Maho Browser

Overview

Maho Browser is a modern web browser built around a Rust core engine. It combines privacy-first browsing with workspace management, native shell integration, and built-in AI features.

The browser is designed to keep the core browsing stack portable while letting each platform present the native interface users expect. That split gives Maho a shared engine model without forcing a shared UI layer.

Platform support

Maho Browser is available on:

Platform	UI shell	Notes
macOS	AppKit	Native desktop shell for macOS users
iOS	SwiftUI	Mobile shell built for Apple devices
Android	Native Android	Android-specific interface and integration

The browser behavior is shared through the Rust core, while platform shells handle presentation and device-specific interaction patterns.

Architecture

Maho uses a layered architecture:

maho-core contains the browser engine and shared behavior.
Native shells provide the platform UI and app lifecycle integration.
Shared data types and contracts live in dedicated crates so the engine and shells agree on the same model.

This architecture keeps browser logic centralized and reduces divergence across platforms.

Core and shell split

The Rust core owns browser state, tab behavior, and workspace logic. Platform shells are responsible for rendering views, wiring shortcuts, and exposing the native controls for each operating system.

Why this matters

Engine behavior stays consistent across macOS, iOS, and Android.
Platform shells can follow native conventions without duplicating browser logic.
Shared data models make sync, spaces, and tab state easier to reason about.

Key features

The browser includes a set of core features that work together around the workspace model.

Feature	Summary
Spaces	Persistent workspaces for organizing tabs by project or context
AI Features	Built-in AI with tidy titles, page previews, slash commands, and BYOK support
Extensions	Manifest V3 Chrome extension compatibility
Sync	Cross-device sync with end-to-end encryption
Boosts	Per-site CSS and JavaScript customization

Spaces

Spaces are persistent workspaces that group tabs, folders, and rules around a project or context. They are the main organizing unit in Maho Browser. See the Spaces documentation for the full model and behavior.

AI Features

Maho includes built-in AI support for page understanding and browsing assistance. The feature set includes tidy titles, page previews, slash commands, and bring your own key support.

Extensions

Maho supports Manifest V3 Chrome extensions. That keeps the extension surface familiar for users who rely on existing browser tooling.

Sync

Sync keeps browser data aligned across devices and protects it with end-to-end encryption. This makes it possible to move between devices without losing the current workspace context.

Boosts

Boosts let users apply per-site CSS and JavaScript customizations. They are useful for site-specific tweaks that should stay scoped to a single origin.

Additional browser features

Maho also includes several supporting tools that make day-to-day browsing more structured.

Split View

Split View lets users open tabs side by side inside a space. It supports vertical, horizontal, and grid layouts, plus configurable ratios and a focus mode for more controlled reading or comparison workflows.

Notes

Notes are markdown documents attached to spaces. They support code blocks, checklists, and auto-save, which makes them practical for quick research notes or project tracking.

Reading List

The Reading List stores pages for later review. It tracks read and unread status and can auto-archive items after they have been read.

Easel

Easel is a visual canvas for spatial note-taking. It supports cards, images, links, drawings, and auto-layout for more freeform research and planning.

Auto Tab Close

Auto Tab Close, or ATC, cleans up tabs automatically using per-space rules. Rules can close tabs after a time threshold, close duplicates, or enforce a tab count limit.

Content Blocker

The built-in content blocker handles ad and tracker blocking. It supports customizable filter lists and EasyList format rules.

Bookmarks

Bookmarks are organized in a hierarchical manager with folders, tags, and search. The structure is designed for both long-term reference and quick retrieval.

Downloads

The download manager tracks progress, supports pause and resume, and can auto-organize files by type.

Profiles

Profiles provide separate browsing contexts with isolated cookies, history, and extensions. They are useful when different accounts or work identities need to stay separate.

Import and export

Maho can import data from Chrome, Firefox, Arc, Brave, and Edge. Safari import is not yet supported.

Settings

Maho exposes a broad set of settings so users can tune the browser around their workflow.

Settings area	What it covers
General	Core application behavior
Appearance	Visual styling and layout preferences
Privacy	Browsing privacy controls
Reader Mode	Reading-focused presentation options
Keyboard Shortcuts	Shortcut customization
Per-site Settings	Origin-specific behavior
Toolbar Items	Visible toolbar controls
Max	AI feature configuration
Advanced	Lower-level browser options
Notifications	Browser notification behavior
App Icon	Application icon selection

Browser model

Maho is built to support a browser workflow that starts with tabs, then adds structure on top of tabs through spaces, folders, notes, and rules.

That makes it suitable for both general browsing and heavier project-based work where the browser becomes part of the work environment.