Looking for a light, open-source browser with ad blocking switched on from the start? Falkon, the KDE browser formerly known as QupZilla, renders pages with QtWebEngine (Chromium-based) and adds an RSS reader, sidebars and a password manager. KDE now develops it mainly for Linux; the last Windows build is version 3.1.0 from 2019.
Move between tabs, bookmarks, and history
Falkon keeps common browsing controls in a traditional tabbed interface. Open separate pages in tabs, save frequently visited sites as bookmarks, and revisit pages through browsing history. Bookmarks and history can also be opened in sidebars, keeping those lists close while a page remains on screen.
Pages render with QtWebEngine, the Chromium engine packaged for Qt.
Read feeds and manage page content
The included RSS reader brings feed reading into Falkon. Follow feeds alongside ordinary browsing without switching to a separate reader. For page controls, AdBlock is built in and enabled by default, and Click2Flash can block Flash content.
- Use the SSL manager to edit the local certificate authority database.
- Keep saved passwords in Falkon’s included password manager.
Change Falkon's appearance and add extensions
Choose a theme to change the browser’s appearance, or add available extensions to adapt its features. On Plasma desktops, Falkon follows Plasma’s theme preferences. On Windows it uses its own bundled themes.
Pros
- Built-in RSS reader keeps feed reading inside Falkon
- Bookmarks and history are available in sidebars
- AdBlock and Click2Flash handle page content inside the browser
- SSL manager lets you edit the local CA certificate database
Cons
- Windows version no longer updated since 2019
- Few extensions compared with Chrome or Firefox
System requirements: 32-bit and 64-bit
Is Falkon the same as QupZilla?
Yes. QupZilla joined KDE in 2017 and was renamed Falkon.
Is the Windows version up to date?
No. Windows builds stopped at 3.1.0 in 2019, so its Chromium engine is several years old; newer releases target Linux.
Does Falkon block ads?
Yes. AdBlock is built in and enabled by default.