Best Linux browser: 5 tested
How the mighty have fallen. During the early days of what some might, slightly hysterically, have called the 'browser wars' the two companies vying for browser dominance were Netscape and Microsoft.
While this feud might have only directly affected Windows users, Netscape's demise and Microsoft's dominance in the late nineties left Linux users with oft-neglected browsers that sometimes struggled with web pages that had been designed solely with Internet Explorer in mind.
The defeat of Netscape lead to the creation of Mozilla's Firefox, whose open source ethos complemented Linux's raison d'être. Its rising popularity helped level the playing field and finally lead to a well-supported alternative to Internet Explorer that was embraced by web developers.
Firefox's success has been great for Linux users, but recently a series of unfortunate and baffling decisions by Mozilla has stopped Firefox being the go-to browser for Linux.
One of the strangest decisions was to no longer support versions older than a couple of weeks. A habit of labelling even small releases as major version numbers - which some believe is just a superficial attempt to look like it's keeping up with Explorer and Chrome - has further served to alienate once loyal users.
So change is once more in the air. With the rise of Google Chrome, and alternatives such as Rekonq and Epiphany growing in both confidence and popularity, is it time to ditch Firefox?
Web browsers shape the way we view and interact with the internet, and that is why choosing the right one is so important.
How we tested...
There are two major areas to look at - the front-end user experience, and the background technology.
Testing the technology was relatively straightforward. Running the browsers in Ubuntu 11.04 we put them through their paces with a number of benchmarks including SunSpider, Peacekeeper and the Acid3 web standards test.
These gave us a good overview of how compatible they were with the latest web technologies and standards. Being 100 per cent compatible with new standards and being able to display JavaScript a couple of milliseconds faster than a rival doesn't automatically make a browser the best, however.
For the front-end user experience we used real-world tests to measure how each performed when being used for day-to-day activities. This involved visiting a number of different websites running on different standards, such as the new HTML5.
Our selection
Chrome
Epiphany
Firefox
Opera
Rekonq
Best Linux web browser: Add-ons
While the basic browser has to be stable and reliable it's the add-ons that enable you to really tailor it to your needs - they help expand the browser and allow it to reach its full potential.
The vast majority are created by third parties and enthusiasts, so it's no surprise that the most popular browsers have the largest and most varied selection. Firefox has a huge number that cover everything from ad blocking and social networking to server side tools for web developers. Many of the most popular have been ported to other browsers.
Firefox needs a decent system for users to find, download and install the add-ons they want. Mozilla doesn't disappoint with an excellent website that lists add-ons in categories, as well as making popular, featured and up-andcoming add-ons easily accessible. Download and installation is all done within Firefox, as well as updates.
The Chrome Web Store is another well laid out resource. Chrome's rapid rise in popularity is reflected in a large library of add-ons that continues to grow.
Traditionally, Opera has taken a more closed-source approach and been reluctant to embrace third-party add-ons. This has changed with version 11 and there are a growing number at www.opera.com/addons. A bit of digging should let you find a relevant add-on, though the selection isn't vast, and some remain in their early buggy versions. Opera was often seen as an innovator in browser technologies - but with add-ons it's still playing catch-up.
Rekonq's focus on being as lightweight as possible means that addons are more of an afterthought. While an ad blocker app comes with the default installation, it does offer some support for Flash and Java-based addons. At present Rekonq sacrifices extendability for pure speed.
While Epiphany is far more open to add-ons, its smaller user base has resulted in a limited number of official extensions, and most of these are more productivity orientated. Certificate Viewer and Greasemonkey are more representative of Epiphany's offerings - you won't find Facebook add-ons here.
Mozilla's regular stream of updates often leaves add-ons requiring an update. An alert is helpful but can also be a bit frustrating. Other add-ons simply stop working with new versions. Firefox has developed a reputation for slowing to a crawl when too many add-ons are installed.
Chrome's speed isn't affected quite as dramatically, thanks to it running extensions as a separate process.
Test results
Chrome - 4/5
Epiphany - 2/5
Firefox - 4/5
Opera - 3/5
Rekonq - 1/5
Best Linux web browser: Security
It seems that Mozilla has once again shot itself in the foot with its baffling decision to cut support for previous versions of Firefox. Firefox 4, which was only released earlier this year, is no longer getting vulnerability patches - effectively forcing users to upgrade to Firefox 5. New features such as the Do Not Track option, which prevents third party advertisers seeing your data, shows that Mozilla can still innovate.
Chrome comes with sandboxing tools that add a further layer of security. Implementation of the Strict-Transport-Security protocol (Firefox needs a plugin for this) ensures that Chrome always uses secure connections for high-security websites.
Opera uses SSL 3 and TLS encryption for secure websites, and along with Firefox, keeps the user updated with information about a site's security in the address bar. Visited websites are also checked against blacklists. Users are encouraged to submit any bugs or security flaws they find, and on average vulnerabilities are patched much faster than Firefox.
Rekonq has had a chequered past when it comes to security, with some large vulnerabilities coming to light in the past year. This is improving, and there are some good features, such as the SSL widget that gives you a quick overview of the identity, encryption and security of any website you're on.
Epiphany has a similar approach along with a pop-up blocker and cookie protection from untrusted websites. As with Firefox, Chrome and Opera you can also store passwords, though this doesn't feel quite as secure as with the other browsers.
Test results
Chrome - 5/5
Epiphany - 4/5
Firefox - 3/5
Opera - 4/5
Rekonq - 3/5
Interface, media playback and speed
Best Linux web browser: Interface
Web browser interfaces need to strike a balance between giving the user quick access to tools while not detracting from the main reason we use them - to view websites.
In the past browsers were only too happy to fill most of our screens with extra buttons and toolbars - with each addition taking up valuable screen real estate from the web page display. Since the launch of Chrome with its pared-down interface, other browsers have been removing a lot of the pointless visual fluff that not only got in the way of viewing pages, but also slowed down the browser's responsiveness.
Austerity doesn't have to lead to ugliness however, and an attractive streamlined web browser is a valuable thing - especially when it comes to the all-important front user experience that we've mentioned previously.
Firefox 5 - 4/5
Firefox 5 maintains the previous version's GUI and for good reason. Before Firefox 4, the user interface was large and cluttered, making it especially annoying to view web pages on netbooks with small screens.
The reduced interface frees up a lot of screen space, while still allowing easy access to the most used functions. The Forward and Back keys have been shrunk, and the Refresh button is also much smaller, tucked away next to the address bar.
The search bar grants quick access to online searches, with Google as its default. New tabs can be quickly opened with the '+' button and more advanced features and settings can be found in the toolbar. In its default skin, Firefox might not be the most attractive browser, but it's practical and efficient.
Chrome - 4/5
In the days when browsers were straining under the weight of oversized icons, useless toolbars and other assorted rubbish, Chrome came along and became a pioneer of stripped-back interfaces. In some senses it's quite similar to Firefox's interface - or we should say, Firefox's newfound evangelism for simplicity is quite similar to Chrome's.
The Forward, Back and Reload buttons are small and unobtrusive, yet easily accessed at the side of the address bar - which also doubles as a search bar, with Google the only choice. There's no Home button - indicative of Google's ruthless culling of buttons.
There's no toolbar either - advanced settings are accessed through a spanner icon. Tidy then, but not quite as easy to use as Firefox - it sometimes feels that the pursuit of a clean interface overrode any ease-of-use goals.
Opera - 3/5
Opera looks a lot like a more glamorous version of Firefox. Gone are the large buttons and toolbars of previous versions, replaced by much smaller, neater icons.
Something that none of the other browsers have is a small toolbar along the bottom of the window with buttons for Panels - which adds a further toolbar along the left-hand side - Opera Link, Opera Unite and Opera Turbo. While undeniably handy, if you don't use these features then this toolbar just takes up screen space which could be displaying something else.
Far more useful is the small wastepaper basket icon in the top-right of the window that gives quick access to previously closed tabs.
In some ways, Opera's approach to its interface is the opposite of Chrome's - usability is put first, which leaves you with a functional, if still a bit cluttered, interface.
Rekonq - 3/5
In some respects, Rekonq resembles Chrome. When you start the browser you're presented with a page of thumbnails of your most regularly visited sites. Recently closed tabs, bookmarks, history and downloads are also accessed through this page. The address bar also doubles as a search bar and enables you to search your bookmarks and history as well.
Also like Chrome there's no toolbar - just a spanner icon. Rekonq and Chrome are both built on the WebKit engine, so it's not too much of a surprise to see the similarities in their appearance.
It's a shame, then, that Rekonq doesn't quite pull off the interface with as much flair as Chrome. While it's pared-down, too much space is still given over to the buttons and other various features.
Epiphany - 2/5
In some ways, Epiphany feels like a bit of a throwback to the Firefox interfaces of the past. While Mozilla has moved on and closely modelled its browser on Chrome's minimalist design, Epiphany retains the chunky buttons and toolbar. In some ways this is no bad thing - the buttons are easy to find and hit, and extra features are easily accessible, and not hidden away like some dirty secret, as they are in Chrome.
If you're using Epiphany on a desktop, then the extra space taken up by the buttons and toolbar won't be too much of a problem. On netbooks, the reduced screen space for web pages is a tad annoying.
In general, Epiphany's interface is plain and workmanlike - it's not the most attractive, but it's familiar and easy to use.
Best Linux web browser: Media playback
The web has evolved from sites with a few rudimentary animated GIFs and a looped MIDI cover of a pop song, to truly dynamic and interactive media hosting. If the browser you use is incapable of displaying media correctly then you're going to end up missing out on a lot.
To get an overview of how well a browser will perform when playing different media, we used Futuremark's Peacekeeper benchmark. It's a series of tests that evaluate how well a browser renders images, social networking features and complex graphics, amongst others.
Each browser is then assigned a score - the higher it is, the more robust and dependable the browser is at displaying websites.
At the top of the charts was Chrome with an overall score of 9,537. While it scored particularly well in the data and text parsing tests, it scored 15,841 for complex graphics, 5,839 for social networking and 6,960 in the rendering tests.
Second place went to Opera with an overall score of 8,603. While it scored far lower than Chrome in data tests, it scored an excellent 18,350 in complex graphics, 6,384 in social networking and 9,131 in rendering. While Chrome might be a better day-today browser, Opera is better for media.
Epiphany came in a distant third with a score of 5,636 - a low 7,248 for complex graphics, 3,832 for social networking and just 2,996 for rendering.
Firefox was fourth with a disappointing 5,524 score, although it scored a decent 14,443 in complex graphics, 4,009 in social networking and another low 3,864 in rendering.
Finally, Rekonq scored just 5,066, with complex graphics getting 7,711, social networking 3,809 and rendering just 2,577.
Test results
Chrome - 5/5
Epiphany - 4/5
Firefox - 3/5
Opera - 5/5
Rekonq - 2/5
Speed
Faster pages for itchy mouse fingers.
We pay enough for broadband internet as it is, so using a bloated and buggy browser that slows down your surfing is going to be a waste of money. Thankfully one of the best side effects of the browsers' new slimline interfaces is that they are now far less resource intensive.
Firefox 5 uses the JägerMonkey JavaScript engine, which allows for much faster execution speeds, and it scored a mean time of 240.8 milliseconds, using the SunSpider JavaScript benchmark - a big improvement on Firefox 3.6's time of 1106ms.
A relatively new feature of Firefox is that some graphics are now handled by the GPU, which gives a smoother and better-looking web experience as processing complex graphics is now handled by your graphics card. When running, Firefox took 61.4MB of memory - though when add-ons were installed this grew.
The headline feature of Chrome is its speed - and its reputation as the fastest of the main browsers is well deserved. Websites pop open almost instantly, with graphics and animations playing quickly and without trouble. This results in a fast and smooth browsing experience.
Chrome completed the SunSpider JavaScript benchmark in 272.4ms, just slightly longer than Firefox. However it's a much lighter program - using about 30MB of system memory when on one page - so much slimmer than Firefox. It's Chrome's commitment to not hogging resources that makes it feel more sprightly than its competitors.
Opera benefits from a built-in feature known as Opera Turbo - there's a button at the bottom of the window to quickly turn it on and off.
Test results
Chrome - 4/5
Epiphany - 3/5
Firefox - 3/5
Opera - 4/5
Rekonq - 3/5
Synchronising features
Take your bookmarks with you wherever you go.
Firefox Sync is built into version 4 and above, and is quick and easy to set up. The information is protected not just by a password but is also encrypted - an extra security measure that's missed by Opera. Firefox Sync synchronises passwords, history, bookmarks and open tabs - we were able to continue our browsing session on a different computer.
Opera's integration of its synchronising feature, Opera Link, is well done and it's easy-to-use, although not quite as all-encompassing as Firefox Sync. Rather than going through the Settings pages of the browser, the features can be quickly accessed by clicking the icon in the status bar.
Chrome uses Google Account - you'll have one if you signed up for Gmail or Google+ - to store and synchronise Chrome settings. Like Firefox the information is password protected and encrypted. A cryptographic key is also generated, and Chrome offers a number of options for keeping it protected.
Epiphany doesn't have any bespoke synchronising features built-in, but there are a number of ways to implement syncing, such as the Epilicious add-on, the Ubuntu One service or by using Dropbox.
Rekonq doesn't have synchronisation features, at present, although there are calls in the community for it to be implemented in the future.
Test results
Chrome - 4/5
Epiphany - 3/5
Firefox - 4/5
Opera - 5/5
Rekonq - 1/5
Standards compatibility
How does each browser cope with the various web standards?
In order to display websites correctly, browsers need to be able to cope with the various technologies and standards that are used on the web. One of the best ways to test a browser's standards compatibility is with the Acid3 test (found at http://acid3.acidtests.org). It tests a browser's compliance with various web standards, with an emphasis on the Document Object Model (DOM) and JavaScript. To pass the test the browser needs to score 100 out of 100.
Firefox just missed out on the Acid3 web standards test, scoring 97 out of 100 - not bad, but still lacking complete compatibility with some website technology. The previous release also scored 97, so the lack of improvement does feel like a missed opportunity.
Due to Chrome's relative newness, and its fast rise to the top, it has trouble displaying some sites properly. This is more down to developers, and it's only really a problem with older sites. As Chrome continues to grow in popularity, and developers embrace it, these problems will decrease. There certainly isn't any excuse as in the Acid3 compatibility test Chrome passed with a score of 100 out of 100.
Like Chrome, Opera passed the Acid3 test, and with added HTML5 support, the compatibility issues of previous releases are greatly reduced with 11.10.
Epiphany did well with 99 out of 100 - making it more compatible than Firefox. As Rekonq uses the same rendering engine as Chrome it was not much of a surprise to find it also scored 100 - though the final image differed slightly to the reference rendering - a problem Chrome didn't have.
Test results
Chrome - 5/5
Epiphany - 4/5
Firefox - 3/5
Opera - 5/5
Rekonq - 4/5
The web browser for Linux is...
None of the browsers tested here are in any way bad and each has its own strengths. What has been surprising, though, is how Firefox - once considered the de facto browser for the open source community - has been found to be lacking in quite a few areas. Considering its position, this shouldn't be the case, but our tests found even the smaller Epiphany browser to be better than Firefox in areas such as media playback and security.
While Firefox failed to meet our expectations, the relative newcomer Chrome exceeded them. In almost every test Google's browser came top or very near the top. It's quick and secure, compatible with all the major web standards and handles media playback. Even in the arena where Firefox is undoubtedly top dog - addons - Chrome is closing in fast.
Opera's results were solid but uninspiring. While this might be fine for most browsers, with Opera's legacy of being an innovator in the browser market, it's frustrating to witness a product that appears to be resting on its laurels - happy to follow where others lead. Its slight edge over Chrome when it comes to digital entertainment does make this veteran browser a better choice for media-heavy websites.
While Epiphany feels a bit like the underdog when it's pitched against the big three, it manages to hold its own in many areas. In security and standards compatibility it does very well, and though it lags behind some of the other browsers when it comes to speed, it's still a quick and snappy performer and well worth considering if you're looking for an alternative browser.
Finally, Rekonq might have failed to keep up with the other browsers in some of these tests but that doesn't necessarily mean that it should be completely dismissed. It's relatively early days for the browser, and its creators have already demonstrated that they are keen to listen to the community and add features and bugfixes when possible. With new features regularly promised, this browser might not be quite there just yet, but it's worth keeping an eye on. What is clear is that Firefox has lost its crown - long live Chrome!
1st: Chrome - 5/5
Web: www.google.co.uk/chrome
Engine: WebKit
Version: 13.0.782.112
In most of our tests Chrome came out on top.
2nd: Opera - 4/5
Web: www.opera.com
Engine: Presto
Version: 11.50
It was a close run between Firefox and Opera for second place.
3rd: Firefox - 4/5
Web: www.mozilla.com
Engine: Gecko
Version: 5.0.1
A slight fall from grace for the previous number one.
4th: Epiphany - 3/5
Web: http://projects.gnome.org/epiphany/
Engine: WebKit
Version: 3.0.4
A solid web browser that needs a bit more polish.
5th: Rekonq - 1/5
Web: http://rekonq.kde.org
Engine: WebKit
Version: 0.7.0
It might not the best browser out there, but it does show some promise.
