# Orion Browser Published January 1, 2026 · Updated August 10, 2026 WebKit based web browser Category: Web Browsers · Free · Replaces SigmaOS ($10/month) · [Official website](https://browser.kagi.com/) ## Install with Homebrew `brew install --cask orion` ## Quick take Orion 1.1.1 confirms Kagi is shipping a living WebKit browser, not a side experiment. Containers, translation, Tahoe 26.x support, and clear Orion+ pricing that excludes Search make the product easier to evaluate in 2026. It remains the best answer for Mac users who refuse to trade Safari's battery life for Chrome's extensions. Extension edge cases and a smaller community still matter, but for Mac-first privacy and efficiency, Orion is ahead of Brave on power use and ahead of Safari on extensibility. Best for: MacBook users who need Chrome or Firefox extensions without Chromium battery drain, Privacy-conscious users who want zero-telemetry defaults, People consolidating Safari, Chrome, and Firefox into one WebKit browser, Teams on mixed macOS versions from Tahoe 26.x down to older supported releases ## What is Orion Browser? Orion Browser is a WebKit-based privacy-focused browser from Kagi, the team behind the paid, privacy-respecting Kagi Search product. It is actively developed: Orion 1.1 shipped on June 23, 2026 with containers for tab isolation, a refreshed UI, and more than 170 improvements, and the current release is Orion 1.1.1 from June 26, 2026. Orion aims to give Mac users Safari-class battery efficiency without forcing them to abandon Chrome, Firefox, or Safari extensions. The product thesis is that privacy, performance, and extensibility should not be mutually exclusive. Safari is efficient but limited on extensions. Chromium browsers ship huge extension catalogs but burn battery and often phone home. Firefox prioritizes privacy and engine diversity but sits outside the Chrome extension ecosystem. Orion runs Apple's WebKit engine while supporting Chrome, Firefox, and Safari extensions through a compatibility layer—so password managers, ad blockers, and developer tools can live in one WebKit shell. Privacy defaults are aggressive. Orion blocks ads, trackers, and many fingerprinting scripts without requiring third-party extensions. Official materials emphasize zero telemetry: browsing history, queries, and site interactions stay on-device rather than reporting to Kagi or anyone else. Copied links can be stripped of tracking parameters, and built-in filtering reduces the need for a separate blocker for everyday browsing. On macOS, Orion tracks Apple's release train closely. Builds support macOS Tahoe 26.x and remain available down through older releases as far as macOS 10.14, so both new Macs and older hardware can run current builds. Recent releases also add on-page Kagi Translate plus offline translation on macOS 26 and newer. Orion remains free; an optional Orion+ subscription adds polish such as customizable borders and icons and does not include Kagi Search. For Mac-first users who want WebKit efficiency with multi-store extensions, Orion is one of the clearest alternatives to Safari, Brave, Firefox, Dia, and Zen Browser. Community discussion on X and the Orion Feedback Forum tends to praise battery life and extension breadth while noting occasional WebKit edge cases on Chromium-centric web apps. Power users often keep Safari as a fallback for Apple-private web features and use Orion as the daily driver once their extension set is validated. ## Features - **WebKit Engine with Multi-Store Extensions.** Orion's main technical differentiator is Apple's WebKit rendering engine—the same family that powers Safari—combined with support for Chrome, Firefox, and Safari extensions. A compatibility layer translates Chromium and Firefox extension APIs onto WebKit so common tools like uBlock Origin, password managers, and developer utilities can install without switching engines. Safari extensions work natively because Orion already sits on WebKit. Mac users get battery-friendly rendering without surrendering the extension catalogs they already depend on. - **Zero-Telemetry Privacy Protection.** Orion ships with a strict zero-telemetry posture: it does not phone home usage analytics the way Chromium browsers often do. Built-in ad and tracker blocking runs locally, fingerprinting defenses normalize or randomize identifying signals, and Privacy Report surfaces show what was blocked per site. Tracker stripping on copied links removes UTM tags, click IDs, and similar parameters before they reach the clipboard. The design goal is that compromising Kagi infrastructure would not expose browsing history because that history never left the device. - **Native macOS Performance and Wide OS Support.** Because Orion uses WebKit rather than Chromium, it targets Safari-class battery life and memory behavior on MacBooks. ProMotion Macs benefit from high-refresh page rendering for smoother scrolling. Official platform pages document builds for macOS Tahoe 26.0 down to macOS 10.14, so teams with mixed fleets can standardize on Orion without abandoning older machines. For mobile workers, the practical upside is Chrome-like extensibility with WebKit power characteristics. - **Containers and Modern Tab Isolation.** Orion 1.1 introduced containers for tab isolation so work, personal, and research contexts can keep cookies and sessions separate inside one browser window. Combined with vertical tabs, compact tab layouts, and tab groups, containers reduce the need to juggle multiple browsers solely for identity separation. The 1.1 UI refresh and 170-plus improvements package these organizational tools into a workflow closer to privacy-minded Firefox containers while staying on WebKit. - **Kagi Translate and Offline Translation.** Recent Orion builds include on-page Kagi Translate for reading foreign-language pages without leaving the tab. On macOS 26 and newer, offline translation support helps when you are on airplanes or unreliable networks. Translation is part of the browser experience rather than a bolted-on extension, which keeps privacy-sensitive page content inside Orion's process model instead of shipping it to an arbitrary third-party translate extension. - **Orion+ Customization.** The free browser includes core privacy and extension features. Orion+ is an optional paid tier that unlocks deeper customization such as customizable borders and icons so the chrome matches personal branding or team aesthetics. Pricing is published separately from Kagi Search: Orion+ does not include a Kagi Search subscription. Users who only want a private WebKit browser can stay on the free tier indefinitely. - **Reader Mode, Link Previews, and Power-User Controls.** Reader Mode strips clutter from articles, Link Previews let you inspect destinations before committing a click, and programmable buttons plus page tweaks support userscripts and lightweight site restyling without writing a full extension. Quick Searches map short keywords in the address bar to site-specific queries. Together these features reduce extension sprawl for common power-user habits while keeping Orion's defaults privacy-first. - **Orion+ Borders Icons and Release Candidates.** Orion+ is an optional membership at five dollars per month, fifty dollars per year, or one hundred fifty dollars lifetime. Benefits include exclusive app icons, customizable colored window borders, early access to release candidate builds with newer WebKit, and community badges. Official documentation is clear that Orion+ does not include a Kagi Search subscription—Search remains a separate product. ## How to Install Orion Browser on Mac Orion is free for macOS via the official site or the Mac App Store. No account is required for core browsing. 1. **Download Orion.** Visit orionbrowser.com or the macOS platform page and download the current build (Orion 1.1.1 or newer). Alternatively search the Mac App Store for Orion Browser by Kagi. Confirm the build matches your OS version—Tahoe 26.x through older releases down to 10.14 are supported according to Kagi's platform docs. 2. **Install and Launch.** For the direct download, open the disk image and drag Orion into Applications. App Store installs complete automatically. Launch from Applications or Spotlight. First launch does not require a Kagi account; Orion+ and Kagi Search are optional add-ons. 3. **Import and Configure.** Import bookmarks, passwords, and history from Safari, Chrome, or Firefox when prompted. Set Orion as the default browser in System Settings if desired. Reinstall critical extensions from the Chrome Web Store, Firefox Add-ons, or Safari's gallery, then enable containers for work versus personal tabs. ## Pros - WebKit-based efficiency that targets Safari-class battery life on MacBooks - Simultaneous Chrome, Firefox, and Safari extension support - Zero-telemetry architecture with on-device privacy defaults - Orion 1.1 containers for tab isolation plus a large 1.1 feature refresh - macOS Tahoe 26.x support with builds spanning down to macOS 10.14 - On-page Kagi Translate and offline translation on macOS 26+ - Free core browser; Orion+ pricing is clear and does not bundle Search - Vertical tabs, tab groups, Reader Mode, and link tracker stripping ## Cons - Some Chrome extensions still hit WebKit compatibility gaps - Smaller community and slower cadence than Chrome or Safari - Windows and Linux desktop availability remains limited compared with Chromium browsers - Orion+ customization and deeper sync-style perks sit behind a paid tier - Kagi Search remains a separate paid product if you want that ecosystem ## Deep Dive: Orion's WebKit-First Privacy Browser Orion's bet is that WebKit can carry a modern extension ecosystem without inheriting Chromium's telemetry and power profile. ## FAQ ### Is Orion Browser completely free? Yes. The browser is free with core privacy, blocking, extension, and tab features. Orion+ is optional at $5/month, $50/year, or $150 lifetime and focuses on extras like customizable borders and icons. Orion+ does not include Kagi Search. ### What is the current Orion version? Orion 1.1 shipped June 23, 2026 with containers, a new UI, and 170+ improvements. Orion 1.1.1 followed on June 26, 2026 and is the current line referenced in release notes. Check orionbrowser.com/updates/orion-release-notes for newer patches. ### Does Orion include Kagi Search? No. Orion can integrate with Kagi Search if you subscribe separately, but neither the free browser nor Orion+ includes Kagi Search. Search billing and Orion+ billing are distinct. ### Which macOS versions does Orion support? Official platform documentation lists support for macOS Tahoe 26.x builds and older releases down to macOS 10.14. Download the build that matches your OS from the macOS platform page. ### Do all Chrome extensions work in Orion? Most common extensions work, but not every Chrome API maps cleanly to WebKit. If a Chrome extension fails, try the Firefox edition. Kagi documents macOS extension support and known constraints in the help center. ### How does Orion compare to Safari for battery life? Both use WebKit, so Orion targets similar efficiency to Safari while adding multi-store extensions and stronger default blocking. Real-world results vary with extension load, but Orion is generally far closer to Safari than to Chrome or Brave on MacBook battery. ### What are Orion containers? Containers, introduced in the Orion 1.1 wave, isolate tabs so cookies and sessions for different contexts stay separate—similar in spirit to Firefox Multi-Account Containers. They help replace multi-browser workflows for work versus personal identities. ### Does Orion support translation offline? Orion includes on-page Kagi Translate, and offline translation is available on macOS 26 and newer. That combination is useful for travel or air-gapped reading without installing a separate translate extension. ### How does Orion compare to Dia or Arc? Arc is in maintenance mode while Dia continues The Browser Company's Chromium-based direction. Orion stays on WebKit with multi-store extensions and zero-telemetry defaults. Pick Dia for experimental Chromium UX; pick Orion for WebKit efficiency and extension breadth on Mac. ### Is Orion a good Brave alternative on Mac? If you want aggressive privacy defaults with better Mac battery characteristics, yes. Brave remains stronger for Chromium-only extension perfection and features like Tor windows. Orion wins when WebKit efficiency plus Chrome/Firefox/Safari extensions matter more than Chromium parity. ### How does Orion compare to Dia and Zen Browser in 2026? Dia is The Browser Company path forward while Arc sits in maintenance. Zen Browser is a Firefox-based privacy-oriented option with strong community energy. Orion differs by staying on WebKit for Safari-class efficiency while accepting Chrome and Firefox extensions. Choose Dia if you want Chromium plus Browser Company experiments, Zen if you want Firefox DNA, and Orion if WebKit battery life plus multi-store extensions is the priority. ## Sources - [Orion Browser Official Website](https://orionbrowser.com/) - [Orion macOS Web Extensions Support](https://help.kagi.com/orion/browser-extensions/macos-extensions.html) - [Orion Release Notes](https://orionbrowser.com/updates/orion-release-notes) - [Orion+ Documentation](https://help.kagi.com/orion/orion-plus/orion-plus.html) - [Orion+ Overview](https://orionbrowser.com/orionplus) - [Orion for macOS](https://orionbrowser.com/platforms/macos) - [Orion on the Kagi Blog](https://blog.kagi.com/orion) ## Related - [Arc](https://bundl.run/apps/arc) - [Google Chrome](https://bundl.run/apps/google-chrome) - [Firefox](https://bundl.run/apps/firefox) - [Brave](https://bundl.run/apps/brave-browser) - [LibreWolf](https://bundl.run/apps/librewolf) - [Microsoft Edge](https://bundl.run/apps/microsoft-edge) - [Orion Browser vs Safari](https://bundl.run/compare/orion-vs-safari) - [Orion Browser vs Arc](https://bundl.run/compare/orion-vs-arc) - [Free alternative to SigmaOS](https://browser.kagi.com/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://bundl.run/#organization", "name": "Bundl.run", "url": "https://bundl.run", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://bundl.run/og-image.png", "width": 1200, "height": 630 }, "description": "The Ninite for Mac. Install all your essential Mac apps with one terminal command.", "sameAs": [ "https://github.com/abhiofficial/bundl-mac-setup", "https://x.com/bundlrun", "https://www.producthunt.com/products/bundl-run" ], "foundingDate": "2024", "contactPoint": { "@type": "ContactPoint", "contactType": "customer support", "url": "https://bundl.run/faq" } }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://bundl.run/#website", "name": "Bundl.run", "url": "https://bundl.run", "description": "The Ninite for Mac. Install all your essential Mac apps with one terminal command.", "publisher": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/#organization" }, "inLanguage": "en-US" }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://bundl.run/authors/sam-patel#person", "name": "Sam Patel", "jobTitle": "Security & Privacy Researcher", "url": "https://bundl.run/authors/sam-patel", "worksFor": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/#organization" }, "description": "Sam Patel is a cybersecurity professional specializing in application security, privacy tools, and secure software practices. With over 9 years in information security—including roles at security firms and as an independent consultant—Sam evaluates applications for security vulnerabilities, data handling practices, and privacy implications. Sam holds multiple security certifications and regularly presents at security conferences. Each review includes assessment of encryption methods, data collection policies, and potential privacy concerns that users should understand.", "knowsAbout": [ "Security Software", "Privacy Tools", "Network Security", "Password Managers", "VPNs & Encryption", "macOS Security Hardening" ], "image": "https://bundl.run/authors/sam-patel.svg" }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://bundl.run/apps/orion#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://bundl.run" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Apps", "item": "https://bundl.run/apps" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Orion Browser", "item": "https://bundl.run/apps/orion" } ] }, { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://bundl.run/apps/orion", "url": "https://bundl.run/apps/orion", "name": "Orion Browser for Mac", "description": "WebKit based web browser", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/#website" }, "publisher": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/#organization" }, "inLanguage": "en-US", "datePublished": "2026-01-01T00:00:00Z", "dateModified": "2026-08-10T13:34:04.000Z", "author": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/authors/sam-patel#person" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/apps/orion#software" }, "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/apps/orion#breadcrumb" } }, { "@type": "SoftwareApplication", "@id": "https://bundl.run/apps/orion#software", "name": "Orion Browser", "description": "WebKit based web browser", "applicationCategory": "BrowserApplication", "operatingSystem": "macOS", "url": "https://bundl.run/apps/orion", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://img.logo.dev/browser.kagi.com", "caption": "Orion Browser app icon for Mac" }, "sameAs": [ "https://browser.kagi.com/", "https://formulae.brew.sh/cask/orion" ], "review": { "@type": "Review", "author": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/authors/sam-patel#person" }, "reviewBody": "Orion 1.1.1 confirms Kagi is shipping a living WebKit browser, not a side experiment. Containers, translation, Tahoe 26.x support, and clear Orion+ pricing that excludes Search make the product easier to evaluate in 2026. It remains the best answer for Mac users who refuse to trade Safari's battery life for Chrome's extensions. Extension edge cases and a smaller community still matter, but for Mac-first privacy and efficiency, Orion is ahead of Brave on power use and ahead of Safari on extensibility." }, "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Orion Browser", "description": "WebKit based web browser" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/#website" } }, { "@type": "Article", "@id": "https://bundl.run/apps/orion#article", "headline": "Orion Browser for Mac — Full Review & Installation Guide 2026", "description": "Orion 1.1.1 confirms Kagi is shipping a living WebKit browser, not a side experiment. Containers, translation, Tahoe 26.x support, and clear Orion+ pricing that excludes Search make the product easier to evaluate in 2026. It remains the best answer for Mac users who refuse to trade Safari's battery life for Chrome's extensions. Extension edge cases and a smaller community still matter, but for Mac-first privacy and efficiency, Orion is ahead of Brave on power use and ahead of Safari on extensibility.", "image": "https://img.logo.dev/browser.kagi.com", "author": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/authors/sam-patel#person" }, "publisher": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/#organization" }, "datePublished": "2026-01-01T00:00:00Z", "dateModified": "2026-08-10T13:34:04.000Z", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://bundl.run/apps/orion" }, "articleSection": "BrowserApplication", "speakable": { "@type": "SpeakableSpecification", "cssSelector": [ "h1", ".key-facts" ] }, "about": { "@type": "SoftwareApplication", "name": "Orion Browser", "url": "https://bundl.run/apps/orion" }, "mentions": [ { "@type": "SoftwareApplication", "name": "SigmaOS", "url": "https://browser.kagi.com/" } ] }, { "@type": "FAQPage", "@id": "https://bundl.run/apps/orion#faq", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is Orion Browser completely free?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. The browser is free with core privacy, blocking, extension, and tab features. Orion+ is optional at $5/month, $50/year, or $150 lifetime and focuses on extras like customizable borders and icons. Orion+ does not include Kagi Search." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is the current Orion version?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Orion 1.1 shipped June 23, 2026 with containers, a new UI, and 170+ improvements. Orion 1.1.1 followed on June 26, 2026 and is the current line referenced in release notes. Check orionbrowser.com/updates/orion-release-notes for newer patches." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does Orion include Kagi Search?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No. Orion can integrate with Kagi Search if you subscribe separately, but neither the free browser nor Orion+ includes Kagi Search. Search billing and Orion+ billing are distinct." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Which macOS versions does Orion support?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Official platform documentation lists support for macOS Tahoe 26.x builds and older releases down to macOS 10.14. Download the build that matches your OS from the macOS platform page." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do all Chrome extensions work in Orion?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Most common extensions work, but not every Chrome API maps cleanly to WebKit. If a Chrome extension fails, try the Firefox edition. Kagi documents macOS extension support and known constraints in the help center." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How does Orion compare to Safari for battery life?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Both use WebKit, so Orion targets similar efficiency to Safari while adding multi-store extensions and stronger default blocking. Real-world results vary with extension load, but Orion is generally far closer to Safari than to Chrome or Brave on MacBook battery." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What are Orion containers?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Containers, introduced in the Orion 1.1 wave, isolate tabs so cookies and sessions for different contexts stay separate—similar in spirit to Firefox Multi-Account Containers. They help replace multi-browser workflows for work versus personal identities." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does Orion support translation offline?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Orion includes on-page Kagi Translate, and offline translation is available on macOS 26 and newer. That combination is useful for travel or air-gapped reading without installing a separate translate extension." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How does Orion compare to Dia or Arc?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Arc is in maintenance mode while Dia continues The Browser Company's Chromium-based direction. Orion stays on WebKit with multi-store extensions and zero-telemetry defaults. Pick Dia for experimental Chromium UX; pick Orion for WebKit efficiency and extension breadth on Mac." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is Orion a good Brave alternative on Mac?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "If you want aggressive privacy defaults with better Mac battery characteristics, yes. Brave remains stronger for Chromium-only extension perfection and features like Tor windows. Orion wins when WebKit efficiency plus Chrome/Firefox/Safari extensions matter more than Chromium parity." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How does Orion compare to Dia and Zen Browser in 2026?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Dia is The Browser Company path forward while Arc sits in maintenance. Zen Browser is a Firefox-based privacy-oriented option with strong community energy. Orion differs by staying on WebKit for Safari-class efficiency while accepting Chrome and Firefox extensions. Choose Dia if you want Chromium plus Browser Company experiments, Zen if you want Firefox DNA, and Orion if WebKit battery life plus multi-store extensions is the priority." } } ], "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/apps/orion" } } ] } ```