Crazy Browser

Crazy Browser
About
Developer(s)	Chitie
First Release	January 15, 2002
Development status	Discontinued
Languages	Multilingual (34)
Engine	Trident
License	Freeware
Website	CrazyBrowser.com - Archive.org
Requirements
OS	Windows 95 through Windows 7

Crazy Browser was a freeware web browser, which has since been discontinued. Released in early 2002, Crazy Browser offered features which were new and unusual at the time. It offered the option of multiple tabs (and tab groups), a built-in ad blocker, gesture controls, quick access to frequently used URLs (through what they called "speed dial"), as well as some other features which have since become mainstream. It relied on Microsoft's Trident browser engine, being unable to operate without a local installation of Internet Explorer.

This browser offered more customization than the other browsers of the time. Toolbars, buttons, menus, and behaviors could all be customized to a significant degree. Tabbed browsing was itself fairly new, but Crazy Browser also offered tab groups, which could be used to manage multiple tabs at once. Additionally, tab groups could be saved for later. This enabled the user to easily reopen a group of tabs which were previously saved. However, the browser also came with a few disadvantages. Although it utilized Internet Explorer's engine, it did not support browser toolbars which were made for Internet Explorer (such as the Google toolbar). There were a few other minor shortcomings observed by users at the time, such as the lack of an option to reorganize saved favorites. Although well received at first, Crazy Browser would not ultimately win the browser wars. The browser market was rapidly changing, and Crazy Browser did not keep up in this competitive environment. Although it initially offered some new ideas and capabilities, it was ultimately overtaken by others.

The last version of Crazy Browser, number 3.10, was released on September 20, 2011. That version remained available on their website into 2016, but by June 6, 2017, their website became inoperable. Its license permitted the redistribution of its installer, and as of 2025, it continues to be available from some third-party websites. However, it does not operate properly on modern versions of the operating system, since they are not supported.

The application was primarily developed by, and licensed to, someone by the name of Chitie. Although released as freeware, it was not open-source, and redistribution was limited to unaltered, original release versions. The project was donation-supported.