Which web browser to choose in 2026

kozimodo · 2026-05-07 14:24:07

johnraff wrote:

^Ladybird looks interesting.
But that aside, I look forward to a browser that isn't based on Gecko or Chrome at all.

Orion browser based on WebKit is currently beta for Linux. Must be “Orion Plus” member to test but I’m looking forward to the Linux release.

Colonel Panic · 2026-05-07 14:29:57

I've revised my opinion of Pale Moon; the latest GTK3 versions, downloaded from the main Pale Moon website, seem fine. If you want a file that installs in Debian, one place to get one is from the MX repositories (both MX 23 and 25).

Last edited by Colonel Panic (2026-05-07 14:30:19)

hhh · 2026-05-07 16:08:50

Using Firefox or Firefox-esr on the laptop with uBlock Origin (and Privacy Badger on the main desktop).

Firefox Focus on Android (bonus, the best FF icon ever)...
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source= … K0ANz5ewFe

I use Brave on Android to access YT, it removes the ads and you can close the phone's backlight without it shutting down the audio (good for music videos).

I'm surprisingly ok with the decisions FF has been making recently.

Full disclosure, I'm posting this on Android Chrome, which I use for sites with passwords. I could install Android FF, but I don't feel the need just to post here via mobile.

Colonel Panic · 2026-05-07 17:17:14

Waterfox is also available for Android, and works very well in my experience.

chroot · 2026-05-07 22:43:17

I use DuckDuckGo browser on my phones (iPhone & Android)

On desktop/laptop, I use vivaldi/helium/zen.

Last edited by chroot (2026-05-07 22:44:58)

PackRat · 2026-05-07 22:54:23

chroot wrote:

I use DuckDuckGo browser on my phones (iPhone & Android)
On desktop/laptop, I use vivaldi/helium/zen.

How is Vivaldi these days? Apparently, they are going against the grain and avoiding AI.

chroot · 2026-05-08 01:03:52

PackRat wrote:

chroot wrote:
I use DuckDuckGo browser on my phones (iPhone & Android)
On desktop/laptop, I use vivaldi/helium/zen.
How is Vivaldi these days? Apparently, they are going against the grain and avoiding AI.

It's another chromium-based browser. By default, it enables google services and extensions. You need to disable them in settings first. It supports VPN, email, and many other "features" in the browser, but I don't use them at all. I like it because it supports themes from google store, so I can make it match the global gtk color theme. If you don't care about the theme, or you have dark gtk theme in the system, helium is a much better option.

Colonel Panic · 2026-05-10 06:43:42

I'm posting from Opera GX (in Endeavour) at the moment. I like the appearance a lot - it's meant to be a gamer's browser and looks the part - and it works well. The only downside I've seen with it so far is that I haven't yet found a way to set a homepage.

Last edited by Colonel Panic (2026-05-11 05:47:37)

F3 · 2026-05-20 00:07:30

I use LibreWolf on my laptops and Ironfox on my deGoogled Pixel. Both are supposed more secure than Firefox. Has anyone tried the Ladybird browser, which is still being developed?

johnraff · 2026-05-20 02:38:00

On android, agree with @hhh that Firefox Focus is worth checking out too. Stripped-down Firefox also from Mozilla. My default on the cellphone.

Last edited by johnraff (2026-05-21 02:45:16)

hhh · 2026-05-21 02:07:52

^ Beat you to it, I concur, my default as well. Most important, a bitchin' [slang: remarkably cool] icon.

https://forums.bunsenlabs.org/viewtopic … 49#p150649

johnraff · 2026-05-21 02:44:31

hhh wrote:

Beat you to it

Yes!
Post edited.

Martin · 2026-05-21 06:09:55

Gmail (spam trap account opened in early 2000s) stopped working on Firefox sometime yesterday. The documentation still claims Firefox is supported. No error messages.

Update: It seems this is an ESR thing. Other, later, versions may be OK.

/Martin

Last edited by Martin (2026-05-21 10:54:43)

WizardofCOR · 2026-05-23 10:17:59

I've selected Vivaldi, and haven't been disappointed. You can choose how to identify your browser to other sites (as Chrome, Edge, or any other custom browser), and even enable geolocation override options. Exceptional granular control. Comes with ProtonVPN built-in (usable with Proton account.)
No A.I.
Other security experts I can personally vouch for have also recommended LibreWolf. But Vivaldi is working for me.

Döbbie03 · 2026-05-23 20:50:54

WizardofCOR wrote:

I've selected Vivaldi, and haven't been disappointed. You can choose how to identify your browser to other sites (as Chrome, Edge, or any other custom browser), and even enable geolocation override options. Exceptional granular control. Comes with ProtonVPN built-in (usable with Proton account.)
No A.I.
Other security experts I can personally vouch for have also recommended LibreWolf. But Vivaldi is working for me.

I'm Firefox through and through, from the Beta days (other than a couple of short periods where I have been insanely ticked off by Mozilla and have used Qutebrowser) but the new Vivaldi is very nice.

Typing this message from Vivaldi 8.0.

Martin · 2026-06-05 08:56:40

140.11.0esr has gone mad. It is a power hog and fan spinner. It behaves the same on two different machines. This madness started a couple of days ago, I think. I see this version was released mid May. I don't know when it became available in Debian repos.

/Martin

WizardofCOR · 2026-06-06 22:16:41

https://www.firefox.com/en-US/firefox/1 … easenotes/
"first offered to ESR channel users on May 19, 2026"

Release Notes: https://www.firefox.com/en-US/firefox/1 … easenotes/
I wonder is it a cpu/memhog on just a single tab, or does multiple tabs set it off?
Could be one (or more) of the new "features", eh?

unklar · 2026-06-07 07:54:38

apt policy firefox-esr
firefox-esr:
  Installiert:           140.11.0esr-1
  Installationskandidat: 140.11.0esr-1
  Versionstabelle:
 *** 140.11.0esr-1 500
        500 https://deb.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

^I am aware that FF is NOT a privacy-friendly browser out of the box.
However, in contrast to its competitors, it is the browser that I, as a user, can best influence/configure.
So the first condition is that the FF must NOT get a connection to the network until it is NOT configured.

Recently I did a test installation with *ubuntu-sway*. The original FF is integrated there with a repo from Mozilla.

Martin · 2026-06-08 10:43:03

WizardofCOR wrote:

https://www.firefox.com/en-US/firefox/1 … easenotes/
"first offered to ESR channel users on May 19, 2026"
Release Notes: https://www.firefox.com/en-US/firefox/1 … easenotes/
I wonder is it a cpu/memhog on just a single tab, or does multiple tabs set it off?
Could be one (or more) of the new "features", eh?

Just firing up FF is enough. No special web site or tons of tabs needed.

The highest CPU load as reported by btop comes from a static html file I use instead of the bookmarks function in FF. This makes no sense at all as there is zero code in that file.

Added June 10: Using upower I see the power consumption of my Lenovo X230 jumps from 6--7 W to 22+ W after I have fired up FF. That's FF just sitting there doing 'nothing' -- no surfing, no youtube or whatever.

On the plus side I can report that gmail works again on FF.

/Martin

Last edited by Martin (2026-06-10 08:08:50)

Martin · 2026-06-18 08:28:12

Martin wrote:

WizardofCOR wrote:
https://www.firefox.com/en-US/firefox/1 … easenotes/
"first offered to ESR channel users on May 19, 2026"
Release Notes: https://www.firefox.com/en-US/firefox/1 … easenotes/
I wonder is it a cpu/memhog on just a single tab, or does multiple tabs set it off?
Could be one (or more) of the new "features", eh?
Just firing up FF is enough. No special web site or tons of tabs needed.
The highest CPU load as reported by btop comes from a static html file I use instead of the bookmarks function in FF. This makes no sense at all as there is zero code in that file.
Added June 10: Using upower I see the power consumption of my Lenovo X230 jumps from 6--7 W to 22+ W after I have fired up FF. That's FF just sitting there doing 'nothing' -- no surfing, no youtube or whatever.
On the plus side I can report that gmail works again on FF.
/Martin

Just did some testing since FF was updated this morning. The new version is no better.

However, closing down the tab showing my local html file helps. Opening that file in a new tab does not spin up the fans. Everything is still quiet. This works on both my main computer and my Lenovo X230.

But!! If I terminate FF and re-start it power consumption is high again. I can fix this by repeating the close-open tab procedure of the previous paragraph.

Can anyone explain this?

/Martin

#21 2026-05-07 14:24:07

Re: Which web browser to choose in 2026

#22 2026-05-07 14:29:57

Re: Which web browser to choose in 2026

#23 2026-05-07 16:08:50

Re: Which web browser to choose in 2026

#24 2026-05-07 17:17:14

Re: Which web browser to choose in 2026

#25 2026-05-07 22:43:17

Re: Which web browser to choose in 2026

#26 2026-05-07 22:54:23

Re: Which web browser to choose in 2026

#27 2026-05-08 01:03:52

Re: Which web browser to choose in 2026

#28 2026-05-10 06:43:42

Re: Which web browser to choose in 2026

#29 2026-05-20 00:07:30

Re: Which web browser to choose in 2026

#30 2026-05-20 02:38:00

Re: Which web browser to choose in 2026

#31 2026-05-21 02:07:52

Re: Which web browser to choose in 2026

#32 2026-05-21 02:44:31

Re: Which web browser to choose in 2026

#33 2026-05-21 06:09:55

Re: Which web browser to choose in 2026

#34 2026-05-23 10:17:59

Re: Which web browser to choose in 2026

#35 2026-05-23 20:50:54

Re: Which web browser to choose in 2026

#36 2026-06-05 08:56:40

Re: Which web browser to choose in 2026

#37 2026-06-06 22:16:41

Re: Which web browser to choose in 2026

#38 2026-06-07 07:54:38

Re: Which web browser to choose in 2026

#39 2026-06-08 10:43:03

Re: Which web browser to choose in 2026

#40 2026-06-18 08:28:12

Re: Which web browser to choose in 2026

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