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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- There are plenty of open-source web browsers available.
- No matter what platform you use, there’s an open-source app.
- Each of these web browsers is free to install and use.
How much time do you spend in your web browser? I would venture to say that number is far higher than you think. If I had to guess, I spend probably 6-7 hours a day using a web browser (and that’s probably lowballing my estimate).
Web browsers are essential, not only for work, but for home, school, entertainment, shopping… you name it.
Also: 5 reasons why Zen is my new favorite browser (RIP, Opera)
Chances are that you are using the Chrome web browser, which is proprietary (meaning, closed-source). Did you know that Chrome is based on an open-source web browser? (More on that in a bit.) Open source evolves much faster than its proprietary brethren. Not only that, but when a vulnerability is discovered in a piece of open-source software, it’s patched very quickly, a feat proprietary software cannot match.
There are several open-source web browsers available, many of which are as good or better than Chrome. Let me introduce you to my top open-source browser choices.
1. Zen Browser
Zen Browser is based on Firefox and does what Firefox hasn’t for a while… listen to users. Zen Browser quickly adopted vertical tabs, workspaces, and a brilliant theming engine. Those three features alone place Zen Browser at the top of my list, and are also why it is my default web browser on Linux. I would use Zen Browser as my MacOS default as well, but for some reason, the UI seems to be slightly broken. When the developers get that issue fixed, you can bet that I’ll be getting my Zen on when using Apple’s OS. Zen Browser is the perfect amalgamation of performance, flexibility, efficiency, and beauty. What more do you want in a browser?
2. Brave
Brave is one of the most secure web browsers on the market, not named Tor. Yes, there are some bits (such as everything having to do with crypto) of Brave that I always disable when I first use the browser, but other than that, Brave is a wonderful experience right out of the gate. As I mentioned, Brave is secure. First off, there’s the “Shields” feature, which blocks ads, trackers, and fingerprinting. This feature is enabled by default, so you don’t have to do anything to up the security. Brave also features built-in protections against malicious sites and downloads using Google Safe Browsing. If you want high security, flexibility, and open-source, Brave is the browser to beat.
3. Chromium
Chromium is the “mother of all browsers.” I say that because there are so many browsers (including Chrome) that are based on this one browser. If you prioritize privacy and transparency, you’d be much better off switching from Chrome to Chromium. Why? Well, migrating from Chrome to Chromium is incredibly simple because, on the surface, they are so much alike.
Also: For anonymous browsing, these extensions are the next best thing to Tor
One thing that Chromium doesn’t have is Chrome’s data collection features. That alone should have you considering the jump. If you’re serious about your privacy but don’t want to learn how to use a different browser, just adopt Chromium. The one caveat about Chromium is that, because it strips away Google services, you’ll have to manually (and regularly) update the browser, and you’ll most likely find that you have to manually install certain codecs for specific media types.
4. Tor Browser
If you’re really serious about security and privacy, there is no better browser to use than Tor Browser. Tor uses the Tor Network to encrypt and anonymize all of your data, so anyone sniffing out data packets will have a hard time viewing what you’re sending. Seriously, if you truly value your security and privacy, there’s no other choice.
Also: 5 great Chrome browser alternatives that put your privacy first
There are a couple of points to remember when using Tor. First, due to its dependency on the Tor Network, it’s slower than most browsers. Second, it’s not quite as intuitive as other browsers. Although there is a slight learning curve, the time you spend is well worth the security you receive. I often tell people to use their regular browser when security isn’t as important, but when you need the most security you can get, use Tor.
5. Vivaldi
Vivaldi is a nice browser that also happens to be the single most flexible app of its kind. Vivaldi puts you in the driver’s seat for customization, and there’s so much you can do. If you’ve grown tired of the standard “Chrome-like” layout of web browsers, you should definitely give Vivaldi a go. Vivaldi also includes features like ad/tracker blockers, tab management, a dashboard, and built-in tools such as mail, calendar, and a VPN. I like to think of Vivaldi as Opera’s open-source cousin (but without the amazing theming engine).
