5 great Chrome browser alternatives that put your privacy first

In this age of constant digital malice, it’s beyond the point where everyone should be thinking “security first.” All it takes is one momentary lapse of reason, and a bad actor has your information.

You don’t want that.

Nor do you want third parties to collect your data.

With that in mind, Chrome should be considered a problem because it has a constant target on its back and is known to be one of the biggest offenders of data collection, profiling, and fingerprinting.

Also: How I made Perplexity AI the default search engine in my browser (and why you should too)

What do you do?

Fortunately, there are plenty of Chrome-based alternatives that take security up a notch or two.

Let me offer you a few suggestions.

1. Brave Browser

Brave is one of the most secure Chrome-based browsers on the market. It was created by the creator of JavaScript and is fairly locked down by default. Not only does Brave not store user information, but it also includes built-in blockers for ads, trackers, scripts, fingerprinting, and third-party storage. On top of all the blockers, Brave also includes built-in access to the Tor network and a user-friendly VPN. Oh, did I mention it includes a dedicated, private search engine (Brave Engine), global HTTPS encryption, and a built-in cryptocurrency wallet (which can be disabled)? 

For those who fear Brave would be too different from Chrome, fear not. Anyone who has used any sort of web browser will feel right at home with Brave. Brave is free and can be installed on Linux, MacOS, Windows, Android, and iOS.

Also: The best secure browsers for privacy

Best for: Brave is best for those who want all of their browser security baked in (without having to configure a thing) and depend on a VPN for added security.

2. Ungoogled Chromium Browser

Ungoogled Chromium Browser is exactly what it sounds like… a Chrome browser without everything in Chrome that could compromise your privacy or depend on pretty much any Google service. Ungoogled Chromium Browser removes all background requests from any Google service. The developers have also removed all code that is specific to Google web services and disabled all features that “inhibit control and transparency.” 

Finally, the developers of Ungoogled Chromium Browser have stripped all binaries from the source code and replaced them with user-provided alternatives. Ungoogled Chromium Browser is free and can be installed on Linux, MacOS, and Windows.

Also: For anonymous browsing, these extensions are the next best thing to Tor

Best for: Those who like the Chrome UI but not the insecurity of Google’s browser.

3. Mullvad Browser

There are two reasons Mullvad Browser gets included here: Mullvad VPN and that it was created in conjunction with The Tor Project. Mullvad defaults to privacy mode, uses letterboxing to prevent fingerprinting, disables JavaScript by default, defaults to privacy-focused search engines (the default being Mullvad Leta), allows users to quickly create new identities (to prevent activity from being linked to the user), uses First Party Isolation to retain cookies in a separate container, and includes uBlock Origin and NoScript out of the box. Mullvad is free and can be installed on Linux, MacOS, and Windows.

Also: My 5 favorite web browsers – and what each is ideal for

Best for: Especially good for those who depend on Mullvad VPN. Otherwise, if you like the Chrome UI but need serious security, this might be the one.

4. Opera

Opera has been my default web browser for a very long time. Although Opera’s security features are pretty straightforward, there’s a free VPN built into the browser that is as simple to use as it gets. Open Settings, search for VPN, and enable the feature. You can also enable the VPN to connect when starting the browser and manage VPN bypass rules. The Opera VPN connects to servers around the world, so speeds can vary. 

Opera also includes built-in blockers for ads and tracking, both of which allow you to add exceptions, in case you need to use sites that are negatively impacted when ad or tracker blocking is enabled. Opera is free and can be installed on Linux, MacOS, Windows, Android, and iOS. On top of the VPN, Opera also has the best tab management on the market.

Also: How Opera’s new Air browser helped me to keep calm and surf on

Best for: Those who want to use a VPN and also require better tab management than any browser on the market.

5. Vivaldi

Vivaldi is one of the most customizable browsers on the market. Open Settings, and you’ll be overwhelmed with options. Because of that, I tend to suggest this browser for power users. Aside from the vast array of configurations, Vivaldi allows you to get pretty granular with tracking prevention, including ad blocking from abusive sites and hyperlink audit trafficking. You can also enable/disable phishing and malware protection, DNS to help resolve navigation errors, and form autofill assistance. 

Of course, Vivaldi also includes tracker and ad-blocking features and allows you to select from None, Block Trackers, and Block Trackers and Ads. Finally, Vivaldi includes a few extra features that are security-adjacent, such as the ability to hide typed history in address and search fields, browsing history save expiration, and website permission granting for several features (autoplay, geolocation, camera, mic, etc.). Vivaldi is free to use and can be installed on Linux, MacOS, Windows, Android, and iOS.

Also: 5 browser extension rules to live by to keep your system safe

Best for: Power users who want control over nearly every aspect of web browsing.