Product Hunt Discussion

The browser prompter for macOS

Multi-Default

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

Favourite

Keep your usual browser closest to the mouse, at quadruple the size.

The Blue 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 a small donation. Doing so will help me cover the cost of future development.

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. Please note that if not set as the default browser, Browserosaurus will not work.

How do I set my favourite activity?

A favourite activity is one that will always appear nearest to the mouse cursor, will be much larger and therefore an easier target to click. You can set your favourite by clicking on the Browserosaurus menubar icon.

The picker window was 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 you have not set Browserosaurus to load on startup, it can take a few seconds until it is available. Each subsequently clicked link will open the picker window promptly, like normal.

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?

Not even the link I click?

Nope. The only outgoing call Browserosaurus makes is to check for an update. The only persistent piece of user information saved to disk is which favourite activity you have selected.

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 loaded. Please click the "B" icon in the menubar, and select "Quit". Start Browserosaurus again and you will see the changes.

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

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

I have a question that is not answered here.

If you have any issues, feature requests, or would simply like to say "hi", please raise an issue on GitHub, or send me a tweet.

Community Reception on Product Hunt

When Browserosaurus launched on Product Hunt, it quickly captured the attention of macOS power users who are tired of the one-browser-fits-all paradigm. The discussion thread buzzed with excitement about the app’s clean design and the sheer practicality of its multi-default approach. Many commenters shared their own workflows—some juggling development, design, and personal browsing—and praised how the picker allowed them to send documentation links to Chrome, Figma prototypes to Firefox, and everything else to Safari without breaking stride.

The conversation also surfaced constructive feedback. A few users requested support for additional niche browsers, while others wondered about possible Windows or Linux ports. The developer engaged actively, answering questions and noting that the app’s whitelist is community-driven and open to suggestions. This transparent, responsive attitude helped foster a loyal early following. Several hunters even contributed code snippets or icon assets in the following weeks, turning the Product Hunt launch into a small but vibrant open-source collaboration.

One standout moment in the discussion was when a user with accessibility needs highlighted how the enlarged favourite target and high-contrast blue bar made link selection significantly easier. That real-world impact resonated deeply, and the comment became one of the most upvoted on the page. It underscored that Browserosaurus isn’t just a productivity toy—it can genuinely lower friction for users who rely on assistive workflows.

The Making of Browserosaurus

Browserosaurus was born out of a deceptively simple frustration: why does every clicked link have to open in the same browser? For those who split their digital lives among development, design, communication, and research, that single default becomes a constant source of context-switching. The creator set out to build a lightweight macOS utility that would intercept hyperlink clicks and offer a split-second choice—without adding complexity or selling user data. The result is an app that respects both your attention and your privacy.

Development focused on minimalism from day one. Instead of building yet another browser, the tool leverages your existing setup, reading the list of installed browsers from Spotlight and using a curated whitelist to keep the picker tidy. The decision to keep the app free, supported only by optional donations, was deliberate—it aligned with the ethos of putting utility before profit. The project’s entire source code lives on GitHub, inviting scrutiny and contributions while ensuring that the app’s claims about data collection can be independently verified.

How Browserosaurus Compares to Alternatives

There are a handful of macOS utilities that attempt to solve the default browser problem, but most fall short in one way or another. Some rely on complex AppleScripts that break with each OS update. Others present clunky, text-only lists that lack the visual polish and muscle memory required for daily use. Browserosaurus differentiates itself through its thoughtful UI: the enormous favourite tile, the blue URL bar for safety preview, and the grid layout that scales naturally as you install more browsers.

Unlike browser extensions that only work inside a specific app, Browserosaurus operates at the system level, intercepting clicks from mail clients, terminal programs, notes apps, and any other software that respects the macOS default browser setting. This universality is its killer feature. Moreover, its open-source nature stands in contrast to proprietary alternatives that often bundle analytics or upsell freemium tiers. For privacy-conscious users, the absence of telemetry is a decisive advantage.

Power-User Tips and Hidden Niceties

Even if you’ve been using Browserosaurus for months, you might be missing out on some subtle features. Here are a few that experienced users swear by:

• Quick-Select with Arrow Keys: Once the picker appears, you can use the arrow keys to navigate tiles and press Enter to launch—no mouse needed. This is a game-changer for keyboard-centric workflows.
• Favourite Toggle via Menubar: While you can set a favourite from the menubar icon, you can also quickly switch favourites by holding the Option key when clicking the icon—a handy shortcut for those who need different defaults in different contexts.
• Customising the Whitelist Manually: Advanced users can edit the app’s plist configuration file to add or remove browsers before the developer merges a GitHub issue. This allows instant support for experimental builds or lesser-known browsers.
• Handling Links from Specific Apps: Combine Browserosaurus with macOS automation tools like Keyboard Maestro or Shortcuts to create app-specific routing rules—for example, all links from your task manager always go to your work browser, bypassing the picker entirely when you’re in deep-focus mode.

Another underused capability is the blue bar’s tooltip behaviour. Hover over the URL for a second, and a tooltip reveals the full address, helping you spot lookalike domains before you even leave the picker. In an age of increasingly sophisticated phishing attempts, this tiny detail can save you from a costly mistake.

The Road Ahead and Community Involvement

Browserosaurus follows a steady release cadence, driven by the community’s most pressing requests. The project’s GitHub issue tracker is the best place to propose new features, report bugs, or vote on existing ideas. Recent discussions have centered on adding support for custom URL schemes, integrating with Shortcuts for automation, and exploring ways to present the picker even faster on older Macs. While no timelines are promised, the developer’s track record of shipping small, incremental improvements gives users confidence that feedback doesn’t vanish into a black hole.

Donations, while entirely voluntary, help fund essential costs like code-signing certificates and occasional hardware upgrades for testing. Every contribution is acknowledged publicly in the README, reinforcing the transparent, community-first spirit that has defined Browserosaurus since its earliest days. Whether you’re a one-time donor or a daily user who simply spreads the word, your involvement helps ensure that the project can keep delivering a best-in-class link routing experience without ever resorting to ads or data harvesting.

If you haven’t already, consider joining the conversation on Product Hunt, GitHub, or Twitter—the more voices sharing real-world use cases, the better the app becomes for everyone. The developer values this feedback loop and often credits community members in release notes, making it one of the rare open-source tools where your input directly shapes the roadmap.