Pages, not little apps.
Once Plain has the readable page, there is no page script left alive in the background.
Plain
When you want the readable web, browse Plain.
Plain turns articles, docs, blogs, references, and chosen news sources into fast, readable pages: no ad-tech, no app shell, just the words, images, and links.
Download Plain
Plain Browser is a native Swift app for macOS.
It is currently ad-hoc signed and not notarized.
The old web was pages.
A link opens, the page loads, the text is readable, and the next link is still there. Plain is built for that older rhythm: HTML as source material, the active app layer stripped away, the useful part rebuilt as a native macOS document.
Faster, lighter, more private.
Less ad-tech surface.
Scripts, frames, embeds, trackers, and pop-up machinery are left outside the reading surface.
Faster, smaller, lighter.
In measured runs against Chromium, Plain reached a native document sooner, fetched fewer bytes, and used less estimated energy.
Made for readable pages.
Plain is for articles, docs, essays, recipes, references, blogs, and the next useful link. It is the wrong tool for banking, shopping carts, editors, social feeds, video apps, and JavaScript-only pages. Open those in a regular browser.
Plain News, no endless feed.
Plain News supports RSS and web sources, rolling or calendar windows, interests, and a local reading pass. It uses Apple Foundation Models locally when available, with a local heuristic fallback, and opens selected stories in Plain's normal reader.
A measurable difference.
In the latest benchmark comparison against Chromium, Plain text-only reached a native document 60% sooner, fetched 78% fewer bytes, made one median request, and executed zero page-script bytes. With images enabled, Plain fetched 76% fewer bytes and reached a native document 61% sooner. The Apple silicon DMG is 3.1 MB.
Benchmark evidence: 20 URLs, 3 iterations per URL, captured May 22, 2026. Comparative measurements, not a promise that every page is always faster.
FAQ
Is Plain a full browser replacement?
No. Plain is intentionally narrow. Your regular browser remains the right tool for complex web apps.
Does Plain block ads?
Plain is not an ad blocker bolted onto a browser. It removes the scripts, frames, embeds, trackers, and pop-up machinery that many ads depend on, then builds the readable document from what remains.
Does Plain support images?
Yes. Plain can fetch first-party images, or run in true text-only mode when images are off before loading.
What happens when a page needs JavaScript?
If a page needs forms, dashboards, login flows, or a rich runtime, Plain can hand it off to the default browser.
What if a readable page looks wrong?
Use Plain's Report Page Issue action, email [email protected], or open a GitHub issue. The most useful reports include the page URL, what looked wrong, and a screenshot if possible.
Does Plain track browsing?
No. There is no product telemetry, account system, sync service, remote AI call for page reading or Plain News, or analytics script.
Is Plain open source?
Yes. Plain is a native Swift app with source available on GitHub.