Browsers - Free Software Downloads and Software Reviews

Browsers

If you're looking for browsers or browser extensions, CNET Download.com has you covered. We feature all the latest versions of Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, and more, as well as Firefox extensions, Internet Explorer add-ons, even RSS readers. If you want to surf the Web, CNET Download.com is the place to start. See all 3,806 products in this category.

for the week of: November 16Downloads

1.
Adobe Reader
Other Browser Add-ons & Plugins127,426
2.
Mozilla Firefox
Web Browsers91,394
3.
Flash Player
Other Browser Add-ons & Plugins86,672
4.
RoboForm
Internet Explorer Add-ons & Plugins59,265
Memeo Share

Share photos and videos directly to the desktop.

Download Now
5.
RoboForm
Internet Explorer Add-ons & Plugins59,265
6.
Avant Browser
Web Browsers44,242
7.
Maxthon
Web Browsers27,248
PaltalkScene 12.61

See, hear, and chat live in video rooms.

Download Now

Memeo AutoBackup

Start backing up your files in less than 60 seconds.

Download Now
8.
Internet Explorer
Web Browsers25,424
9.
IE7Pro
Internet Explorer Add-ons & Plugins13,322
10.
Opera
Web Browsers11,716

See all most popular software

RecoverMyFiles Data

Recover files lost to crashes, deletions, disk formatting.

Download Now

TrendMicro AV+AntiSpy

Detect and remove adware and spyware from your computer.

Download Now

Release date

NetVideoHunter Jun 18
Firefox Add-ons & Plugins
Click&Clean Jul 01
Firefox Add-ons & Plugins
InternetScrap Jul 16
Internet Explorer Add-ons & Plugins
Mozilla Firefox Nov 13
Web Browsers
Adobe Reader Jul 01
Other Browser Add-ons & Plugins
Internet Explorer Oct 19
Web Browsers
Better Gmail Dec 20
Firefox Add-ons & Plugins
FeedDemon May 16
Newsreaders & RSS Readers
Opera Nov 05
Web Browsers
RoboForm Dec 21
Internet Explorer Add-ons & Plugins

See all new releases

1.
Adobe Reader
Read Adobe PDF files on your desktop or on the Web.
2.
Mozilla Firefox
Surf the Web, block pop-ups, and keep spyware at bay with this lean and fast open-source browser.
3.
RoboForm
Reduce your many passwords to just one; enjoy easy, one-click logins and form filling.
4.
RoboForm
Reduce your many passwords to just one; enjoy easy, one-click logins and form filling.
5.
Opera
Browse with a multiple-document interface, mouse gestures, keyboard shortcuts, zooming functions, and integrated search.
6.
Maxthon (Classic)
Surf the Net with pop-up filtering, tabbed navigation, and automatic page-scrolling.
7.
SlimBrowser
Browse multiple Web sites in one window with a pop-up killer, an ad blocker, and a quick-search feature.
8.
IE7Pro
Customize, secure, and add features and extras to your Internet Explorer.
9.
McAfee SiteAdvisor for Firefox
See safety ratings for the sites and search results to protect yourself against online scam.
10.
FoxyTunes
Control almost any MP3 player from Mozilla Firefox, Thunderbird, or the Mozilla suite.

See all editor's picks

from the download blog

Best iPod-compatible iTunes alternatives

Posted by Donald Bell on Nov 20, 2008

CNET's Donald Bell rounds up his favorite iPod-compatible software alternatives to Apple's iTunes jukebox.

an introduction to Browsers

Browsers, often called Web browsers, are software clients that allow users to navigate to sites on the World Wide Web. The majority of these Web sites use the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), but many browsers can also interpret other protocols, including FTP, RSS, and P2P protocols such as BitTorrent. Hypertext pioneer Tim Berners-Lee created the first ever Web browser, WorldWideWeb, in 1990, but the software didn't become popular until the release of NCSA Mosaic, the first graphical client.

Browsers truly hit the mainstream with the launch of Netscape Navigator, which was later shortened to simply Netscape, though the free client's popularity was radically affected by the 1995 release of Internet Explorer, Microsoft's entry into the browser market. In the years since, IE has completely dominated the market, only recently losing ground to alternative browsers such as Mozilla Firefox and Opera.

Aside from general Web browsers, various subsets of the category offer special services. Offline browsers cache content from the Internet for future reference when you're not connected to a network. Newsreaders manage content from Usenet newsgroups and syndicated feeds.

In recent years, the open-source browser Mozilla Firefox has earned praise for the ability of third-party developers to easily create extensions that add functionality. Among the thousands of home-brewed add-ons for Firefox, we've narrowed down our favorites in a collection of the best. The Microsoft browser also allows for IE add-ons, but its closed framework makes it a bit more difficult for developers.