Video summary

I Tested 17 Browsers for Privacy ! (Full Privacy Tier List)

Main summary

Key takeaways

Technology

Overview

The video ranks 17 popular web browsers by default privacy features only—explicitly no extensions or extra tweaks—using a four-tier system:

  1. Strongest privacy by default
  2. Very good privacy (top-tier without much setup)
  3. Needs improvement (solid basics but gaps remain)
  4. Poor privacy by default (exposed to trackers/ads/fingerprinting)

The speaker evaluates each browser based on whether it blocks:

  • ads
  • tracking (including “invisible” trackers / hidden trackers)
  • telemetry
  • fingerprinting / anti-fingerprinting defenses
  • background data collection / server-side behavior

Tier List Highlights (by Default Privacy)

Strongest Privacy by Default

  • Waterfox
    • No telemetry
    • Good tracking protection
    • Supports older extensions
  • Brave
    • Blocks ads, trackers, and fingerprinting by default
    • Auto-upgrades insecure sites
    • Does not collect user data
    • “Zero setup”

Very Good Privacy

  • Librewolf (Firefox fork)
    • Strips out telemetry
    • Built-in tracker/ad blocking
    • Privacy-focused tweaks out of the box
    • Gap: Some advanced fingerprinting protection may require third-party solutions or manual configuration, and real-time anti-fingerprinting is not as strong as browsers like Brave.
  • FoorP
    • Removes telemetry
    • Blocks trackers by default
    • Created by students in Japan
    • Positioned as impressive for being newer
  • DuckDuckGo Browser
    • Blocks hidden trackers
    • Enforces HTTPS
    • Doesn’t store history (especially praised on mobile)

Needs Improvement

  • Commodore Dragon
    • Slightly altered Chrome
    • Lacks serious tracker blocking
    • No fingerprinting defense
    • Not actively maintained
  • SRW Air Iron
    • “Diet Chrome”
    • Cuts some telemetry but lacks real protections
    • No ad blocking, no fingerprint defense, no protection from invisible trackers
  • Madori
    • Lightweight/fast but not privacy-focused
    • No meaningful ad blocking or tracking protection
    • Fingerprinting unchecked
  • Basilisk
    • Firefox-based but focused on legacy features/security
    • No tracker/ad blocking by default
    • Fingerprinting protection minimal/non-existent
  • Firefox
    • Some tracker blocking and decent protection
    • Telemetry is still enabled
    • Fingerprinting protection exists but is limited unless configured in advanced settings
  • Beaker Browser
    • Experimental P2P hosting
    • Doesn’t track itself
    • Doesn’t protect against outside trackers, fingerprinting, or ads

Poor Privacy by Default

  • Chrome
    • Doesn’t block ads or invisible trackers
    • Fingerprinting exposed
    • Google ties it to tracking
  • Opera
    • Has built-in ad blocker and a free VPN
    • VPN isn’t private
    • Opera sends data to its servers in the background
  • Chameleon
    • Outdated
    • Lacks modern standards and privacy tools
    • No tracker protection/fingerprint defense
    • Slow updates
  • A vast Secure Browser
    • Blocks some trackers/ads
    • Reportedly has a history of collecting user data, reducing trust
  • Yandex
    • Similar to Chrome but worse
    • Sends data to Russian servers
    • Lacks decent tracker blocking and provides no real fingerprinting protection
  • Min
    • Minimal design/performance
    • Minimal privacy tools
    • No fingerprinting protection and weak tracker blocking

Key Takeaway / Advice Emphasized

The creator stresses that browser choice alone isn’t enough: for browsers in the lower tiers, users should either adjust settings or switch to options in the “Strongest privacy by default” or “Very good privacy” tiers.

Main Speaker / Sources

  • Speaker: The YouTube narrator/creator performing the browser privacy testing and ranking (no specific name provided in the subtitles).
  • Primary source for browser behavior: Direct evaluation of browser default settings (no extensions or tweaks), per the video’s methodology.

Original video