Our verdict: Maxthon packs many extras into a Chromium browser: Maxnote, Passkeeper, split screen, a video sniffer and multi-model AI chat. It suits people who want all of this without extensions. The amount of bundled services, including NBdomain, a membership plan and a VPN run by a third party, makes it busier and less private than lean alternatives.
About Maxthon
Maxthon is developed by Maxthon Ltd.; the current Maxthon 7 is built on Chromium, so Chrome extensions and modern sites work. It is available for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, with sync between devices through a Maxthon account.
Built-in tools include Maxnote for saving notes and links, Passkeeper for passwords, addresses and payment data, split screen, reading mode, read aloud, mouse gestures, a video float bar and resource sniffer for saving media, screenshots and an AI chat with several models. The free VPN is provided by Bright Data. Some features are part of a paid membership.
What it does well
- Maxnote. Saves notes, links and page snippets in a built-in knowledge manager.
- Passkeeper. Autofills passwords, addresses and payment data and syncs them across devices.
- Split screen. Shows two web pages side by side in one window.
- Media tools. Video float bar, resource sniffer and quick image saving for collecting media from pages.
- AI chat. Chat with several AI models from a browser panel.
Who it is for
Good fit
Users who want notes, a password manager, split screen and media saving built into the browser.
Look elsewhere
People who want a minimal, privacy-first browser without accounts, bundled services or a third-party VPN.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Many tools built in without extensions
- Cross-device sync of notes and passwords
- Split screen and media saving
Cons
- Crowded interface with many bundled services
- Free VPN is run by a third party (Bright Data)
- Some features require a paid membership
How to install Maxthon
The direct link is the stable 64-bit installer; Maxthon's site also lists beta builds, so check that you pick the Final version if you download manually. Sign-in is optional, but sync, Maxnote and Passkeeper across devices need a Maxthon account. On desktop the ad blocker is an optional extension.
Questions about Maxthon
Is Maxthon free?
Yes. The browser is free; Maxthon also sells an optional membership with extra features.
Is Maxthon based on Chromium?
Yes. Maxthon 7 uses Chromium, so most Chrome extensions work.
Does Maxthon block ads?
On desktop ad blocking is available as an optional extension; on mobile it is built in.
