this post was submitted on 18 Jun 2023

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iOS users, what browser do you use? (sopuli.xyz)

submitted 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) by hellfire103@sopuli.xyz to c/foss

41 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I currently use Brave on my iPhone. It's pretty good, since it has built-in ad and tracker blocking; but if there's something better I'd like to know.

EDIT: I have just figured out a way to make the SnowHaze UX work for me. Here's my homepage:

Tabliss Web in SnowHaze browser

SnowHaze, for those who don't know, is a privacy-focused FOSS browser for iOS, iPadOS, and (I believe) macOS, which includes features such as:

Built-in ad and tracker blocking
Custom content blocking
No telemetry
Custom search engines
Custom homepages
JavaScript blocking
HTTPS forcing
XSS and tracking URL warnings
Passcode/biometric lock
Cookie blocking
Custom user agents
Canvas blocking
Idk, probably more

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[–] NotYou@feddit.de 20 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Safari + Adguard

[–] narc0tic_bird 25 points 2 years ago (3 children)

Same. With iOS, there isn't much of a point in using third party browsers, as they all have to use the Safari WebKit engine anyways.

Safari also feels great to use, especially with the new-ish bottom navigation layout. It doesn't feel bloated with features, which I feel pretty much any other major browser is nowadays (Edge with its heavy Bing and "shopping" integration, for Brave I'm not sure on iOS but on desktop it has crypto stuff and whatnot built in).

AdGuard works great for the most part. I also use Vinegar for YouTube videos.

[–] mobyduck648 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Yeah as much as I wish I could use some mobile form of Gecko as I’m still hanging on to Firefox in the face of the Google juggernaut there literally is no point in alternate browsers on iOS so you may as well pick the most native-feeling. I’ve been using AdGuard but this is the first I’m hearing of Vinegar, is it reliable?

[–] narc0tic_bird 3 points 2 years ago (2 children)

It's pretty reliable. For livestreams, it doesn't always show correct timestamps and scrubbing back in time doesn't work properly. But for videos it works well. It replaces the YouTube player with the default iOS video player and adds buttons to the top to change things like quality and the native player allows you to choose subtitles and set playback speed.

As it uses the native player, it also supports picture in picture, so you get that without YouTube Premium. It also works for YouTube embeds on other webpages.

[–] mobyduck648 3 points 2 years ago

Cool, cheers! I’ll give it a go later sounds well worth the £2.

[–] Glad_String 2 points 2 years ago

Baking Soda is worth a shout out too for non YouTube videos. It’s the same developer who sells them both as a bundle.

[–] Pertinax 1 points 2 years ago

Just now learning about Vinegar. Thank you!

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[–] TheRaven@lemmy.ca 6 points 2 years ago

To add to this, iOS 17 has added some great “Advanced Tracking and Fingerprint Protection” that can be turned on for all browsing.

[–] zahel 14 points 2 years ago

I cringe everytime someone proudly states they use Brave 🤮

[–] supermurs@suppo.fi 11 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I use Firefox on all platforms

[–] The_Digitalfigment@kbin.social 3 points 2 years ago

This is the way.

[–] dominikoso@lemmy.dominikoso.me 11 points 2 years ago (1 children)

On iPhone (correct me if I'm wrong) every developer is forced to use Safari WebKit.

[–] hellfire103@sopuli.xyz 10 points 2 years ago (1 children)

They are, but that doesn't mean all iOS browsers are equal. Some of them have built-in content blockers, or security features, or Tor, or even just a nicer UI.

Also, due to EU legislation, Apple will soon have to allow alternative engines on the App Store, so Mozilla and Google are working on versions of their iOS browsers with Gecko and Blink, respectively.

[–] HappyMeatbag 4 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

I’m curious to see how Apple will handle that. I’m thinking that they’ll have a Europe-only version of the App Store for compliance, but it will be against Apple’s TOS to access that version of the App Store from other regions.

I’m also wondering if they’ll make two versions of the iPhone, one which complies with EU standards for charging cables, and one for the rest of the world where they can continue to get away with their proprietary standards.

Apologies if Apple has already announced their plans but I’m unaware. Press release or not, though, I’ll still be skeptical until I see what actually happens.

[–] latewizard@mastodon.world 3 points 2 years ago

@HappyMeatbag @hellfire103 aren’t they already moving to USB-C?

[–] viewtoakill@kbin.social 8 points 2 years ago (3 children)

Safari with the following extensions:

Adguard Pro
Vinegar
Noir
StopTheMadness

Makes browsing native without most annoyances

[–] nnewton 1 points 2 years ago

I was unaware of vinegar, that’s awesome. Thanks.

[–] emk 1 points 2 years ago

+1, this is essentially my list too in addition to xSearch which allows me to override Safari's search engine option and use custom search engine shortcuts.

[–] hellfire103@sopuli.xyz 1 points 2 years ago

That actually sounds like a good config. I'm hesitant to pay for apps on iOS at the moment, as I'm planning to move to CalyxOS, but I might give these a try.

[–] Boi409@kbin.social 8 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Orion, basically a better Safari because it has a built-in ad-blocker and chrome/firefox extension support.

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[–] misguidedfunk 6 points 2 years ago

iOS requires WebKit based browsers no matter what they’re named. May as well use safari and its extensions until they open up the backend.

[–] carotte@fedi196.gay 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Firefox, for the synchronization of tabs with my computer.

When I get tired of the ads, Orion.

[–] brunskillZ 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Aren't you able to use ublock with iOS firefox?

[–] emk 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Unfortunately, no. On Firefox you can't add content blockers, but rather the only option is using their built-in "strict" or "standard (default)" Enhanced Tracking Protection which relies on Disconnect's filter list.

[–] brunskillZ 3 points 2 years ago

damn that sucks on android you're able to use addons on mobile i thought it was the same on ios

[–] JoCrichton@kbin.social 4 points 2 years ago

I feel like it doesn't matter right now, since they all use the same rendering engine.

I'll revist once that's changed. There were rumors that that's happening.

[–] Floppy 4 points 2 years ago

Trying out Arc, which I like, but if I want a full browser experience, then Firefox.

[–] sobriquet@aussie.zone 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I use DuckDuckGo, mostly. I don’t need my phone remembering my entire internet history, so I love the instant clear button. I tried Firefox Focus for a while, but DuckDuckGo go lets me exclude specific websites from the data clearing (DDG calls them “Fireproof Sites”), so I can leave some things logged in.

[–] wrath-sedan@kbin.social 2 points 2 years ago

Me too, I’ve gotten so attached to the little fire woosh animation I can’t go back now!

[–] nhgeek 3 points 2 years ago

Safari + 1Blocker

[–] ElkanNixed@programming.dev 3 points 2 years ago

I've been using Firefox for a long while, but it's been quite buggy lately so I switched to Brave for now. Until Arc Browser on iOS is like a real browser instead of just a companion app.

[–] scifu@kbin.social 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I might be the only person on the Internet doing this but here me out:

Edge on ios and on desktops.

Edge has built in adblocker that works seamlessly and works perfectly. I get all my passwords and bookmarks synced across devices. There is an edge drop feature that’s good to have. After the initial dirty feeling of installing edge there has been no issues so far.

[–] giloronfoo 1 points 2 years ago

Edge has vertical tabs!

[–] s12@sopuli.xyz 3 points 2 years ago

Safari as default for "private" browsing. Otherwise Chrome.

[–] itsgallus 3 points 2 years ago

Safari. I like the way it integrates natively with Passwords and Hide My E-mail and stuff. I don't really use it that much to care about extensions.

[–] MarionWheeler 2 points 2 years ago

Safari with Adguard plus a few bookmarklets for convenience.

[–] darkfiremp3 2 points 2 years ago

Like others, Safari + Adblock. Then Brave for YouTube, is removes ads, and allows backgrounding and Picture in Picture!

[–] ExoMonk 2 points 2 years ago

Firefox for everything except porn or sites that just have a ton of annoying in your face ads. For that I use Firefox focus. Also using 1Blocker as my Adblock.

[–] LifeInOregon@kbin.social 1 points 2 years ago

Safari with Noir, AdGuard, Baking Soda, Vinegar, and Hush installed.

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