Ubuntu is a version or “distribution” of the Linux operating system, created by a UK-based organization called Canonical Ltd. Like Linux, Ubuntu is open-source, meaning the code is freely available, allowing capable users to edit the overall design and improve the software. Ubuntu was first released in 2004 and is based on the design of the Debian OS. Regular updates are released, and free help is available once the software has been installed. The Ubuntu Web Browser is a lightweight internet browser, custom-made for Ubuntu, and is the default internet browser for phones running the Ubuntu Operating system(OS).
The following list contains the 13 best web browsers for Ubuntu.
- Google Chrome
- Opera
- Mozilla Firefox
- Vivaldi
- Brave
- Falkon
- Min Web Browser
- GNOME Web (Epiphany)
- Midori
- Slimjet
- Iridium
- Yandex
- Tor Browser
- Most customizable: Opera
- Most secure: Tor Browser
- Most lightweight: Midori
Table of Contents
1. Google Chrome
Google Chrome is a widely used, free-to-use, Ubuntu browser with incredible capabilities, such as Theora, recognizable WebM codes for the newest music and video for HTML5, and an extremely flexible bookmarking system. Google Chrome is a closed-source web browser based on the open-source Chromium project, supported by Google Inc.
The browser was originally released as a beta version on September 2, 2008. Many modules are now available in the Chrome store, allowing users to customize the software and improve the web browser’s usability within the Linux systems. More than 2.65 billion internet users use Chrome as their preferred browser.
Google Chrome offers the advantage of having a malware blocker, an essential tool for ensuring data security. Chrome guards users from malicious and fraudulent websites that might steal users’ credentials or infect computer devices. To keep data safe, Chrome employs sophisticated technologies such as site isolation, sandboxing, and predictive phishing defenses. Users can also easily sync their calendar, emails, browser history, and bookmarks between devices. Chrome does, however, consume more memory than other rivals, which is a problem for clients with low-memory PCs. Chrome is frequently criticized for its large memory consumption. Also, when several tabs are open, Chrome begins to slow down the computer.
2. Opera
Opera is a free-to-use internet browser compatible with Windows, Linux, macOS, and Android phones. The browser is chromium-based but with a unique user interface, amongst other features. Launched on April 10, 1995, Opera now has over 320 million active users.
Users love Opera because of its speed and stability, providing an ideal solution to people with high online activity, such as gaming. No third-party add-ons are required to secure the user’s privacy because Opera has built-in security features such as a free VPN, ad-blocker, private browsing, site settings management, and tracker blocker.
The Opera browser is small, making Opera an excellent choice for hand-held internet devices. Additionally, the browser’s compact design allows the loading of large amounts of tabs. However, the extensions that come with Opera aren’t always easy to locate. Opera also requires a high level of adherence to the rules to function effectively.
A major criticism of Opera is that it isn’t currently regarded particularly highly in the industry of web development.
3. Mozilla Firefox
Firefox is a lightweight browser and is the default browser for Ubuntu. The Mozilla Foundation created Firefox, a free and open-source web browser. Mozilla community members developed Firefox in 2002 under the code name “Phoenix.” Firefox’s market share peaked at 32.21 percent in November 2009, when Firefox 3.5 overtook Internet Explorer 7. Firefox now has 198 million monthly active users.
Like Chrome, Firefox is jam-packed with features, such as tabbed browsing, full-screen mode, spell checking, location-aware browsing based on Google services, smart bookmarks, a download manager, user profile management, private browsing, web development tools, and an integrated search system. Firefox supports XML, XHTML, HTML4, and other standards and has the finest security assurance features. With the correct settings, Firefox can be turned into one of the most secure browsers available.
Firefox allows users to disable third-party trackers and content in private and ordinary browsing modes. Firefox is also excellent at preventing privacy breaches, so the Firefox Password Manager does not save logins or passwords on the cloud. Instead, all usernames and passwords are stored and encrypted on the hard drive. The biggest drawback to Firefox is compatibility. Some websites do not display properly on Firefox unless viewed with IE®. Firefox also consumes a lot of RAM while running, affecting the browser’s performance when multiple programs are open. Another disadvantage is that downloads cannot be resumed if interrupted because the browser was designed with high-speed Internet users in mind.
4. Vivaldi
Vivaldi is a free, cross-platform browser with over 2.3 million users. Vivaldi was created in Norway by Vivaldi Technologies in 2014. Its founders are Jon von Tetzchner, a fellow philanthropist and former CEO of Opera Software, and Tatsuki Tomita, another former Opera Software executive. The group officially launched Vivaldi in April of 2016.
Vivaldi is fairly similar to most rival web browsers because the browser is built on the Chromium stage, used to power Chrome, and has a similar delivery engine. Vivaldi’s user agent string was modified in version 2.10 to simulate a generic copy of Chromium. The browser was not registered as a distinct browser, which hindered accurate data tracing of its installation and market share.
Vivaldi is a one-stop flexible program with several features resembling a lightweight consumer application. With the Vivaldi Cookie Crumbler, Vivaldi prevents most tracking cookie consent dialogs. Vivaldi prevents the tracking of user profiles and guards against third-party internet trackers. Apart from being customizable, the browser requires low RAM consumption to run, giving power users a great option. The browser runs on Windows, beginning with Windows 7, macOS 10.10, later versions, Linux (e.g., Debian and Fedora), and Android 6.0.
Vivaldi is not for everyone. Those who prefer a basic browser solely for accessing and browsing through websites and web pages may find Vivaldi complicated because of the browser’s feature as a one-stop program with several functions and tools. The browser has no iOS version. Moreover, the mobile version is not as user-friendly as the desktop version.
5. Brave
Brendan Eich, a Mozilla developer, created the Brave browser using JavaScript, C, and C++, officially launched in November 2019 with the main goal of impeding trackers. As of December 2021, Brave has more than 50 million monthly active users and a network of more than 1.3 million content producers. Clients can easily use the web browser on Linux, Windows, macOS, and Android to load faster and have a less time-consuming browsing experience.
Brave Software, Inc.’s security-focused Web browser is free and runs on top of Chromium. The browser boasts data privacy features that block advertisements and trackers, while also informing the user of how many were blocked. Users can switch on to view advertisements and get rewarded using the cryptocurrency Basic Attention Tokens (BAT). The Solana blockchain will be integrated into the Brave program, offering Brave’s 50 million month-to-month dynamic customers and 1.3 million confirmed clients default Solana biological system support.
Brave Browser has the advantage of being able to filter the content of websites without needing to install an extension, resulting in better browsing speed. The main disadvantage of Brave Browser is that it lacks adequate facilities for developers debugging created web apps. A key criticism of Brave is that computerized distributors and content creators don’t get paid for customers’ views when Brave, or other ad-blocking software, is used.
6. Falkon
Falkon is a web browser built on the Qt WebEngine that is free and open-source, originally developed solely for educational purposes. Falkon has been under development since around 2010 and was formerly known as Qupzilla. The first preview release was completed in December 2010. QupZilla was renamed Falkon after moving under the KDE umbrella in 2017.
The Falkon browser supports Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, and Windows-based operating systems. No data on the number of Falkon users is available. The browser comes pre-installed with the AdBlock plug-in. However, some key disadvantages of Falcon are its lack of extension support, the absence of cross-platform synchronization, and the inability to access browser-specific websites. Aside from the tabs, Falkon features bookmarks and browsing history on the sidebar and includes a speed dial similar to Opera.
Falkon’s advantages include its privacy-protecting features first and foremost. The options provide finer control over what data is kept and cached, and the ability to remove the cache, history, and locally stored HTML5 content when the browser is closed. It also offers XSS auditing as an option to protect against cross-site scripting threats. DuckDuckGo is the default search engine.
7. Min Web browser
Min Web browser is a light, minimalist, open-source web browser that was first launched in 2016. The browser is based on Github and has a simple user interface designed with CSS and Javascript using Electron. The design is impressively responsive as the visual structure adapts to the user’s focus. Tabs not used turn into a dark mode to focus only on the required page. The browser’s default search engine is DuckDuckGo, but it can be configured for other search engines.
Min Web browser blocks advertisements and trackers, allowing users to surf the web quickly and anonymously. The browser allows users to restrict scripts and pictures when the user is on a sluggish or expensive internet connection, making pages load quicker and consuming less bandwidth.
One major disadvantage of Min Web Browser is that it only supports Gnu/Linux and macOS X. Min does not support Windows. Min also does not have a bookmarks bar, making it more difficult to access frequently visited Websites. Plugins are also not supported and there is no data available on the number of users.
8. GNOME Web (Epiphany)
Epiphany is a free-to-use open-source browser developed by the GNOME Project in 2003. The browser, based on WebKitGTK, was designed to support the Gnome desktop environment and consolidate with GNOME settings and password manager. In 2012, the browser was renamed GNOME, but developers opted to retain Epiphany. Epiphany is the default browser for Bodhi Linux, Debian, and elementary OS and the only Linux browser supporting touchpad movements and navigation.
No data on the number of Epiphany users is available. However, the browser has remained small-scale and is intended only for the Gnome desktop environment, making its scope fairly limited.
The GNOME Web browser is lightweight, requiring little RAM to start up but maintaining reliability and power. GNOME Web has built-in ad-blocking and tracking query elimination, among other privacy measures. On the other hand, GNOME Web is not suited for usage when complete anonymity is required. GNOME Web captures personal data by default, such as bookmarks and web browsing history, stored locally on the computer for the user’s convenience.
Epiphany lacks extensibility, lags on large sites, and tends to muddle pages loaded with graphics. GNOME Web’s tracking protection function disables third-party browser cookies but does not disable web browser fingerprinting.
9. Midori
Midori is an open-source internet browser, initially developed in 2007, giving more importance to being lightweight to the provision of features. Midori is a GTK-based alternative browser for the GNOME and Xfce desktop environments. Midori is built on Webkit and supports both GTK2 and GTK3. The web browser is responsive, launches quickly, and has become the default browser on some Linux versions. The browser, used by over 750,000 people, also works on Android, macOS, Windows and will soon be available on iOS.
Midori does however lack features found in other browsers, e.g., there are no bookmarks when a user is browsing in privacy mode. However, the web browser has custom scripts and styles, smart bookmarks, ad blocking, mouse movements, fast typing, and more.
Midori has several changeable options under the inclinations option in the main menu, such as selected viewing, security settings, text style settings, and starting settings. Before Firefox came into the limelight, Midori was the fastest available web browser.
Note:
DuckDuckGo is Midori’s default search engine and works with different search engines, such as Google or Yahoo. Midori values and is committed to users’ complete privacy. Midori does not offer intrusive advertising but can sell user data and stored data under tight security conditions.10. Slimjet
Slimjet is a fast, lightweight, and free web browser based on the Chromium project. Slimjet was introduced to the market on July 9, 2014, but the browser’s development resumed in 2019 to shift to the Gecko engine and address the numbering of versions, among other things. Slimjet pushes the integrated functionality of the Chromium application to new heights. The web browser aids clients with Open-Source Software installation questions regularly as part of Linux APT’s Server Management Services.
The browser works with Debian 8+, Fedora Linux 21+, Windows 7 and later versions, macOS x Mavericks 10.9 or newer versions, Ubuntu 14.04+, and openSUSE 13.1+. No data is provided on the number of Slimjet users.
Slimjet interfaces with Google records for importing history and bookmarks. Slimjet has many effective and easy features allowing users to optimize online activities without having to search for extra plugins from various places. The browser has a customized toolbar, integration with the Chrome Web Store, and a built-in photo-editing application.
Although Slimjet is safe to use, users can benefit more if the browser is paired with a VPN. Slimjet is not affiliated with Google, and unlike Chrome, the web browser will not transfer any data to Google. Furthermore, the browser contains anti-tracking technology that prevents tracking cookies and scripts from being installed. There’s also anti-phishing and anti-malware security, as well as a sandboxing function that isolates all tabs.
Slimjet’s main downside is the presence of bugs, causing the browser to crash randomly when used for an extended period.
11. Iridium
Initially released in September 2008, Iridium is a Chromium-based browser with a transparent architecture allowing everyone to see the improved workarounds. The browser works on Debian, Fedora, CentOS, Mint, macOS, Ubuntu, Windows, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and openSUSE, but not on any mobile operating system.
Although the web browser is free and safe to use, Iridium offers several security features. Iridium uses the best secure and upgraded technologies. The browser gets the user’s permission before transmitting keywords, metrics, and partial queries to central services, preventing unauthorized sharing of information. Iridium’s speed, which quickly renders even the most complicated websites, is worth considering, along with the ease of use it offers.
On the other hand, Iridium’s developers do not keep pace with Chromium’s updated source codes, which is worrisome considering that Chromium is a favorite target of hackers. The browser also lacks extension support, which can be a big issue for users who want to install privacy extensions. No data is available on the number of Iridium users.
12. Yandex
Yandex is another Chromium-based free-to-use web browser created by a company with the same name. “Yandex,” a play on the phrase “Yet Another Indexer”, was founded by Ilya Segalovich and Arkady Volozh in 1993. The browser is the second most widely-used web search engine in Russia, with a 15.94% market share as of December 2021, and roughly 17.6 million users. The web browser is compatible with Android, Linux, macOS, Windows, and Android.
Like Google, Yandex offers free email service, maps, music, photo, and video storage. Additionally, a voice assistant called Alice and Yandex Messenger is installed in the browser, which is also known for its lightness and speed. The browser features Protect, an integrated security system offering users data security. The system blocks harmful websites and apps, scans download files for viruses, hides offending and annoying ads, and secures user information. Yandex Browser automatically encrypts data between browser and HTTP sites when connected to open Wi-Fi networks or locations with a poor Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) defense.
Yandex browser has to do a better job of attracting non-Russian users. The majority of the functionality in the Yandex browser is localized, which takes away part of the worldwide appeal. The mix of language searches, translations, and suggestions may be difficult to use for users outside Russia.
Although Yandex has an integrated security system, several privacy issues have been raised against Yandex. Yandex collects several pieces of user information and has been known to send this information to the authorities on some occasions. Users’ search queries may also be collected and sent to the Yandex server for analysis. Likewise, users have no way of knowing what the browser does in the background because Yandex is closed-source.
13. TOR Browser
In 2008, Steven Murdoch introduced the Tor Browser Bundle, aimed at providing internet users with secure and private access to the web through open-source technology. TOR, which stands for The Onion Routing, is based on the concept of encrypting data in several layers and routing the same data through several servers, with each layer decrypting the message until it arrives safely to the intended recipient.
Tor is a free and widely used open-source browser based on Mozilla Firefox. The browser runs on Windows, Macs, and Linux machines. As of November 2020, Tor has about 2 million daily users.
The TOR browser is user-friendly, and even unskilled users can do the setup. Because of the security features Tor has, identifying the user’s real IP address would be a challenge for hackers. Users may also use a VPN service or other proxy to add an extra layer of security.
However, Tor reduces bandwidth speeds so landing pages take a long time to load -up to sixty seconds from when the user clicks on the link. Data is sent anonymously, although the program design has flaws, especially when dealing with HTTP locales rather than scrambled HTTPS ones.
It is possible for malicious actors or anyone monitoring a user’s traffic to obtain information passed on in plaintext format. Tor disables plugins to prevent IP address disclosure. The Tor Browser bundle keeps a user’s web activity undisclosed but can’t do the same for internet activity in apps not configured to be anonymized by Tor. Users can configure frequently used apps but will require some technical skills.
How to Install a Web Browser to Ubuntu
Most popular browsers can be easily installed using the Ubuntu Software applications. If the Ubuntu web browser is not available in the software, users can install the web browser through the following methods:
Via terminal
This approach is best used when the package name is known. Enter the following command, and the web browser will be downloaded and installed:
sudo apt install firefox
Via PPA repository
Firefox can be installed using the Mozilla PPA repository. At first, the Mozilla PPA repository should be added to the Ubuntu system by entering the following command:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-mozilla-security/ppa
And then, the Ubuntu system should be updated by entering the following command:
sudo apt-get update
Firefox can then be installed by entering the following command:
sudo apt install firefox
This will install the latest version of Firefox to Ubuntu.
Via direct download
Chrome can be downloaded by keying in the following command in the terminal.
wget -c https://dl.google.com/linux/direct/google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb
The above command will download the latest stable version of the Chrome web browser for 64 bit systems.
More dependencies need to be installed on the Ubuntu system to install Chrome.
sudo apt install gconf-service gconf-service-backend gconf2-common libappindicator1 libgconf-2-4 libindicator7 libpango1.0-0 libpangox-1.0-0
The downloaded deb package can be installed by entering the following command:
sudo dpkg -i google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb
This will install Chrome to the Ubuntu system.
What is the Lightest Browser for Ubuntu?
The Pale Moon web browser is the lightest web browser for Ubuntu, only needing 256MB of RAM and 200MB of free disk space to run and operate on CPUs with Windows 7 or above. 11 GB of RAM is recommended. The open-source browser prioritizes speed and compatibility with various Firefox plugins and has low-level APIs, improved slopes and text styles, updated security points, including locks, and much more. Pale Moon operates in single-process mode at all times.
What is the Safest Browser on Ubuntu?
Mozilla Firefox is the safest browser for use with Ubuntu. Firefox is one of the most secure browsers when used with Private Browsing Mode. The web browser uses a security system or convention layer, such as the SSL, to encrypt and receive network traffic for data sent and received. The Firefox web browser has Linux sandboxing to detect and warn of hacking attempts, tracking prevention to block all data collection components during web activities, and an enhanced control center to provide security setting options.
The perks of the product include frequent upgrades and security vulnerability patches that the developers release regularly. The current version of the software addresses weaknesses in spoofing attacks and the use of arbitrary code, but privacy can be maximized by enabling the Tor network with the correct add-on.
Is Your Information Secure on Browsers for Ubuntu?
No. Despite the data security features of the browsers, users remain vulnerable to phishing scams, malicious messages, infections, and unauthorized application access. Information is seldom completely secure but it is still worthwhile to take steps to increase data security.
What are the Extra Precautions to take for Increasing Security on Browsers for Ubuntu?
Users must use proper cyber security tools to avoid different types of threats while browsing the web. Examples of these tools are KeePass and KeePassXC, which allow users to manage passwords securely. ClamAV, a malware scanner, is another good tool to have.
Aside from using cyber security tools, users must be educated on cybersecurity measures such as picking a secure web browser, configuring the browser’s privacy settings, updating the browser to the latest version, and upgrading cybersecurity tools. Users may also increase security on their browser by using browser security extensions and a reliable VPN service.
Can You Use VPNs on Browsers for Ubuntu?
Yes, VPNs can be used on Ubuntu browsers. Installing a reliable VPN can make it more difficult for parties monitoring a user’s web activities to identify and track the user online. VPNs also reduce the security risks and scams faced by users who shop online.
Many Ubuntu browsers, such as Opera and Tor, offer built-in VPNs. If the installed browser does not offer VPNs, the user must find a VPN for safe online browsing. Before choosing a VPN, users are recommended to review each VPN service’s features, advantages, and disadvantages.
For using VPN servers on Ubuntu, OpenVPN, OpenConnect, AnyConnect, and Network Manager are popular VPNs.
Use the following command to install the OpenVPN client software on Ubuntu:
sudo apt-get install openvpn
Download the proper profile for the Ubuntu system from the OpenVPN client interface.
Rename the downloaded profile to “client.conf” in the “/etc/openvpn” folder. Enter the username and password for the OpenVPN Tunnel Service. Now start the process by entering the following command:
sudo service openvpn start
Type “ipconfig” or “ip addr.” The “tun0” interface will be added to the current list in the output once the VPN interface is ready.
ExpressVPN:
Suppose a Graphical User Interface (GUI) is preferred, set up the ExpressVPN Linux app before installing the ExpressVPN browser extension for Chrome and Firefox. But if a manual setup is preferred, the user may refer to the manual setup for Open VPN via the Terminal and OpenVPN via Ubuntu Network Manager. Users can switch between UDP and TCP protocols when utilizing OpenVPN, and the server list will always be up-to-date.
NordVPN:
offers online anonymity, speed, excellent customer support, ease of use, and consistency in performance. A user with a NordVPN account may install the service on Ubuntu in 4 easy steps:Download the NordVPN repo setup deb package.
Install the NordVPN repository by typing in
sudo-apt-get install {/path/to/}nordvpn-release_1.0..deb
Update the package list by typing in sudo apt-get update
Install NordVPN by typing in sudo apt-get install nordvpn
What is the default Web Browser on Ubuntu?
Firefox is the default internet browser in Ubuntu.