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When comparing Chrome vs GNU IceCat, the Slant community recommends GNU IceCat for most people. In the question“What are the best Android web browsers?” GNU IceCat is ranked 1st while Chrome is ranked 9th.
Specs
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Supports the latest web standards
Chrome for Android supports HTML5, CSS3, and many APIs.
Pro Syncs with desktop browser
Chrome for Android will sync bookmarks, passwords, history, and open tabs from your desktop.
Pro Very user friendly UI
Pro Backed by Google
Like Android, Chrome is a Google product, which means the two technologies can be expected to grow together and remain compatible.
Pro Preinstalled in most android devices
Most Android devices have google chrome preinstalled as part of ROM.
Pro Use websites offline
Pro Same Product from Google
Best integration solution with OS #MadeByGoogle
Pro No competition for chrome on android
Some says firefox, actually firefox is completely numb and buggy. Opera, firefox, uc browser this all are very much slower in front of chrome. O.K one and only faster browser than chrome is Puffin, but this one is very sticky and ugly user inerface.
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 Allows Google to track essentially everything you visit with your browser
Chrome sends usage data to Google.
Con More resource hungry
Con Chrome favors Google's products and tries to satiate Google's data appetite, what hurts the user experience
Con Proprietary
Con Lacks ad-blocking features
Chrome mobile does not support ad-blocking features unlike the Chrome desktop app.
Con Excessive permissions
The permissions required are excessive and intrusive (including record audio) - a few browsers require this, but there are several available that don't
Con SSL Nanny
It is nice that Chrome is strict about SSL warnings, but it would be nice to have an option to connect anyway without needing a secondary browser.
Con Slightly heavier than other options
Chrome uses more system resources than most other browsers, which means it will run slower especially on lower end hardware.
Con Lacks a download manager
Unlike most competitors, Chrome has no built-in download manager.
Con Doesnt support extensions
All extension from chrome web store cannot be used on android version.
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.
