Rating: "Best browsers for Android" in 2022

Dozens of browsers have been created for Android. Many users have not even heard of a quarter of these names. This diversity is explained by the popularity of the platform and smartphones, which most always have with them. A huge and profitable market for the most popular type of application. What's there and how? Which browser should you choose for yourself? We have compiled a rating of the 10 most popular and high-quality mobile browsers.

Paid browsers are of little interest to anyone; we do not take them into account. Our selection includes only free, well-known applications. The main selection criteria are performance, user-friendliness and stability in standard scenarios on any device.

The main thing is the overall pleasant impression of everyday use, which is based on these qualities. Branded functions and additional features are less important.

Often a browser has several versions - with some special design, test functionality or something else. We included in the rating regular versions of popular browsers, designed for average user requests. No experiments. All selected products have PC versions, which indicates the possibility of synchronizing information with a desktop and the demand for platforms. Let's look at the pros and cons of each browser we chose.

The best browsers for Android – TOP 10:

Yandex.Browser is the best Russian browser for Android!
Google Chrome is the most popular browser in the world
Mozilla Firefox - the most convenient browser
Opera Mini is the simplest browser
Tor Browser – anonymous browser for surfing
Puffin – a simple browser with Flash support
Dolphin is a good browser for experimentation
Kiwi - fast and comfortable browser
Maxthon - a browser with an unusual interface
DuckDuckGo - a browser with a focus on privacy

General list of browsers (20 pcs.)
Which browser to choose for Android
The most popular browsers for Android – TOP 3

We recommend!

Summing up

Now it’s worth summing up and somewhat generalizing the information received. This will help you choose the best browser for Android on your phone:

There are three main browsers for Android that have their own engines and have all the necessary features: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Opera.
All other browsers are either forks of the above-mentioned browsers interspersed with their own services (the same Yandex.Browser) or are not suitable for everyday use (for example, TOP).
Among the alternative web browsers, Microsoft Edge, Samsung Internet Browser, Maxthon and Yandex Browser look good.
You can choose the right browser based on your purposes for using it. The best one will be the one that best covers your needs. Everyone has their own requirements: some need a browser to open links on Android, while others need to work via a VPN.

Yandex.Browser - browser No. 1 for Android

Name:	Yandex browser
Latest version:	20.7.5
Official site:	browser.yandex.ru
Year of foundation:	2012
A country:	Russia

Yandex Browser is a well-known browser with a powerful ecosystem of applications. The most convenient for Russian users. A fast harvester with a nice interface and a bunch of useful add-ons. By opening the application, you get access to data on the weather, exchange rates, traffic jams in your region, a market, games, a Zen feed for interesting reading, mail, music, news. All this is linked into an ergonomic interface, understandable from the first seconds of use. Hundreds of extensions are supported, there is a turbo mode for traffic compression, reading modes, and energy saving. Made on the same engine as Chrome, but optimized for the needs of Russian users. It does not slow down, synchronizes with the Yandex account (and the desktop version, respectively), and is equipped with the proprietary voice assistant “Alice”.

The search bar is smart, there is a password manager, all data is stored in the cloud under your account. You can add your bank cards to quickly pay for online purchases. The Chats app lets you chat with contacts in your phone book right in your browser. Alice quickly searches for everything you ask, can open applications, make calls, etc. There is an incognito mode, in which data about page visits is not recorded by the device in any way. The tabs on the main screen look beautiful, they are convenient to use, and you can set any background to your taste. It is possible to search by image and install an ad blocker. Yandex.Advisor can immediately show the most favorable prices on the market. There are a lot of general settings - connect/disconnect anything. The browser is an illustration of the successful combination of many possibilities in one well-thought-out interface. Topchik, in general.

pros

Synchronization of bookmarks and other data from the cloud with the desktop version of the browser;
Beautiful and functional interface;
High speed;
Compatible with all Yandex applications out of the box;
There are turbo, incognito, reading and other useful modes;
High degree of security of personal data;
Supports ad blockers;
Smart search bar, can search by images;
Support for many extensions, including those from Google Chrome;
Built-in Flash Player;
Built-in messenger;
Flexible interface settings;
It works fine on weak smartphones.

Minuses

The browser is notable for its integration of the Yandex services ecosystem. If you're not interested in it, a significant part of the app's appeal is lost;
Occasionally there are failures to synchronize settings/history with the desktop version;
The Alice voice assistant sometimes makes errors in recognizing requests.

#6 - Firefox

Mobile version of one of the most popular browsers in Russia. According to the developers, Firefox for smartphones is designed to bring to mobile devices the maximum of what its desktop version is so loved for. And this is largely true. Mobile Firefox is as customizable as the original, it respects users' confidential information and can be synchronized with the desktop version.

The Firefox interface is designed to be as intuitive as possible, but for sophisticated users there is always room for fine-tuning. We also note the excellent reading mode. Here it is implemented much better than in most analogues, which will really appeal to fans of reading stories, long articles, and other things.

Google Chrome is the most popular browser in the world

Name:	Google Chrome
Latest version:	85.0.4183
Official site:	www.google.com/intl/ru/chrome/
Year of foundation:	2012
A country:	USA

Google Chrome is the native browser of the operating system, built into it by default. It synchronizes with your Google account, pulling up all the settings, history, passwords, etc., which is very convenient: on an Android phone you can use one account for everything, nothing will be lost, everything is synchronized in one ecosystem. It is faster than all other browsers, but can be slow on older devices and likes to eat up RAM and battery power. The design is minimalistic - it does not offer anything, does not impose anything, there is only a quick access panel to sites and a news feed. There are a minimal number of settings, there are no special features, except for incognito mode, an ad blocker and the ability to search by image.

The browser works well with the desktop version - everything is clearly synchronized, nothing gets lost or “forgotten.” In the simplified operating mode, it loads pages even faster and saves a lot of traffic by loading only significant page content - a proprietary adaptation of turbo modes from other browsers. Pulls up payment information for convenient shopping. Allows you to easily manage notifications from sites: if you accidentally granted permissions to accept messages, you can easily remove them. It works smoothly, beautifully, supports all modern technologies - any content is displayed as expected. You can switch to the mode for displaying desktop versions of sites. Supports voice input in search, and working with tabs is extremely convenient. Reactive browser with support for many extensions.

pros

Exceptional speed on high-quality smartphones with at least three gigabytes of RAM;
Smooth scrolling, the ability to enlarge any objects on the page, built-in PDF reader;
Stable, secure, synchronization between all devices works perfectly;
Pleasant, minimalistic design, nothing distracts from absorbing the content;
Convenient and simple interface, few settings, but everything works as expected out of the box;
Compatible with all advanced technologies, correctly displays any content formats;
There is a built-in ad blocker;
Supports thousands of extensions for every taste;
Simplified mode with a gentle level of traffic consumption and battery charge;
The browser comes pre-installed on most devices out of the box.

Minuses

Demanding on device hardware, slows down on weak smartphones;
Takes up a lot of space with page caching files;
Consumes battery power with gusto.

Via Browser

A Chinese-made browser with an ad blocking system. The application size is minimal to be able to work through any mobile device. The program is made in an original design, which changes at the request of the user.

Interface buttons allow you to work with the search engine with one hand. This feature will please owners of widescreen phones.

The control panel provides quick access to the search engine's capabilities. Downloaded web pages are stored in a directory, so they can be opened on other gadgets.

Advantages:

Protection against intrusive spam.
Possibility to choose a dark theme.
Saving pages and files for offline access.
Works well with third party plugins.
Traffic consumption control. The browser changes the method of downloading a file when switching from Wi-Fi to mobile Internet.

Flaws:

Bookmarks are not sorted into folders.
If the smartphone's power is insufficient, internal errors may occur and saved data will be deleted.
The private browsing mode is incomplete. You need to reset your accounts yourself.

Mozilla Firefox is the most convenient browser for Android

Name:	Mozilla Firefox
Latest version:	79.0.5
Official site:	www.mozilla.org/ru/firefox/mobile/
Year of foundation:	2010
A country:	USA

Mozilla Firefox is a cross-platform browser that is famous for its developer-friendly extensions. Those who are used to using it on a PC will like it; it has the ability to synchronize accounts. The speed of operation and the correctness of display of content has increased significantly in the last year. It works almost as fast as Chrome, but is still inferior to it. It is quite unpretentious to the smartphone’s resources and consumes the battery moderately. However, sometimes the content displays strangely: for example, try to zoom in on the page and open the image for viewing - only the enlarged part of it will be visible, and not the full version. There are roughnesses, albeit small ones. Scrolling is smooth, but still slightly inferior to Chrome in this regard. In terms of speed, pages turn a little faster.

Firefox's interface is convenient in almost everything. The Home screen allows you to switch between tabs open in normal and incognito mode (private mode with anti-tracking protection). The brevity and structure of the settings are reminiscent of the same Chrome. There are a lot of add-ons, they are installed according to the same scheme as on a PC - from the catalog, everything is done inside the browser. In this regard, the browser is the best. There is a button to switch to reading mode and access to the source code of pages, which is rarely seen in mobile browsers. The general point is that its capabilities are almost no different from the PC version. The general settings are the same as the others - privacy, notifications, special features, etc. There is a traffic saving mode implemented by showing/prohibiting images.

pros

Good speed, loads heavy pages quickly;
Nice interface with a dark theme by default;
Conveniently implemented work with tabs, bookmarks, and browsing history;
Minimum set of what is imposed: no advertising, recommendations, news feed, etc.;
Smart search bar, supports voice input from Google;
A bunch of advanced add-ons for developers;
There is a built-in password manager, incognito and traffic saving modes;
It can interact with web service applications, offering, for example, to go to the installed VK application instead of viewing the social network in the browser.

Minuses

Sometimes the content displays incorrectly;
Design for everyone;
In terms of speed and smoothness of operation, it is still inferior to market leaders.

Important introduction!

An interesting fact is that at the initial stage of Play Marketa there was pre-moderation and even testing of ready-made programs before they were opened for mass use. Time passed, the number of developers exceeded all conceivable and inconceivable limits - at that time it was already clear that sooner or later the service would get out of control, which, in fact, happened later.

At the moment, the catalog of free software in the market is almost impossible to classify. A bunch of low-quality and monotonous games, poorly optimized file managers working through a stump deck - in other words, finding a browser for yourself is not as easy as it might seem at first. And purchased user reviews only add to the chaos.

By installing a program from an unknown developer, you can not only lose personal information, but also access to your accounts, email, or even find yourself without money in your account (if you use online banking). Therefore, the selection of any application, as well as a suitable web browser, should be approached responsibly.

If trouble does happen, the best antiviruses for Android will save you.

The popularization of tablets and smartphones on Android has led to the appearance of a huge number of both professional developers and school-age “creators” on the market. This clutters up the directories a lot. It is no longer possible to moderate such an array, and therefore Play Market employees generally selectively remove only completely inoperative or malicious programs.

Basically, this process is initiated by lawsuits or the fact of causing harm to gadgets (SMS bomber or Trojan stealing passwords). According to experts, if you don’t set strict limits until 2022, the theft of logins and passwords to bank accounts alone will not get by.

Opera Mini is the simplest browser for Android

Name:	Opera
Latest version:	50.0.2254.149182
Official site:	www.opera.com/ru/mobile
Year of foundation:	2014
A country:	Norway

Opera Mini is a browser that we remember from Java phones. This was the only way to surf the Internet more or less normally from a mobile phone. The modern version's home screen is an infinitely scrolling feed consisting of a tab bar, advertisements, and lots of news. It looks colorful, the browser clearly wants to immediately start entertaining the user. Unfortunately, there are a lot of advertisements. Everything sparkles like in Las Vegas. There is a built-in reading mode, but it does not always scale the content correctly. The bookmarks and settings panel is located at the bottom, which is considered a convenient option for many. There is a built-in ad blocker on websites and a traffic saving mode.

The browser works quickly, you can choose a theme and tablet orientation. It is unpretentious to the power of a smartphone and has a night mode. You can enable RSS feeds and manually disable cookies. The content of the main page is customizable. In general, the browser supports all the basic necessary settings, plus adds something useful of its own. It works fine, but because of the advertising on the main page and the colorful presentation, the browser is not taken seriously. But the ergonomics of the elements are good, there are many convenient features, and the operation speed is decent. The middle option is not suitable for the role of the main one, but you can use it.

pros

Good speed;
There is a night theme, the ability to customize the appearance of the interface;
Good level of ergonomics;
Advanced traffic saving mode;
Built-in ad blocker;
It is not demanding on the power of the smartphone and consumes battery power moderately.

Minuses

The main page is oversaturated, advertising on it cannot be disabled;
No password wizard;
There is no support for extensions.

Microsoft Edge

The built-in browser WIndows 10 has moved to the Chromium engine and received an unexpectedly convenient version for mobile devices. What's more, Edge now runs on Android TV, offering the same functionality as the app.

Key features of Edge:

Synchronize data through a Microsoft account with moving tabs between desktop, mobile device and TV.
Advanced reading mode, which allows you to remove all unnecessary elements from sites and leave only the content (provided that the site supports reading mode).
Built-in ad blocker Adblock Plus with the ability to configure exceptions.
Barcode and QR code scanner.
Voice search.
InPrivate mode, when enabled, user activity is not saved in browser logs.
Automatic launch of external applications - for example, social network clients when you go to their pages.

Microsoft Edge does not have a data saving feature or settings to control the Flash player. This is a little frustrating because you always expect a little more features from Microsoft products. But what’s nice is the complete absence of advertising, so you can use the browser without pop-up banners and strange news feeds.

Tor Browser - anonymous browser for Android

Name:	Tor Browser
Latest version:	68.11.0
Official site:	torproject.org
Year of foundation:	2019
A country:	USA

Tor Browser – works on a system of proxy servers with support for advanced technologies for anonymous information transfer. The bottom line is that you can visit any site incognito, without leaving digital traces on the Internet, by gaining access to darknet sites blocked in the region and prohibited. The highest level of security among browsers, the functionality is almost as good as the desktop version. Case in point: the FBI in 2014 paid $1 million to a team of researchers to help gain access to the Tor network in order to reveal the identities of its users. The release Android version of the browser will be released in 2022.

The browser is based on Firefox, so it has a completely understandable, familiar interface and an almost similar set of settings: appearance, language, tabs, security, search engines, notifications, traffic saving, etc. Login to sites occurs not directly, but through a network of many encrypted servers that reliably hide your real IP address and personal data (cache, cookies, location). It bypasses advertising trackers and all kinds of blockers. The browser is not suitable for everyday surfing (movies, music, games, social networks, etc.), it works slowly compared to any other browser, and search engines see suspicious activity when working with it, so you often have to enter a captcha. Optimal use is to enter blocked sites with a clear purpose, not through a search engine, but by entering a specific address.

pros

An exceptional level of security based on proprietary hardware and software technologies;
HTTPS Everywhere – a feature that enables data encryption for all sites can be disabled;
Ability to access prohibited sites;
Everything works out of the box, almost nothing needs to be configured;
It is based on Firefox, so it supports all the technologies necessary to correctly display any web content.

Minuses

Poor performance because traffic travels a much longer and more complex path than when running in other browsers;
Google search is installed by default, but Duck Duck Go is not, although you can add it manually;
Not suitable as a main browser.

How to install Tor browser for Android?

The browser application can be installed from the official Google Play Market library. Just like any other: write “Tor browser” in the search, start the installation, wait for completion. That's it, you can work.

How to use?

After launch, you will see a welcome message and an invitation to start surfing. Next, read the privacy policy and confirm your login to the Tor network. A connection will occur, privacy mechanisms will be activated - you are ready to anonymously explore the Internet.

In the settings, you can select a default search, and also change security settings: disable tracking, cookies, activate data deletion upon exit, set a master password. If you wish, you can make Tor your default browser. We recommend making Duck Duck Go your default search by manually adding its address in the settings.

No special skills required. There is a smart search bar, tabs, zoom settings, voice input, notifications and other things common to most browsers. The difference is an increased level of security and low page loading speed.

Orfox

This is a browser for the Onion network. A kind of mobile version of the famous Tor Browser.

This is not an ordinary browser - Orfox is used to anonymously navigate resources and work on the Tor network. With its help, you can open specialized resources that are not available on the regular network. In some cases (with the correct choice of proxy) it allows you to bypass blocking of resources on the Internet. A considerable number of specific settings provide increased security when loading web pages.

Orfox is demanding on resources, but not in critical quantities. The user panel also does not have a special design - everything is simple and concise. Still, the browser is not intended for everyday use. It's completely free.

Puffin – a convenient browser with Flash support

Name:	Puffin
Latest version:	8.3.1.41624
Official site:	puffin.com
Year of foundation:	2012
A country:	China

Puffin is a popular cross-platform browser, which, due to built-in support for Flash technology, is perceived in functionality almost the same as desktop solutions. Allows you to play games on social networks Facebook, VK and other sites directly from your phone. This is the main distinguishing advantage of the browser. It consumes quite a lot of RAM and quickly burns up battery power during the same games, which is quite natural. It works smoothly, but is not a speed champion. Often the site freezes for a couple of seconds before loading, then opens all internal pages of the domain without noticeable delays. Allows you to access sites prohibited by Roskomnadzor and provides a free proxy server.

Puffin allows you to select a default search engine, but it does not synchronize with data from any accounts (Google, Yandex, etc.). Allows you to store passwords within the device memory and prevent the display of pop-up windows. The interface is pleasant, extremely convenient to use, there are small settings that increase usability (dark theme, scale of open tab window elements, incognito mode, etc.). You can also turn on the mouse cursor, forcefully activate the keyboard on any of the screens, a gamepad for games, print a document, quickly share any page in instant messengers, social networks, cloud storage, by mail, etc. There is a traffic saving mode and the ability to select storage for downloaded files (including cloud files). A good alternative browser for entertainment, but not for work or shopping.

pros

Allows you to play Flash games on any site, as well as watch movies;
Has a really nice interface;
Scrolls pages smoothly, there is a button to quickly move up or down;
Supports connecting a gamepad for flash games;
Customizable traffic saving mode;
Ability to save downloaded files to Dropbox, OneDrive and Google Drive;
Virtual mouse and trackpad support.

Minuses:

Shows full-screen ads in the free version, although infrequently;
Demanding about the hardware of a smartphone;
Consumes quite a lot of energy and traffic, especially when Flash is enabled;
The free version limits Flash use to daytime;
The initial loading speed of some sites is very slow (3-4 seconds wait);
Does not support any extensions or synchronization with cloud accounts;
No support for secure payments.

Dolphin - a browser for experimentation

Name:	Dolphin
Latest version:	12.2.3
Official site:	dolphin.com
Year of foundation:	2010
A country:	China

Dolphin is a specific, interesting browser in its own way. It has a smart address bar and allows you to choose a search engine. Gestures are supported: you can draw shapes on the screen with your finger, while opening the sites assigned to them. There is also Sonar voice input, but this feature is paid and not very useful. You can send your favorite content to Box, Evernote and other cloud services. Synchronizing data with other browsers is simple - just log in, for example, to your Google account, and the data will be pulled from there. There is also an app store that adds functionality to popular web services. There are also extensions like translators, accelerators and other things. AdBlock is built in out of the box. You can share pages anywhere in a couple of clicks. Allows you to create backup copies of bookmarks and other things.

Dolphin supports Flash, which allows you to play games and watch videos. There are add-ons like JetPack in the form of a separate application that increases page loading speed. In fact, the browser works quickly, but not entirely smoothly. Sometimes it crashes when surfing. Allows you to use the desktop version - the content really starts to look like it is on a PC. Mobile versions of some sites are not very well adapted, allowing horizontal scrolling. The interface is moderately convenient, there are quite a lot of settings. There is a night mode, the ability to use themes, you can activate side panels by swiping on the left (bookmarks) and right (control panel). In the privacy settings, you can enable remembering passwords, form filling data, location detection, and protect it all with a master password. The browser provides an interesting experience, but is not stable enough.

pros

Flash support, which allows you to play browser games;
Nice and functional interface;
Possibility of design customization;
Support for extensions and applications;
Convenient synchronization with other browsers;
Convenient bookmarks and “Share” panels;
Gesture system, built-in AdBlock.
Incognito mode, as well as setting to delete data, cookies and cache on exit.

Minuses

Sometimes it flies out of the blue;
It does not always successfully adapt mobile versions of sites;
Average speed and stability.
Takes up a lot of space.

Other versions

In addition to the main Yandex.Browser - with Alice, there are 3 more browser options, which are described below.

Alpha and Beta

They look like a standard browser, but with the following differences:

Beta - be the first to test updates and new/improved ones before their official release;
Alpha is a pre-release version aimed at identifying errors using user feedback.

Both applications may experience instability regardless of the device you are using.

Kiwi - fast and comfortable browser

Name:	Kiwi browser
Latest version:	Quadea
Official site:	kiwibrowser.com
Year of foundation:	2018
A country:	China

Kiwi is a powerful browser based on the Chromium engine. The interface is very similar to that of Chrome and is simple and pleasant to use. Extensions from the Chrome brand store are also supported. The loading speed of heavy pages is excellent, scrolling is smooth. No arbitrary departures were observed. There is a built-in dark theme, nice and stable. An ad blocker out of the box, and its behavior can be customized. There are a lot of settings for adapting the display for people with visual impairments.

One of the most pleasant features is the transition between pages forward/backward by swiping, very convenient. Working with tabs is organized in the same way as in Chrome. The main screen contains a bookmarks bar and a news feed. The choice of default search engines is wide, there is even DuckDuckGo. There is a built-in translator, and you can choose a service for automatic translation (Google, Yandex, Microsoft, Baidu). There are settings for auto-filling forms and making payments. A good browser in many respects.

pros

High speed and smooth operation;
Several design themes, including dark variations;
Built-in translator and ad blocker;
Support for extensions from the Chrome store;
Ability to move the address bar down;
There is a one-handed operation mode;

Minuses

Sometimes the browser accesses the Internet in the background and eats traffic;
Demanding on smartphone hardware;
The ad blocker does not always work effectively;
Does not support synchronization with Google, Yandex, etc. accounts.

9. Kiwi Browser

The developer is an Estonian company. It runs on Chromium, the WebKit browser engine. Features superior to the most used search engine, Google Chrome. Based on user reviews, web page loading times are faster than its competitors.

Economical consumption of system resources allows you to use the program on devices of various capacities (even with minimal RAM and ROM). A varied interface and convenient bookmark management will please the most fastidious user.

Pros:

low consumption of mobile traffic;
automatic pop-up blocker;
quick start;
minimal page loading time;
built-in plugin for removing intrusive advertising;
system for blocking hidden mining (cryptojacking);
tracking malicious trackers;
the ability to use third-party plugins.

*Cryptojacking is the use of resources from technical devices to obtain cryptocurrencies (digital currency). Can happen when viewing an advertisement, entering a captcha, or following a link.

Minuses:

automatic transfer of cookies to visited sites, the function can be disabled through the “Settings” panel;
sometimes software errors occur;
errors when working with the Google search bar;
lack of cloud bookmarks, data backup;
Background video playback only works in the PC version.

Maxthon - an unusual browser

Name:	Maxthon
Latest version:	5.2.3.3241
Official site:	maxthon.com
Year of foundation:	2010
A country:	China

Maxthon is a good alternative browser with many useful features. The interface is more or less convenient, although not particularly attractive. The main page contains a large number of bookmarks, the control panel is located at the bottom. A QR code scanner is integrated into the search bar. Synchronizing settings is only possible with the same browser under a proprietary account. There is also a desktop version. Supports plugins, AdBlock Plus and UUMail are installed out of the box (creates and remembers random email accounts for registration in services). There is a built-in password manager, desktop and secret mode (incognito).

Performance is average, displays sites correctly, but is slow to load. Allows you to install a dark theme and activate smart display of images to save traffic. The tab system is nicely implemented, the bookmarks bar is simple, there is a built-in notepad for notes and a tool for taking screenshots. You can activate gesture controls, but they are not very convenient. The interface supports 25 languages, it is not like other browsers and takes some time to get used to. Overall, the application is interesting, but it lacks speed and stability.

pros

Availability of night and secret modes;
Plugin support;
Storing account data in the cloud;
Built-in password manager.

Minuses

Page loading speed is low;
Sometimes it crashes with errors and is unstable;
There are problems logging in and loading data from your account.

DuckDuckGo - a browser with a focus on privacy

Name:	DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser
Latest version:	5.61.2
Official site:	duckduckgo.com
Year of foundation:	2011
A country:	USA

DuckDuckGo is a browser for comfortable use of the capabilities of the search engine of the same name, which is known for its high degree of confidentiality. HTTPS connection, AES data encryption, algorithm rejection, OpenSearch support make surfing through this browser safe and anonymous. There is even a separate button in the address bar to forcefully delete all session data. The search engine shows interesting results and allows you to access prohibited sites. The default theme is dark, you can switch to light if you wish.

The browser and search engine do not store information about users’ IP addresses, logs, and almost never use cookies or any other personal data. There are no advertisements related to the commercial benefits of DuckDuckGo (the only ones left are those published by the sites themselves). The browser does not support extensions and does not have any special functions. It works moderately quickly, but, alas, sometimes displays content incorrectly. There are practically no settings - only the most basic ones. Address bar, history burning button, bookmarks and open pages panel. That's it, nothing more. A minimalistic browser for those who want to surf the Web incognito. Not suitable for the main role, but may be useful.

pros

Security and stability;
Protection is accompanied by good page loading speed;
Dark and light design themes;
Ability to disable privacy mode for a specific site manually;
A separate button for burning session data.

Minuses

Minimal functionality, sometimes bugs occur when displaying content;
Blocks ads on some sites, but leaves spaces from banners.

Information Security

Information security for mobile browsers is critical as the application gains access to the user's personal and, in many cases, payment data. In this study, the corresponding group of test parameters accounted for 15% of the final application score.

In the course of a sociological study conducted by Roskachestvo, the question “are you concerned about the issue of confidentiality and privacy on the Internet?” more than 85% of respondents answered positively, but only 40% of them take any action for their own safety.

The safety study was conducted in three stages.

At the first stage, the permissions requested by the application were analyzed (all applications do this correctly and do not ask for unnecessary things), as well as consent to the storage and processing of data (most applications formally request the user’s consent, but it is not active, that is, it does not require additional actions from the user) .

In the second stage, applications were tested in the field. Thus, all browsers were tested for protection against phishing using Russian-language phishing resources identified by CERT-GIB. Not a single application received the maximum score based on the test results (therefore, Roskachestvo recommends additionally using an antivirus on your smartphone).

The ones that performed best against phishing were: on iOS - the built-in Safari browser (blocked 52% of sites), on Android - Yandex.Browser and Opera (blocked 48% of phishing sites).

Also, as measures to protect against phishing, you should pay close attention to the domain name of the site, the presence of the https protocol and an SSL certificate. In this regard, experts analyzed how well the application checks the security of the resource.

Evaluated:

presence of a visual warning about the absence of https and SSL;
displaying the presence of the https protocol and SSL certificate;
warning about the user going to an unsafe or suspicious resource;
forced transition to https (if there are two domain names).

Yandex.Browser received the maximum rating on both platforms for this criterion, and most mobile browsers also received a high rating. UC Browser (for both platforms), Quick Search and Browser (for iOS), Puffin Web Browser, Samsung Internet and UC Browser (for Android) have the least number of browsers due to the lack of a visual warning about the absence of https and SSL. Users of these browsers should be especially careful when surfing the web.

We also analyzed the presence of blocking of dangerous pages (everyone has it except Xiaomi, Huawei and Samsung on Android) and checking of downloaded files (on iOS it is missing from “Quick Search and Browser” and UC Browser, on Android – also from Xiaomi, Huawei and Samsung) .

At the third stage of the security test, potential vulnerabilities were searched with the Solar appScreener analyzer using automatic binary analysis technology, without reverse engineering (decompiling the source code). Based on the results of the analysis, 35% of the studied applications were found to access DNS, 28% had a weak hashing algorithm, and insecure native SSL implementation was identified in 14% of applications. 7% have vulnerabilities such as a weak encryption algorithm and insecure reflection. No critical vulnerabilities were found.

Daniil Chernov

Director of Software Security Solutions Center

– The picture of browser vulnerabilities obtained during this study generally correlates with statistics on the security of mobile applications in the Russian segment. The main possible attack vectors using the discovered vulnerabilities are Man-in-the-Middle attacks and exploitation of application vulnerabilities by various Trojan software.

The most secure (in terms of information security) on Android are Yandex.Browser (4.48), Brave (4.45) and Opera (4.43); on iOS – Safari (4.7), Yandex.Browser (4.55) and Opera Touch (4.44).

General list of browsers (20 pcs.)

Fast and convenient browser with a lot of useful features out of the box
Simple, stable and productive browser
Browser for users with high functionality requirements

Opera Mini
Browser with built-in ad blocker and VPN
Tor Browser
A browser for those for whom surfing anonymity is more important than anything else
Puffin
Fast browser with lots of fancy features
Dolphin
Great browser for games and experiments
Kiwi
Ergonomic, smooth running browser
Maxthon
Interesting, but not very fast browser
DuckDuckGo
Stable and secure browser

UC Browser
Oversaturated with features, power hungry and not very stable browser
Mint Browser
Browser from Xiaomi Inc.
Via Browser
Lightweight, functionally simplified browser
InBrowser
Browser in which incognito mode is always running
Mi Browser
Part of the firmware of Xiaomi phones, intrusive advertising and overloaded interface
Aloha Browser
Browser with VPN and an emphasis on surfing privacy
Phoenix Browser
Not a bad, but very buggy browser
Brave Browser
Browser with built-in AdBlock
Microsoft Edge
Fast, but some functions do not work correctly
Vivaldi
Privacy-focused browser often freezes

Performance and Reliability

When it comes to browsers, you can’t ignore speed, which, according to a Roskachestvo survey, is one of the key factors for users. This group of nine criteria and subcriteria made up 10% of the total assessment.

During the study, experts tested the overall performance of the mobile browser, checking its processing speed of regular graphics, 3D graphics and HTML5. The stability and correctness of the application, its resumption after interruption (for example, to a call), and the behavior of the user interface in different screen positions were also assessed.

With minor differences, all applications received very high scores for this group of criteria - from 4.6 to 5 points. Nevertheless, if you choose a leader, then with a minimal margin it was Safari on iOS, and Brave on Android. During the tests, three checks were carried out for each browser using four benchmarks, after each check the devices were completely rebooted and not used for at least 30 minutes.

Which browser to choose for Android

The main criteria that significantly influence the perception of the browser: stability, performance, correct display of any content. Also important are features like incognito mode, ad blocking, VPN and exclusive features like a joystick for playing Puffin, as well as the ability to synchronize data, design settings (dark/light theme, fonts), and the ability to select a default search engine.

Browsers need to be tried. They can work differently on the same device. Those that are higher in the rating, as a rule, work more stably and behave predictably on most devices. Also pay attention to the interface. Many browsers are full of useless functions, annoying with an overloaded interface, advertising and other garbage. Choose a balance of features to suit your needs.

The simplest approach is to take any browser with a high rating. They have all been on the market for a long time, do not have critical flaws, contain all the basic necessary features, sometimes exclusive ones, support extensions/plugins and work quite quickly.

#3 - Opera Mobile

For more than twenty years, the products of the Norwegian developer have been among the top most popular browsers on all platforms. The company's position is especially strong in the smartphone market; from the moment of its release, Opera Mobile almost instantly received the title of one of the best browsers for mobile devices.

There is a built-in VPN, a perfectly working page compression function, blocking phishing sites, an annoying ad blocker, and much more. And the tab synchronization function will please everyone who uses Opera on a computer. And considering that Opera Mobile works with excellent performance even on older smartphones, this is one of the most versatile options in our selection.

The best browsers for Android - TOP 3

Browsers differ in performance, stability, range of supported technologies, and the ability to expand basic functionality with applications. The best mobile browsers based on a set of basic characteristics are:

Yandex.Browser
- will appeal to those who want the speed of Chrome, a fancy interface and ease of access to the entire ecosystem of capabilities of Yandex Corporation products;
Google Chrome
is a fast, trouble-free browser with a simple and intuitive interface. It has no contraindications, the most balanced option;
Mozilla Firefox
is a browser built on a different engine from Webkit. It has a number of features and pleasant bonuses for advanced users.

It is from the ones listed that we recommend considering the option for everyday use. Other browsers are, to one degree or another, variations of them with different interfaces and implementation quality. Therefore, it is very likely that, after trying dozens of browsers, you will choose Yandex, Chrome or Mozilla.

Yandex

A browser for Android tablets that became widespread several years ago. As a tool for compressing web data, a mechanism similar to that used by Opera is used. The Protect user protection technology is of considerable interest. The site, before it is seen by the owner of the Android device, will be checked for the presence of viruses, advertising scripts and other tinsel that interferes with normal viewing.

It's safe to say that Yandex operates practically without advertising. If targeted blocking on a page does not help, the application may completely deny access to the entire site. Yandex leads the TOP browsers in terms of security (after Orfox). The general interface of the program resembles the computer version - pleasant-looking panels and icons do not hurt the eyes and are perceived on an intuitive level. And there is also the Zen tape, beloved by many!