Today we have an important update. We are ending development of Orion for Linux and Windows, and we're open-sourcing both so the community can carry them forward. Kagi is stepping back from developing these platforms directly so our team can put more focus on Orion for macOS and iOS.

Orion is built by a very small team, just a handful of developers, funded entirely by Kagi users. We also chose to build it the hard way by not forking Chromium. That independence matters more than ever. The web needs more than one engine, and more than one company deciding what a browser should be.

When we announced Orion for Linux, the response was overwhelming. Many of you were thrilled, tested early builds, filed bug reports, and told us how much you wanted a WebKit-based browser on Linux that respects your privacy. Thank you. That work will soon belong to everyone.

Why we're doing this

When we decided to take Orion beyond the Apple ecosystem, we knew it was a big bet for a small, independent company. We made it because we believe owning the whole experience beginning with the browser, matters.

Building a cross-platform browser is something usually done by companies backed by venture capital or by large open-source communities. Kagi is neither. One thing we hear often from members is that they want us focused. They're right. Rather than spread a small team across three platforms, we're putting our energy where we can do our best work and opening the rest to people who want to take it further.

What this means for Orion on macOS and iOS

Orion for macOS and iOS isn't changing, except to get better. The team and resources that were split across platforms are now focused on making Orion on Apple devices faster, more stable, and more capable. Expect steady improvements in the coming months.

What open-sourcing looks like

We'll release the source code for Orion for Linux and Orion for Windows. A lot of good work went into it, and it deserves a future even if we aren't the ones who finish it now. We're thinking about this carefully and will release details in the next 30 days.

We've also reached out to open-source foundations and organizations about long-term stewardship. To be clear about our role: Kagi won't be the core maintainer. These projects need people who want to own them.

Get involved

If you're a developer, maintainer, or organization interested in stewarding Orion for Linux or Windows, we want to hear from you. Reach us at [email protected].

What this means for current users

Linux: The current Linux Beta will keep working, but it will stop receiving updates from Kagi after October 2, 2026. We don't recommend using it as your main browser.

Windows: We had planned to launch Orion for Windows in late 2026. That release won't come from Kagi. Instead, the code will be available for the community to build on. If you signed up for the Windows newsletter, this will be the last update you receive from that list.

Thank you

To everyone who tested, reported bugs, and believed in an independent browser beyond the Apple ecosystem: thank you. You helped build something worth sharing, and we're glad to share it with the community.

Thank you for your patience, your enthusiasm, and your trust.

— the Kagi team