There are a lot of browsers out there, but only a handful we actually recommend
For most of us, the browser that comes pre-installed on our phones is the one we stick with – if it works, why bother changing it? However, just like almost everything in the Android world, there are plenty of alternatives that offer a better browsing experience in one way or the other. Some focus on privacy, some on speed, and others on features that make the experience more convenient.
Too many choices can be confusing, so we’ve handpicked the best Android browsers for your perusal. From dark mode to desktop sync to extension support, these browsers have a lot to offer.
Mozilla Firefox
Most of the web browsers available for Android are based on Chromium, the open-source version of Google Chrome. That means they all load web pages the same way. They are pretty equal in performance, have the same quirks, and so on. Firefox is the main exception to this rule — it’s one of the few browsers on Android with a custom rendering engine.
FEATURES
| Rendering engine | GeckoView |
| Dark mode | Yes |
| Desktop sync | Yes |
| Extensions | Partial support |
| Android Autofill | Yes |
Mozilla released a completely rewritten version of Firefox for Android a couple of years ago, and overall, this new release turned out just great. The company offers a limited selection of extensions that you can choose to install, though it’s already possible to use any add-on you need by switching to the Nightly version of the browser.
Other than that, Firefox for Android is snappy. Compared to previous versions, it comes with much-improved scrolling, offers a bottom address bar (for ease of use on tall phones), and optionally syncs almost all of your data with its desktop pendant. It also blocks tracking scripts by default, though you can choose to lift or tighten restrictions as you wish.
Be prepared to run into one or two broken websites every once in a while, though, since most web developers exclusively target Chrome and Safari (on iOS).
Firefox Fast & Private Browser
Mozilla
COMMUNICATION
Price: Free
4.5
Google Chrome
A list of the best web browsers for Android wouldn’t be complete without Google Chrome. It’s the default browser already on most phones and tablets, but Google hasn’t quite rested on its laurels. Chrome updates roll out every six weeks, with each release usually having several new features — even if most of them are for website developers, not end-users.
FEATURES
| Rendering engine | Blink |
| Dark mode | Yes |
| Desktop sync | Yes |
| Extensions | No |
| Android Autofill | Yes |
Chrome is the dominant web browser on both desktop and mobile platforms, so there’s not much to talk about — most of you are probably using it right now, and you probably know what it can (and cannot) do. Because most of Chrome is open-source, and most other browsers on Android use that open-source base, the vast majority of Chrome’s features end up duplicated in other apps.
However, the Android version of Chrome does have a few nice features that you might not have heard about. You can switch tabs by swiping left and right on the address bar, force websites to be dark when your phone is in dark mode, and much more.
The main version of Chrome for Android is probably already on your phone, but if you want to try out whatever features Google has cooking in the oven, we’ve also linked the Beta (slightly buggy) and Dev (buggy) versions below. Regardless, there are a bunch of tips and tricks to utilize this browser on your Android.
Google Chrome: Fast & Secure
Google LLC
COMMUNICATION
Price: Free
4.2
PRODUCTIVITY
Price: Free
4.4
COMMUNICATION
Price: Free
4.4
DuckDuckGo
You may already know that DuckDuckGo is a web search engine focused on privacy, but did you know the company has a web browser too? The DuckDuckGo browser for Android is (very) light on features, but it still provides a nice experience.
FEATURES
| Rendering engine | Android WebView |
| Dark mode | Partial (forced dark mode on all websites, even those with native dark modes) |
| Desktop sync | No |
| Extensions | No |
| Android Autofill | Yes |
This is probably the most basic browser out of this list, as there is no desktop sync support, no extensions, and few advanced features. However, tracking scripts are blocked by default, and the browser gives every site a privacy rating with a complete list of every blocked tracker. Most browsers have some sort of tracking protection at this point, but DuckDuckGo lays out the information in a very easy-to-understand way.
By default, DuckDuckGo erases cookies after you close a tab (similar to Firefox Focus), but there’s a setting to disable that for your favorite sites. Under the hood, DuckDuckGo uses Android’s built-in rendering engine, so it should perform just as well as Chrome, though it’s missing some of its comfort features like tab switching by swiping over the address bar.
The company is also busy building a desktop companion, which can be expected to bring desktop sync in the future.
DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser
DuckDuckGo
TOOLS
Price: Free
4.5
Samsung Internet
Samsung Internet started as the pre-installed web browser on Galaxy phones and tablets, but Samsung opened it up to all Android devices in 2017. It’s now one of the most popular browsers on the platform, and it’s jam-packed (or overloaded, depending on your standpoint) with features.
FEATURES
| Rendering engine | Blink |
| Dark mode | Yes |
| Desktop sync | Partial, with a Chrome extension |
| Extensions | Yes |
| Android Autofill | Yes |
Samsung Internet is based on Chrome, but it has an entirely custom interface that fits with Samsung’s One UI design language. Some of its advantages over Chrome include tracking protection, a limited selection of add-ons, and a button layout that is easier to use on tall phones. You can check out our in-depth comparison between the two browsers to get a better idea.
My favorite feature is the complete dark mode support — not only can the browser’s interface turn dark, but it can also modify the appearance of sites to make them dark too. This doesn’t always work as intended, but it’s still great to have for late-night reading. Chrome and Firefox can also display dark pages when dark mode is enabled, but only if the site itself has created a dark theme. It’s just a bummer that Samsung recently decided to clutter the new tab page with a discover feed much like the one in Google Chrome, but at least it can be deactivated easily.
Like Chrome and Firefox, Samsung Internet has both stable and beta versions. Give the beta release a shot if you like being on the bleeding edge.
Samsung Internet Browser
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
COMMUNICATION
Price: Free
4.3
Vivaldi
Former Opera developers founded Vivaldi, and it’s quickly become one of the most feature-packed browsers on Android. While it is based on Chrome, it has overhauled the interface and added some excellent features, though I feel like it’s much less bloated than Samsung’s browser and its settings are easier to navigate.
FEATURES
| Rendering engine | Blink |
| Dark mode | Yes |
| Desktop sync | Yes |
| Extensions | No |
| Android Autofill | Yes |
Vivaldi uses a tab strip on the top by default, similar to desktop web browsers, which is especially nice on tablets or phones in landscape mode. There’s also a bottom panel for performing key functions without reaching the top of the screen, an Opera-style ‘Speed Dial’ page when you open a new tab, an optional always-on desktop mode, and an optional blocker for tracking scripts. You can even style websites to your liking if you’re into that sort of thing (or rely on it for accessibility reasons).
Vivaldi: Private Browser
Vivaldi Technologies
COMMUNICATION
Price: Free
4
Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Edge is yet another Chromium-based browser for Android. While it initially only had a few changes compared to Chrome, it’s now distinct enough from Google’s browser interface that there are genuine use cases for it.
FEATURES
| Rendering engine | Blink |
| Dark mode | Yes |
| Desktop sync | Yes |
| Extensions | Rudimentary (some “content blockers” are supported) |
| Android Autofill | Yes |
Edge’s bottom bar gives you quick access to often-needed browsing features, the new tab page can be customized to your liking, and you can collect rewards by using Bing. There are a few more notable features outside of desktop sync, like integration with Microsoft’s family management tools. Still, all that said, it’s mostly great for people deep into Microsoft’s ecosystem. Like its desktop counterpart, it’s nothing but Chrome with a different appearance.
Microsoft Edge: Web Browser
Microsoft Corporation
COMMUNICATION
Price: Free
4.6
The browsers we didn’t include
There are a few popular browsers for Android that we didn’t include on this list. Instead of answering questions about missing apps in the comments, we thought it might be better to explain our reasoning.
- Opera browsers: We previously included Opera Mini here because its data saver mode is still largely unmatched (even if it broke many web pages). Opera’s other Android browsers are generally good products. However, Opera also operates several loan applications that previously violated Play Store guidelines and harassed the user’s contacts, which isn’t a great omen for the company’s web browsers.
- Xiaomi Mint Browser: Xiaomi’s web browsers are popular in Asia and other regions where Xiaomi sells most of its phones. However, code was discovered in Mint Browser that sent all search queries made in Incognito Mode to Xiaomi’s servers. Xiaomi later added an option to disable this behavior, but it’s not enabled by default, and the browser was only updated after several days of complaints and news coverage.