When comparing Qutebrowser vs GNU IceCat, the Slant community recommends GNU IceCat for most people. In the question“What are the best desktop web browsers?” GNU IceCat is ranked 8th while Qutebrowser is ranked 17th.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Vim-style keyboard shortcuts and commands for rapid navigation
With suggestions/auto-complete to reduce the learning curve.
Pro Fast and light on resource usage
Pro Highly customizable
And quite easy to configure. You can even write your own config.
Pro Great for Privacy
Makes no unexpected network requests by default, unlike most other browsers (Chrome, Chromium, Brave, Firefox, etc).
Pro Userscripts
Call custom scripts on web pages or links (hinting mode).
You can use this for downloading of videos (youtube-dl, adfree), saving web pages as pdf or adding news sources to your RSS reader (newsboat).
Pro All the benefits of Firefox, but with 100% free software
Pro LibreJS
LibreJS blocks proprietary JavaScript code, ensuring your user freedom.
Pro Protects your freedom, certified free by the FSF
Pro Extra security and privacy features
Pro Made by idealists
It is part of the GNU Project.
Pro No spyware
Pro Https-Everywhere by default
Pro SpyBlock
Blocks privacy trackers.
Cons
Con Software rendering only with Nouveau Drivers
Con Steep learning curve
If you're not a vim user, it will take some time to get used to the shortcuts.
Con Slow
As it is mainly written in Python, it's startup is slower than the competition.
Con Requires additional support and plugins for video playback
Con Too much bloat
The browser comes with 15 addons installed by default, most of which are useless or ruin one's browsing experience.
Con Mainly just an old Firefox
It is mainly a renamend older version of Firefox that comes preinstalled with some extensions.
Con Not up to date
Latest binary is still version 60.7 ESR and was last updated over a year ago
Con Requires too much unnecessary configuration to use
You have to manually delete all the bloated addons from your files (only for them to show up again when the browser is updated) and manually install some addons and themes that the browser labels as "corrupt".
Con Very slow boot time
It takes 10+ seconds for the browser to load up
Con Can't install some Firefox themes/addons
"Installation aborted because the addon appears to be corrupt".
Con Includes LibreJS by default with no way to remove it
Con Very slow boot time
It takes 10+ seconds for the browser to load up
Con Dependent on Mozilla
Since IceCat is based off Firefox, it's dependent on all of Mozilla's decisions.
Con Made by idealists
It is part of the GNU Project.