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Add to SafariWhen comparing GNU IceCat vs Bromite, 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 Bromite is ranked 6th.
Specs
Question Ranking
Pros
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.
Pro App optimization
Installation size 88 to 105 MB (depends upon OEM manufacturer & usage by user).
Pro Respects your privacy better than all other Chromium based browsers
DNS over https (require more flexibility if possible).
Pro Optimizated RAM usage
Average (depends upon web page complexity).
Pro Excellent bookmarks management
Import & Export Bookmarks, very few browsers have this rare functionality.
Pro Up to date with the Chromium releases
Pro Developer options
Can be enabled.
Pro Browser aside app
Browser has “optional (additional app)” functionality of acting as SYSTEM WEBVIEW support (but requires rooting Android).
Pro Customizable adblock filters
Pro AV1 codec support
Pro Allows playing videos in background tabs and disable pause on switching tabs
Pro Shows warnings for TLSv1.0/TLSv1.1 pages
Pro Removes click-tracking and AMP from search results
Pro Supports DNS over HTTPS
Help in detail by guide on "Enter a correctly formatted url" (require more flexibility if possible), check clarification for more.
Cons
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.
Con Still contains spyware
Default homepage is spyware and searches are enabled by default.
Con Big target for hackers
Bromite is a big target for hackers because it's a Chromium fork.
Con Not secure
Bromite lacks ad blocking and other privacy protecting features.
Con Eats up battery life
Because it's very fast, which puts pressure on the RAM & hence ultimately on battery.
Con Bromite = Google Chrome
It uses Chrome for the query.
