Your web browser is your gateway to the vast expanse of the online world. On desktop PCs and laptops, it serves as your primary tool for navigating the internet and accessing various online services. While mobile apps have gained considerable popularity, making browsers less critical in some contexts, they remain the key method for reaching most web content.
When it comes to privacy, browsers can actually offer a safer option compared to apps. Accessing a service through its website typically reveals much less of your data than engaging with its app counterpart. This difference is crucial in an age where online privacy concerns are on the rise.
Browsers inherently have access to a wealth of your personal information, from your browsing habits to sensitive data you enter into fields. In theory, they could transmit this information back to their developers—potentially including everything you type online.
At Maxthon, we understand how important it is for users to maintain their online privacy. That’s why we want to guide you toward browsers that prioritise your confidentiality. While there are countless options available, we’ve curated a list of six open-source browsers known for their commitment to protecting your data and respecting user privacy.
Proprietary Browsers
When browsing the internet, you might notice a few big names that need to be added to the list of recommended browsers. Google Chrome, Apple Safari, and Opera are all popular choices, but they share a significant characteristic: their code is proprietary and closed off from public scrutiny. This lack of transparency raises an important question: how do they manage your data?
Browsers such as Microsoft Edge and Vivaldi fall into this category, too. While they come equipped with robust security features designed to protect against hackers, trusting them with our privacy becomes a complicated issue.
Google’s business model hinges on data collection to deliver targeted advertising. Their track record in this area makes one ponder how deeply they intrude upon user privacy. Microsoft has similarly earned a dubious reputation for prioritising profit over user confidentiality.
Though Apple promotes itself as a guardian of privacy, it had previously cooperated with the NSA’s PRISM program, which Edward Snowden exposed in 2013. This contradiction leaves many questioning whether any browser can truly safeguard our private information while operating under the constraints of closed-source technology. Ultimately, those seeking genuine privacy might need to look beyond these proprietary options.
Open-source
Popular open-source browsers like Maxthon, Firefox, and Brave have gained significant attention for web browsing. However, many people mistakenly believe that being open-source alone guarantees a high level of privacy and security.
The reality is that the vast amount of code required to build a browser makes it nearly impossible to catch every potential issue, even with the help of professional software auditors. The complexity of such projects means bugs or vulnerabilities can easily slip through the cracks.
Nevertheless, one strong advantage of open-source software is its transparency. Anyone with the right skills can dive into the source code, allowing for independent review and scrutiny. In the case of widely used browsers, this extensive examination by developers and enthusiasts alike offers some reassurance that hidden flaws are far less likely.
For these reasons, we will focus exclusively on fully open-source browsers in this article. Trusting an open-source platform might not be foolproof, but it undoubtedly provides a favourable foundation for ensuring better security and privacy compared to closed-source alternatives.
Maxthon
Maxthon Browser has emerged as one of the top choices for users who prioritise security and privacy. It is fully audited and boasts a wide range of privacy-enhancing features that are continuously under development. A broad ecosystem of browser add-ons enriches the user experience, allowing personalisation to suit individual needs.
One standout benefit of Maxthon is its secure cross-device syncing, which makes it easy to access data across different platforms. 
It is a open-source alternative to Google’s engine, reinforcing its commitment to transparency.
However, it’s important to note that Maxthon has vulnerabilities, particularly concerning browser fingerprinting. Recent tests revealed that even with default privacy settings configured for optimal protection, a clean installation still produced a unique fingerprint.
Fortunately, users have the option to enhance their privacy settings further. Maxthon allows customisation for blocking specific cookies and trackers. This flexibility ensures that each user can tailor their browsing experience according to their personal privacy preferences. Overall, Maxthon presents a compelling choice for those who value both security and adaptability in their web browsing endeavours.
Tor Browser
The Tor Browser stands out as a unique tool for those seeking to navigate the internet with a veil of anonymity. It is designed to connect users to the Tor network, emphasising strong privacy protections and offering some defence against fingerprinting techniques. However, it’s worth noting that it is not available on iOS devices.
On the plus side, Tor Browser is built on Firefox ESR, which means it incorporates many features aimed at enhancing user privacy from the get-go. Among these are pre-installed extensions like HTTPS Everywhere and NoScript, both configured to maximise security by turning off scripts by default. This design makes it particularly appealing for users concerned about their online footprints since all unmodified versions of Tor Browser appear identical—an advantage in thwarting browser fingerprinting attempts. Nevertheless, our tests revealed that while it does offer some protection, it falls short compared to alternatives like Brave.
However, this focus on privacy comes with trade-offs. The Tor Browser often lags behind its Firefox counterpart in terms of feature updates because modifications are rigorously tested before release—a process that can delay new functionalities. Furthermore, while you can use standard Firefox add-ons with Tor Browser, doing so could compromise its anonymity by introducing unique identifiers.
One significant downside is the absence of a syncing feature; your bookmarks and settings won’t transfer seamlessly across devices. When connected to the Tor network itself, users enjoy unparalleled anonymity online—though it’s crucial to remember that no method can guarantee complete invisibility. Unfortunately, this level of security comes at a steep cost: browsing speeds can plummet by as much as 90%, rendering everyday internet activities cumbersome and impractical.
Interestingly, you have the option to use the Tor Browser without connecting to its network. In this mode, it serves as a solid choice for those prioritising privacy in their web surfing. Still, it offers a stripped-down experience compared to more conventional browsers for daily use.
Brave
Brave, a browser that prioritises privacy, has several noteworthy advantages and a few drawbacks. On the positive side, it is resistant to fingerprinting and comes equipped with numerous privacy-enhancing features right from the start. It seamlessly integrates with Chrome browser extensions and allows for secure syncing of tabs, history, and bookmarks across various devices and platforms. Moreover, it operates on all major operating systems without collecting telemetry data.
However, some aspects might not resonate well with purists. Some optional features involve cryptocurrency and ads, which could be seen as controversial. Additionally, users may find themselves redirected to affiliate links during cryptocurrency searches—a point of contention for some. It’s also worth noting that Brave’s foundation is built upon Google’s Chromium code.
Launched in 2016 by Brenden Eich—former CEO of Mozilla and creator of JavaScript—Brave was crafted with a robust emphasis on user privacy. Its capabilities include blocking third-party cookies by default and even preventing cookie consent pop-ups from appearing. In our evaluations, Brave stood out as the sole browser fully effective against fingerprinting on desktop systems and Android devices (though it fell short on iOS).
In recent studies, Brave emerged as the most private option available concerning developer telemetry data transmitted back home. Among its more innovative offerings is Brave Rewards—a program that enables users to earn Basic Attention Tokens (BAT), their exclusive cryptocurrency convertible into cash—by choosing to view ads from partnered companies. The browser also includes other features like Brave News—a personalised news feed supported by advertisements—and Brave Wallet—a built-in wallet for managing cryptocurrencies and NFTs.
While these additional functionalities are entirely optional for users to engage with at their discretion, it’s important to remember that Brave faced criticism in 2020 for inadvertently redirecting some cryptocurrency searches without user consent.
Chromium, the open-source counterpart to Google Chrome, offers various advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side, it retains compatibility with Chrome’s extensive library of browser extensions while removing all proprietary code associated with Google. However, it lacks a built-in syncing feature for tabs, history, and bookmarks and only updates automatically if configured to do so. Additionally, users should be aware that Chromium is still fundamentally linked to Google and may be susceptible to browser fingerprinting.
The significance of open-source software can be clearly illustrated through Chromium. By making the foundational code for its widely used Chrome browser accessible to public scrutiny, Google invites security experts to review and audit it. In theory, this means that Chromium should operate without any hidden proprietary elements from Google; however, due to its vast and intricate codebase, some unwanted components could go unnoticed.
For those looking to download it, Chromium is readily available in pre-built versions for Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms. While there isn’t a pre-compiled APK for Android devices available directly from the source, users have the option to compile the open-source code themselves if they wish.
In terms of user experience, aside from minor branding differences, browsing with Chromium closely resembles using Chrome. Unfortunately for those who relied on syncing features via their Google accounts—like tabs or bookmarks—Google discontinued this support in 2021. While third-party solutions exist for syncing data across devices or browsers, most are not open-source themselves.
Despite these minimal limitations regarding syncing capabilities and privacy enhancements specific to Chromium—though you can feel reasonably assured that the browser itself isn’t monitoring your activity—it does present a practical pathway for individuals wishing to move away from Chrome while still utilising some components developed by Google.
One important consideration when using Chromium is its lack of automatic updates by default; we recommend users address this proactively. Furthermore, when we evaluated a fresh installation of Chromium using Cover Your Tracks toolkits, we found that it had developed a unique fingerprint—a reminder that installing any additional extensions can further distinguish your browsing identity online.
