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Why Every Web Browser Still Sucks in 2025 (And How Students Can Pick a Decent One)

twrix Follow May 01, 2025 · 12 mins read
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Why Every Web Browser Still Sucks in 2025 (And How Students Can Pick a Decent One)

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Hey, college students and new grads! Sick of web browsers slowing your laptop, tracking your every click, or pushing crypto scams in 2025? You’re not alone—every browser out there kinda sucks, from Chrome’s spying to Brave’s bloat. A good browser should be fast, private, and open-source, but most are 90% decent and 10% trash. This guide breaks down why browsers fail, what features you need for school or your first job, and which ones (like Firefox or LibreWolf) come closest to not sucking. Plus, we’ll show you how to pick and tweak a browser to stay private, save battery, and flex your tech skills—all on a ramen budget. Let’s find a browser that doesn’t make you rage-quit.

Why Web Browsers Matter for Students

Your web browser is your gateway to the internet—think Canvas, Google Docs, job applications, or late-night Reddit binges. In 2025, it’s critical for:

  • Privacy: Big Tech (Google, Microsoft) tracks your searches, clicks, and even porn habits. A private browser keeps your data safe, like using Linux to dodge telemetry.
  • Performance: Slow browsers drain your laptop’s battery or crash during Zoom classes. Fast ones save time and RAM.
  • Schoolwork: You need a browser that handles modern web apps (e.g., Blackboard, Notion) without lag or broken CSS.
  • Budget: Free, open-source browsers cost $0 and run on old laptops, unlike pricey macOS upgrades.
  • Tech skills: Tweaking a browser teaches you about privacy, configs, and cybersecurity—resume gold for CS or IT gigs.

It’s like our Brave Browser guide—a good browser is your first line of defense against Big Tech’s nonsense.

The Problem: No Browser Is Perfect

In 2025, web browsers should be easy to get right: fast, private, and functional. But none nail it. Why?

  • Privacy leaks: Most browsers (Chrome, Edge) phone home to Google or Microsoft, sending analytics or auto-updating without consent. Even “private” browsers like Brave make sketchy connections.
  • Bloat: Browsers add crypto widgets, AI chatbots, or flashy start pages that slow your system and distract you from studying.
  • Closed source: Proprietary browsers (Chrome, Edge) hide their code, so you can’t trust what they’re doing with your data.
  • Missing basics: Want to disable history but keep cookies? Good luck with most browsers. Basic options are often locked behind menus or missing entirely.
  • Ad overload: Ads slow pages and track you. Only a few browsers block them by default, and even those (e.g., Brave) sometimes push their own agendas.

It’s like assembling a puzzle where every piece is slightly wrong. Let’s list the features a decent browser should have—and see who comes close.

Must-Have Features for a Decent Browser

A passable browser in 2025 needs these basics to not suck:

  • Works on the modern web: Handles CSS, JavaScript, and web apps (e.g., Canvas, Spotify) without breaking. Sorry, terminal browsers like Lynx or niche ones like Dillo—you’re out.
  • Free and open-source: Source code must be public for trust and audits. Closed-source browsers (Chrome, Edge) are a privacy nightmare.
  • No unsolicited connections: No auto-pinging Google, Brave, or Cloudflare for updates, analytics, or start pages unless you type the URL. Opt-in analytics can beg on a hidden settings page, but default is off.
  • Built-in ad-blocking: Ads are a plague—slow, trackers, and useless. A browser should block them by default, like a server comes with a firewall. HTTPS Everywhere (forcing secure connections) is a must, too.
  • Basic options: Let users disable history without wiping cookies or going incognito. No forced storage of your browsing habits for nosy roommates to see.
  • Clean interface: No crypto widgets, AI pop-ups, or start pages flashing your bank login. A blank page or custom homepage is ideal—bookmarks exist for a reason.
  • Clean file system: Follow XDG standards (store configs in ~/.config/, cache in ~/.cache/) to avoid cluttering your home directory with junk like ~/.mozilla/.
  • Fast language: Written in C/C++ or Rust for speed and low resource use. Python browsers (e.g., Qutebrowser) are too slow for 20-tab Zoom-and-Netflix sessions.

Nice-to-Have Features for a Great Browser

A great browser goes beyond the basics with:

  • Config file: A simple text file (e.g., browser.conf) to store settings like add-ons, keybindings, bookmarks, search engines, and themes. Copy it to a new PC, and you’re set—no manual tweaking. Vim-like keybindings or link hints can live here, too.
  • Sharable settings: Config files let you share your setup with friends or r/privacy—like a Linux dotfile for your browser.
  • Minimal footprint: Uses <500MB RAM with 10 tabs, even on old laptops, to keep your study sessions smooth.
  • Community tweaks: Easy-to-install extensions or scripts (e.g., Greasemonkey) for custom hacks, like auto-skipping YouTube ads or dark mode for Canvas.

These features would make browsers as flexible as Linux distros, but in 2025, we’re stuck picking the least bad option.

Here’s how major browsers fare for students, based on my experience and community feedback in 2025. I’ve focused on open-source or privacy-focused options, skipping niche failures (e.g., Dillo, Qutebrowser).

Firefox

  • What: Open-source browser from Mozilla, known for customization. Latest: Firefox 130 (early 2025).
  • Pros: Free, open-source, no unsolicited connections (with tweaks), supports ad-blockers (uBlock Origin), and allows disabling history while keeping cookies. XDG-compliant configs (~/.mozilla/ is tidy). Active community (mozilla.org).
  • Cons: Some telemetry by default (disable in settings). RAM usage (~700MB with 10 tabs) is higher than Brave. Mozilla’s funding ties to Google raise eyebrows.
  • For students: Solid all-rounder for schoolwork and privacy. Install uBlock Origin and tweak settings for a near-perfect experience. Great for CS majors learning web dev.
  • Status in 2025: Firefox’s privacy focus strengthens, with AI features (e.g., local translation) opt-in only. Still the best mainstream option [Mozilla Blog].

LibreWolf

  • What: Firefox fork with hardened privacy and no telemetry. Latest: LibreWolf 130 (early 2025).
  • Pros: Open-source, zero unsolicited connections, built-in uBlock Origin, HTTPS Everywhere, and no history by default. XDG-compliant (uses ~/.librewolf/). Ultra-private out of the box.
  • Cons: Smaller community means slower updates. Can break niche web apps (e.g., banking sites) due to strict settings. Slightly higher RAM than Firefox (~800MB).
  • For students: Best for privacy nerds or cybersecurity enthusiasts. Use it for sensitive tasks (e.g., job applications) but keep Firefox as a backup for finicky sites.
  • Status in 2025: Gaining traction on r/privacy for its no-nonsense approach. Active dev team (librewolf.net).

Brave

  • What: Privacy-focused Chromium fork with ad-blocking and crypto features. Latest: Brave 1.65 (early 2025).
  • Pros: Open-source, blocks ads and trackers by default, enforces HTTPS, and disables history easily. Fast (~500MB with 10 tabs) and works on most web apps.
  • Cons: Unsolicited connections to Brave’s servers (e.g., crypto wallet, AI tools). Cluttered start page pushes news or crypto—disable it. XDG-non-compliant (~/.config/BraveSoftware/ is messy). Crypto focus feels scammy.
  • For students: Decent for beginners who want speed and ad-blocking without setup. CS students may dislike the bloat and connections. Tweak settings to kill crypto nonsense.
  • Status in 2025: Brave’s AI assistant (Leo) and crypto wallet push alienates privacy purists, but ad-blocking remains strong [Brave Blog].

Ungoogled Chromium

  • What: Chromium fork stripped of Google’s tracking. Latest: Ungoogled Chromium 128 (early 2025).
  • Pros: Open-source, no Google connections, fast (~450MB with 10 tabs), and works on modern web apps. Community-driven (ungoogled-software.github.io).
  • Cons: No built-in ad-blocker (add uBlock Origin). No history disable option without extensions. XDG-non-compliant (~/.config/chromium/). Manual updates are a pain.
  • For students: Good for Chrome fans who hate Google’s spying. Needs setup (add-ons, tweaks) but great for web dev or fast browsing on old laptops.
  • Status in 2025: Steady niche following, but lacks Firefox’s polish. Active on GitHub.

Chrome (Avoid)

  • What: Google’s proprietary browser, dominant but awful. Latest: Chrome 128 (early 2025).
  • Pros: Fast, works everywhere, syncs with Google services.
  • Cons: Closed-source, tracks everything, no history disable, XDG-non-compliant (~/.config/google-chrome/). Auto-connects to Google for analytics and updates.
  • For students: Avoid unless forced (e.g., Google Workspace for class). It’s a privacy disaster and teaches you nothing about tech.
  • Status in 2025: Chrome’s AI features (e.g., Gemini integration) increase tracking, per [EFF]. Use Ungoogled Chromium instead.

Edge (Avoid)

  • What: Microsoft’s Chromium-based browser. Latest: Edge 128 (early 2025).
  • Pros: Fast, integrates with Microsoft 365 (school accounts).
  • Cons: Closed-source, tracks via Microsoft telemetry, no history disable, XDG-non-compliant (~/.config/microsoft-edge/). Pushes Bing and Copilot AI.
  • For students: Useless unless your school mandates it. Spies as much as Chrome with less polish.
  • Status in 2025: Edge’s aggressive AI push (Copilot ads) annoys users, per [r/privacy].

How to Choose and Customize a Browser

Ready to ditch Chrome and pick a browser that doesn’t suck (too much)? Here’s a 2025 student-friendly plan:

Step 1: Pick Your Browser

  • Beginner (easy, private): Brave. Fast, ad-blocking out of the box, but disable crypto and start page in settings.
  • Intermediate (balanced): Firefox. Customizable, private with tweaks, and works for school. Add uBlock Origin and Privacy Badger.
  • Advanced (hardcore privacy): LibreWolf. Ultra-secure but needs a backup (Firefox) for quirky sites. Ideal for cybersecurity students.
  • Web dev or Chrome-like: Ungoogled Chromium. Fast and Google-free but requires add-on setup.

Step 2: Install and Test

  • Download: Get Firefox (mozilla.org), LibreWolf (librewolf.net), Brave (brave.com), or Ungoogled Chromium (ungoogled-software.github.io) for free. Use your package manager on Linux (e.g., sudo apt install firefox).
  • Test: Try each for a week on your laptop or dorm PC. Check speed (open 10 tabs), privacy (no trackers on privacytests.org), and web app compatibility (e.g., Canvas).
  • Budget tip: All are free and run on old hardware, saving you from a $1,000 MacBook.

Step 3: Customize for Privacy and Speed

  • Add-ons: Install uBlock Origin (ublockorigin.com), Privacy Badger (privacybadger.org), and HTTPS Everywhere (eff.org) for ad-blocking and security. Add ClearURLs to strip tracking links.
  • Settings: Disable telemetry (Firefox: Preferences > Privacy; Brave: Settings > Shields). Set a blank homepage (about:blank). Disable history but keep cookies (Firefox: Privacy > History > Never remember).
  • Config tweaks: Firefox/LibreWolf users can edit about:config (e.g., set browser.send_pings to false). Check 12byte.me for hardening guides.
  • Search: Switch to DuckDuckGo or SearXNG for private searches, not Google/Bing.

Step 4: Optimize for School

  • Bookmarks: Save class sites (Canvas, Google Scholar) for quick access. Use folders to organize (e.g., “CS 101,” “Job Hunt”).
  • Extensions: Add Zotero (zotero.org) for research or Grammarly (grammarly.com) for essays. Avoid RAM-heavy ones.
  • Performance: Limit tabs to 10–15 on old laptops. Use htop on Linux to monitor RAM. Brave/Ungoogled Chromium are lightest.
  • Backup: Export bookmarks and save add-on lists to a text file (no config file yet, sadly). Store on Proton Drive.

Step 5: Learn and Share

  • Learn: Read r/privacy or privacyguides.org for browser tips. Tweak about:config to feel like a hacker.
  • Share: Post your setup on r/firefox or Discord. Help friends switch from Chrome.
  • Track wins: Log your first tracker-free browsing session or a faster Canvas load time. Reward yourself with a $5 boba, not a $15 burger (avoid restaurants).

Common Worries (And Why They’re No Big Deal)

  • “Will it work for school?”
    Firefox and Brave handle Canvas, Zoom, and Google Docs fine in 2025. LibreWolf may need Firefox as a backup for rare sites.
  • “Is privacy worth the hassle?”
    Setup takes 10 minutes, and avoiding Google’s tracking saves you from targeted ads or data breaches. It’s like using Brave over Chrome—small effort, big win.
  • “What about speed?”
    Brave and Ungoogled Chromium are faster than Firefox on old laptops. Tweak add-ons to cut RAM usage.
  • “No config file sounds bad!”
    Firefox/LibreWolf’s about:config and add-on exports get close. Most students won’t need a full config file yet.
  • “Can I still use Netflix?”
    All listed browsers stream fine with DRM enabled (Firefox: Preferences > General > DRM Content). No ads with uBlock.

The Bottom Line

In 2025, web browsers still suck—tracking you, clogging your system, or pushing AI and crypto junk. But you can fight back. Firefox and LibreWolf are the least bad, offering open-source privacy and customization for school or your first job. Brave’s fast but bloated, Ungoogled Chromium needs work, and Chrome/Edge are spyware. Pick a browser, add uBlock Origin, and tweak settings to stay private and speedy on a budget. You’ll save battery, dodge trackers, and learn tech skills that impress CS profs or IT bosses. Be the student or grad who owns their browsing, not rents it from Google.

Ready to start? Download Firefox at mozilla.org or LibreWolf at librewolf.net. Install uBlock Origin, set DuckDuckGo as your search, and join r/privacy for tips. Be the tech wizard who surfs smarter.

Disclaimer: This isn’t tech advice—just a strategy to browse better. If you want to manage chat memory, click the book icon below this post’s reference and select it, or disable memory in Data Controls.

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Written by twrix Follow
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