old simply because of bloated build, which is cycled out, paid from tax money, create waste ....
Software like Falkon can be server far greater purposes than 'just a lightweight browser'.