Browser comparison

[Pearlple]

This might be more of a "Cool Website" mods please don't spank too hard

"avoidthehack" compared 38 different browsers that are known for or said to have good privacy features.
It's a comprehensive table that imo gives a good overview especially for anyone looking for a good option for their personal usecase. Keep in mind that this comparison doesn't cover (security) update support and adoption (market share), so with the lesser known ones you might run into issues and not get any support or even a community that can help.

Edit: "One thing I am missing on this list is Vanadium." Irrelevant, thank you @zonk

Private Browser Comparison Tool
GitHub

[zonk]

The thing about Vanadium is that it isn't really a privacy-focused browser. It's a security-enhanced Chromium that only works properly on GrapheneOS (it relies on some underlying security enhancements in the OS for performance, so it is actually less secure than vanilla Chromium on any other OS).

[Linkard]

This might be more of a "Cool Website" mods please don't spank too hard

I think it fits. But yes, this could also be under cool websites.

Also, there's a cool browser I've come across called Zen Browser. It's very new, but from what I've seen, it appears to be a privacy focused sort of "arc browser" (I really don't like Arc). I'd be interested to see how it ranks. Also, unlike Arc, Zen's beta is already available in Linux and Windows !

[Crazyroostereye]

I use Zen, it's really cool. Sometimes it has some weird Issues, but I think they Integrated all of their Modification really well into Firefox. Also, they have Sane Privacy defaults I like. So not going as overboard as LibreWolf but not as weak as Firefox.

[DedRoll]

I use Zen, it's really cool. Sometimes it has some weird Issues, but I think they Integrated all of their Modification really well into Firefox. Also, they have Sane Privacy defaults I like. So not going as overboard as LibreWolf but not as weak as Firefox.

Could you explain it more about LibreWolf going overboard? I plan to move to that browser or maybe i use Zen too if it's better comparison than LibreWolf

[Crazyroostereye]

Could you explain it more about LibreWolf going overboard? I plan to move to that browser or maybe i use Zen too if it's better comparison than LibreWolf

Primarily I am referring to their Data Storage Default. They dont store Cookies at all, which as my Primary Browser can be annoying (It can be changed in the Settings, as most things can). I get the Security Reasons but contrair to this forum there is some convenience that Persistent Cookies bring that I would like to keep. Also, other Privacy Changes/Features they Implement, which are good don't get me wrong, but also break websites I visit. As Private Browser it is as good as they come, but Privacy comes with the cost of Convenience. I draw my line at Persistent Cookies, meaning that LibreWolf is just a bit to Inconvenient for me.

[SergioEduP]

Could you explain it more about LibreWolf going overboard? I plan to move to that browser or maybe i use Zen too if it's better comparison than LibreWolf

Primarily I am referring to their Data Storage Default. They dont store Cookies at all, which as my Primary Browser can be annoying (It can be changed in the Settings, as most things can). I get the Security Reasons but contrair to this forum there is some convenience that Persistent Cookies bring that I would like to keep. Also, other Privacy Changes/Features they Implement, which are good don't get me wrong, but also break websites I visit. As Private Browser it is as good as they come, but Privacy comes with the cost of Convenience. I draw my line at Persistent Cookies, meaning that LibreWolf is just a bit to Inconvenient for me.

Everyone has different needs and preferences, it's all about finding the balance that works for you, I am also using Zen but have it set so that it deletes cookies and history on exit, except for the cookies of a few websites so I get persistent cookies that I care and actually have a use for and everything else gets thrown away on exit.

[pawpaw]

Could you explain it more about LibreWolf going overboard? I plan to move to that browser or maybe i use Zen too if it's better comparison than LibreWolf

Primarily I am referring to their Data Storage Default. They dont store Cookies at all, which as my Primary Browser can be annoying (It can be changed in the Settings, as most things can). I get the Security Reasons but contrair to this forum there is some convenience that Persistent Cookies bring that I would like to keep. Also, other Privacy Changes/Features they Implement, which are good don't get me wrong, but also break websites I visit. As Private Browser it is as good as they come, but Privacy comes with the cost of Convenience. I draw my line at Persistent Cookies, meaning that LibreWolf is just a bit to Inconvenient for me.

Not here to add too much interesting commentary, just testimony. Librewolf user here. Switched after the whole firefox terms-of-service debacle, I just seen it as a step in the wrong direction, and figured that a REALLY open source browser was a way better step. I enjoy librewolf a lot ^^. I used to not have persistent cookies on, as, i occasionally dont turn my main PC off for a while, but i eventually turned it on. I enjoy librewolf ^^. i would recommend it.

[Mæstro]

LibreWolf rubs me the wrong way, for when I discovered it, it forbade the user even to switch the language to anything beside US English. (I know this limit no longer holds, yet I dislike the thought of discouraging making one’s browser one’s own which underlies LibreWolf’s development.) Watching from afar in the distant land of XUL, most browsers this decade look to me like Firefox, Chromium or Epiphany (ie WebKit) in assorted clothing. I have a friend who uses Waterfox, which I recommended to him in early 2019 when Waterfox Classic still existed and before I switched to Pale Moon. I would most likely have switched to Pale Moon direct from Firefox ESR years ago if I understood how tracker-blocking extensions worked better; I used to use several before being introduced to RequestPolicy.

Curiously, the chart itself lists Pale Moon as supporting ‘Goanna extensions’, whereas Basilisk is listed as supporting ordinary XUL extensions. In fact, both browsers support XUL.It also lists ‘N/A’ for disabling WebRTC in Basilisk, but this is easily possible by unticking a box in its settings.

[Crazyroostereye]

LibreWolf rubs me the wrong way, for when I discovered it, it forbade the user even to switch the language to anything beside US English. (I know this limit no longer holds, yet I dislike the thought of discouraging making one’s browser one’s own which underlies LibreWolf’s development.) Watching from afar in the distant land of XUL, most browsers this decade look to me like Firefox, Chromium or Epiphany (ie WebKit) in assorted clothing.

The eternal Struggle between Privacy / Security vs Freedom / Customization. On one Hand as the Developer you have an obligation to mitigate risk for the User. On the other hand you want to give the User the freedom to decide, how they want it. And to thread the line isn't Easy. For example I would love to have Extensions that are Incredibly Powerful in Functionality and what they Can do, but also that Can be abused to create a Powerful malicious Extension. Something you can still do with basically all base Browser (Firefox, Chromium or Webkit) with the right Knowledge and Tools. It's just very very Hard. (Codding that shit yourself)

And that comes to my second point. The Homogenization of Browsers / Web Engines Is a result that the Web is developing constantly and has become so Complicated and Hard to Implement 100%. While I am all for Browser Diversity. There is the other Problem that the Web Standard is becoming so complicated you can't Document it via Text any more. And Developing you own Web Engine may not be Possible without substantial Help and Funding. That's basically why all Browsers split from One of the three Engines (Geko, Webkit and Blink). Browsers are maybe the most Complicated and Dangerous type of Software you can ever run on your Computer.