Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Browsh VS W3M

Compare Browsh VS W3M and see what are their differences

Browsh logo Browsh

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

W3M logo W3M

w3m is a text-based web browser as well as a pager like ' ...
  • Browsh Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-04
  • W3M Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-06-22

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.

W3M features and specs

  • Lightweight
    W3M is a lightweight browser, making it suitable for systems with minimal resources, and performs well even on older hardware.
  • Text-based
    As a text-based browser, W3M is useful for accessing web content via command-line interfaces, which can be beneficial for users who prefer non-GUI environments.
  • Fast Performance
    Due to its minimalistic design, W3M provides fast browsing experiences, especially when handling simple webpages or when operating over slow connections.
  • Keyboard Navigation
    W3M allows efficient browsing using keyboard shortcuts, which can enhance productivity for users who master these controls.
  • Inline Image Support
    W3M supports the display of inline images when combined with certain terminal emulators, offering better multimedia support compared to some other text-based browsers.

Possible disadvantages of W3M

  • Limited Modern Web Support
    W3M struggles with rendering complex websites that rely heavily on JavaScript and modern web technologies, limiting its usability on many current sites.
  • User Interface
    The text-based user interface can be difficult for new users to adapt to, especially those accustomed to graphical web browsers.
  • Limited Interactivity
    Due to its text-based nature, W3M has limited support for interactive web features, which can impede full functionality on interactive pages.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    The reliance on keyboard shortcuts and the lack of a GUI can present a steep learning curve for new users who are not familiar with text-based navigation.
  • Dependency on Terminal
    W3M requires a terminal interface, which might not be as appealing or accessible for users used to graphical environments.

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]

W3M videos

Terminal-based Web Browsing with w3m - Lunduke Show

More videos:

  • Review - nVLC Browser Extension for W3M - Linux TUI
  • Review - w3m-img -- View Images in the Console - Linux CLI

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Browsh and W3M)
Web Browsers
45 45%
55% 55
Rental Property Management
Automation
51 51%
49% 49
Home Improvement
54 54%
46% 46

User comments

Share your experience with using Browsh and W3M. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Browsh might be a bit more popular than W3M. We know about 13 links to it since March 2021 and only 10 links to W3M. 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

W3M mentions (10)

  • dnf update is downloading ImageMagick?
    [code]Installed Packages Name : w3m-img Version : 0.5.3 Release : 57.git20220429.fc37 Architecture : x86_64 Size : 32 k Source : w3m-0.5.3-57.git20220429.fc37.src.rpm Repository : @System From repo : fedora Summary : Helper program to display the inline images for w3m URL : http://w3m.sourceforge.net/ License : MIT and UCD Description : w3m-img package... Source: over 2 years ago
  • Setting up lynx
    You should check w3m http://w3m.sourceforge.net/. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • The sad truth
    Try http://w3m.sourceforge.net some day. :). Source: about 3 years ago
  • w3m rocks
    Does anyone have a chart/rundown of why we should choose links/lynx/w3m? The old main page calls links / lynx "neighbors"... http://w3m.sourceforge.net/ I use links (gentoo user here), but I do not really see a huge difference between the three. - Source: Hacker News / about 3 years ago
  • Is Firefox the only alternative to all the chromium-based browsers?
    Lynx is pretty good, but I personally like w3m. Source: over 3 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Browsh and W3M, you can also consider the following products

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.

ELinks - ELinks - Full-Featured Text WWW Browser

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

Brave - Fast and secure, ad and tracker blocking browser.