The Chromebooks come pre-installed with the Google Chrome browser; however, the Chrome OS that powers the Chromebooks is built on Linux architecture, which means it supports all the web browsers developed for Linux-based OS.
We listed the best browser you can install as an alternative to Google Chrome for your Chromebook.
Our Review Process: We consider various parameters for review, which include but are not limited to ease of usability, built-in features, popularity, user rating, frequency of updates, support, and most importantly, customer satisfaction. We rate the products or services compared to its peers under the same category. Hence, a product/service rating on Page 'A' can be different than Page 'B'.
In this guide, I have shared written instruction about:
Mozilla Firefox
Our rating: 4.6/5
Firefox is one of the most secure and private browsers of all time. It keeps you ahead of hackers and fraudsters trying to intrude on your privacy at every point.
Some of Firefox’s significant features are:
- You can sync your data through all your connected devices and never miss an update.
- You can easily manage multiple tabs at once.
- It blocks third-party apps and trackers.
- You can easily access your top websites hassle-free.
- Sharing a link or article becomes more accessible with Firefox.
However, it is slow compared to Chrome and does not give you the desired speed that you want. The privacy protection is top-notch, but it may lag sometimes.
Opera Browser
Our rating: 4.7/5
If we’re talking speed and compatibility, the Opera browser is your go-to option. It is not only reliable but provides best-in-class features that are unknown to other browsers.
Some of Opera’s essential features are:
- It has an in-built ad blocker for all the annoying ads.
- Presence of built-in messengers so you can chat and work altogether.
- It is highly customizable according to your convenience.
- With the free VPN, you can browse safely and more privately.
As Opera is different in its outlook from the other browsers, you can find it challenging to locate all its features at once and may require time to get familiar with its interface.
Brave Browser
Our rating: 4.7/5
The Brave Browser is said to be the fastest browser among its contemporaries. It loads pages faster than Chrome, Opera, and Firefox. It also saves a ton of your battery and does all your work.
Several of Brave Browser’s remarkable features are:
- It completes all your work by using 35% less battery.
- It protects your privacy and blocks trackers.
- The private mode secures your data and masks your location as well.
- By viewing privacy-respecting ads, you can earn Brave tokens and rewards.
Brave has a unique system of connecting with its users. However, some of its features are only available on its desktop version and require work.
Microsoft Edge
Our rating: 4.4/5
If you’ve ever owned a Windows desktop or laptop, you must be familiar with Microsoft Edge. It is one of the oldest browsers but lost its popularity in time. However, it regained some of its old fame after it was re-launched.
Some of Edge’s essential features are:
- It is safe, secure, and more reliable than ever.
- With MS Rewards, you can find the best deals and save more.
- Features like Immersive Reader and Vertical Tabs help you stay ahead of time.
- Browsing is faster and designed to boost your productivity.
However, it may not have all the features of the other new browsers. It may also have crashing issues that can lead to the slow loading of web pages.
Dolphin Browser
Our rating: 4.2/5
It is one of the best alternatives to Chrome as it offers significantly new and unique features that are not readily available on other browsers. It is highly customizable and gives users full liberty to use it as required.
A few of Dolphin Browser’s unique features are:
- You can easily sync between compatible devices.
- The presence of intelligent voice searches makes things easier.
- You can browse through multiple tabs at once.
- Use third-party add-ons to enhance your experience.
It has many great features but doesn’t provide a proper private and secure ambiance for browsing. This, in turn, can put your privacy at risk.
Ghostery Browser
Our rating: 4.0/5
This browser is for you if you’re always worried about your privacy and security while browsing the web. It is focused on protecting your data while you browse the internet and keeping you safe at all times.
Some of its key features are:
- You can now control who views your data.
- It is an open-source browser with nothing to hide.
- You can block all trackers quickly and efficiently.
- The presence of intelligent ad-blocking makes everything better.
However, some of the features are only available in the paid version of the browser. The free version has limited access and features.
Bottom Line
Although Chromebook has a built-in browser, i.e., Google Chrome, one may choose to switch away to any other compatible browser.
Chromebook is swift, secure, and valuable on its own. That’s why it needs the best browser to complement its features. From Opera to Firefox, the most popular browsers are already compatible fit for Chromebook. You can also check the best browser for Linux OS list, which can be easily installed on a Chromebook.
Lastly, if you've any thoughts or feedback, then feel free to drop in below comment box. You can also report the outdated information.
Edge was good at the start, but now is so bloated with features and services I just don’t use it on my PC’s. Chrome is still my default even though I have tried Brave and Firefox from time to time. Neither has persuaded me from leaving Google so far. Not really a privacy hound so Google doesn’t really bother me in what it collects. I am more interested in a minimalist browser that sync’s really well across platforms. On my Apple devices its Safari all the way, still the best.
Glad to know that, John! The Chrome browser is probably a good choice for Chromebook as it deeply integrates with Google products and services.
Opera does not work as a browser on my chromebook as it is made for windows.
I found that running some of these browsers (ie Brave) are basically the Android version of the browser which has limited UI for Chromebook, also have run into problems syncing bookmarks/favorites across my Chromebook, Android phone, and Dell laptop.
That’s true, Mike. The browser apps for Chromebook fall between desktop browsers and Android Smartphone. We can say they are trim-down versions of full-fedge browsers.
I have a great Chromebook that is no longer supported by Google Chrome. It reached End of Life, so no more Chrome Updates. It runs great, all parts working well. Even battery life is still 5+ hours of surfing and working.
What Browser would you install? Certain site functionality (like banks) is not working correctly any longer on this version of Chrome.
Thanks
Version 91.0.4472.167 (Official Build) (64-bit)