Appinn Review

The browser prompter for macOS

Multi-Default

After clicking a link, use the picker to choose the correct browser for the job.

Favourite

URL Bar

Make sure the website you are about to open is the one you are expecting.

See it in action

Browserosaurus is FREE. However, please consider sponsorship. Doing so will help me cover the cost of future development and the fee charged by Apple to release software on their operating system.

FAQ

Why does Browserosaurus ask to be set as my default browser?

This is required for Browserosaurus to know that a link has been clicked. You can change this at any time by going to System Preferences > General > Default web browser and (de)selecting Browserosaurus.

How do I set my favourite browser?

A favourite browser will open when the SPACE key is pressed, and is therefore an easier target to hit. You can set your favourite by using the tiles menu, bottom-left of picker window.

I would like to open a particular browser automatically for specific URLs.

Browserosaurus does not provide a method for automatically selecting browsers, rather opting for the consistency that the picker window will show every time. If you would like to be able set rules, I highly recommend Finicky by John Sterling which can very easily be used in tandem with Browserosaurus, meaning the best of both worlds: a rules engine and a graphical interface.

The picker window is very slow to display.

The app needs to be running in the background for the picker window to show immediately. You can confirm Browserosaurus is running by looking for the "B" icon in the menubar. If Browserosaurus is not currently running, it can take a few seconds until it is available. Each subsequently clicked link will open the picker window promptly.

I'm clicking links in my browser but Browserosaurus does not show.

Only links clicked outside of browsers will open Browserosaurus. This is by design.

Does Browserosaurus collect any of my data and send it to an online service?

Not even the link I click?

Nope. The only outgoing call Browserosaurus makes is to check for an update.

I installed or removed a browser but I'm not seeing this updated in the picker window.

Browserosaurus checks for installed browsers when it is first opened. Clicking the reload button (bottom-right) will reload the app, triggering a new scan for installed browsers.

I have a browser that's not shown in the picker window, even after reloading Browserosaurus.

Browserosaurus operates on a whitelist basis. If you would like a browser added, please raise an issue.

Why/how is this free?

Browserosaurus has by far been the most enjoyable project I've ever created and this comes from the fact that I use it every day. Being a fan of open source software, I thought I'd share it with the world. But just because it's free for you does not mean it is free to make. Personal time aside, Apple charges a yearly subscription that I must pay for the app to work correctly on your machine. If you love Browserosaurus as much as I do, please consider sponsoring its future development. Thank you.

I have a question that is not answered here.

If you have any issues or feature requests please raise an issue on the GitHub repository.

How Browserosaurus Fits into Your Workflow

If you juggle multiple browsers for different tasks—perhaps one for development, another for personal browsing, and a third for work apps—Browserosaurus becomes the missing link. Instead of right‑clicking a link and copying it to the clipboard, then manually opening a specific browser, you simply click any link outside a browser and the picker appears instantly. This tiny intervention eliminates the micro‑friction that accumulates throughout the day, letting you stay in flow. Whether you’re deep in a code editor, reading a PDF, or using a note‑taking app, Browserosaurus ensures every link lands exactly where you intend.

Power users often maintain strict separation between browser identities: one for social media, another for banking, and yet another for ad‑heavy research. With Browserosaurus, that separation becomes effortless. There’s no need to remember which browser is currently set as the default; the picker offers all your options every time. Over time, your fingers learn the pattern—tap a browser tile or hit the favourite shortcut—and the decision takes a fraction of a second. The result is a noticeably smoother digital experience, especially when you’re juggling dozens of links during a research deep‑dive or a collaborative sprint.

Moreover, because Browserosaurus only intercepts links clicked outside of browsers, it never gets in the way of normal browsing. If you’re already inside Firefox and click a link, it opens right there—no interruption. The tool minds its own business until you need it, then steps forward with a clean, minimal interface that disappears once you’ve chosen.

Setting Up Browserosaurus on macOS

Getting started takes less than two minutes. Download the latest build from the official GitHub releases page, mount the disk image, and drag the Browserosaurus icon into your Applications folder. On first launch, macOS will present a security dialog because the app is distributed outside the Mac App Store. You’ll need to navigate to System Preferences > Security & Privacy and click “Open Anyway.” This one‑time step is a standard Gatekeeper routine for open‑source software that hasn’t been notarized by Apple.

Once launched, Browserosaurus asks to be set as your default web browser. This permission is essential: it’s how the app detects that a link has been clicked from another application. Without it, macOS would simply hand the link to whatever browser currently holds the default title. Granting this permission does not mean Browserosaurus will open web pages itself—it merely acts as a router. You can verify and change this setting anytime under System Preferences > General > Default web browser.

For the best experience, enable “Launch at Login” from the menubar icon’s preferences. Keeping Browserosaurus running in the background consumes negligible system resources and ensures the picker appears instantly every time. If the app isn’t already running, there’s a short delay while it cold‑starts—usually only a second or two, but instant availability is the hallmark of a seamless tool.

Customizing the Picker and Your Favourite Browser

The picker window is deliberately simple, but it hides a few thoughtful touches. At the bottom‑left corner, the tiles menu lets you designate one browser as your favourite. Once set, pressing the SPACE key when the picker is visible will immediately launch that browser, turning a two‑step choice into a single keystroke. This is ide% of your links go to the same browser while the remaining 20% are scattered among niche alternatives.

Beyond the favourite, you can reorder the browser tiles by rearranging them in the app’s preferences (though many users simply rely on muscle memory). The URL bar at the top of the picker shows the full destination, giving you a chance to inspect a link before committing. This tiny safety net protects against deceptive links that might otherwise slip past. If you install or remove a browser, hit the reload button in the bottom‑right corner to rescan your system—Browserosaurus updates its list accordingly.

For those who want even finer control, Browserosaurus plays nicely with URL‑based routers like Finicky. You can set Finicky as the system handler, configure rules for automatic browser selection, and then use Browserosaurus as a visual fallback for unhandled cases. The combination gives you both rule‑based efficiency and a graphical picker when rules don’t apply.

Privacy and Transparency by Design

Browserosaurus takes an extreme stance on privacy: it collects absolutely nothing. The FAQ covers the brief answer, but it’s worth emphasizing how this differs from most software. There are no analytics libraries, no crash reporters, and no server‑side logging. The only network call is a simple version check against the GitHub releases API—and that’s it. Even the links you click never leave your machine except when they’re handed off to the chosen browser.

Because the source code is freely available on GitHub, anyone can inspect the entire codebase to confirm these claims. Third‑party security researchers and curious users alike have poked through the app and found no hidden surprises. The browser‑scanning mechanism reads the set of installed applications from your local system, processes that list in memory, and displays it—data never leaves your Mac. In an era of ubiquitous tracking, this radical simplicity is a feature, not an afterthought.

Comparing Browserosaurus to Other Solutions

macOS has no built‑in equivalent to the browser chooser, so users historically either settled on a single default or resorted to clunky workarounds. Finicky, mentioned in the FAQ, offers powerful auto‑selection rules but lacks a graphical picker—it either matches a rule or falls back to a single default. Browserosaurus fills the visual, on‑demand niche, and the two tools coexist gracefully. If you come from Linux, you might be familiar with apps like “browser‑chooser” or custom scripts; Browserosaurus brings that same convenience to the Mac with a polished native interface.

Another approach is using browser extensions that redirect certain URL patterns, but those work only when you’re already inside a specific browser. Browserosaurus operates one level above, catching links at the system level before any browser gets involved. This makes it especially useful for links in email clients, Slack, terminal output, or word processors—anywhere extensions can’t reach. The trade‑off is that you give up automatic selection out of the box, but many users find the deliberate, conscious act of choosing to be an asset rather than a liability.

Community, Contributions, and What’s Next

Browserosaurus is an open‑source project fueled by enthusiasm, not a venture‑backed startup. The developer maintains a public roadmap on GitHub, where you can vote on feature requests or submit your own. Common requests like support for pinned browsers, theme customization, and deeper keyboard navigation are tracked and discussed transparently. If you have a favourite niche browser that isn’t detected, filing an issue with its bundle identifier usually leads to quick addition.

Sponsorship plays a direct role in keeping the project alive. Apple’s annual Developer Program fee, which is required to keep the app signed and running smoothly on modern macOS versions, comes out of the maintainer’s pocket. Even a small monthly contribution helps cover that cost and frees up time for improvements. You can sponsor via GitHub Sponsors or other methods listed on the repository. Beyond funding, the project welcomes code contributions, translations, and documentation improvements—so if you’re technically inclined, there’s a low‑barrier way to get involved.

The community has also gathered around the Product Hunt Discussion page, where users share workflow tips, report edge cases, and celebrate the little moments when Browserosaurus saves the day. If you’re looking for inspiration or want to see how others integrate it into their setups, that thread is a great starting point.