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Add to SafariWhen comparing FOSS Browser vs Lightning, the Slant community recommends Lightning for most people. In the question“What are the best Android web browsers?” Lightning is ranked 17th while FOSS Browser is ranked 20th. The most important reason people chose Lightning is:
This means you can help developing new features if you would like to contribute. Moreover you can inspect the code if you are concerned about privacy.
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro FOSS
The name itself suggest FOSS (Free Open Source Software).
Pro Respects your privacy better than all other Chromium based browsers
Requires more flexibility if possible.
Pro No trackers
Recent version of app.
Pro Excellent flexible app user data management
Complete user's custom browser settings, database (site settings such as whitelisting, etc.) and bookmarks can be exported (as a backup) and then imported (to be restored for later use).
Important Note:
Before uninstalling and reinstalling the browser app, create an archive or a copy of the already backed-up data of it to another location of data storage.
Pro UI/Handling
Optimized for one hand handling (toolbar at bottom).
Pro Multi tab browsing
Tab control (switch, open, close unlimited tabs) mentioned by developer, supported (limit to device available memory).
Pro Websearch (from marked text context menu)
Pro Search on site
Pro Advanced gesture control for toolbar and navigation button
Pro Fast toggle for most important settings
Pro Navigation button in fullscreen mode
Pro Do not track me
Mentioned by developer.
Pro Delete data on exit (optional)
Mentioned by developer.
Pro Toggle image/third party content loading
Mentioned by developer.
Pro Whitelist from setting
Whitelist for javascript, cookies and adblocker.
Pro Third party cookies disabled by default
Mentioned by developer.
Pro Custom user agent switcher
Supported & adaptive (most flexible).
Pro Save web page as PDF (URL to PDF)
Supported (but check complexity of web page).
Pro App optimization
Installation size under 10 to 20 MB (depends upon OEM manufacturer & data usage by user).
Pro Adblock filters
Supported.
Pro Excellent Bookmarks Management
Import & Export Bookmarks, very few browsers have this rare functionality.
Pro Free and open source software
This means you can help developing new features if you would like to contribute.
Moreover you can inspect the code if you are concerned about privacy.
Pro Built-in reading mode
Reading mode allows removing everything on a page but the content. It removes ads, styling and anything else that could get in the way of a comfortable reading experience.
Pro Slide-out tab switcher
Tab switcher can be quickly accessed by swiping from the left.
Pro Incognito mode
Cons
Con Android permission location
Today, most browser developers put 2 location permissions: 1) Precise & 2) Approximate, most people search goods & services "by typing name of specific region or place".
i.e: books library in "name of city"
So, is there any need to such permissions which is a privacy concern ?
Con Github users may track you
Con Backed by Github.com
Github is known for making it open source, and hosting tech pros, open source user, and others. This was made to be better then Chrome.
Con No bookmark folders
Bookmarks can't be organized into folders.
