Online tracking and surreptitious data collection have always been a massive cause for concern for most privacy-conscious users, and many netizens are now waking up to its dangers. The problem is even more acute on mobile devices as there are far too many sensors sending far too much information to far too many third-party servers. So, we bring you a list of the 12 best browsers to safeguard your privacy on Android and iOS devices.

In this article, we list a number of browsers specifically designed to stop online tracking and data harvesting. They are either open source or come from some of the most reputable and trustworthy names in the market. So without further ado, let’s check out the best web browsers for privacy on Android and iOS. Spoiler Alert: There’s no Google Chrome on this list. I wonder why.

  • Firefox Focus
  • Tor Browser
  • DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser
  • Adblock Browser
  • Chromium
  • Brave Browser
  • Onion Browser
  • Avast Secure Browser
  • Kiwi Browser
  • Ghostery Privacy Browser
  • Opera Browser With VPN
  • Firefox

1. Firefox Focus: Best Browser for Privacy on Android and iOS

Originally developed as a Safari extension by Mozilla, Firefox Focus has grown into an independent, minimalist, privacy-focused web-browser on Android and iOS. It is a free and open-source browser with a built-in ad-blocker, tracking protection, and content blocking. Firefox Focus is ‘Private by default,’ which means it only functions in private (incognito) mode. It has been the default browser on all my Android devices over the past 3-4 years, and apart from the lack of Dark Mode, there’s not a lot I can complain about it.

  • Pros: Open source, Developed by Mozilla, Private by default
  • Cons: Extremely minimalistic, No add-on support, No dark mode
  • Platforms: Android, iOS
  • Download: Android (Free); iOS (Free)

2. Tor Browser: Best Browser to Access Onion Sites on Android

One of the most well-known privacy-focused software among geeks and human-rights activists alike, Tor Browser is developed by Tor Project Inc., a non-profit organization based out of Seattle. Funded by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), the Tor Browser consists of a modified Mozilla Firefox, the TorButton, TorLauncher, the Tor proxy, NoScript, and HTTPS Everywhere. It routes traffic through the Tor network and automatically deletes all session data, such as HTTP cookies and browsing history, at the end of every session.

3. DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser: Integrated DDG Search on Android, iOS

The DuckDuckGo (DDG) browser comes from DuckDuckGo Inc., one of the foremost names in online privacy. It is a full-fledged web browser on Android and iOS, offering all the features you expect in a modern mobile browser, such as tabs, bookmarks, and even a dark mode. Plus, it also comes with a suite of privacy essentials, including one-tap deletion of all web history at once. DuckDuckGo Browser offers a full-fledged mobile browser without any of the privacy compromises of Google Chrome.

The DuckDuckGo Browser also automatically blocks hidden third-party trackers, thereby stopping those companies from harvesting your data for commercial purposes. As expected, it also comes with the DDG search engine built-in and forces encrypted (HTTPS) connections where available. It also comes with Global Privacy Control (GPC), which means it will tell websites not to collect, sell, or share your data unless permitted to do so.

4. Adblock Browser

The Adblock Browser comes from Wladimir Palant and Eyeo GmbH, developers of the blockbuster Adblock Plus add-on for Firefox and Chrome. Built on the Chromium code-base, it blocks everyday annoyances like pop-ups, video ads, and banner ads on most sites by default. It is a fast, sleek, and secure web browser that blocks annoying and disruptive ads, including pop-ups, video ads, banner ads, and ads disguised as content. It also has a ‘Ghost Mode’ (Incognito/ Private mode) that prevents the device from storing any browsing history, including cookies, temporary files, etc.

5. Chromium: Open-Source Privacy Browser on Android

Chromium is the open-source browser project that underpins the most popular browser in the world, Google Chrome. It also forms the basis for the latest version of Microsoft’s new Edge browser. Chromium comes with many of the features you love on Google Chrome but without automatic updates and built-in DRM components that enable Chrome and Edge to play copyrighted content. It also looks and feels identical to Chrome, which means the transition process from Google’s proprietary browser is painless.

6. Brave Browser

The brainchild of former Mozilla CEO Brendan Eich, Brave Browser is also based on Chromium. It is part of a growing tribe of browsers that promise to block ads and trackers by default. Brave is a free and open-source browser that is built from the ground up with privacy in mind. It blocks trackers, scripts, and ads by default and offers an automatic HTTPS connection and a native password manager. Other notable features include bookmark-syncing, tracking protection, private (incognito) browsing, and more.

  • Pros: Open source, Built-in HTTPS Everywhere, Built-in ad-blocker, script blocker
  • Cons: BAT is Brave’s way of upending the existing online advertising model with its own ad platform
  • Platforms: Android, iOS
  • Download: Android (Free); iOS (Free)

7. Onion Browser: Best Browser for Privacy on iOS

Onion Browser is a free and open-source web browser that brings the safety, security, and privacy of the Tor network to iOS. Originally envisaged as a Tor Browser equivalent for iPhones and iPads, the Onion Browser uses Apple’s core web rendering engine (UIWebKit/ WKWebView) instead of Firefox Gecko, unlike Tor Browser on Android. Be that as it may, the Tor Project still officially recommends the Onion Browser for maximum privacy protection on iOS.

8. Avast Secure Browser

Avast Secure Browser comes from Avast Software SRO, the Czech cyber-security firm behind the popular Avast Antivirus software. The browser comes with a built-in ad-blocker, which automatically blocks ads and web-trackers. It also incorporates a free VPN that protects your data, especially on public Wi-Fi. Other security and privacy features include full data encryption, private search engines, PIN lock, and more, making it one of the best browsers for privacy on Android and iOS.

The Avast Browser encrypts all your online data, including IP address, browsing history, bookmarks, DNS queries, and more. Downloaded files are automatically encrypted on-device and accessible through the privacy-focused Media Vault. Other notable features include bookmark-syncing, customizable browsing modes, dark mode, privacy-focused media player and video downloader, etc.

9. Kiwi Browser: Best Privacy Browser on Android With Chrome Extensions Support

Kiwi is an open-source Chromium and Webkit-based browser that started life on the XDA Forums in 2018. Developed by XDA Senior Member arnaud42, Kiwi Browser not only comes with statutory ad-blocking and tracking protection but also incorporates cryptojacking protection to block hackers from using your device to mine crypto-currency. As per the developer, it is a first for an Android browser. Kiwi also comes with an optimized rendering engine that displays web pages faster than either Chrome or Chromium.

10. Ghostery Privacy Browser

Based on Firefox for Android, Ghostery Privacy Browser comes from the same developer that offers the eponymous open-source browser extension on the desktop. Like the plugin, the browser is also fully open-source, with the code hosted on GitHub. Ghostery Privacy Browser combines the ad-blocking and tracking-protection features of Ghostery 8 with many features of Firefox Fenix to boost the privacy of its users. It even includes a private browsing option that the developers call Ghost Mode.

11. Opera Browser With VPN

Opera has been a popular web-browser on both desktops and mobiles for years, and it now comes with an integrated VPN for enhanced privacy. In keeping with its privacy theme, the browser also comes with a built-in ad-blocker to weed out annoying online advertisements. There’s also a native downloader, a file manager, and a QR code and barcode scanner that’s accessible from the search bar. You can even sync files and data between the desktop and mobile versions of the browser.

  • Pros: Integrated free VPN, Built-in ad-blocker, Cross-platform data syncing
  • Cons: Not open source, Personalized newsfeed requires tracking
  • Platforms: Android, iOS
  • Download: Android (Free); iOS (Free)

We’ve saved the best for last. One of the crown jewels in the FOSS universe, Firefox is the legendary open-source browser from Mozilla. It is one of the best browsers for privacy on any platform, including Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and Linux. It is, quite simply, the most full-fledged, full-featured, no-compromise privacy browser you can use on desktops and mobiles. With privacy and customization at its core, you can also configure Firefox to start in ‘Private’ mode every time.

Browse the Web on Your Phone in Complete Privacy

The mobile browsers in the list above should greatly help lessen your online privacy concerns. To further strengthen your privacy, you should switch over to Open DNS on Android, move from WhatsApp to Signal (or Telegram) and remember to steer clear of some of the most dangerous apps.