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Add to SafariWhen comparing GNU IceCat vs Opera GX, 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 Opera GX is ranked 35th.
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 Customizable
Browser is highly customizable, with dual colors, sounds, effects, bookmarks and tabs and much more.
Pro Built-in adblocker
Pro Built-in tracker blocker
Pro GX Control
Lets you limit the network traffic, RAM and CPU usage of the browser.
Pro Built-in messenger services
It has built-in Whatsapp, Telegram, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook Messenger and much more and this feature itself is better than most of the browsers out there.
Pro Built in music player
It has a built in music player which you can listen to Spotify, Youtube Music and Apple Music in the background.
Pro Very fast
Using the chromium engine, this browser is as fast as Chrome and Edge.
Pro Lots of Add-Ons
Opera Store and Chrome Store is available for this browser with millions of add-ons.
Pro It is good for gaming
Pro Opera Sync
You can sync everything via other devices and it is password protected apart from a standart login.
Pro Built-in news reader
Apart from other browsers like Edge which forces you to read only their feed, you can add any feed and news channel, and read them anytime.
Pro GX Cleaner
Lets you clean browser data easiliy.
Pro GX Corner
It's a page designed for game lovers with news, prices, deals and much more about the latest games.
Pro My Flow option
The browser has a built-in software which lets you send everything from files to pictures, and messages to yourselves via "My Flow" to your other devices and phones.
Pro Built in dark mode system
Pro Built-in VPN
It's a free service and unlimited (but it leaks your IP address). Perfect and very easy to use.
Pro Built in Ambient Music player and button sounds
The dynamic background music is an ambient downtempo that will immerse you further in your gaming-themed browser. Actively browsing, clicking and typing intensifies the music, for example, while slowly scrolling and reading will take the music down a notch. This dynamic reaction to your activity blends into the background when you’re in focus-mode, so you often don’t notice it until you miss it.
Also when you type via keyboard , a very nice click sound is there to feel like The Matrix computer engineer.
You can switch these sounds off.
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 Owned by a Chinese consortium
Although it has many privacy and security features, Opera is owned by a Chinese company and everything you do online is spied by China probably.
Con GX Control not so effective
RAM, CPU and Network limiter is not so effective.
Con May not be for everyone
It's a gaming themed browser with dark and colorful interface. May not be everyones taste.
Con Opera GX for Android is bad
Slow.
Con Slow opening time
When compared to Edge, Chrome and Brave, this browser starts up a little later due to many features it has inside.
Con Practically spyware
Owned by a Chinese company.
