How to Install Firefox, Chrome, and Brave on Ubuntu

A web browser is one of the primary applications that must be available on every desktop operating system. Ubuntu, as a popular Linux distribution, provides Mozilla Firefox by default. However, since Ubuntu 22.04, the available Firefox version is packaged as a Snap, which has some drawbacks such as slower startup times and a larger package size. Many users prefer using the Deb package for a lighter and more responsive experience. Besides Firefox, two other widely used browsers are Google Chrome, which dominates the global browser market, and Brave Browser, known for its built-in ad-blocking features and strong focus on privacy.

In this article, we will discuss how to install these three browsers on Ubuntu: Firefox (Deb/ESR version), Google Chrome, and Brave Browser.

Install Mozilla Firefox (Deb/ESR)

By default, Ubuntu 22.04 and later versions use the Snap version of Firefox. To replace it with the Deb (ESR) package, follow these steps:

Remove the Snap version of Firefox:

sudo snap remove firefox

Add the Mozilla PPA repository:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mozillateam/ppa -y

Install Firefox ESR:

sudo apt install firefox-esr -y

Firefox ESR provides a more stable and lightweight browsing experience compared to the Snap version.

Install Google Chrome

Google Chrome is not available in Ubuntu’s official repositories. Therefore, we need to download the .deb package directly from Google.

Download the Chrome package:

wget https://dl.google.com/linux/direct/google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb

Install the Chrome package:

sudo dpkg -i google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb

If there are dependency issues, run:

sudo apt -f install

Install Brave Browser

Brave is a browser that prioritizes privacy and security, while automatically blocking ads and trackers.

Install dependencies:

sudo apt install apt-transport-https curl -y

Download the GPG key for the Brave repository:

sudo curl -fsSLo /usr/share/keyrings/brave-browser-archive-keyring.gpg https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com/brave-browser-archive-keyring.gpg

Add the Brave repository:

echo "deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/brave-browser-archive-keyring.gpg arch=amd64] https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com/ stable main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/brave-browser-release.list

Update the repository and install Brave:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install brave-browser -y

By following the steps above, you can now use three popular browsers on Ubuntu: Firefox ESR as a lighter alternative to Firefox Snap, Google Chrome for full integration with Google services, and Brave Browser for its focus on privacy and security. You can choose the browser that fits your needs, or even use them simultaneously. With these options, your browsing experience on Ubuntu becomes more flexible, faster, and more secure.