You will require web access if you’re using your Raspberry Pi as a desktop PC or you want to download some software for your next project work. The most updated version of the Raspbian operating system comes with pre-installed Chromium. But will this offer the best browsing experience for you?
There are many Raspberry Pi browsers, so it is worth looking at the other options. Whether you want to access Facebook or play games, or even simply check the latest news, there are several browsers for Raspberry Pi. In this guide, we will show you the best browser for raspberry pi.
What do you mean by Raspberry Pi?
Developed in the United Kingdom, Raspberry Pi is a single-board computer that was introduced in the year 2012. It quickly exceeded its popularity and original mission of promoting and teaching basic computer science. Today, every industry virtually has developed a use for Raspberry Pi. Private and public organizations use economically friendly devices for automation, research, and medical applications. Even the International Space Station NASA and the UK Space Agency use Raspberry Pi browsers to run applications and collect data.
Why is there a need to Switch Browsers?
Even though the Chromium browser comes preinstalled with recent Raspbian images, that does not mean it would be the best browser for your purposes. Sure, it is preferred by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, but you might not even be using a Raspbian. The Raspberry Pi surely has a lot of other operating systems!
There is a good chance that Chromium is too bloated for you even if you are using Raspbian. If you need a browser just for downloading DEB files or maintaining your website back end, Chromium might be an overkill. That does not stop it being the best browser for the Raspberry Pi; however, there are also other options available.
But choosing a Raspberry Pi browser is no easy task. The browsers mentioned below run on Raspbian Stretch.
1. Chromium
As mentioned above, Chromium is the best browser for raspberry pi. It is an open-source browser that has been built by Google to provide a safer, quicker, and stable method for Internet users to access the world wide web as part of its projects (the other being the Chromium OS). It is one of the most popular and useful browsers amongst Linux users and it has shipped preinstalled with Raspbian since the last quarter of the year 2016.
Chromium has been specially optimized for the Raspberry Pi users and is capable of delivering an almost similar experience to browsing in an environment with a lot more computing power. It is right to say that Chromium needs no introduction.
Features in Chromium
- A Free and open-source browser
- It has a customizable user interface
- It also supports all modern browser features
You can install Chromium on Raspberry Pi via the terminal with the following commands:
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
$ sudo apt-get install -y rpi-chromium-mods
$ sudo apt-get install -y python-sense-emu python3-sense-emu
2. Dillo
Dillo is also an open-source yet free multi-platform web browser written in C and C++ to be lightweight and friendly for users and especially developers, given its main intention on speed and small footprint. As a browser, its main motive includes providing high software efficiency, personal security and privacy over the Internet, and not leaving behind the democratization of information online.
Features in Dillo
- It is a free and open-source browser
- It is security and privacy-centric
- It is available on BSD, Linux, OS X, and FreeDOS
- It does not follow the CSS rules
- It has a small footprint
- It doesn’t support Adobe Flash, Java, and JavaScript
You can install Dillo on Raspberry Pi 3 via the terminal with the command:
$ sudo apt install dillo
This platform is preinstalled on Raspbian but it is not listed in the Internet menu so if you are already running that distro then all you are required to do is launch Dillo from your terminal with the command: $ dillo
3. GNOME Web
GNOME Web whose codename is Epiphany is a clean, lightweight, and beautiful web browser. As it adheres to the Gnome shell’s design philosophy it ships with the GNOME desktop environment as the default browsing application.
The browser has a simple interface and has features like its the ability to enable users to create web apps out of any website coupled with other functions like synchronizing the bookmarks, passwords and browsing the history with Firefox.
Features in Epiphany
- It is also free and open-source
- It also remembers previous tabs on startup
- It blocks the pop-up windows
- It tries to block dangerous websites
- It tries to block web trackers
- It syncs bookmarks, history, and passwords from Firefox browser
You can install GNOME Web on Raspberry Pi 3 via the terminal with the command:
$ sudo apt install epiphany
4. GNU IceCat
GNU IceCat, formerly known as GNU IceWeasel, is again a free and open-source version of the popular Firefox browser. It is developed to encourage the use of free software. It is created to be the GNU version of Firefox. They do not distribute binary releases because building binary packages for the macOS and Windows platforms requires non-free software.
Be that as it may, GNU IceCat is popular amongst users for its default handling of privacy issues by taking the help of LibreJS to address the JavaScript issue.
Interesting Features in GNU IceCat
- It is also free and open-source browser
- It is also a freeware enthusiast
- It has HTTPS-Everywhere
- It has SpyBlock
- It has fingerprinting countermeasures
Unlike the other browser app options in this list, you will need to set up GNU IceCat by yourself using the arm hf cross-compile scripts published on GitHub.
5. Midori
Midori is one of the lightest web browsers that you can find for the Raspberry Pi. This browser uses Apple‘s WebKit engine which is used by many other browsers, including Chrome in the past. It also has a host of features and functions for its users, such as the tab-based browsing and or blocking the pop-up that might bother us while browsing the Internet.
Midori, the raspberry pi browser, has been designed to save RAM and CPU usage, thus making it one of the best options for less powerful computers. It has a remarkable bookmarking system, private browsing and even an RSS reader.
We can download the Midori browser with the following command:
sudo apt install Midori
So, now you have more raspberry pi browsers to pick from and we trust that you will choose the one that’s best for your operations. Almost all of them are available to download from within your favourite software manager but the terminal commands that are listed above just in case you prefer that route.
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