this post was submitted on 18 Jun 2023
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iOS users, what browser do you use? (sopuli.xyz)
submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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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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[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Safari + Adguard

[–] [email protected] 24 points 1 year ago (1 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.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year 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?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

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

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

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

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago

I cringe everytime someone proudly states they use Brave 🤮

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I use Firefox on all platforms

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

This is the way.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

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

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Okay, because of your comment I just downloaded Orion. Now I’ll nag you with a tech support question (I promise to only do it this once) - is there an easy way to import my bookmarks/favorites from Safari?

Regardless of the response, thanks!

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Safari with the following extensions:

  • Adguard Pro
  • Vinegar
  • Noir
  • StopTheMadness

Makes browsing native without most annoyances

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

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

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

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

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Didn’t know about Vinegar, thanks for sharing!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

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

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Safari + 1Blocker

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Firefox, for the synchronization of tabs with my computer.

When I get tired of the ads, Orion.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

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

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Edge has vertical tabs!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Safari with Adguard plus a few bookmarklets for convenience.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

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

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year 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.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

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

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