Pale Moon
Pale Moon is a free, open-source web browser built on its proprietary Goanna rendering engine and Unified XUL Platform, serving privacy-conscious and customization-focused individual users seeking a non-Big-Tech alternative to mainstream browsers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersWellesley, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Pale Moon does
Pale Moon is an open-source web browser developed and maintained by Moonchild Productions since 2009, led by founder M.C. Straver BASc (known as "Moonchild"). The browser is built on the Unified XUL Platform (UXP), an independently maintained fork of Mozilla technology, and runs on Pale Moon's proprietary Goanna rendering and layout engine — distinct from both Chromium and Firefox's Gecko. Available for Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux (with community-contributed support for other operating systems including FreeBSD v14+), Pale Moon differentiates through zero telemetry, no ads, no DRM, and explicit refusal of AI integration. It supports XUL-based extensions capable of modifying core browser functions, full theming, and legacy NPAPI plugins (Java, Flash), targeting privacy-conscious users, customization enthusiasts, and legacy plugin users.
The browser is released as community-supported open-source software, free to download in standard and portable versions. Revenue is generated through three narrow streams: direct community donations (via Ko-fi and other services), a search partnership with DuckDuckgo as the default search engine (the only monetization mechanism beyond donations), and a small merchandise storefront selling physical challenge coins and copper bullion. The project operates with a small distributed team of developers, no institutional investors, no parent company, and no venture funding, explicitly maintaining independence from major technology companies. Distribution is global via direct downloads from palemoon.org, with an add-ons marketplace (extensions, themes, search plugins, language packs, dictionaries) powered by Project Phoebus 2.4.2 and developer resources hosted under Project Selene. Pale Moon holds registered trademarks for its brand, the Goanna engine, and its "Your Browser, Your Way™" tagline, and continues active development with regular security and stability releases, most recently version 34.3.1 in June 2026.
Pale Moon firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pale Moon
- Legal name
- Moonchild Productions
- Website
- https://palemoon.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Pale Moon is a free, open-source web browser built on its proprietary Goanna rendering engine and Unified XUL Platform, serving privacy-conscious and customization-focused individual users seeking a non-Big-Tech alternative to mainstream browsers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Pale Moon is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wellesley
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Pale Moon business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Community Donations: Direct donations from community members to support hosting, development, and maintenance costs. Multiple donation options are available including Ko-fi and other services.
- Search Partnership: Search partnership with DuckDuckGo as the default search engine. This is the only monetization option besides donations.
- Swag Shop: Sale of physical merchandise such as challenge coins and copper bullion coins through Ko-fi to supporters
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free Download |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Pale Moon product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Pale Moon is an open-source web browser built on its own independently developed Goanna rendering engine and the Unified XUL Platform (UXP), available for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. It is positioned as a privacy-first, non-commercial alternative to Chrome, offering complete XUL-based customization, NPAPI legacy plugin support (Java, Flash), zero telemetry, and no AI integration.
Product overview
Pale Moon is a single, unified open-source web browser built on its proprietary Goanna rendering engine. The core offering is the Pale Moon browser itself, available in standard and portable versions for Windows, Mac, and Linux. The product ecosystem extends through an official Add-ons Site hosting extensions, themes, search plugins, language packs, and dictionaries. Supporting tools include the Pale Moon Sync service, Profile Backup Tool, Pale Moon Commander, Tab Groups, and Flash Protected Mode Tool. The browser is built upon the Unified XUL Platform (UXP), an open-source platform also maintained by Moonchild Productions that enables extensibility through XUL-based add-ons. Pale Moon explicitly does not integrate AI features, positioning itself as a privacy-focused, customizable alternative to mainstream browsers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Goanna: The custom, independently developed layout and rendering engine that powers the Pale Moon browser.
- Unified XUL Platform (UXP)
- Project Phoebus
- Project Selene
- Basilisk
Products and services
- Pale Moon Web Browser Open-source web browser built on Pale Moon's own Goanna rendering engine and the Unified XUL Platform (UXP), available for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, and Linux, focusing on customization, security, privacy, and extensibility for individual end users.
- Pale Moon Portable Portable edition of the Pale Moon browser that runs from a USB drive or other removable media without requiring installation, targeted at users who need a mobile or non-installable browsing environment.
- Pale Moon Sync Service Optional browser synchronization service operated by Pale Moon that lets users sync browsing data across multiple devices.
- Profile Backup Tool Tool for backing up Pale Moon browser profile data so users can preserve and restore their settings, extensions, and stored information.
- Pale Moon Commander Browser-based file management tool for performing file operations from within the Pale Moon browser environment.
- Pale Moon Tab Groups Extension for organizing browser tabs into named groups within the Pale Moon browser.
- Flash Protected Mode Tool Tool for managing Flash Player protected mode settings in Pale Moon, supporting use of legacy Flash-based content.
- Goanna Rendering Engine Pale Moon's own independently developed layout and rendering engine, optimized for efficiency with GPU acceleration support, distinct from Chromium and Firefox's Gecko.
- Unified XUL Platform (UXP) Open-source XUL application platform developed and maintained by Moonchild Productions, serving as the foundation for Pale Moon and enabling XUL-based extension and theming capabilities.
Companies that use Pale Moon
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Pale Moon technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature6 records
Pale Moon partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- DuckDuckGocoreDuckDuckGo is the default search engine for Pale Moon. This is the primary monetization partnership for the project. DuckDuckGo is explicitly chosen for its privacy-respecting approach with no AI summaries feature available via a no-AI search plugin.
- NetroutingminorSponsored hosting provider for Pale Moon's online infrastructure
- VPSserver.comminorUS download mirror provider for Pale Moon binaries
- IP-API.comcoreProvides optional geolocation services for the browser. Only receives IP address and generic browser data through normal HTTP requests. Users can disable this feature.
- BasiliskcoreRelated browser project also based on the Unified XUL Platform (UXP). Both browsers share the same platform codebase. Basilisk is currently independently owned and developed by a different party.
- Ko-fiminorPlatform used for swag shop merchandise sales (challenge coins) and direct donations to support the project
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Pale Moon competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Pale Moon social profiles
Digital presencePale Moon financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pale Moon leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Pale Moon funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pale Moon M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Pale Moon
What does Pale Moon do?
Pale Moon is an open-source web browser built on its own independently developed Goanna rendering engine and the Unified XUL Platform (UXP), available for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. It is positioned as a privacy-first, non-commercial alternative to Chrome, offering complete XUL-based customization, NPAPI legacy plugin support (Java, Flash), zero telemetry, and no AI integration.
Is Pale Moon a public or private company?
Pale Moon is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Pale Moon founded?
Pale Moon was founded in 2009.
Where is Pale Moon based?
Pale Moon is headquartered in Wellesley, United States, in the North America region.
How does Pale Moon make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Community Donations are the primary driver. The others are search Partnership and swag Shop.
Does Pale Moon have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pale Moon.