Chrome without Google: These are the 9 best Chromium browsers

Most Android users don’t bother considering browsers beyond Google Chrome, and why would they? It’s quick, it’s stable, and it’ll likely load any web page you throw at it. Why fix something that isn’t broken? However, for power users who aim to rid their phones of big tech influence, there’s a problem: the Google part of that equation.

Since it’s Android’s default browser, Chrome is laced with all sorts of Google infusions and limitations. The company has battled against ad-blocking extensions on desktop, while somehow still keeping extension support off of official mobile builds. There’s the constant nagging to log into your Google account, and the various reminders that a company renowned for its advertising revenue is in charge of your trip around the web.

Thankfully, the heart of Chrome, specifically Chromium, is available for developers to highlight the positive traits of Google Chrome without Google. Many of these Chromium browsers are far trickier to find and install, but I’m here to help.

We’re seemingly in the golden age of Chromium browsers, and deciding which project to support is particularly overwhelming. Below, I’ve listed some of the more promising and established Google-free Chromium browsers for Android, with a focus on those that offer regular releases, unique features, longevity, and usability.

Bare Browser

Formerly called Chromium Extend, the Bare Browser project is one of the more interesting web browser repos on GitHub. It’s essentially a fully fledged Chromium build for desktop that’s been patched for mobile devices. The developer notes that Bare isn’t a fork but rather a “patch series” that adds or removes features atop the base browser to ensure that “every change stays readable and reviewable.” I value this level of transparency.

How does this translate in real terms, though? For one, Bare is true to its name: it strips Google’s sign-in nags, telemetry, and AI features from the browser, giving users a secure and transparent experience. Since it’s a desktop browser patched for mobile, users also gain access to desktop-class extensions. uBlock Origin is welcomed and not shunned, while you can also install add-ons via CRX files.

There are a host of other nifty enhancements, from external download manager support and options to save media by long-pressing it, to custom search engine choices and layout customization.

It’s worth noting that Bare Browser is still relatively fresh and only just celebrated its first stable release. It’s also based on Chromium 156, an early stable build. This makes it a little more bleeding-edge than other Chromium-based projects on this list.

Titanium Browser

I could probably pen a separate thousand-word article about Chromium-based browsers with metallic names, but Titanium is perhaps the most respected — and for good reason. Based on GrapheneOS’s Vanadium Browser, you’d need a pretty discerning eye to notice that this isn’t Google’s default browser. This is a good thing, though, and demonstrates that you can easily have a Chrome-like experience with usability and privacy perks.

Speaking of which, Titanium focuses on improving “security and privacy where possible” on Android while still targeting desktop platforms. This means that when used on large-screen devices, you’ll gain access to the full Chromium desktop UI.

Titanium also brings other unique features to the table, including access to developer tools, support for Manifest V2 extensions, and the option to install extensions from other web stores, such as Opera and Edge.

In real-world terms, Titanium is a wonderfully pleasant experience replete with pleasing animations and rapid loading times.

Solipsism Browser

Solipsism Browser burst onto the scene with a divergent idea: what if we took the desktop browser vertical tabs craze and applied it to a mobile browser? The result is a highly accessible and usable experience unlike anything I’ve used before, as I detailed in a previous hands-on review.

Solipsism places its controls on a rail that runs along the screen’s edge. This ensures that almost every control is within reach of one’s thumb, with customizability options further molding a more personal experience. It’s perhaps the only browser on this list that I could comfortably use with one hand.

Like its contemporaries, Solipsism supports extensions, includes a built-in ad blocker, and offers a built-in malware scanner. I’ve not seen the latter in too many browsers, let alone those built from Chromium’s bones. For sites that don’t play nice on anything other than Chrome, Solipsism also packs Chrome compatibility options.

While Solipsism started life as a pure Chromium-based project, the developer offers a secondary engine based on Servo that can be installed separately. This gives Solipsism far more flexibility than any other app listed here.

Vivaldi

Vivaldi breaks the mold compared to the other browsers on this list. For one, it’s only partly open-source, with much of the app remaining proprietary intellectual property. This isn’t inherently bad, but do note that you can’t quite vet Vivaldi in the same way as you can purely open-source products. To truly rid the browser of Google’s tendrils, you’ll also need to disable a few features like page preloading.

Nevertheless, Vivaldi is a feature-rich Chrome alternative for Android users that’s a solid daily driver. It’s developed by an industrious team, recently gained extension support, packs a built-in ad blocker, a suite of visual customization options, and useful tab management smarts.

You also have the option to run the more stable version or the Snapshot prerelease browser, the latter of which gains newer features first but sacrifices stability.

Brave Browser

Brave is perhaps the most ambitious browser on this list, simply because its thinking goes well beyond the act of browsing the web. This is perhaps best encompassed by its rewards scheme, which doles out tokens for the Brave ads you encounter on sites. These tokens can then be exchanged for cryptocurrency, cash, or supporting content creators.

I certainly appreciate the concept, but this isn’t a system I care about when selecting a web browser.

When viewed as a browser alone, though, Brave more than impresses with a feature list that far surpasses anything else on this list. It packs a built-in VPN, a boon for those who want to browse anonymously or access geo-locked content but don’t subscribe to a service. It also packs its own AI assistant, a tracker and ad blocker, and picture-in-picture support for free YouTube users.

Brave does feel far more bloated than its contemporaries, but given its popularity with our readers, it certainly deserves a place on this list.

Honorable mentions

If I included every single Chromium-based Chrome alternative on this list, I’d have a fairly substantial non-fiction piece. I do believe that recognizing the projects that laid the foundation for others, or that haven’t yet found their footing, is important to mention. These projects include:

Vanadium: As mentioned in the Titanium section, Vanadium is made for Graphene OS and is therefore far better suited to the privacy-hardened Android alternative. On that particular platform, it provides users with a Chrome alternative and an alternative to system WebView — the basic web browser employed by other installed apps. This isn’t possible on Android without root.

Cromite: A few months ago, Cromite would’ve been the only Chromium-based Chrome alternative I’d recommend, but its development has slowed to a crawl of late. As a fork of Bromite, Cromite is yet another Chrome alternative that prioritizes privacy and ad blocking. Unfortunately, it’s currently mired in Chromium builds that are several versions old.

Thorium: Oh, look! Another metallic Chromium fork! The Thorium project is far broader than the others on this list, with builds available for Linux, Windows, macOS, Raspberry Pi, and Android. It boasts a history going back to at least 2021 and focuses primarily on speed. However, like Cromite, development has slowed in recent months.

Aerium: One of the newer browsers on this list, Aerium offers one of the more pleasant, modern, and clean UIs of the Chrome alternatives here. It supports Manifest V2 extensions, which means uBlock Origin is fair game. It also packs a rather unique backup feature that ensures browser settings, site rules, extensions, and tabs can be implemented on other devices in a jiffy.

As mentioned, there are a host of Google-free Chrome alternatives available for Android. It’s a development segment bursting with new projects and exciting potential. If you’ve stumbled upon a browser that you’ve thoroughly enjoyed using, or have something to say about those I’ve listed, let me know your thoughts in the comments below.