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Add to SafariWhen comparing GNU IceCat vs Ghostery Browser, 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 Ghostery Browser is ranked 34th.
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 Built-in ad blocker
The Ghostery ad blocker blocks all ads so that you don't get annoyed.
Pro No tracking
Pro No telemetry on mobile
There is no telemetry on mobile, except if you go to their support page and start a tutorial.
Pro Lightweight
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 No add-ons support
There is no add-ons support, except on desktop platforms.
Con Outdated search engines
It uses the Clickz search engine as a search engine which was already discontinued in 2020.
Con Just like Ghostery this is software by an ad agency
Con Ghostery ad blocker doesn't block all, but "selective" and sends on personal data.
Since July 2018, with version 8.2, Ghostery shows advertisements of its own to users.[23] Burda claims that the advertisements do not send personal data back to their servers and that they do not create a personal profile.[24] (Wikipedia)
Con Way too similar to Mozilla Firefox
