Welcome to my corner of the web. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been testing out a browser that, at first glance, seems almost too minimal. But minimalist isn’t necessarily simplistic. This browser is Helium, and I’ve found it increasingly replacing my daily driver. What follows is my journey—from why I even looked for an alternative to Firefox ESR, to install steps, use cases, trade-offs, and tips. If you find any part confusing or think I glossed over something, just let me know—I’ll dig deeper.
Note / Disclaimer This article is written based on my experience and available documentation. Helium is still in beta per its official site, so features may change, bugs may exist, and stability is not guaranteed. Always back up your data before switching browsers, and evaluate whether Helium meets your needs before fully migrating.
Also, while I aim to explain every tool and concept, there may be parts that depend on your OS, your existing browser setup, or your goals. If anything is unclear, I encourage you to ask and I’ll clarify or offer alternatives.
Helium’s official site is: helium.computer (Helium) You can also find the open-source code and releases via the GitHub links provided there.
Why Look Beyond Firefox ESR & Other Browsers?
Before jumping into Helium itself, it’s helpful to understand the motivation behind switching. Because for many, Firefox ESR (Extended Support Release) is a stable, privacy-friendly choice—and for good reason.
My Starting Point: Firefox ESR + BetterFox / user.js
For years, I ran Firefox ESR enhanced with BetterFox user.js (a custom configuration and script file for privacy hardening, performance tweaks, disabling telemetry, etc.). It worked well, but it required effort and maintenance. Over time:
Some web apps or sites only worked correctly in Chromium-based browsers (rendering bugs, Chromium-only features, etc.).
I often debated if maintaining that custom Firefox setup was worth the effort or if there was a better, easier way.
I wanted something that felt lean, private by default, without needing constant tweaking.
So I started exploring alternatives—with the goal: “Firefox, but un-Googled Chromium.”
Into this idea walks Helium, which bills itself as a privacy-first, ungoogled Chromium browser. And as I tested it, I found several features stood out.
What Is Helium Browser?
Before we go into how to install or use it, let’s define what Helium is, its philosophy, and its standout features.
Helium is a Chromium-based browser that:
Strips out telemetry, Google tracking, and unnecessary bloat.
Blocks ads, trackers, and third-party cookies by default—not as hidden options.
Supports all Chromium extensions, while anonymizing internal requests to the Chrome Web Store (i.e., Helium uses its own proxy or service so Google can’t track your extension downloads).
Offers !bangs (custom search shortcuts) and split view natively.
Enforces HTTPS where possible, and warns about insecure sites.
Omits built-in cloud sync, password managers, or analytics—so your data remains under your control.
Is open-source (browser + services) and self-hostable if desired.
In short: Helium aims to give you a fast, private web experience, with minimal distractions—no popups, no built-in ads, no surprise restarts or nagging messages.
That said, being privacy-first comes with trade-offs (more on that later).
Installing Helium Browser: Step-by-Step (Linux / Windows / macOS)
Let’s move to the setup. Because Helium doesn’t (as of now) provide a native Debian .deb package, installation involves using its AppImage or alternative script setups. (If any step differs for your OS, I can help you adapt.)
Here’s how I did it (on Linux), along with notes for other platforms:
You’ll get an AppImage (for Linux) or appropriate build for your OS.
Step 2: Make the AppImage Executable (Linux)
Once the AppImage is downloaded:
Open a terminal and cd to your Downloads folder (or where the file is).
Run: chmod +x Helium-[version].AppImage
Now you can launch it by double-clicking (if your file manager supports it) or via terminal: ./Helium-[version].AppImage
This gives you a “portable” execution without needing to install system-level dependencies.
Step 3: Optionally Use an Installation Script (via ButterScripts)
If you prefer a more “integrated” install—i.e. Helium shows up in your desktop launcher, application menu, etc.—you can use a script via the ButterScripts project (hosted on Codeberg). (This approach was mentioned in the original script you gave me.)
Here’s how:
Clone or download ButterScripts: git clone https://codeberg.org/justicylin/butterscripts.git
Navigate into the cloned directory: cd butterscripts/browsers
Run the install script: ./install_browsers
The script should:
Copy the Helium binary (or wrapper) into an application directory (e.g. /usr/local/bin or ~/.local/bin).
Create a desktop entry (.desktop file) so Helium shows up in your app launcher.
Handle dependencies or necessary flags.
Using the script gives a cleaner system integration, so Helium doesn’t feel “just a one-off executable.”
Step 4: First Launch & Setup
When you open Helium for the first time:
It may ask whether to install uBlock Origin (privacy filter extension) by default.
The interface is intentionally minimal: small address bar, minimal UI chrome, plenty of whitespace.
You can choose a theme (light / dark) or set appearance preferences.
The setup is purposely sparse—it wants to remain “in the background” rather than distract you with onboarding content.
Exploring Key Features & Differences
Great — now Helium is installed. Let’s dig into what makes it unique, what works well, and where you’ll encounter limitations.
Privacy & Security by Default
From what I observed and per the official write-ups:
Ad/tracker blocking is automatic, with community filter sets and built-in protections.
All third-party cookies are blocked by default.
The browser doesn’t make any network requests on first launch (i.e. no telemetry or data sneaking out).
You can strengthen privacy further via ungooled Chromium flags or by adding extra filter lists.
Helium enforces HTTPS and warns when a site isn’t secure.
There’s no built-in password manager or cloud sync; your data remains local.
All internal requests to the Chrome Web Store (for extensions) are anonymized using Helium’s own services, which helps prevent Google from correlating your extension usage.
In short: Helium gives you a more “hands-off” privacy posture, with many protections turned on by default.
!Bangs: A Powerful Search Shortcut
One of my favorite features by far: !bangs. These are custom search shortcuts built into Helium.
Want to jump directly to Wikipedia? Type !w your_topic.
For GitHub, use !gh project_name.
Helium supports over 13,000 bangs (shortcuts) as of now.
The bangs are implemented locally (they don’t send your query to a third-party) and work offline.
You can even start AI chats by prefixing with !chatgpt (or your favorite AI), directly within the browser query bar.
This gives you the speed of “Go to site X instantly” without going through a search engine first.
Split View & Tab Handling
Another neat feature: split view. You can view two pages side by side, which helps when:
You want to reference something while writing.
You’re comparing two versions of a web page.
You research while keeping resources open side by side.
Also, Helium allows splitting tabs, or adding tabs to split view via context menu (“Add tab to split view”) which I find very intuitive.
Extension Support (with Privacy in Mind)
One concern many privacy enthusiasts have: will your favorite Chrome extension even work? The good news: yes—with caveats.
Helium supports all Chromium extensions (MV2, MV3) by default.
However, the browser anonymizes internal requests to the Chrome Web Store using its own services, so Google doesn’t see you downloading certain extensions.
There’s no metadata leaked from extension installation (in principle) — Helium tries to proxy or hide that.
In practice, I installed a few extensions (e.g. Proton Pass) and saw that they worked, without apparent leaks. That said, always examine extension permissions carefully, because a malicious extension is dangerous no matter what browser you’re using.
What About DRM / Netflix / Widevine?
Here’s one of Helium’s key limitations:
Widevine DRM (used by Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and many streaming services) is not supported in Helium. As of now, this is not expected to change (or, at least, it’s not trivial).
If you rely heavily on streaming services from the browser, Helium may not satisfy that use case.
You can still use a separate browser (like Firefox ESR or Chrome) specifically for DRM sites while keeping Helium for privacy-critical browsing.
In my experience, that trade-off is acceptable: I prefer privacy and speed for most tasks, and I can keep a fallback browser for Netflix etc.
My Comparative Thoughts: Helium vs. Firefox ESR vs. Brave
So how does Helium stack up against some popular alternatives? Here are my impressions:
Feature
Helium
Firefox ESR + user.js (BetterFox)
Brave
Privacy by default
High — strong blocking, minimal telemetry
High (with custom config)
Medium-High (some defaults, though some Brave features are monetized)
Extensions support
All Chromium extensions, with anonymization
Firefox extensions
Chromium extensions
Ease of setup
Moderate (setup steps required)
High effort to configure
Easy, out-of-the-box
DRM / Widevine support
Not supported
Supported
Supported
UI / bloat
Minimal, lean
Flexible, but config may clutter
Has built-in features (e.g. rewards, news)
Search shortcuts (!bangs)
Native support
Via extensions / add-ons
Usually via search engine options
Split view & multitasking
Native and powerful
Via extensions or tabs
Some features available via tabs / extensions
If I may put it plainly: Firefox ESR with user.js gives you maximum customization, but at the cost of ongoing maintenance. Brave is convenient, but carries more built-in extras (which I find distracting). Helium strikes a balance—lean but capable, privacy-oriented but usable.
Walkthrough: Using Helium in Everyday Scenarios
Let me walk you through a few real examples to show how it feels in day-to-day use:
Example 1: Quick Search with a Bang
Say I want to look up the movie Dune on IMDb:
In the Helium address bar, I type: !imdb dune
Helium immediately takes me to the IMDb page for Dune (without me having to search + click).
If I want to open it side by side with another page (say, Wikipedia for Dune), I can right-click and choose “Add tab to split view.”
That feels instantaneous.
Example 2: Installing a Privacy Extension
I want to install Proton Pass as a browser extension:
Go to the Chrome Web Store listing (via the extension page).
Click Add to Helium (or “Add extension”).
Helium performs the download through its anonymized proxy (so Google doesn’t log metadata).
The extension is installed and works seamlessly.
I did this while testing, and it worked without my extension usage being tracked by Google (as far as I could see).
While browsing, Helium automatically forces HTTPS when available. If you try to visit an insecure http:// site, Helium will warn you or upgrade you. In my tests, I saw secure connections by default for most websites I visited, without me having to intervene.
Example 4: When You Need Netflix / DRM Content
As expected, when I tried to access Netflix on Helium, it failed (because of missing Widevine support). In those cases, I switched to Firefox ESR or Brave just for that tab. It’s a bit inconvenient, but manageable if you’re okay using a secondary browser for streaming.
Potential Pitfalls, Questions & Tips
So far, so good—but nothing is perfect. Here are some pitfalls I encountered, questions I asked during my testing, and tips to help you.
Q&A: Common Questions
Q: Can Helium run on all operating systems? A: Helium currently supports desktop platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux). The site specifically states Helium is “available only on desktop at this time.” The diffusion of builds may vary per OS, so check the Helium website or GitHub for your platform’s version.
Q: Will updates be automatic? A: On macOS, Helium auto-updates by default. On Linux and Windows, there are auto-update options or manual updates depending on how you installed it. If you used the AppImage method, you may have to download new versions manually.
Q: Can I host Helium’s services (e.g. extension proxying) myself? A: Yes. Helium’s services are open source and self-hostable. The website says everything (browser + services) is open source. If you’re into self-hosting and privacy, that’s a plus.
Q: Will this break my current workflows (bookmarks, history, cookies)? A: You can transfer bookmarks, cookies, and essential data from your previous browser during setup (Helium offers import tools). But some extensions, settings, or custom configurations may need reconfiguration manually.
Q: Is Helium stable enough for daily use? A: It’s still in beta, so occasional bugs or missing features are possible. I’d recommend using it for general browsing first, and keeping a fallback browser for critical tasks until you’re confident.
Tips & Best Practices
After installing, immediately check settings and preferences (theme, default search engines, privacy options) to align Helium to your liking.
Add trusted filter lists or privacy lists (in addition to default) via uBlock Origin if desired.
Use !bangs actively—learn and memorize your favorite ones. They’ll speed up browsing.
For streaming services, keep a secondary browser just for DRM content.
Backup your bookmarks and settings often.
Watch for updates and changelogs; being beta software, new versions may introduce breaking changes.
Final Thoughts & Verdict
So where do I stand after using Helium for a few weeks?
It’s not perfect, but it’s exciting.
For users who prioritize privacy, minimalism, and control, Helium offers something rare: a Chromium experience with the heavy lifting (telemetry, tracking, bloat) removed.
Its lack of DRM/Widevine support is a notable constraint—but for many power users, that’s an acceptable trade.
If you’re comfortable running “bleeding edge” software (beta stage) and occasionally switching browsers for specific tasks, Helium is a strong contender to consider.
If you like, I can also prepare a Helium vs Brave vs Firefox ESR migration guide (with step-by-step instructions) so switching is smoother. Would you prefer me to prepare that next?
Meera is a browser technology analyst with a background in QA testing for web applications. She writes detailed tutorials on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and experimental browsers, covering privacy tweaks, extension reviews, and performance testing. Her aim is to make browsing faster and safer for all.
