Within the Linux ecosystem we can find a great variety of programs of all kinds. Most of them are also totally free and open source programs, this freedom being one of the main characteristics of this system. Of course, one of the main uses of Linux, like other systems, is browsing the Internet. And this is where we will find a great variety of browsers for Linux , so that we can choose the one that we like the most or that best suits our needs.
Although the larger developers do not normally service this operating system, browser developers do take it into account. For example, Google, Mozilla and even Microsoft have versions of their browsers for Linux, which also have the same features, and the same support, as the Windows and macOS versions.
Major web browsers for Linux
We are going to see which are the main web browsers that we can use in this free operating system so that we can choose the one we want, the most we like or the best suits our personality.
Firefox
- License: OpenSource
- Based on: Netscape
- Engine: Gecko
- Default search engine: Google
The first of the Linux browsers that we are going to talk about is Firefox. Mozilla’s browser is one of those that is installed by default in most distributions, since, to be honest, it is freer than any of its main rivals.
Firefox offers us a clear and clean browsing experience. In its options we can find parameters that allow us to choose what type of data we want to share with Mozilla and with the websites, and even its own synchronization service to keep our browsing data always protected in the cloud. We can customize this browser thanks to its large number of add-ons to adapt it to our needs. And the interface is highly customizable too.
We can download Firefox from here .
Google Chrome
- License: Private
- Based on: Chromium
- Engine: Blink V8 Turbo
- Default search engine: Google
Of course, Google’s browser also has a version for Linux. However, it is not an open source browser, although if we want to use it, because we depend on Google services (such as synchronization in the cloud) we can use it without problems.
This browser has all the functions and features that it also offers in Windows and macOS, so when using it we will not notice the difference. A fast browser, compatible with web standards, but unfortunately very heavy. Linux distributions are designed to consume little resources, so using so much memory and CPU can go against the Linux philosophy.
Thanks to the extensions of the Chrome Store, we can add a large number of additional functions to this browser.
We can download Chrome from this link .
Chromium
- License: OpenSource
- Based on: –
- Engine: Blink V8 Turbo
- Default search engine: Google
If what you are looking for is an open source Chrome, then we can go directly for Chromium. Chromium is the engine of Chrome (and other browsers) adapted to function as a browser. This, and all its plugins, are open source, which fits a bit more with the Linux philosophy.
Chromium brings us all the good, and open, of Google Chrome, eliminating all packages that are closed. Therefore, although broadly it may seem the same browser, in detail we can find differences, such as, for example, when updating the browser, the absence of cloud synchronization, internal add-ons and the viewer. PDF, which is simpler than Chrome.
In return, we can say that we are facing a 100% open source browser very similar to Chrome. And the characteristics that change with respect to its older brother can be recovered through the use of extensions. Likewise, it is compatible with the same extensions as Chrome.
We can download Chromium from the following link .
Microsoft Edge
- License: OpenSource
- Based on: Chromium
- Engine: Blink V8 Turbo
- Default search engine: Bing
Microsoft betting on Linux in the web browser market? So is. Edge Chromium is the company’s browser, based on the Google engine, with which it will try to face its rival and regain part of the market share lost in the last decade. The new Edge is a modern, fast browser packed with all kinds of functions and features.
Microsoft’s new Edge is a browser that has taken the Chromium code, removed everything Google-related, introduced its own tracking services (such as Bing), improved it, and compiled it into a new web browser. Edge is especially characterized by being a very fast browser, considerably lighter than its rivals and, above all, more secure and respectful of privacy. In addition, its development is open source, and it shares its creations with Chromium, something very typical of the Linux philosophy.
We can download the new Edge for Linux from this link . Of course, it will still take time to be available in a stable version.
Alternative web browsers
In addition to the main web browsers, within the Linux ecosystem we can also find a large number of alternatives, each one specially designed for a specific audience. For example, we have private browsers, more open browsers, and very cool projects that can almost completely change the browsing experience.
Tor Browser
- License: OpenSource
- Based on: Firefox ESR
- Engine: Gecko
- Default search engine: DuckDuckGo
If we’ve ever been interested in privacy and anonymity, we already know about Tor Browser. This browser is based on Firefox ESR (extended support version) and is specially designed to eliminate absolutely all traces of our identity and send traffic through the Tor network so that it is impossible to trace. In addition, it allows you to visit onion domains without putting ourselves in danger.
Its main feature is that it allows us to use the Tor network without configuring or installing anything else. It comes with a perfect out-of-the-box experience. It also has extensions that help us protect ourselves, such as NoScript and HTTPS Everywhere, activated by default.
However, Tor Browser is quite a slower browser than others due to the Tor network. In addition, the options and functions removed (for privacy) may cause some websites to not work properly. It is a browser that is difficult to adapt to, and a browser that we surely do not use on a day-to-day basis. However, if we seek privacy or anonymity in specific cases, it is the best.
We can download the latest version of Tor Browser from here .
Ungoogled Chromium
- License: OpenSource
- Based on: Chromium
- Engine: Blink V8 Turbo
- Default search engine: Google
If we like Chromium, but want something that gives us total anonymity, then we should go for Ungoogled Chromium. This browser takes the Chromium source code directly, and eliminates absolutely everything related to Google until it looks like a totally independent browser. It doesn’t make a single connection to this company, and it doesn’t send a single byte of telemetry.
A 100% OpenSource and free browser, but one that will probably cost us a bit to install.
We can download Ungoogled Chromium from the following GitHub page .
GNU IceCat
- License: OpenSource
- Based on: Firefox
- Engine: Gecko
- Default search engine: –
This browser will probably be the freest we can find. It is part of the GNU project, so users who bet on it can have all the good things about Firefox, but 100% free. IceCat protects our privacy and blocks most Internet trackers.
Unfortunately, it is a rather slow browser that takes a long time to open since we launch it. Also, it is based on older versions of Firefox that have extensions and add-ons installed by default (like LibreJS) and requires a lot of unnecessary configuration to make it work. Also, by relying on Firefox, you are tied to the decisions of Mozilla.
We can download IceCat from the GNU website .
Pale moon
- License: OpenSource
- Based on: Firefox ESR 38
- Engine: Goanna (Gecko fork)
- Default search engine: DuckDuckGo
If you are one of those who misses the classic Firefox, before the jump to Quantum, then Pale Moon will be one of the browsers for Linux that will undoubtedly convince you. This is a browser based on the more classic versions of Mozilla’s browser, but now undergoing its own independent development.
This browser is quite light as it does not have heavy content from modern browsers. And it has a great community ready to help at all times. Unfortunately, this browser does not have the latest security measures (such as sandboxing) or advanced privacy protection features like Firefox or any other modern browser does. This is because it is based on very old Firefox code, and has not made the leap to the new engines to stay true to its ideals. Therefore, it will not protect us the same as the latest generation browsers.
We can download Pale Moon from this link .
Lynx
If we are looking for as lightweight as possible, there can be nothing smaller than something that works on ends. This is a text-only browser that we can run directly from a terminal, so we won’t need additional resources to upload photos, videos, etc. It is a very fast browser, by loading only the text of the webs and nothing else, and very useful for developers.
However, it is a text-only browser. Probably the oldest that we can find. And, therefore, it won’t work for most of today’s modern websites.
Lynx is available in practically all Linux software repositories. Therefore, we must use a package manager, (APT, PACMAN, etc) to install it.