Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Browsh VS ELinks

Compare Browsh VS ELinks and see what are their differences

Browsh logo Browsh

A fully-modern text-based browser, rendering to TTY and browsers

ELinks logo ELinks

ELinks - Full-Featured Text WWW Browser
  • Browsh Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-04
  • ELinks Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-08-24

Browsh features and specs

  • Low Bandwidth Usage
    Browsh uses textual and minimal visual elements by rendering web pages in a text-based browser like Lynx, which reduces the bandwidth requirement significantly.
  • Compatibility with Modern Websites
    Unlike traditional text-based browsers, Browsh can handle modern web technologies like HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript, making it more adaptable to contemporary web standards.
  • Remote Access
    Browsh can be used over SSH, allowing users to browse the internet from a remote server, which is beneficial in accessing blocked content or when local internet is slow.
  • System Resources Efficiency
    Browsh primarily operates in a terminal, consuming fewer system resources compared to graphic-intensive web browsers, ideal for users on older hardware.
  • Privacy
    Running Browsh on a remote server can enhance user privacy by hiding the user's IP address and isolating sessions from the local machine.

Possible disadvantages of Browsh

  • Limited Visual Experience
    As Browsh primarily functions in a text-based environment, it lacks the full visual and interactive experience of a fully-featured graphical web browser.
  • Learning Curve
    Users may find navigating and understanding the terminal interface challenging, particularly for those unfamiliar with using command-line tools.
  • JavaScript Limitations
    Even though Browsh supports JavaScript, complex functionalities might not render as effectively as in graphic browsers, potentially impacting interactive web applications.
  • Limited Multimedia Support
    Multimedia content, like videos or animated graphics, may not display perfectly, limiting the user's ability to consume certain types of content.
  • Setup Complexity
    Setting up Browsh to work optimally, especially for remote access scenarios, can be more complex compared to regular web browsers, requiring some technical knowledge.

ELinks features and specs

  • Lightweight
    ELinks is a text-based browser, meaning it is lightweight and requires minimal system resources compared to graphical browsers. This makes it suitable for older systems or environments with limited resources.
  • Speed
    Due to its text-based nature, ELinks loads pages much faster than many graphical browsers, especially over slow internet connections.
  • Customizable
    ELinks supports various customization options, allowing users to modify keybindings, themes, and user interfaces to suit their preferences.
  • Security
    Running a text-based browser can provide an additional layer of security by avoiding some of the vulnerabilities associated with rendering complex web pages, scripts, or plugins that are common sources of exploits.
  • Scripting Support
    ELinks has support for scripting in languages such as Lua and Guile, allowing advanced users to automate tasks and enhance browser functionality.

Possible disadvantages of ELinks

  • Limited Multimedia Support
    Being a text-based browser, ELinks has limited support for multimedia content such as videos, animations, or interactive elements that rely heavily on JavaScript and CSS.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    ELinks can be challenging for new users due to its reliance on keyboard shortcuts and configuration files, which may be unfamiliar to those accustomed to graphical interfaces.
  • Compatibility Issues
    Some modern websites may not render correctly or be fully functional due to ELinks' limited support for advanced web technologies and dynamic content.
  • Lack of JavaScript Support
    ELinks does not support JavaScript in the way graphical browsers do, which can lead to incomplete loading or functionality of certain websites that rely heavily on JavaScript.
  • Limited User Base
    As a niche browser, ELinks has a smaller community and less extensive documentation, potentially making it difficult to find resources or support for uncommon issues.

Browsh videos

Browsh A Text based Browser that is Actually Pretty Good! | Odd Projects #2

More videos:

  • Review - Linux Fails on the Desktop, Plus Arch Malware and the Browsh Browser
  • Review - Linux Terminal Browser [Browsh]

ELinks videos

No ELinks videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Browsh and ELinks)
Web Browsers
62 62%
38% 38
Rental Property Management
Automation
65 65%
35% 35
Home Improvement
54 54%
46% 46

User comments

Share your experience with using Browsh and ELinks. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Browsh should be more popular than ELinks. It has been mentiond 13 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Browsh mentions (13)

  • This doesn’t sound right. Thoughts?
    Well I do also regularly make use of brow.sh expecially when I hit the slow hours of the internet. I just login to my old ssh sdf.org shell account and away I go. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Ask HN: Who wants to be hired? (November 2022)
    15 years experience. You may have seen my text-based modern browser, https://brow.sh, here on the front page a few times. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • Ask HN: Is it still possible to live in a terminal?
    You might be interested in https://brow.sh. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • Ask HN: Freelancer? Seeking freelancer? (May 2022)
    Some of you may know me from https://brow.sh `. - Source: Hacker News / about 3 years ago
  • [plugin] browse internet from neovim
    That looks really useful! It would be even nicer to see something like this, but integrated with brow.sh for those who prefer to stay on the terminal. Source: about 3 years ago
View more

ELinks mentions (7)

  • Ask HN: Interesting TUIs (text user interfaces), maybe forgotten ones?
    And elinks as well. It had better handling of page layout. http://elinks.or.cz/. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • MacLynx beta 4: now with scrollbars and dialogue boxes
    Thanks for mentioning elinks (http://elinks.or.cz/). I was about ¾ of the way through that article and thinking "as an academic exercise, sure. otherwise this just looks like 'its been done a thousand times before... But not by me.'" which was leading me to share the page for elinks. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • SW etc needed.
    Some text browser like elinks or a converter like pandoc. Hopefully you have Linux. :). Source: over 2 years ago
  • The what?
    Time to audit firefox code, compile it manually, application firewalls, full content inspections to avoid any private data leaking. Get stressed and move to elinks. Source: over 3 years ago
  • /etc/elinks.conf can't display images
    ELinks is a text browser (unmaintained since 2012) and according to your description the setting appears to be working just as described in the fine manual, i. e. The browser always displays the text "IMG" and not the filename, title, or alternate text when rendering tags. Source: almost 4 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Browsh and ELinks, you can also consider the following products

W3M - w3m is a text-based web browser as well as a pager like ' ...

Links - Links is a graphics and text mode web browser, released under GPL. Links is free software.

Lynx.invisible-island.net - Thomas Dickey is the maintainer/developer of the Lynx text-browser. This page gives some background and pointers to Lynx resources.

Lynx - One-Stop-Shop for Property Automation: Pre-Programmed Hardware, Installation, and Management Dashboard for Smart devices like Locks, Intercom, Noise, Thermostat. Guest Portal with your brand and ability to Upsell Services. "Real-time notifications".

Surfraw - Surfraw - Shell Users' Revolutionary Front Rage Against the Web

Lynxlet - Mac version of the Lynx web browser.