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The Best Browser Start Pages

Five real start pages and new-tab dashboards compared on customization, widgets, privacy, and price.

Last updated Jul 3, 2026

A good start page turns your new-tab screen into a launchpad for the links, feeds, and services you use every day. The best pick depends on whether you want an easy hosted dashboard, a self-hosted page you fully own, or a minimalist focus screen. We compared five real start-page tools so you can choose the right home for your browser. Affiliate links never change where a product ranks.

  1. 1

    start.me

    Our pick

    A flexible bookmark-and-widget start page that works for individuals and teams alike.

    8.3
    / 10

    Pros

    • + Rich drag-and-drop layout of bookmark widgets, notes, RSS, and to-do lists
    • + Syncs across browsers and devices with public and shared page options
    • + Capable free tier plus team plans for shared company start pages

    Cons

    • − Advanced sharing, admin, and unlimited pages require a paid plan
    • − It is a hosted service, so your links live on the vendor's servers
    • − Heavily loaded pages can feel busy compared with minimalist start screens
    From $2.50 /month
    Visit start.me
  2. 2

    Heimdall

    A self-hosted application dashboard that doubles as a clean, private start page.

    8.4
    / 10

    Pros

    • + Open source and self-hosted, so your start page and data stay private to you
    • + Enhanced widgets pull live status from many popular self-hosted apps
    • + Clean, searchable tile layout that is easy to set up via Docker

    Cons

    • − Requires running your own server, which rules out non-technical users
    • − Cross-device use depends on exposing your server, not built-in cloud sync
    • − Aimed at homelab links more than everyday browsing bookmarks
    Visit Heimdall
  3. 3

    Momentum

    Best free

    A calming new-tab dashboard that blends a daily photo, focus, and quick links.

    7.3
    / 10

    Pros

    • + Beautiful, calming default new-tab page with daily photos and a focus prompt
    • + Genuinely useful free tier with quick links, weather, and a to-do list
    • + Popular, well-maintained extension available for all major browsers

    Cons

    • − Custom backgrounds, integrations, and extra widgets require Momentum Plus
    • − It is a hosted extension, so your settings live on the vendor's servers
    • − More a focus and productivity screen than a dense link dashboard
    From $3.33 /month
    Visit Momentum
  4. 4

    Homer

    A dead-simple, static, YAML-configured start page for self-hosters.

    7.7
    / 10

    Pros

    • + Extremely lightweight static page configured with one simple YAML file
    • + Open source and self-hosted, keeping full control over your data
    • + Fast, themeable, and easy to deploy anywhere static files run

    Cons

    • − Editing a YAML file is less friendly than a visual editor
    • − No built-in cloud sync or accounts across devices
    • − Geared toward technical homelab users rather than general browsing
    Visit Homer
  5. 5

    Netvibes

    A long-standing widget dashboard and start page built around RSS and feeds.

    7.1
    / 10

    Pros

    • + Mature, tab-based dashboard that is strong at aggregating RSS and feeds
    • + Wide range of widgets for news, weather, and monitoring
    • + Free personal dashboard is available without self-hosting

    Cons

    • − The interface feels dated next to modern minimalist start pages
    • − The product is now oriented toward enterprise monitoring users
    • − Hosted service with weaker privacy control than self-hosted options
    From $0.00
    Visit Netvibes

Side-by-side

The Best Browser Start Pages — score by criterion for each product.
Product Customization & Layout Privacy & Hosting Widgets & Integrations Value & Pricing Overall
start.me 9.0 7.0 8.5 8.0 8.3
Heimdall 8.0 9.5 8.0 8.5 8.4
Momentum 7.5 7.0 6.5 9.0 7.3
Homer 7.0 9.0 7.0 8.5 7.7
Netvibes 7.5 6.0 8.0 6.5 7.1
How we scored this

We scored each tool on four weighted criteria: Customization & Layout (weight 3), Widgets & Integrations (weight 2), Privacy & Hosting (weight 2), and Value & Pricing (weight 1). Scores reflect our editorial judgement of each product's public features and pricing, and rankings are independent of any affiliate payout. Any sponsored placement is labelled separately and never presented as an earned rank.