A $20 Chrome Alternative: Rediscovering the Value of Chrome

The dominance of Google Chrome in the browser market has often been challenged by emerging services, but most have failed to change users’ habits. Amid this landscape, OpenAI’s “ChatGPT Atlas,” released in 2026, garnered attention as an AI-native browser.

Ben Qureshi, a journalist at Android Police, purchased Atlas for $20 and used it as his primary browser for several weeks, documenting his experience. In conclusion, he states that this experiment made him appreciate the polished nature of Chrome even more.

Transitioning from Chrome Was Surprisingly Smooth

Atlas is built on the open-source Chromium project and Blink rendering engine. As a result, its layout, settings, shortcuts, and overall web behavior are similar to existing browsers. Qureshi describes it as “not an attempt to reinvent the browser with a quirky AI experiment.”

The initial setup was straightforward. Chrome bookmarks, passwords, browsing history, and even settings were easily importable. Additionally, it supported extensions, which could be transferred during onboarding. For many users, the ability to carry over their browsing habits is crucial, and in this regard, Atlas earned high marks.

When ChatGPT Integrates Seamlessly into Browsing

More significant than the engine itself is the AI layer that Atlas overlays. Qureshi praised the feature that extracts detailed information from the current tab and allows users to ask contextual questions. For instance, when drafting an email or filling out a web form, highlighting text enables ChatGPT to rewrite it inline—a feature called “cursor chat” that he described as a small yet significant innovation, eliminating the hassle of copy-pasting.

“I wish more AI tools offered this level of everyday convenience,” Qureshi remarked.

Agent Mode: “Interesting,” but Patience Required

The standout feature of Atlas is its “Agent Mode.” When activated, actionable elements on the screen are highlighted in blue, allowing the AI to perform tasks using a digital cursor. For example, it can add specified products to a shopping cart or navigate to a checkout page.

However, Qureshi cautions that this feature is not “automatically good.” Its functionality is still unstable, requiring patience in many instances. While OpenAI has implemented safeguards to prevent dangerous actions, there is room for improvement in terms of practicality.

What Returning to Chrome Revealed

After weeks of using Atlas, Qureshi found a renewed appreciation for Chrome’s simplicity and reliability. While the AI features of Atlas are undoubtedly intriguing, the lack of unnecessary frills in Chrome is a significant advantage for everyday browsing. Advanced features like Agent Mode, given their current lack of polish, often caused more frustration than convenience.

“Paying $20 gave me the opportunity to rediscover how great Chrome truly is,” Qureshi concluded. While OpenAI’s browser strategy has only just begun, it appears that, for now, it is not enough to dethrone Chrome’s dominance.