Alternative Browsers for Linux (for Lightweight and Privacy)

A list of recommended lightweigt (and not-so-lightweight) browsers for Linux with some emphasis on privacy.

Some of these browsers will work on old hardware, but not all. Many browsers are no longer built for 32 bit systems. Notes on 32 bit availability below are last updated fall 2021.


(Edition 9)



(Links below are spelled out so that this page may be printed)


First, alternative lightweight browsers

Those above are really simple lightweight browsers, they will work on almost all systems but they will not behave like modern browsers do. As an example javascript will not work. They are extremely fast.

Then, not-so-lightweight modern browsers

These will display modern souped-up JS heavy web sites. NOTE: Some/most will not work on 32 bit systems (older PCs). Also, these are not made as privacy oriented browsers.

For a Firefox-based browser with (some) privacy enabled

All of the below have had some privacy and security modifications made, eg. precautions against tracking, fingerprinting, content-blocking filters etc.

Do not think of these as "privacy browsers", they are merely Firefoxes that have been changed in various ways. Some Google integration etc. may be left.

For a Chromium based browser with (some) privacy enabled

These are only for 64 bit Linux systems (32 bit may be available for Windows). Chromium is not lightweight, the following are not either.

Do not think of these as "privacy browsers", they are merely Chromiums that have been changed in various ways. Some Google integration etc. may be left.

For a browser with privacy as the primary and single purpose

(This browser is built on Firefox)

Please note that even this browser may have some issues.

Below browsers are CAUTIONED AGAINST for privacy reasons (you may still have to put up with some of them for other reasons).

Further reading

Here are some starting points for your own decision-making

Notes:

* June 2021 a media story claimed DuckDuckGo to be planning on making a browser. However there is no official announcement or even mention on their official home page. The company does offer "Apps" for smartphones, and a browser extension, though.


This list has been broken out of the Linux after-install todo list (the useful list) in order to reduce the size of it. And then because it is a useful list in-and-by-itself.


 

 


Document URL: http://clsc.net/articles/linux-browsers-light-w-privacy.php