w3m
The terminal browser that renders tables.
A text browser with surprising powers: real table layout, frames, and even inline images in supported terminals. The comfortable middle of terminal browsing.
- Engine
- w3m (own)
- License
- Open source
- Runs on
- Terminal, Linux, macOS
- Top marks
- Minimal interface, Light on resources, Open source, Independence
- Updated
- September 2026
Why it shines
- Proper table rendering
- Inline images in capable terminals
- Works beautifully inside Emacs
Worth knowing
- No JavaScript
- Keybindings take learning
Origins
w3m belongs to The independents — descended from Own engines.
Does well
Ranked in
Scorecard
- Tracking protection0/3
- Fingerprinting resistance0/3
- Anonymity0/3
- Built-in ad blocking0/3
- Customization0/3
- Keyboard control2/3
- Built-in tools0/3
- Minimal interface3/3
- Fresh design0/3
- Classic interface0/3
- Light on resources3/3
- Raw speed0/3
- Battery efficiency0/3
- Extension ecosystem0/3
- Cross-device sync0/3
- Site compatibility0/3
- Low maintenance1/3
- Open source3/3
- Independence3/3
- Built-in AI0/3
- Gaming features0/3
- Dev tooling0/3
0–3 on each of the 22 criteria the quiz and the guides rank by. How we score.
