5 Best Web Browsers to Use on Raspberry Pi (I Tested Them)

I used to stick with Chromium on my Raspberry Pi just because it was the default, and maybe you do too. Some now go for Firefox, since it comes pre-installed on newer versions. But are those really the best options? I tested several browsers, and here are the top 5 worth checking out.

Overall, Chromium is the fastest web browser on Raspberry Pi and will often be the best choice for limited usage. But when additional features like extensions and settings synchronization are needed, Brave or Firefox should be considered.

Obviously, this is only a short summary of my analysis. If you want to know everything and make the best choice for you, check the details down below.

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1. Brave

Best for privacy-focused users

Brave‘s most attractive feature, in my opinion, is its built-in ad and cookier tracker blocking which are on by default. It protects your user data from websites and has the side benefit of speeding up browsing (by not having to load ads/trackers).

These features supplement the Pi-Hole and Cloudflared setup I use for privacy on my home network. For the average user who isn’t interested in installing these tools, Brave is a great way to get some of their benefits without the extra work.

Although Brave is based on Chromium, Brave has support for syncing and extensions, making it a contender against Firefox in this regard. If that wasn’t enough, it also lets you connect to Tor for private browsing. It has a built-in wallet, password manager, video calls with your friends, and yes, even an AI engine now.

Brave throws in everything including the kitchen sink, and that’s where the troubles start to brew. Because of so many features, its memory usage is medium-high at idle and high once a few tabs get added to the mix.

Because it blocks ads, Brave started off by using other creative means of monetization, like crypto, which harmed trust with users. Today, that stuff is in the past, but this reputation is hard to shake. For example, it now presents “ethical ads” when opening a blank tab, which I never notice, but it feels counter to the spirit of a browser intended to block ads.

Brave is mostly open source and comes pretty close to Google Chrome performance for me. Add in its privacy focus, and it might put Brave over the line for you as the best all-arounder.

Pros & Cons

Installation

Brave is not available in the Raspberry Pi OS repository, so you’ll have to install it manually. Luckily, the developers have provided an official script we can use to keep it simple.

To install Brave, it’s just one command pasted into your terminal:
curl -fsS https://dl.brave.com/install.sh | sh

Once the installation has finished, you’ll find Brave in your menu under Internet > Browsers.

I tested all these browsers on Raspberry Pi OS Bookworm, so they work with the latest version of you favorite system.

Are you a bit lost in the Linux command line? Check this article first for the most important commands to remember and a free downloadable cheat sheet so you can have the commands at your fingertips.

2. Chromium

Best performance overall

Chromium is the default web browser on Raspberry Pi and on most other distributions. Even if it’s not perfect, and not the fastest option for a Raspberry Pi, it’s still a decent choice.

Chromium is the open-source alternative to Google Chrome, which is currently the most popular web browser. If you are used to Chrome, you will be at home with Chromium. Everything looks similar, you can install all the Google Chrome extensions, get the same settings, etc.

The main feature I didn’t find is the bookmarks and passwords synchronization. I guess as it’s an open-source edition and they can’t include it, but it’s something that is missing.

Aside from that, the speed is decent (4 times slower than Puffin, but close to the other options in this list). Chromium has been optimized by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, which explains this result even if the app has more features. It’s one of the web browsers that had the best results with YouTube, for example.

Pros & Cons

Installation

Most Linux distributions have Chromium installed by default, so it shouldn’t be difficult to get it on your Raspberry Pi. If it’s not already installed, you can find it in the default repositories.

On Raspberry Pi OS, install it by using the package manager or this command:
sudo apt install chromium-browser

By the way, if you’re new to Raspberry Pis, it’s best to start with the default options and gradually build your skills. That’s exactly how I teach things in my e-book, “Master Raspberry Pi in 30 Days.” It will take you from being a beginner to an expert, step-by-step. Are you interested? Take a look.

3. Vivaldi

For power users that like tweaking

Vivaldi is often suggested as the third choice after Chromium and Firefox. It’s based on Chromium, but many features have been added over the years, to make it the most complete web browser available on Raspberry Pi.

This issue is that I wonder if it’s not too much. Sometimes I feel it’s now closer to Chrome OS than to Chromium, like a minimalist operating system rather than a web browser. For example, you’ll get a welcome wizard on first start, to configure if you want all the advanced features (mail, calendar, news feeds, etc.) or just the essentials.

I tested the “Classic” setup, but it was already too much, I think. The settings panel is overwhelming with so much options available:

Aside from that, the speed test result was slightly better than with Chromium, there is a sync feature available if you use it on PC, and you have access to all the Chrome extensions.

My tests with YouTube were not the best compared to other options in this list, with more frame drops overall, but it’s not really noticeable when you watch videos. If YouTube is your main use, I would probably install another one, if not, it’s fine to watch a video from time to time.

If you are looking for the most complete web browser on Raspberry Pi, Vivaldi is probably your best bet. Just expect to spend some time at the beginning to configure everything as you want.

Pros & Cons

Installation

Vivaldi is not available in the Raspberry Pi OS repository. In another article, I explain how to use the Ubuntu repository to install Vivaldi, but the easiest way is to use Pi-Apps.

Install the tool, and you’ll find Vivaldi in the Internet > Browsers category. Click install, and the tool will do everything for you.

Note: Want to see best apps in action for Raspberry Pi? I have a video where I tested them out just for community members. Join here to watch, and get access to 30+ other lessons for Raspberry Pi along with many other benefits!

4. Firefox

Best for syncing and open-source champions

I hate Firefox on Pi, but I have to include it on this list for a few reasons:

• Firefox is the only option that is not based on Chromium.
• Firefox is very popular on PC, so many of you will be interested in using it on Raspberry Pi.
• You can synchronize your settings, extensions and passwords with your PC.

So, why do I hate it?
Overall, Firefox is generally very slow on Raspberry Pi. It’s not the worst on this list, but you can feel that the software is too heavy for a Pi. My results in my YouTube tests were horrible, with countless frame drops during the video.

On paper, it’s a good choice as it includes the same features as on PC, but it’s not really usable. And if you have 20 extensions on your PC and enable the synchronization, it will probably be worse.

Note: Firefox is now included with Raspberry Pi OS by default. As a result, there have been some optimizations that have improved its performance on Raspberry Pi.

Overall, Firefox is a good choice if you use it on PC, and want to sync your passwords and bookmarks. But don’t expect great performance with it on Raspberry Pi, and try to limit the number of extensions.

Pros & Cons

Installation

Raspberry Pi OS now includes a stable Firefox package for Raspberry Pi by default, so you probably don’t have to do anything but update your system to get it.

However, if you want the latest Firefox version with all features, you need to use Pi-Apps (or to follow my guide). Check out my article dedicated to installing Firefox on Raspberry Pi.

5. Midori

When you want something simple

The last decent option you can try is Midori. Midori is a minimalist web-browser that would be a great fit on old Raspberry Pi models, especially if you don’t need any features.

For example, if you use a Raspberry Pi Zero as a server, but you still have a desktop interface on it, Midori can be an option to quickly find a documentation page without having to rely on a heavy web browser that will slow down your server.

Unfortunately, even if this web browser is minimalist, its speed results were the worst of all, the RAM used is equivalent to Chromium. And the lack of features can quickly become an issue.

It handles multi-tab browsing, but that’s almost the only feature, and the settings are really limited. There are a few extensions that you can install, like an ad-blocker, but I tested it, and it doesn’t work on most websites.

Pros & Cons

Installation

Note: Midori is no longer available from Pi-Apps or the default repository. Instead, follow the instructions below to install it manually.

• Visit the official Midori download page.
• From the dropdown, select Debian Aarch64 (the 64-bit version for ARM processors).
  The download should begin automatically.
• Open a terminal where you downloaded it, and install Midori:
  sudo dpkg -i midori_11.5_arm64.deb
  (replace with your filename version)

Once it’s done, you can launch the browser from the Raspberry Pi menu > Internet > Midori.

Final Thoughts

Before wrapping up, here are the results I got from my benchmarks, for those who are interested in the details:

Browser	Speedometer Results	RAM Used (MB)
Brave	13.46	1500
Chromium	13.23	460
Vivaldi	16.40	580
Firefox	13.10	576
Midori	9.40	454

The Speedometer test does some random tests by checking items in todo lists. As a comparison, I got a result of 160 on my PC, so the hardware definitely plays a role in this result.

The RAM used is what I noted in system usage while opening the home page of RaspberryTips, with nothing else running on the Pi. It’s just an indication on how heavy the browser will be on your system. If you have only 1GB of RAM, Vivaldi and Firefox will slow down everything else.

https://youtu.be/fImvdegClhI

So, in summary, I would recommend:

• Chromium for general use if synchronization with your PC is not needed.
• Brave or Firefox if you use them on your PC and need synchronization.
• Midori for basic usage, especially with older Raspberry Pi models.
• Vivaldi if you love to tinker and want to customize your browser.

Let me know if you think there are other criteria to take in consideration, I would love to know your suggestions (you can comment on the YouTube channel). Maybe this article will make you change your mind?

Lastly as an alternative, if you are worried about privacy online, Tor Browser can also be an option to consider (it’s like Firefox in super-incognito mode ^^).

And if you’re looking for general recommendations for other apps on your Raspberry Pi, make sure to read this article: 17 Best Apps to Use a Raspberry Pi as a Desktop PC.

Whenever you’re ready, here are other ways I can help you:

Test Your Raspberry Pi Level (Free): Not sure why everything takes so long on your Raspberry Pi? Take this free 3-minute assessment and see what’s causing the problems.

The RaspberryTips Community: Need help or want to discuss your Raspberry Pi projects with others who actually get it? Join the RaspberryTips Community and get access to private forums, exclusive lessons, and direct help (try it for just $1).

Master your Raspberry Pi in 30 days: If you are looking for the best tips to become an expert on Raspberry Pi, this book is for you. Learn useful Linux skills and practice multiple projects with step-by-step guides.

Master Python on Raspberry Pi: Create, understand, and improve any Python script for your Raspberry Pi. Learn the essentials step-by-step without losing time understanding useless concepts.

You can also find all my recommendations for tools and hardware on this page.