12 Best Linux Browsers in 2025

Linux has evolved over time, from a minimalist interface and tools to supporting state-of-the-art interfaces and applications. In today’s modern era, a Browser is one of the most required applications on any system. Linux distros that come with a GUI by default have some browsers pre-installed, i.e., Firefox, Chromium. Other than the default installed browser, there are more competitive browsers supported by Linux that can be a better choice than the already installed one.

Keeping this in view, I will discuss the top Linux browsers, including the GUI and text-based browsers.

Top 12 Browsers for Linux

From a user’s point of view, there are several factors that influence the browser choice. While choosing a browser, some users prefer a resource-friendly browser, a browser full of features, or a secure browser. If you are unsure, please go through this guide, and you’ll find your browser as per your requirements.

Firefox

Firefox, because of its Free and Open-Source (FOSS) nature, comes by default in most of the Linux distributions, i.e., Ubuntu, Kali. It was introduced in 2004 with the aim of being a competitor of Internet Explorer. Firefox offers various features that make it stand out among most browsers.

Let’s see why anyone should use or opt for Firefox.

Why Firefox?

Over time, Firefox evolved, and it attracted a large number of Linux users. Firefox is well-known for its privacy-oriented features, i.e., cookie protection, tracking protection, and support for DNS over HTTPS.

Firefox is updated every 4 weeks, and the core focus is continuously evolving the privacy and security features.

Firefox has a large number of extensions in its “Add-ons” store. Extensions assist the users in doing specific tasks with one click instead of spending a few minutes on a specific task.

Firefox is highly customizable, which makes it favorable for those looking for some visual appeal in the browser.

Limitations of Firefox:

Although Firefox is well-liked and is no doubt a fully loaded browser. However, it still has some limitations that I want to highlight:

• The processing is slow and laggy, which is a red flag in this speedy tech era. That’s why the Gen Z audience barely adapts to Firefox.
• Consumes relatively larger memory than it should, as it has a poor tab process management mechanism.

Want to give it a try? Let’s learn how it can be installed on various Linux distributions.

Install Firefox on Linux

Google Chrome

Google Chrome is also one of the leading browsers for Linux systems. It was introduced in 2008, and since then, it has been gaining popularity day by day because of its amazing strengths, which you might not see in any other browser.

So, let’s dig into the “Why” part:

Why Google Chrome?

Google Chrome releases its stable version every 4 weeks (same as Firefox). Currently, Google Chrome 136 is the latest stable release with security updates in focus as well.

Google Chrome has a large extensions store to integrate various tools, apps with your browser to save time. That’s why Google Chrome’s user experience is better than other browsers in the list.

Google Chrome is a part of Google’s ecosystem, thus, you can integrate Google services with your Chrome profile. This way, multiple accounts can be integrated with multiple Chrome profiles.

Chrome offers some control over the data. Like, protecting your list of passwords, autofill control, managing cookies and sessions up to some extent, indicating if the password is found in a data breach, asking before saving any password, etc.

Limitations of Google Chrome:

• High resource consumption, i.e., RAM.
• As it is integrated with Google’s ecosystem, Chrome usually tracks and collects data on the user’s behavior throughout the session.

Chrome has some serious limitations as discussed above, but still used and loved the most.

Install Google Chrome on Linux

Let me take you through the installation methods of Chrome on Linux:

Ubuntu and other Debian Distros:

Chrome is not directly available on Ubuntu’s or Debian’s repository. You have to download the “deb” package file from the Official Website and use the following command:

Click here to read the complete Installation guide of Chrome on Ubuntu.

Arch-Linux and Its Derivatives:

Get the AUR helper, i.e., yay in this case:

Now, install Chrome on Arch using the following command:

Detailed insight into installing Google Chrome on Arch Linux.

Fedora:

Click here to learn multiple methods of installing Chrome on Fedora.

Opera

Opera is a Chromium-based, partially Open-Source browser. It was first launched in 1995 with the aim of providing a state-of-the-art user experience at that time. Let’s have a look at the “Why”?

Why Opera?

Opera has the same rendering engine (JavaScript-based) as Google Chrome, and thus provides speed assurance while surfing.

Opera provides built-in support for messengers of social platforms, providing a dedicated bar inside the browser.

Opera has built-in support for VPN, which serves through 3 locations only.

Opera supports a number of extensions that assist users in doing several tasks quickly, i.e., a single click to open/manage apps or tools. Apart from Opera’s own extensions, it supports Chrome-based extensions as well.

Limitations of Opera:

• Resource consumption. Chromium-based, but still utilizes high resources.
• Since it is a partially open source, and thus the VPN source code is not revealed, which makes it vulnerable, ultimately compromising the privacy of the user. Likewise, the same concern is for the Ad and tracker blocker.

Install Opera on Linux

Snap Supported Distros:

Ubuntu and Other Debian Derivatives:

Click here to see detailed installation methods of Opera on Ubuntu and other Debian derivatives.

Arch and Its Derivatives:

Brave

In 2016, the co-founder of the Mozilla project introduced Brave to provide privacy. For this, it was launched with a built-in Ad and tracker blocker. Let’s dig into the core details of why this Browser is one of the most used by Linux users:

Why Brave?

Since Brave was introduced to ensure privacy so it integrated Tor browsing, which is the most secure way of browsing. Routing through multiple IPs and ensuring the tracker blocking is what makes Brave a secure browser.

Brave has a unique Ad reward system, known as “Basic Attention Token”. Users can earn these tokens by watching the Ads and supporting the content creators.

Brave is also a Chromium-based browser (equipped with the V8 JS engine), which makes it a fast browser.

Brave supports a list of Chrome-based extensions to ensure the availability of maximum features to the users. Moreover, it has cross-platform support available, i.e., you can integrate the saved bookmarks, browsing history, and other settings to another platform.

Limitations of Brave:

• The aggressive tracker and ad-blocking feature of Brave blocks various useful extensions and sites either completely or partially, which impacts the user experience.

Now, let’s explore the ways to install Brave on Linux:

Install Brave Browser on Linux

You can get Brave on Linux using one shell script:

Ubuntu and Other Debian Derivatives:

Click here to get detailed instructions for installing Brave on Ubuntu and Debian Derivatives

Arch and Its Derivatives:

Click here to install Brave on Arch and its derived distributions.

Chromium

Google Chrome is a free and open-source browser developed and maintained by Google (under the Chromium project). It was first released in 2008 and named after the Chromium metal, which is used to create Chrome plates. Let’s see why Chromium is one of the best browser choices.

Why Chromium?

Chromium is open source, which makes it favorable for Linux users, and it was developed by Google, so most of the Chrome-like features are already there.

Chromium also allows you to get extensions from the Chrome Web Store and from external sources, resulting in a large number of extensions for a better user experience.

The browser’s source code can be modified, but only Google-authorized developers are allowed to do so.

When compared with Chrome, Chromium is more privacy-oriented than Google Chrome, i.e., it installs updates manually and it does not track or share user data.

Limitations of Chromium:

Chromium is also a resource-intensive browser, making it hard for people looking for a hardware-friendly browser, and the Chromium codebase is the major reason behind this.

Install Chromium on Linux

Ubuntu and Other Debian Derivatives:

Read this guide for detailed installation instructions.

Snap supported Distros:

Arch and Its Derivatives:

Fedora:

Vivaldi

Vivaldi is another Chromium-based browser, introduced in 2015 by Vivaldi. It was developed and considered as an alternative to the Opera browser.

Why Vivaldi?

Since Vivaldi is Chromium-based, its UI is customizable, and users have a variety of themes, layout options to experience a unique feel.

Vivaldi’s quick command line support allows you to navigate between browsers, create Vivaldi notes, and scroll through browser history. Just write the keyword in the command search tab, and a list of commands is shown with their purpose.

Vivaldi is equipped with a built-in mail client and RSS feed reader, which you may not get by default in other browsers.

Limitations of Vivaldi:

• Vivaldi is not completely open-source, with some of its features on a closed-source list.
• Although it offers a customizable UI but it can result in consuming high hardware resources.

Install Vivaldi on Linux

Ubuntu and Other Debian Derivatives:

Vivaldi is not directly available on the repositories of Ubuntu or other Debian derivatives. However, you can get the “.deb” package from the official Vivaldi site. Once the “deb” package is downloaded, you can use the following command to install it:

Note: Follow this guide for a detailed installation method.

Snap Supported Distros:

Users of those Linux distributions where the snap is functional can use the following command to install Vivaldi on the system:

Flatpak Supported Distros:

Ensure that your system has Flatpak installed and it is connected to Flathub. Then, use the following command to install it:

Tor (The Onion Router)

Tor is the most secure browser so far, introduced in 2002, with an aim to create the first ever anonymous browser. It is managed and maintained under the Tor Project.

Why Tor?

When a request is sent through Tor, it passes through a multi-layered routing, one layer after another. This multi-layer routing makes it impossible to detect and trace a user or the location of the user.

Tor usually works on the “.onion” links, which only work on the Onion routing, i.e., Tor. This makes Tor a browser for specific use (helping the government and corporate sector work anonymously to achieve specific goals).

Limitations of Tor:

• The multi-layered routing puts extra load on the system resources, which is not good for users looking for resource-friendly browsers.
• Takes more time to load/start.
• Anonymity is usually utilized in illegal activities (hacking, dark web, etc).

Install Tor on Linux

Ubuntu and other Debian Derivatives:

Note: Follow this guide for detailed installation instructions for Tor on Ubuntu.

Flatpak Supported Distros:

Fedora:

To install Tor on Fedora, you have to first integrate the Tor project with Fedora’s package repository and then proceed with the installation. Get brief info on this at Tor’s official page.

Falkon

Falkon was initially introduced in 2010 with the name “QupZilla”. Later in 2017, KDE adapted it and renamed it from “QupZilla” to “Falkon”.

Why Falkon?

Since it is a KDE-owned browser, it works well and is integrated with the KDE environment (a desktop environment on Linux).

Falkon is a resource-friendly browser, making it well-liked among users working in a resource-constrained environment.

It offers a built-in Ad blocker and some privacy controls, which are enough for a normal user and thus nullify the need to install any other service.

Limitations of Falkon:

• Falkon is very straightforward and resource-friendly with limited engine updates. Because of that, it sometimes behaves abnormally when modern web standards are encountered, i.e., dynamic sites, high-end graphic visuals, JavaScript-enriched sites.
• It does not have enough extension support as compared to other browsers.

Install Falkon on Linux

Read this guide for detailed installation instructions using Snap.

Midori

Midori was introduced in 2007 as a part of the XFCE project and aimed to offer a simple, fast, and lightweight solution for Linux users.

Why Midori?

Midori is not modern in visuals, but effective for hardware-conscious users, i.e., old hardware, low hardware specs, embedded systems.

It has a notably low memory consumption, which makes it boot and perform fast.

It supports low-level tools for tracker and cookie blocking, providing essential privacy to users.

Limitations of Midori:

• Low support for the extensions and advanced customization.
• Neither intermediate nor advanced security measures are supported.

Install Midori on Linux:

Ubuntu and Other Debian Derivatives:

Snap Supported Distros:

Note: Remember to configure and enable snapd, or else you will get an error while installing.

Flatpak Supported Distros:

These were the most used and recommended GUI browsers for Linux users.

Lynx | Text-Based Browser

Lynx is an open-source and command-line browser for linux systems. It was introduced in 1992 by a group of researchers from the University of Kansas.

Why Lynx?

Lynx was aimed at command-line browsing and is still used in Linux servers to keep the GUI exposure as low as possible.

Lynx allows a limited number of operations to track the user data. However, it provides control over the cookies, users can manage if the cookies are allowed or disallowed.

It is a preferred browser while communicating with a system through SSH, Telnet, or any other terminal-based connections.

Because of its only command line support, Lynx is well-supported and recommended for resource-friendly systems.

Limitations of Lynx:

• Only command-line operations.
• The search result is provided as a formatted text on the terminal screen, which might not be suitable for all Linux users or users shifting to Linux.
• Only recommended when browsing is not being done frequently.

Install Lynx on Linux

Browsh | Text-Based Browser

Browsh is another text-based browser for Linux. However, it is modern as compared to the Lynx as it supports a GUI but in a controlled manner. For GUI rendering, the user must have Firefox installed.

Why Browsh?

Browsh supports a basic graphics element renderer (CSS/JS) to offer limited GUI support for the search results.

Browsh does not allow sharing the user data. However, while processing web pages, the cookies need to be managed manually.

Being a text-based browser, it is lightweight and supports old hardware or systems with low hardware resources.

Browsh is also used when communicating through SSH, Telnet, etc., the remote connections to the systems.

Limitations of Browsh:

• Although it supports a modern GUI renderer, advanced graphics have not yet been supported inside Browsh. Thus, when displaying the graphics, a few of them pixelate or do not show up properly.

Install Browsh on Linux

W3m | Text-Based Browser

W3m was initially introduced in 1995 as a text-based browser for the Unix-derived operating systems. Since then, it has been adapted at a larger scale by Linux users to browse in a non-GUI environment.

Why W3m?

Like other text-based browsers, it is also resource-friendly, takes no time to start, and browses the data with an optimal speed.

It is usually used in Linux servers and for remote browsing through remote connection protocols, i.e., SSH, Telnet.

With time, W3m has been updated and now it provides a more user-friendly text-based interface, i.e., inline images and interactive results.

Limitations of W3m:

• W3m needs to be configured to show inline images and SSL-encrypted pages. If not configured properly, it will show abnormal results in the terminal.

Install W3m on Linux

That’s all from the list of top Linux browsers.

Comparison of the Browsers | Which one to choose?

Now that you have gone through the top browsers for Linux. Let me provide you with a comparison chart of the browsers. Here, I have considered notable parameters that a user should consider before switching to another browser:

Browser	System Resource Usage	Privacy	Customization	Extension Support	Rendering Engine	Updates	Source-Code
GUI Browsers
Firefox	Medium	Medium	Medium	High	Gecko	Regular	FOSS
Chrome	High	Low	Low	High	Blink	Regular	Proprietary
Tor	High	High	Low	Medium	Gecko	Regular	FOSS
Opera	Medium	Ad and Tracker blocker, VPN	High, i.e., sidebar, themes, workspaces	High	Blink	Regular	Partially Open-Source
Brave	Low	Ad and Tracker blocker	Medium	Medium	Blink	Regular	FOSS
Chromium	Low	Low	Low	Medium	Blink	Regular	FOSS
Vivaldi	Low	Tracker blocker	Low	High	Blink	Regular	Partially Open-Source
Falkon	Very Low	Low	Low	Medium	QtWebEngine	Not Regular	FOSS
Midori	Very Low	Low	Low	Medium	WebKit	Not Regular	FOSS
Terminal/Text-Based Browsers
Lynx	Very Low	Low	Low		Internal	Not Regular	FOSS
w3m	Very Low	Low	Low		Internal	Not Regular
Browsh	Very Low	Low	Low		Geck-based	Not Regular

That’s all. Choose your browser wisely.

Conclusion

The top linux browsers for 2025 are: Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Brave, Chromium, Vivaldi, Tor, Falkon, Midori, Lynx, Browsh, and W3m. Each browser is chosen based on some factors, i.e., some offer advanced features, security, resource consumption, and text-based interfaces. You just need to see which browser fulfills your requirements and just go for it.

I have provided a list of the most used Browsers on Linux and demonstrated a brief comparison so that a user can easily pick a browser as per their requirements.