{"id":5760,"date":"2022-11-18T01:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-18T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/epa\/text-browsing\/"},"modified":"2025-06-20T11:50:29","modified_gmt":"2025-06-20T09:50:29","slug":"text-browsing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/text-browsing\/","title":{"rendered":"13+ Best Text Browsers [Reviewed &#038; Ranked]"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>People\u2019s needs in a web browser vary. Some want pages to load quickly while others want an interface that&#8217;s simple and easy to use. Many also choose to have web browsers designed for simple text browsing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But what are the benefits of <strong>text-only web browsing<\/strong> and which ones are reliable? In this post, we\u2019ll give you a list of the best text browsers and what they have to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/assets\/imgs\/2022-11-18\/text-only-web-browsing.jpeg\" alt=\"List of Text-only Web Browsers\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-is-text-browsing%3F\">What Is Text Browsing?<\/h2>\n\n\n<p><strong>Text browsing is navigating the web in text-only mode. This means that images, flash animation, videos or any media element will be fully ommited. Usually the way the user interacts with text-based web browsers is by using the keyboard instad of the mouse.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/assets\/imgs\/2022-11-18\/what-is-text-browsing.jpeg\" alt=\"What Is Text Browsing?\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Aside from the visually impaired, text browsers are very useful for web developers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Text browsers, after all, offer an effective way of checking how a search engine either reads or views website page content.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"why-would-you-want-to-use-text-browsing\">Why Would You Want to Use Text Browsing<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>There are various reasons why some would prefer text browsing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Faster Page Rendering.<\/strong> Text-only browsing has lower bandwidth demands, which makes page rendering faster.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Uses Little CPU resources.<\/strong> Text browsers typically do not require a lot of functionalities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Good For The Partially Blind Or Visually Impaired.<\/strong> Text-only browsers are particularly useful with text-to-speech software or speech synthesis.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>They are very light.<\/strong> A text-based web-browser is much lighter and takes much less storage space than a full web browser with interface.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These are the reasons why text-based web browsers are still a thing nowadays and mainly among developers and system administrators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Having to access a server remotely to do a couple of basic searches can be way quicker by using a text-based browser. Especially if the network speed isn&#8217;t great.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And because they consume less resources, they can still be used in some very basic systems like the Raspberry Pi or similar.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"14-best-free-text-browsers\">14 Best Free Text Browsers<\/h2>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1.-webbie\">1. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.webbie.org.uk\/webbrowser\/index.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">WebbIE<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/assets\/imgs\/2022-11-18\/webbie-text-only-browser.jpeg\" alt=\"Webbie Text Only Browser\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>OS:<\/strong> Windows<br>\n<strong>Best for<\/strong>: Those who are visually impaired<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.webbie.org.uk\/download.htm\" title=\"Get Software\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Get Software<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s a text browser specially designed for the visually impaired but can also be used by anyone who doesn&#8217;t want to run graphical content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It offers several shortcuts to navigate across the site and lets users change the font options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other features include letting users arrange their favorite web pages, view the RSS news feed, and activate or deactivate pop-ups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Many shortcuts for site navigation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It lets users customize fonts and arrange favorites<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Many links at top of a web page can be distracting for the visually impaired<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Only works on Windows<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2.-lynx\">2. <a href=\"https:\/\/lynx.invisible-island.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">LYNX<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/assets\/imgs\/2022-11-18\/lynx-text-only-web-browsing.jpeg\" alt=\"Lynx Text Only Web Browsing\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>OS:<\/strong> Windows, macOS, Linux<br>\n<strong>Best for:<\/strong> Those looking for a highly configurable and lightweight browser<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/lynx.invisible-island.net\/lynx2l\" title=\"Get Software\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Get Software<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>This open-sourced and lightweight text-based web browser is also one of the oldest web browsers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is highly configurable and capable of acting as a text-to-speech application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lynx text browsing web does not track user information nor contain any hidden tracking elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Lightweight and fast loading<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Highly configurable -it can be configured to external programs-<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Place high importance on users&#8217; privacy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Does not support multiple downloads<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Downloads run in the foreground so users can&#8217;t do anything unless the download is complete<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3.-text-only-mode-chrome-extension\">3. <a href=\"https:\/\/chrome.google.com\/webstore\/detail\/text-only-mode\/nelklgbagpchkmoipfpcbbjjbdbjhgid?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Text-Only Mode Chrome Extension<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/assets\/imgs\/2022-11-18\/text-only-mode-chrome-extension.jpeg\" alt=\"Text-only Mode Chrome Extension\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>OS:<\/strong> Windows, macOS, Linux<br>\n<strong>Best for:<\/strong>  Those who like Google Chrome<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/chrome.google.com\/webstore\/detail\/text-only-mode\/nelklgbagpchkmoipfpcbbjjbdbjhgid?hl=en\" title=\"Get Software\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Get Software<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Text-Only Mode Chrome extension is an extension for Google Chrome, which lets users open and view pages in text mode only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It retains the original design and color and can be used on the Chrome browser and Chromebook. Users can easily enable and disable the text-only mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Retains original color and design of web stores<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Can easily be enabled and disabled<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Chrome needs to be closed and started again after installing the extension<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The extension can access passwords, browser history, and other sensitive information<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4.-links2\">4. <a href=\"https:\/\/linux.die.net\/man\/1\/links2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Links2<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/assets\/imgs\/2022-11-18\/links2-text-browsing.jpeg\" alt=\"Links2 Text Browsing\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>OS:<\/strong> Linux<br>\n<strong>Best for:<\/strong> Those looking for advanced functions<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/linux.die.net\/man\/1\/links2\" title=\"Get Software\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Get Software<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Links2 can run both in graphic and text modes and has an elegant interface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It can support advanced functions such as monochrome terminals, color, horizontal scrolling, and rendering of complex pages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It can also support basic JavaScript and display frames and tables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>If you use Linux, you need to know what are the <a href=\"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/linux-web-browsers\/\">top Linux web browsers<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Fast page rendering<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Can support basic Java and display table and frames<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Does not allow users to accept or reject cookies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hard to enable JavaScript<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"5.-text-browser\">5. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.labnol.org\/internet\/google-text-browser\/26553\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Text Browser<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/assets\/imgs\/2022-11-18\/text-browser.jpeg\" alt=\"Text Browser\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>OS:<\/strong> Windows, macOS, Linux<br>\n<strong>Best for:<\/strong> Those looking for a web app that also acts as a proxy server<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/script.google.com\/macros\/s\/AKfycbxR5IjDwH7--kdFa2ADLF9jaGlEdutsDeU5lQco2nTHNN9-fXwy\/exec\" title=\"Get Software\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Get Software<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Labnol Text Browser is a web app that strips all images, videos, and JavaScript so users will only be text browsing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It runs in the Google cloud and claims to never track the user&#8217;s browsing activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It also acts as a proxy server so you can access text-only internet content that may be inaccessible to you because of restrictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>No download needed<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Doesn&#8217;t track users&#8217; browsing activities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Can act as a proxy server<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Doesn&#8217;t consume much of computer resources<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Reduced speed<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>No JavaScript support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"6.-elinks\">6. <a href=\"http:\/\/elinks.or.cz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">ELinks<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/assets\/imgs\/2022-11-18\/elinks-text-only-browser.jpeg\" alt=\" Elinks Text Only Browser\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>OS:<\/strong> macOS, Linux<br>\n<strong>Best for:<\/strong> Those looking for a highly customizable browser<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"http:\/\/elinks.or.cz\/download.html\" title=\"Get Software\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Get Software<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Elinks is a full-featured, open-sourced text browser that&#8217;s highly customizable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It can render both tables and frames and lets users extend its functionality using scripts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Its menu system feature is quite different from other text browsing apps as it relies on the mouse to follow hyperlinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Highly customizable<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Can render tables and frames<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Functionality can be extended<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>No support for JavaScript or any graphic mode<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Only runs on Windows and Linux<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"7.-textise-(firefox-add-on)\">7. <a href=\"https:\/\/addons.mozilla.org\/en-US\/firefox\/addon\/textise-it\/#:~:text=This\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Textise (Firefox Add-on)<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/assets\/imgs\/2022-11-18\/textise-firefox-add-on.jpeg\" alt=\"Textise Firefox Add-on\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>OS:<\/strong> Windows, macOS, Linux<br>\n<strong>Best for:<\/strong> Those already using Firefox Mozilla<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/addons.mozilla.org\/en-US\/firefox\/addon\/textise-it\/\" title=\"Get Software\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Get Software<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Textise Mozilla add-on is one of the simplest extensions for Firefox. It lets users view any website on a page-by-page basis by activating the text mode only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It only requires the pressing of a button to activate or disable this extension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Easy to use<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lets user view page-by-page<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Easy to activate and disable<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Mozilla generally has some compatibility issues with websites<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Can eat up a lot of memory<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"8.-text-mode-chrome-extension\">8. <a href=\"https:\/\/chrome.google.com\/webstore\/detail\/text-mode\/adelhekhakakocomdfejiipdnaadiiib\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Text Mode Chrome Extension<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/assets\/imgs\/2022-11-18\/text-mode-chrome-extension.jpeg\" alt=\"Text Mode Chrome Extension\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>OS:<\/strong> Windows, macOS, Linux<br>\n<strong>Best for:<\/strong> Those already using Google Chrome<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/chrome.google.com\/webstore\/detail\/text-mode\/adelhekhakakocomdfejiipdnaadiiib\" title=\"Get Software\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Get Software<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Text mode Chrome Extension is another text-only browsing extension in Chrome that keeps the original design and color of the web is viewed. It lets users view sites with no flash, videos, or images.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is easy to use and its Text-Only Mode is easy to activate and disable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Easy to use<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Text Only Mode can easily be activated and disabled<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep the original color and design<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This Chrome extension has to access browsing activities, passwords, and other personal information<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Requires closing and restarting of Chrome after installation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"9.-emacs\">9. <a href=\"http:\/\/elpa.gnu.org\/packages\/w3.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Emacs<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/assets\/imgs\/2022-11-18\/emacs-text-based-browser.jpeg\" alt=\" Emacs Text Based browser\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>OS:<\/strong> macOS, Linux<br>\n<strong>Best for:<\/strong> Those who want a highly customizable text browser<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"http:\/\/elpa.gnu.org\/packages\/w3.html\" title=\"Get Software\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Get Software<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s specifically designed for use with the text editor GNU Emac but still offers many benefits to non-GNU Emac users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This fast text browsing app eliminates any vibrant images, colors, and ad pop-ups. It lets users customize by creating their own shortcuts and various functions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Fast<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>No ad pop-ups<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Customizable<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The interface is not user-friendly<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Compatible only with Linux and Windows<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"10.-line-mode-browser\">10. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/LineMode\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Line Mode Browser<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/assets\/imgs\/2022-11-18\/line-mode-text-browser.jpeg\" alt=\"Line Mode Text Browser\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>OS:<\/strong> Windows, macOS, Linux<br>\n<strong>Best for:<\/strong>  For those who need a basic interface<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/LineMode\/\" title=\"Get Software\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Get Software<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Line Mode Browser is the second web browser developed and the first one capable of working with various operating systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It operates from a basic command line interface so that it can be used across any operating system. It can run as a background process and download files.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Platform\/operating system independent<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Can run as a background process<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Very basic<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Has problems supporting tables and frames<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"11.-links\">11. <a href=\"http:\/\/links.twibright.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Links<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/assets\/imgs\/2022-11-18\/links-text-only-web-browsing.jpeg\" alt=\"Links Text Only Web Browser\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>OS:<\/strong> Windows, macOS, Linux<br>\n<strong>Best for:<\/strong> For those who want some advanced features like pop-ups<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"http:\/\/links.twibright.com\/download.php\" title=\"Get Software\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Get Software<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Links is easy to use with its simple interface and a pull-down menu system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It supports both monochrome and color screens and can display complicated pages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It gives users the option to use text or graphical mode as well as adjust the color of the font and the link.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Simple interface<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pull down menus system<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Text or Graphical mode available<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Can only support partial HTML 4.0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Quite challenging to install on Mac OS<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"12.-w3m\">12. <a href=\"https:\/\/w3m.sourceforge.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">W3M<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/assets\/imgs\/2022-11-18\/w3m-text-based-browser.jpeg\" alt=\"W3M Text Based Browser\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>OS:<\/strong> Windows, macOS, Linux<br>\n<strong>Best for:<\/strong> Those looking for a lightweight text-based browser for the terminal<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/sourceforge.net\/projects\/w3m\/files\/\" title=\"Get Software\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Get Software<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>W3M is a basic, open-sourced text-based browser for the terminal capable of supporting colors, SSL connections, and in-line images.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It can accept cookies and render tables and lets users navigate web pages using their mouse. It also allows viewing images on a page through the use of an external program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Clean and colorful web page rendering<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Can render tables<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Accepts cookies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mouse navigation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Does not support JavaScript<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Display texts tend to vary depending on the system used<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"13.-browsh\">13. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brow.sh\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Browsh<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/assets\/imgs\/2022-11-18\/browsh-text-only-browser.jpeg\" alt=\"Browsh Text Only Browser\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>OS:<\/strong> Windows, macOS, Linux<br>\n<strong>Best for:<\/strong> Those looking for a real-time, interactive browser<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brow.sh\/downloads\/\" title=\"Get Software\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Get Software<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Designed for the Linux system, Browsh is a feature-rich, and modern text-only browser.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It can support video, photos, JavaScript, HTML5, and CSS3, to name a few. This web browser also renders and updates in real-time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Advanced features<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Can support video and JavaScript, to name a few.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Renders and updates in real-time<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Not fast<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Doesn&#8217;t work on Windows<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"14.-netrik\">14. <a href=\"https:\/\/netrik.sourceforge.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Netrik<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/assets\/imgs\/2022-11-18\/netrik-text-based-browser.jpeg\" alt=\" Netrik Text Based browser\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>OS:<\/strong> macOS, Linux<br>\n<strong>Best for:<\/strong> Those looking for a simple and easy-to-use text-only browser<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/sourceforge.net\/projects\/netrik\/\" title=\"Get Software\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Get Software<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Netrik is a simple text-only web browser with an easy-to-use interface. It can support monochrome terminals, color, and horizontal scrolling and can even render complex pages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What makes it unique is its back-and-forward history functionality and fast loading of pages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Back and forward history functionality<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Easy-to-use interface<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Can render complex pages<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Relatively fast page rendering<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Still in beta<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Limited functionality<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>No JavaScript, CSS, and Graphical mode<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-is-the-difference-between-a-text-browser-and-a-graphical-browser%3F\">What Is The Difference Between A Text Browser And A Graphical Browser?<\/h2>\n\n\n<p><strong>A text browser provides only the text content of the web pages, ignoring any graphic content. In contrast, a graphical browser displays images inline together with the text rather than showing images on a separate window.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most web browsers these days are graphical but there are still plenty of text-based ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Aside from their simplicity, some still opt for text-based browsers because they want to save their CPU resources or intend to modify some of a site&#8217;s content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Plus, text browsers are particularly useful for text-to-speech software or speech synthesis.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-do-i-browse-in-text-mode-in-chrome%3F\">How Do I Browse In Text Mode In Chrome?<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Here&#8217;s how you can browse in text mode in Chrome.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"step-1%3A-open-chrome-browser-%26-click-the-%22three-dotted%22-icon\">Step 1: Open Chrome Browser &amp; Click the &#8220;Three-Dotted&#8221; Icon<\/h3>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/assets\/imgs\/2022-11-18\/three-dotted-icon-text-mode-chrome.jpeg\" alt=\"Three Dotted Icon - Text Mode Chrome\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"step-2%3A-choose-%22settings%22\">Step 2: Choose &#8220;Settings&#8221;<\/h3>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/assets\/imgs\/2022-11-18\/settings-text-mode-chrome.jpeg\" alt=\"Settings - Text Mode in Chrome\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"step-3%3A-go-to-the-%22privacy-and-security%22-tab\">Step 3: Go to the &#8220;Privacy and Security&#8221; Tab<\/h3>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/assets\/imgs\/2022-11-18\/privacy-security-text-mode-chrome.jpeg\" alt=\"Privacy and Security - Text Mode in Chrome\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"step-4%3A-choose-%22site-settings%22\">Step 4: Choose &#8220;Site Settings&#8221;<\/h3>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/assets\/imgs\/2022-11-18\/site-settings-text-mode-chrome.jpeg\" alt=\"Site Settings - Text Mode in Chrome\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"step-5%3A-scroll-down-and-choose-%22images%22\">Step 5: Scroll Down and Choose &#8220;Images&#8221;<\/h3>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/assets\/imgs\/2022-11-18\/settings-images-text-mode-chrome.jpeg\" alt=\"Settings Images - Text Mode in Chrome\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"step-6%3A-choose-%22don%E2%80%99t-allow-sites-to-show-images%22\">Step 6: Choose &#8220;Don\u2019t Allow Sites To Show Images&#8221;<\/h3>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/assets\/imgs\/2022-11-18\/dont-allow-images-text-mode-chrome.jpeg\" alt=\"Don\u2019t Allow Images - Text Mode in Chrome\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"summary-on-text-browsing\">Summary on Text Browsing<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Text-only browsers may not be that popular among most web users but they can be just as useful (or even more) in many occassions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are in search of a text-only web browser, then consider those on our list as their features also vary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Surely, there\u2019s one that will suit your needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And if you find any other one that&#8217;s not in here and you think its good, let us know on the comments below!<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"related-articles\">Related Articles<\/h2>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/open-source-web-browsers\/\">11 Best Open Source Web Browsers [Must-Know Alternatives]<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here&#8217;s a list with some great Text-based Web Browsers that you can use to browser the web on text-only interfaces.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5759,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[26],"class_list":["post-5760","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tech","tag-web-browsers"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5760","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5760"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5760\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19314,"href":"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5760\/revisions\/19314"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5759"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5760"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5760"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alvarotrigo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5760"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}