Best browser for Chromebook: all options at a glance

By default, of course, the Chrome browser is installed on Chromebooks. But there are many other options for a browser for Chromebook. In this article, you will find a list of the best browsers for a Chromebook, obviously including some convenient Chrome alternatives.

Chromebook browser

Chromebooks run on Chrome OS, the operating system. This is based on Linux, which fortunately gives you the option of choosing alternative browsers.

Nowadays, there are many browsers available for Chromebooks, but most users still choose the standard solution: Chrome.

Chrome is Google’s browser and has the largest market share worldwide. The browser has good integration with Chrome OS, but there are also great substitutes available.

What is a Chromebook
Via: Pixabay

The default browser for Chromebook: Chrome

As the name suggests, the Chrome browser is the default browser for Chromebooks running on Chrome OS. There could be several reasons why you don’t want to or can’t use it. For example, your Chromebook is too old, or you no longer receive updates, or you just don’t enjoy the way Chrome works.

Before I cover the other options, I’ll tell you what the default browser for Chromebooks does.

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Chrome browser

Default for Chromebooks

At the time of writing, Chrome is the most popular browser in the world and is used by tens of millions of people every day.

The creator of the Chrome browser is Google, so it is not surprising that it is the default option for Chromebooks.

The great thing about Chrome is that you have lots of extensions and add-ons available to extend its functionality. Think of ad blockers, for instance, but also apps to enhance YouTube or display websites.

Chrome is installed by default on a Chromebook, but if you can’t find the app, you can install or access it using the link below.

Best browser for Chromebooks: Chrome alternatives

If you’re looking for a different browser for your Chromebook, fortunately there are plenty of possibilities. The installation is also a lot easier than it used to be. In general, all apps can now be installed from the Play Store.

But let’s start with the list: an overview of the best Chromebook browser at the moment.

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Mozilla Firefox

Firefox logo browser for chromebook

Mozilla’s Firefox has been on the market for years and has undergone considerable development. The browser is available for numerous platforms, including Android and Chrome OS. It is therefore certainly an interesting alternative as a Chromebook browser.

There are two versions of Firefox that you can install on Chromebooks: one is the Android app, easily available through the Play Store, but there is also the desktop version. Depending on your model, I would initially test the Android version, especially since the setup is quite simple.

The button below links to the Android version, if you would like to install the desktop app of Firefox, you will need some more instructions. You can find these here, but please note that you will need some technical knowledge to get this done.

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Brave Browser

Brave logo browser for chromebook

Brave is a relatively new browser, based on Chrome. However, the creators of Brave have made quite a few adjustments, adding many additional (privacy) options. Personally, I am a fan of Brave for a number of different reasons.

Especially, the focus on privacy and the built-in ad- and tracker-blocker make Brave interesting as a Chromebook browser. In addition, Brave is nice and fast, and you also get all the goodness of Chrome.

Besides, it is possible to make money with Brave. Through Brave Rewards you can choose to receive regular notifications containing an advertisement. If you turn this option on (completely voluntary) you are able to choose to distribute this money to the websites you frequently visit, or have it paid out to yourself in crypto (BAT).

So Brave is an interesting and above all complete browser that can be easily downloaded from the Play Store.

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Opera

Opera has been around for quite a few years in the browser market and now offers a wide range of features and options. Therefore, it is definitely an interesting browser for Chromebooks.

Opera is known for being nice and fast, but it has added more and more new features as well. Think for example of an integrated chat function, but also – praised by many – a free VPN.

So by using Opera, you install a fast, secure browser with the necessary privacy features including a VPN. Fortunately, again, the setup is very convenient through the Play Store.

Even more options

Nowadays, there are plenty of browsers available, but not all of them are 100% suitable for Chromebooks. Also, the installation is sometimes cumbersome, such as Microsoft Edge. That is why I left it out of the list. However, there are still a number of possibilities that I would like to mention, if you do not see anything in the above choices.

Dolphin Browser

The Dolphin Browser is an extremely popular app for Android. With a reported 150 million downloads, it is one of the most downloaded apps.

Dolphin has a number of features, including a built-in adblocker, many add-ons and personalized search.

At the time of writing, the browser hasn’t had an update in a while (almost a year). Whether that makes it the best choice, I think just barely. But if you feel like trying out Dolphin, you can do so through this link.

Ghostery Browser

The Ghostery Browser takes a big focus on privacy, where they go a little beyond “the others”. In fact, it is possible to specify exactly who has access to your data.

Furthermore, Ghostery also offers paid features to further expand its functions. If this sounds interesting to you, this privacy browser for Chrome OS can be downloaded from the Play Store.

With this list of Chromebook browsers, you should be able to always find one that suits you. Of course, you can still opt for the default browser: Chrome.

Even more Chromebook apps

There are plenty of apps available for Chromebooks these days, but sometimes it’s hard to choose. Therefore, we have made a list of interesting apps for Chrome OS users, which you can, among other things, download from the Play Store.

On a Chromebook, for instance, you can also install Spotify, Office 365, WhatsApp, Fortnite, Roblox and Minecraft.

Your favorite browser?

Here, we’ve presented several browsers for Chromebooks. Which one do you prefer (or not) and why? Or do you have another preferred browser for Chromebook? Let us know in a comment below!

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