What are the best web browsers for Ubuntu and why?

We’ve identified 14 web browsers that are worth considering running on Ubuntu. Note that every browser has its pros and cons, and the following list is not made in any particular order:

Vivaldi

Vivaldi is a privacy-first web browser that has been growing in popularity among Linux users. It’s based on Chromium, so it can be quite resource-intensive, but it also means that you have Chrome’s full library of extensions to improve your browsing. While not entirely open-source, Vivaldi blends accessibility and privacy-focused features. Vivaldi offers a ton of built-in tools, such as clock timers for productivity, a calendar, and a translator.

How to install Vivaldi on Ubuntu:

To install Vivaldi, download a .rpm or .dep package from Vivaldi’s official website and click “install.”

Mozilla Firefox

Mozilla Firefox is open source and preinstalled with most Linux distributions, including Ubuntu, by default. Because of support from the massive community, Firefox browser security is as good as that of any other major web browser. Also, Firefox is very fast and is dedicated to privacy. However, it’s not always efficient with its use of RAM and can’t offer as many extensions compared to Chromium-based browsers. To help it compete with the industry giants, Firefox has to integrate some ads and third-party services, such as Pocket.

Since Mozilla Firefox is Ubuntu’s default web browser, you don’t even have to go through the trouble of installing it. In any case, it’s a highly customizable web browser that takes your privacy seriously, everyone should consider using.

Google Chrome

Google Chrome is a browser that doesn’t need introductions. Its main benefit is that it’s a browser from Google, But it’s also its biggest flaw, especially, if you care about privacy. Google will undoubtedly give you the best quality service but also collect every piece of information about you. Chrome is neither open source, nor privacy-focused. Not to mention that it’s also very resource-intensive. So, if you are looking for a web browser for an older device you’ve revived with Linux, Chrome is probably not the best choice.

How to install Google Chrome on Ubuntu:

First, you need to download a .deb version of the browser from Chrome. Then, accept the terms and launch the file to install it.

Opera

Opera is one of the old-school web browsers, and, even with its flaws, it’s still one of the best browsers for Ubuntu. Let’s start with its features. Opera comes with an ad-blocker, built-in messengers for WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, and an AI assistant. It was also the first web browser to come out with a free VPN, although it only offers three server locations.

Opera’s “Tab Islands” is an innovative way to sort your tabs, “Pinboards” helps you collect and share websites easily, while the sync feature “My flow” allows you to share tabs and bookmarks. In fact, it does much more than that. Opera allows you to share files between your smartphone and your computer. Despite its amazing features, there are some concerns over Opera’s privacy and security, especially its VPN service.

How to install Opera on Ubuntu:

To install Opera, download the appropriate .deb package from Opera.

Brave

Brave is another popular and secure web browser. Is Brave a private browser? It certainly doesn’t lack privacy features, such as a tracker blocker and third-party cookie blocker. It is also feature-packed and designed for the future. It has a built-in adblocker, a private search engine, a rewards program, as well as additional cryptocurrency, IPFS, WEB3 compatibility. Brave has also recently introduced its AI assistant – Leo.

It’s an open-source browser built on Chromium, so you get the UI, extensions, and performance without sacrificing your privacy.

How to install Brave on Ubuntu:

Open Terminal and paste these commands:

sudo apt install curl 
sudo curl -fsSLo /usr/share/keyrings/brave-browser-archive-keyring.gpg https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com/brave-browser-archive-keyring.gpg 
echo "deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/brave-browser-archive-keyring.gpg] https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com/ stable main"|sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/brave-browser-release.list 
sudo apt update 
sudo apt install brave-browser

Chromium

Chromium is the open source hero behind Chrome, Brave, and Vivaldi. It’s very low maintenance, and is like using all those advanced web browsers without their fancy features — you’ll know where all the buttons are, but you won’t have Messenger integration or an AI assistant. And it’s still one of the best web browsers for lower-end Ubuntu devices.

How to install Chromium on Ubuntu:

Install Chromium, go to the “Software center” and type “Chromium” in the search bar. After it’s found, simply click “Install.”

Tor browser

The Tor browser is designed for anyone who prioritizes privacy over convenience. While it offers a high level of anonymity, every request goes through three servers, resulting in a much slower browsing experience. Of course, it’s also one of the few browsers that allow you to visit .onion websites. The Tor browser may not be the perfect tool to browse the web daily, but it’s worth having on your computer whenever you need extra privacy.

How to install the Tor browser on Ubuntu:

To install the Tor browser, enter the following commands in Terminal:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade 
sudo apt install tor torbrowser-launcher

Midori

You may know the Midori browser as a super lightweight web browser, built on the WebKit rendering engine. This was the case until the project was discontinued and relaunched by Astian. Now, Midori is Chromium-based but still very much focused on speed and privacy.

How to install Midori on Ubuntu:

To install Midori, download the .dep package from Astian and click on “Install.”

Falkon

First launched as Qupzilla, Falkon got its name in 2017 after KDE took over the project. Falkon runs on the QtWebEngine rendering engine, a wrapper for the Chromium browser core. It’s a lightweight and efficient web browser with plenty of features, such as PDF reader support and screen capture, helping it stand out among other brands. While Falkon is more suitable for older devices, it’s an exciting project you should definitely keep your eye on.

How to install Falkon on Ubuntu:

Install Falkon by downloading it through Ubuntu’s software repository and clicking “Install.”

GNOME Web

GNOME Web, previously Epiphany, is an open-source web browser that was built with a focus on simplicity. As the name suggests, it’s designed to work with the GNOME environment.

The browser is super lightweight and has a clean UI. Unfortunately, that does not always translate into better browsing speed because, due to occasional bugs, GNOME Web can load websites incorrectly or simply crash.

How to install GNOME Web on Ubuntu:

Open Terminal and paste the following:

sudo apt update 
sudo apt install snapd 
sudo snap install epiphany

Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge is finally available on Ubuntu. As a major web browser, Edge comes with lots of benefits, including Microsoft’s new AI features. Although, Linux users still don’t get all the features that Windows users do. Edge is also not open source despite being built on Chromium. So, while it’s fast and full of features, it’s not the best choice if you’re looking for privacy.

How to install Microsoft Edge on Ubuntu:

Download the .rpm or .deb package from Microsoft, accept the terms, and install the browser.

Pale Moon

Pale Moon is an open-source web browser based on Firefox. Don’t worry, it only looks old because of the classic Firefox UI. The team behind it maintains it with support for legacy extensions. Pale Moon is lightweight and fast, but make sure to customize the home page because it’s still an extra resource drain. If you prefer the design trends of the mid-2010s, speed, and customization, Pale Moon is a great web browser to check out.

How to install Pale Moon on Ubuntu:

To install Pale Moon, paste the following commands in Terminal:

echo 'deb http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/stevenpusser/xUbuntu_20.04/ /' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/home:stevenpusser.list 
curl -fsSL https://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:stevenpusser/xUbuntu_20.04/Release.key | gpg --dearmor | sudo tee /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/home_stevenpusser.gpg > /dev/null 
sudo apt update 
sudo apt install palemoon

Nyxt

If you want to try something new, Nyxt may be a web browser for you. It’s solely based on keyboard commands. It’s also very fast and offers plenty of customization options. Nyxt is powered by Lisp, allowing you to create custom commands and enhance the experience further. It’s the perfect web browser for anyone who puts efficiency above all else. But remember that it will take some time to get used to.

How to install Nyxt on Ubuntu:

Use the command line to install Flatpak and Flathub first. Then, you’ll be able to install Nyxt. To do that, paste the following commands in the command line:

sudo apt install flatpak 
flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo 
flatpak install flathub engineer.atlas.Nyxt

Slimjet

Slimjet is a Chromium-based web browser with a built-in ad blocker and a classic user interface. In fact, Slimjet is one of the most feature-packed web browsers available for Ubuntu. QuickFill helps you sign into websites in a single click, Photo Salon allows you to enhance photos on the spot, while a Proxy switcher lets you add multiple proxies and switch them as you browse. Slimjet also has integrations with major social media platforms and even a YouTube downloader. However, being built on Chromium, it’s not as easy on computing resources as it could be, not to mention that it sometimes has trouble tendering certain websites.

How to install Slimject on Ubuntu:

To install Slimject, you’ll need to download the .deb package from their website. Then, paste the following into Terminal:

$ cd ~/Downloads/slimjet_amd64.deb 
$ sudo dpkg -i slimjet_amd64.deb

If your device can handle the resource requirements, Chromium-based apps like Brave will likely be the fastest browsers on most Linux distributions. However, the speed of your web browser depends on various factors: your device’s hardware, your network, web page content, browser caching, opened tabs, and extensions all influence how fast web pages are loaded.

Ubuntu is one of the most secure Linux distributions, so using an unsecured web browser probably doesn’t make much sense. And since you’re using Ubuntu, the best web browser for you should also be among the best web browsers for privacy. That’s why, if you’re only going to use one, we recommend choosing between Firefox and Brave. Of course, if you’re running a slower system, the best browser for Ubuntu will be something lightweight like Pale Moon or Falkon.