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Add to SafariWhen comparing FOSS Browser 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 FOSS Browser is ranked 20th.
Specs
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 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 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 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.
