Thorium Browser Review: Is it Worth the Download?

In the quest to find a browser that meets all your needs, we tried out the Thorium browser and bring you our unadulterated review.

What are the main features of the Thorium browser?

Overview of Thorium Browser

Thorium is an open-source browser which makes its source code open to the general public. Unlike proprietary browsers, users have to wait for developers to release updates if there are any bugs or glitches.

It is also based on Chromium so you can be assured of getting core features with other like browsers only with the added advantage of modifying the source code.

User Interface

First impressions give a very Chrome-like appearance. Everything down from the launch page where you are to sign in and create an account with a browser profile. The default page has the web store pinned so you can get started with installing any extensions you may need.

You won’t need a tutorial on how to use it if you’re a Chrome user because all settings are similar.

Performance and speed

For context, I’m on Windows 11 Pro and the following are my hardware specs: 

• Processor – Intel Core i5 with 4 cores at 2.50GHz speed (not overclocked)
• RAM – 8GB
• GPU – Intel
• PC model – Lenovo

Other notable factors that may play a part include internet speed and mine is at 23 and 24 for download and upload speed respectively.

I put the Thorium browser to test in comparison to Chrome to load two sites; WindowsReport and YouTube. WindowsReport took 2-3 seconds to load on Thorium while on Chrome it was almost instant.

While the response time was fairly fast, it did lag a bit behind Chrome. As for performance, Thorium had a higher CPU consumption. This is despite having two separate Chrome profiles with multiple tabs open on both.

My Chrome profiles also have a few extensions while Thorium only has the pre-installed ones; uBlock and Google Docs offline. This means the introduction of add-ons could potentially strain its resources even more and make the browser a CPU hogger.

On memory consumption, Thorium was surprisingly low which implies it’s built for efficient memory management. On the downside, the load time for websites could be slow because of this but other than that, navigation even on graphic-intensive sites was smooth.

If you have a problem with the load time, Thorium also has the memory saver option which frees up memory from inactive tabs and enable faster load times. For frequently used sites, you can add them as an exception from memory saver.

Another tip to speed up the loading of pages is to enable the Preload pages feature.

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Security features

1. Safety check

If you regularly click on unknown links, you’ll be happy to know Thorium has a safety check feature. Regularly checking will scan for any viruses, or threats and ensure safe browsing.

2. Secure connections

Thorium has a HTTPS encryption feature that ensures your data is protected whenever you visit a site. Any data that is exchanged between the browser and the site you’re visiting will be encrypted preventing interception by cyber hackers.

3. Security keys

Since you can use Thorium browser on multiple devices, you can manage who uses your profile by using one of the signed devices. For instance, if you’re on a shared computer, you can choose one as a security key to remotely lock out unauthorized users and secure your privacy.

For more security features, we have compiled a list of browser security settings we think you should enable for all-rounded protection.

Privacy features

1. Secure DNS

Browsing exposes you to a myriad of internet attacks so Thorium makes it easier for you to hide your activity. With the secure DNS feature, you will be able to spoof the sites you visit and prevent hijacking attempts.

You’ll be able to maintain your privacy because any attempts of man-in-the-middle attacks will be difficult when the DNS data is encrypted.

2. App permissions

You’re in total control of the apps that you give permission to access your location, microphone, camera and any other tools. Any attempts to spy on you by third-party apps would require your exclusive permission.

Additional features

Other features worth mentioning include:

• Auto-verify – Most sites usually have a prompt asking you to verify that you’re not a robot. With Thorium’s auto-verify feature, it can help verify you’re a real person without your input making browsing more efficient and faster.
• V8 optimizer – This is a feature meant to optimize sites for improved performance.
• Customized fonts and spell check – You’re at liberty to change your font and size. You can also enable spell check to minimize grammatical mistakes.
• Import feature – If you have bookmarks and other settings you’d like to import from a different browser, you can easily do so within the Thorium browser.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Open source – As an open-source browser, Thorium prioritizes privacy and security features.
• Customizable – Aside from the ability to install extensions from the web store, you can also customize your browsing experience by beefing up security and enhancing the appearance.
• High-performance – Thorium has built-in features that enhance the speed and performance of the browser.
• Widely compatible – Thorium is compatible with older OSes. For instance, you can download Thorium on Windows 7. Also, since it is Chromium-based, it works well with multiple sites and web apps.
• Community support – Thorium is regularly getting updates because of a large community of developers because of its open-source nature. This makes bug fixes and improvements done in record time.

Cons

• Replica of Chrome – Thorium is a replica of Chrome and it is not a bad thing. However, it makes it another browser one would not be interested in because of too many similarities.
• Limited features – Although Thorium delivers a solid list of features, when compared to other browsers, it lags behind.
• CPU hogger – Thorium has a high CPU consumption which could make it extremely slow on older hardware.
• Chromium-based – When a browser is Chromium-based, it shares the good and bad side. For Thorium, it may suffer from high memory usage and instability issues which is the norm for most browsers based on Chromium.
• Complicated download process – Downloading Thorium browser is not as straightforward as getting it from the Microsoft Store. You’ll have to check for certain specifications but we have an easy download guide for Thorium browser.
• Compatibility issues – Although Thorium uses extensions from the Chrome web store, some may be limited in functionality because of some internal configurations.
• Late updates – Thorium does not receive browser updates regularly. This can expose it to vulnerabilities.

Since Thorium and Chrome share a lot, we made a side-by-side Thorium vs Chrome comparison so that you can make an informed decision.

Finally, if we were to give our final thoughts, we’d say Thorium is a good browser. If not for its security features, at least give it up to its dedicated privacy features. All in all, whatever you decide, ensure it meets your needs. After all, everyone has their preferences but just give it a spin before you bin it.

Have you tried the Thorium browser? What features stood out for you? Would you make it your default browser? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.