KonquerorLinux
vs
Google ChromeWindows
Konqueror as a Linux alternative to Google Chrome
Updated
Our verdict
Konqueror can replace Chrome for users who need a lightweight, KDE‑integrated browser and are comfortable with its KHTML‑based rendering. It works well for basic web browsing, tabbed sessions, and handling local or remote files, but it lacks many of Chrome's modern web‑app optimizations, extension ecosystem, and frequent security updates. If you run KDE, prefer a single tool for browsing and file management, and don't rely heavily on Chrome‑only extensions or the latest web standards, Konqueror is a reasonable alternative.
- License
- GPL-2.0-or-later
- Price
- Free
- Latest version
- 26.08.2
- Rating
- —
What works the same
- Tabbed web browsing
- Bookmark management with folders
- Support for standard web protocols (HTTP/HTTPS)
- Cross‑platform availability on Linux
- Ability to open PDFs and images directly in the browser
What is different
- Rendering engine: KHTML (older) vs. Blink in Chrome, leading to occasional site incompatibilities
- Extension ecosystem: Chrome Web Store vs. limited KDE plugins
- Sync features: Chrome syncs bookmarks, passwords, history across devices; Konqueror has no built‑in cloud sync
- Performance optimizations for heavy JavaScript apps are weaker in Konqueror
- Integrated file manager features are unique to Konqueror but absent in Chrome
Opening your Google Chrome files
Konqueror can open HTML files, PDFs, images and plain‑text documents saved from Chrome without issue. Exporting Chrome‑specific data such as bookmarks or saved passwords requires manual export (e.g., using Chrome's JSON bookmark export) and then importing the HTML file into Konqueror's bookmark manager. There is no direct tool to read Chrome's encrypted password store, so those will need to be re‑entered.
Switching from Google Chrome to Konqueror, step by step
- Install Konqueror from your distribution's repository (e.g.,
sudo apt install konqueror). - Export Chrome bookmarks via Settings → Bookmarks → Export to HTML.
- Open Konqueror, go to Bookmarks → Import, and select the exported HTML file.
- Set Konqueror as the default browser (
xdg-settings set default-web-browser konqueror.desktop). - If you use cloud storage, configure the appropriate KIO slaves (WebDAV, SFTP) in Konqueror's side panel.
- Test your most‑used sites; note any rendering issues and consider using Chrome for those specific pages.
Key features of Konqueror
- Integrated web browser and file manager
- Supports local, network, and cloud filesystems (FTP, SFTP, WebDAV)
- Tabbed browsing for both files and web pages
- KHTML rendering engine (ancestor of WebKit)
- Customizable interface with panels and sidebars
- Built-in document viewers for PDF, images, and text
- URL bar doubles as command line for file operations
- Session management and bookmarks with folder support
How to install Konqueror on Linux
sudo apt install konquerorsudo apt install konquerorsudo dnf install konquerorsudo pacman -S konquerorsudo zypper install konquerorFrequently asked questions
Can Konqueror run Chrome extensions?
No. Konqueror does not support the Chrome Web Store; only KDE‑specific plugins are available.
Will my Chrome‑saved passwords sync to Konqueror?
Konqueror has its own password storage and cannot import Chrome's encrypted passwords. You’ll need to re‑enter them manually.
Is Konqueror suitable for heavy web applications like Google Docs?
It works for basic use, but complex JavaScript‑heavy apps may be slower or display incorrectly compared to Chrome.
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