Best Browser for Smart TV - Top 7 Tools for Smooth Browsing

Your search for the best browser for your smart TV ends here!

Besides playing movies and TV shows and watching YouTube videos, you can also surf the web on your smart and Android TVs. But for that, you’ll need an internet browser.

I’ve tested 18 different options on an Android TV OS 14 from Google. After rigorous assessment of various use cases, like productivity, multi-tasking, TV control support, app downloads, movie downloads, and more, I singled out these seven tools.

Let’s have a look!

7 Best Browsers for Smart TV

Here are my top seven picks:

Downloader by AFTVNews.com – Best for Downloading Apps

Downloader is the most popular browser for Android and smart TVs because of its excellent support for app downloading. You can quickly save APKs by entering the direct download URL and shortcodes. Also, you can easily browse most websites.

The app takes up only 10 MB on the smart TV’s internal storage. It’s lightweight and compatible with most models. It requires Android OS 5.1 and better for smooth operation.

Furthermore, the browser directly integrates with the internal and external storage of the TV device. Once you download an APK or video file, you can access it using the native file browser or a third-party file manager app.

Other major features are as outlined below:

• A basic in-app file browser.
• Auto-installs downloaded APK files.
• You can customize the default download location on the TV.
• You can import or create Favorites.
• Supports the URL Auto Follow feature for easy surfing.
• You can enable JavaScript for specific websites.

Pros:

• It’s a download-friendly web browser.
• Comes with a basic file browser.

Cons:

• There’s no incognito browsing mode.
• You can’t import bookmarks and favorites from other browsers or devices.

Get Downloader

TV-Browser Internet – Best for Internet Surfing

If you’re looking for a general-purpose web browser for your Android or smart TV, try out the TV-Browser Internet app right away. Besides free web surfing, you can also stream free movies and TV shows from YouTube, PutLocker, Vimeo, Dailymotion, and so on.

By default, it comes with three popular search engines: Google, Baidu, Bing, and DuckDuckGo. You can choose which one you want to use from the Home Screen. You’ll have to activate Bing from the Settings screen, though.

Here are other important features:

• Works on most x86-based Android and smart TV device architectures.
• Requires Android 5.0 and better.
• Only consumes up to 15 MB of space in the device storage.
• Dedicated screens for Bookmarks and History.
• Compatible with most smart TV remote controls.
• Fully compatible with Google Account sign-in and device browsing synchronization.

Pros:

• Separate tabs for different websites.
• Customizable pointer speed and styles.

Cons:

• The Bing search engine is hidden, and not available on the home screen.
• Private browsing mode is absent.

Get TV-Browser Internet

BrowseHere – Best for Add-free Browsing

BrowseHere is particularly suitable for TCL smart TVs and Android TVs. You can also install this app on Android set-top boxes and Android TV boxes. Its built-in ad-blocker lets you surf without any distractions on foreign and local streaming websites.

It also comes with an integrated software IPTV player. You can stream live TV without worrying about throttling imposed by ISPs and satellite TV providers. Therefore, if you’re looking for a free or affordable subscription for endless live TV channels, this should be your go-to app.

Find more features below:

• Fully compatible with your TCL smart TV remote control.
• The website shows trending free multimedia content streamed by other BrowseHere users anonymously.
• Allows webpage bookmarking and internet surfing history.
• Using QR-code-based technology, you can send websites from your smartphone to the smart TV.
• Zoom in and out on web pages.
• To swipe a page up and down, you can use Scroll Mode.
• It runs on any Android 5.0 or better smart TV and requires only 15 MB of storage space.

Pros:

• Offers full-functional voice-based surfing and downloading.
• Built-in IPTV extension.
• Automatically adds subscribed websites and OTT apps from the smart TV.

Cons:

• Its default search engine is Google and you can’t change that.

Get BrowseHere

Internet Web Browser – Best for Multi-Tasking

Are you looking for the best browser for smart TVs with multitasking support? You should check out the Internet Web Browser. Moreover, it’s a super-lightweight Android TV browser given the app only needs up to 5 MB of space on the TV storage. It also runs on the latest models because it’s compatible with Android 6.0 and later operating systems.

Additionally, the browser includes the latest surfing and streaming technologies to use less data. Also, you can switch to the Dark Mode view to reduce strain on your eyes.

The developers are working on a new feature so you can export smart TV browser history, bookmarks, favorites, etc., to Chrome and Firefox on a PC or Mac.

Here are other prominent features:

• Scroll Mode allows you to move up or down on the web page really fast.
• Built-in incognito browsing.
• Compatible with most downloads, like APK files, movies, web series, etc.
• Zoom in and out on web page images and text.
• Dedicated buttons to quickly delete browsing data, download history, and more.

Pros:

• Compatible with web WhatsApp, Messenger, etc.
• Full-screen and UHD web media player.

Cons:

• The home screen is cluttered.
• You might see promoted content on the Startpage.

Get Internet Web Browser

TV Bro – Best for TV Remote Use

If you’re looking for a browsing experience almost equivalent to a PC or Mac, you can go for TV Bro. Its home screen is similar to that of Opera or Chrome. There’s also a search engine field showing Google as the default search portal.

However, you can switch to other options, like Bing, Yahoo, Yandex, DuckDuckGo, and more. Furthermore, there’s a field for a custom search engine where you can add a URL for a different provider not available in the drop-down list.

Below the search engine space, there are speed dials (as in Opera) or shortcuts (as in Google Chrome) for quick navigation to the most visited or important websites.

Other major features are as outlined below:

• There’s a dedicated Downloads icon so you can quickly navigate to the recently downloaded apps or multimedia.
• Incognito mode to browse without saving browsing history, cookies, etc.
• Works with most TV remote models.
• Offers tabbed website browsing for multi-tasking.
• You can search using voice commands if your smart TV remote supports voice inputs.
• Requires at least Android 7.0 or better Android TV OS.

Pros:

• Offers a built-in ad-blocking tool.
• Supports zooming in and out from website content.

Cons:

• Always resets the default search engine to Google.
• Doesn’t support smartphone-based navigation.
• It requires up to 200 MB of storage space, so it’s not the most lightweight app.

Get TV Bro

Browser – Best for Redirect Blocking

Browser is a popular and secure tool for Android and smart TVs. You can use most of the browsing features, like entering a URL in the address bar, downloading from direct links, saving bookmarks, and clearing history data, with the smart TV remote.

Also, if the remote is compatible with voice searching, you can surf on the Browser app via voice commands. It’s a lightweight app that runs on most TVs with Android 6.0 and up and only requires up to 16 MB of internal storage space.

Moreover, it offers a sleek browsing interface with a left-side navigation panel for Home, Bookmark, Browsing History, Downloads, Settings, and Favorites. On the right side, you’ll find shortcut tabs on the top for popular sites like YouTube, Google Play, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc. Beneath the shortcuts toolbar, there’s an address bar and voice search tool.

Other significant features include:

• Virtual remote tool to convert your smartphone into the remote for the Browser app.
• Custom cursor styles, sizes, and speeds.
• Incognito browsing facility.

Pros:

• Allows smartphone-based browser navigation.
• Dedicated button to delete browsing history in one click.
• Unrestricted internet browsing.

Cons:

• Some features are behind a paywall.
• Light or colorful themes aren’t available.

Get Browser

Google Chrome – Best for Browser Syncing

If your preferred browsing app is Google Chrome, you can also enjoy the same on your smart TVs and Android TVs. However, it isn’t natively available on the smart TV app store.

You can side-load it on your Android TV by downloading its official APK from APKMirror for free. You’ll need to activate the app installation from Unknown Sources on the smart TV.

Once installed, sign in to your Google Account to import all the browsing data from your PC or Mac to the TV. Its user interface and browsing experience are similar to Chrome for PC and Mac.

Find below other notable features:

• The voice search feature is compatible with the microphone of the TV or remote.
• Shows trending news and events in the Discovery tab.
• The Following tab shows you updates from the websites and apps you follow.
• Dedicated buttons for Downloads, History, Incognito browsing, etc.

Pros:

• A familiar browsing interface.
• Syncs with other devices automatically.

Cons:

• Not available in the smart TV app store.
• Installation is a complex process.

Get Google Chrome

How I Chose the Best Browser for Smart TV

I’ve considered the following points to pick apps that stand out from the crowd:

1. Availability on the App Store

I’ve ensured that the best smart TV internet browsers are available on the built-in app store. Otherwise, installing a non-native web browser involves complex steps, like side-loading third-party APK files.

2. Compatibility

I checked that the browsers work with most smart TV models and operating systems. All of the apps mentioned above will run smoothly.

3. Remote Control Friendly

Typing and browsing on a tiny remote isn’t ideal, so I picked browsers with a user interface designed for easy navigation with arrow keys and buttons.

4. Voice Search

Does the browser support voice search? Speaking into your remote to search the web is a game-changer for hands-free browsing.

5. Performance

I’ve only listed options that are optimized for smart TVs so that websites load quickly and without lags.

6. Downloading Apps and Videos

These tools let you browse the internet freely, just like surfing the web from a computer, and download apps and multimedia smoothly.

7. Security

Just like on your computer, security matters. I’ve ensured that the apps I’ve listed come with built-in privacy and security features, like pop-up blockers, malware protection, adware blocking, etc.

8. Ad Blocking

Other than being annoying, ad trackers can steal sensitive content preference data from your smart TV. To help you prevent ads, I’ve chosen the best Android TV browsers that come with built-in ad blockers or let you install extensions.

9. Syncing

For multitasking and productivity, you often need to sync browser data between devices. I’ve listed smart TV browsers here that can sync your bookmarks, favorites, and more.

Summary

If you’re here, congratulations! You can now easily pick the best browser for your smart TV. So, give them a try and choose the one that suits your browsing style and preferences.

If the article helped you, feel free to comment below. If you’ve got critical feedback or suggestions, you can mention them as well. Moreover, if you need a browser for an older, 32-bit system, I’ve got you covered.