CNET Editors' review
Chromium is a sleek, lightweight browser that provides an efficient browsing experience with no unnecessary clutter. We've always been Firefox loyalists ourselves, but Chromium impressed us quite a bit.
To the uninitiated, Chromium's interface may seem rather sparse. There aren't a lot of buttons, and we were momentarily confused by its lack of a search box. With a bit of exploration, though, we soon caught on. We easily imported our bookmarks and other settings from Firefox, allowing us to make a pretty seamless transition. We loved that the search box and address bar are combined into one space; they worked surprisingly well that way. The fact that opening a new tab or window shows a grid of the user's most-visited Web sites is ingenious; getting to your favorite Web destinations has never been faster or easier. In fact, everything about Chromium is fast, from its start-up to the way it handles Web pages. The program's Help file directs users to Google's Chrome Web site, which is fine, as the programs are virtually identical.
Transitioning to a new browser always requires an adjustment period, but overall, we found Chromium to be quite intuitive and pleasurable to use. We didn't have to do a lot of searching for the features that we wanted and, even though it's relatively no-frills, we didn't find ourselves missing anything. Chromium is free. It comes as a zip file and runs after extraction with no need to install. We highly recommend this program to all users.
Publisher's Description
From Free-chrome:
Chromium is an open-source browser project that provides a safer, faster, and more stable way for all Internet users to experience the web. Google's browser Chrome, is built from the Chromium source code, so Chromium has many of the features that make Google Chrome so great, separate processes for each window, the omnibar, the Task Manager, and incognito browsing but none of the hassles like Google's Update Utility or an EULA.
Chromium is in the Web Browsers category of the Browsers section.
What's new in this version: Now includes Browser Extensions, Browser Themes, and new Privacy Features.
More Products to Consider
- Explore the Web using Google's super-fast browser.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Browse Internet using browser's integrating Cloud technologies.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Surf the Web with browser with automatic form filler, popup blo...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Surf the Web comfortably, relying on speed, safety, and power o...Download
Installed
Smart Install - View Flash multimedia content through your browser.Visit Site
This download is served from an external site
closeNOTICE: This link will open a connection to a third-party site. CNET cannot ensure the security of software that is hosted on external sites.
Sponsored Products
- Browse Web pages in a fast chrome based browser.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Run Java applications on your Windows computer.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Provide a versatile technology browser with high level of secur...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Run Java applications on your Windows computer.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Try the faster browser that lets you get the most from today's ...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Collect and display in-depth HTTP information.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Collect and display in-depth HTTP information.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Take your bookmarks, surf internet, and experience the private ...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Take control of system Registry entries.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Browse, like, and comment on all photos of your friends.Visit Site
This download is served from an external site
closeNOTICE: This link will open a connection to a third-party site. CNET cannot ensure the security of software that is hosted on external sites.
Sponsored Products
- Search the Internet and write in a text editor at the same time...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Edit and modify files in plain-text format.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Browse internet in a safe and secure way.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Manage processes, startup, services, remove Trojans, and speed ...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Download video from YouTube, Metacafe, Vimeo, Facebok and other...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Browse internet in a safe and secure way.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Manage processes, startup, services, remove Trojans, and speed ...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Review browser history to determine what Web sites have been vi...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Get motorcycle reviews, pricing, aggregates and related ads.Visit Site
This download is served from an external site
closeNOTICE: This link will open a connection to a third-party site. CNET cannot ensure the security of software that is hosted on external sites.
Sponsored Products
-
All versions:
3.3 starsout of 27 votes
-
Current version:
3.2 starsout of 25 votes
-
My rating:
Write review
-
"Good , just outdated version"
Version: Chromium 5.0.375.127
Pros
Fast , safe & reliable
Cons
Outdated version
-
"This ain't 1990"
Version: Chromium 5.0.375.127
Pros
Well, I guess I quickly was able to determine that it's a total piece of crap.
Cons
No installer
Summary
This ain't 1990 and it's not Linux. If you don't have an installer it better be a beta and you better be giving it exclusively to geeks, not on CNET. This is ridiculous. As far as I can tell no version of Chromium has an installer and while I am aware of how to handle this it shows a blatant lack of attention to details. I will not install something that's decades behind the competition. You guys asked in your reviews why people give this piece of crap a bad review? It's because the developers clearly do not give a crap about their product or at least how it appears and the user experience. Look, if you want a powerful web browser that has all of the features of Chrome (because Google stole them all) then use Opera. It's fast, it won't steal your private information, oh, and IT HAS A FRIGGIN INSTALLER!
-
"not as good as promised/expected"
Version: Chromium 5.0.375.127
Pros
It is quick (like Chrome)
Cons
It has much fewer possibilities than Chrome and STILL (unlike it was promised) opens many chrome processes, which take much needed space. Since Chrome was doing the same, I switched to Chromium - and with time it gradually started behaving like Chrome. By now, I do not see any advantage it it (it was supposed to be "lite") and I do see drawbacks.
Summary
If you liked Chrome, stay with it. There is no gain in switching to Chromium (though I did not test how much memory each of the two takes....)
-
"cnet is not giving latest version"
Version: Chromium 5.0.375.127
Pros
fastest of all, features more than others (that u can get through extensions), lightweight than Google Chrome, open source
Cons
takes more space as compared to Opera, Safari, Sea Monkey and speed difference is not very great
Summary
you should really get this. better than mozilla. however, if u feel its taking to much space (73 MB) download opera (34 MB).
LATEST VERSION is on softpedia. write 'download chromium browser' and you can get 19th or even newer version -
"Great when it works"
Version: Chromium 5.0.375.127
Pros
Works, fast.
Cons
Buggy, constant issues with it. Has amazing potential but has got a long way to go. Still better than that Chrome garbage.
-
"Perfect browser, lots of advanced features :)"
Version: Chromium 5.0.375.127
Pros
Not many users know it, but Google Chrome is derived from Chromium. I don't understand why so many Chrome users give negative rating to Chromium. It is almost the same application.. Google just adds a few features (updater, flash player,.. and their logo).
There won't be any Google Chrome without Chromium Project.Cons
........:)
-
"I generally like Google products, this is no exception"
Version: Chromium 5.0.375.127
Pros
Very fast, seemingly stable at this time
Cons
None, so far
Summary
Over a period of time, I will be transitioning to Chromium and Chrome as my sole browser provider
-
"Love It on of the best"
Version: Chromium 5.0.375.127
Pros
Better than ever
Cons
cloud printer doesnt work on my windows phone 7
Summary
overall the best google i have used
-
"the original for google chrome"
Version: Chromium 5.0.375.127
Pros
speed, extentions like adblock and wot
bookmark barCons
nothing i can think of
Summary
best browser out there, though the download on this page is seriously outdated...
go to http://build.chromium.org/buildbot/snapshots/chromium-rel-xp/ for the latest build of chromium and see the browser before it becomes google chrome :) -
"great browser testing grounds"
Version: Chromium 5.0.375.127
Pros
fast and simple i had no crashes
Cons
not as stable as chrome since it is chrome's testing ground updates frequently in some instances causing issues with extensions but nothing major
Summary
good for testing out but not for stable uses just get Google chrome it is the polished out version of chromium i had no issues with flash on windows 7 like other had supported and im using 64-bit 7 hulu worked fine
Add Your Review
Submit your reply
E-mail this review
Report offensive content
See more CNET content tagged:
Previous Versions:





