Kiwix is a free website reader that mimics a browser's interface, complete with a new tab and search function. When installed, users from lower socioeconomic backgrounds or those living in remote locations or refugee camps can browse content offline—from Wikipedia pages to the Stack Exchange’s Q&A forums. 

Free from ads

Kiwix works by compressing a website into a Zim file for easy access to content. This utility tool supports HTML files, too—just drag the file to the program and it will display your downloaded website. You can zoom in or out or enable full-screen mode for a better reading experience.

What’s great about it is it is an open-source program that doesn’t sell personal data or contain advertisements. Plus, you can create a local server and print web pages. However, it’s difficult to find your desired language in “Browse By Language” due to the small text size and scroll bar.

Making information more accessible

Whether you’re a volunteer or a community leader, Kiwix allows you to share offline content with individuals in camps or rural areas. It offers zooming and printing capabilities and supports HTML files. However, the small font size and scroll bar are a turn-off for some users.