w3m review
A focused terminal browser for Linux workflows, not a general-purpose graphical alternative.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
w3m brings web browsing to a terminal emulator, combining a text-mode browser with pager functions. It is suited to Linux users who need to read web pages or local documents from a terminal, including remote sessions and scripting workflows. Rather than aiming to replace a graphical browser, it focuses on displaying text and providing keyboard-oriented navigation, with mouse navigation available when compiled with mouse support.
Its feature set covers more than page viewing: w3m supports HTTP and HTTPS, hyperlinks, HTML frames and forms, cookie storage with acceptance controls, tabs, bookmarks, and browsing history. Search and downloads are also included. A distinctive capability is output to standard output: w3m can dump rendered pages, page source, or responses, which makes it useful in terminal-based workflows where the result needs to be read or passed along outside a graphical interface. SSL support is a build-time capability requiring OpenSSL, so that depends on how the software is built.
w3m is open source and listed for Linux, making it a fit for people who prioritize terminal access and text rendering over a visual browsing experience. Its narrow focus is also its main limitation: it is not a substitute for a browser centered on graphical page presentation, and mouse support is conditional. Choose it for text-mode browsing, local document reading, or rendered output in terminal workflows; choose another browser if your work depends on a graphical interface or features such as extensions, synchronization, ad blocking, or tracking protection.
w3m pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Browses local documents and HTTP or HTTPS pages in a terminal.
- Supports forms, frames, cookies, tabs, bookmarks, and history.
- Can dump rendered pages, source, or responses to standard output.
- Where it doesn't
- Text-only interface is a poor fit for graphical browsing.
- Mouse navigation depends on being compiled with mouse support.
- SSL support requires a build with OpenSSL.
w3m fact sheet, pricing and score →
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