WebLibre is a free, open source browsers & extensions project written in Dart and released under AGPL-3.0. It has 985 GitHub stars, 34 forks and 62 open issues, and was last pushed 9 hours ago. On this registry it ranks #62 of 65 tracked projects in Browsers & Extensions, with 5 head-to-head comparisons available. It gained 4 stars over the last 3 tracked days.

What is WebLibre?

WebLibre is a libre, privacy-first browser for Android built from scratch on Mozilla's Gecko engine and Mozilla Android Components, aimed at Android users who want familiar everyday browsing without giving up control over how sites, identities, and network connections are separated.

What it is

WebLibre is an independent Android browser, not a Firefox fork. It is built on Mozilla's Gecko engine and Mozilla Android Components, written in Dart and released under the AGPL-3.0 licence. It pairs strict privacy defaults with containers, isolated tabs, built-in Tor and proxy routing, Firefox-compatible extensions, on-device search, and flexible tab management. The design goal is a browser experience that stays familiar while treating separation of sites, identities, and connections as a first-class feature rather than an add-on.

The concrete problem it solves is that Firefox for Android and its hardened forks, such as Fennec and IronFox, do not offer isolated tabs, containers with per-container cookie isolation and Tor or proxy routing, a built-in multi-protocol proxy client, tree-style tab management, or on-device local search across tabs, history, and feeds. WebLibre keeps the same Gecko engine underneath, so websites and extensions behave the same way, and adds those capabilities on top. That makes it the thing to reach for when a hardened Firefox build is not enough, but a full fork with a different engine is not wanted.

Key capabilities

  • Containers with per-container cookie isolation and Tor or proxy routing, so identities and connections stay separated.
  • Isolated tabs alongside conventional tab management.
  • A built-in multi-protocol proxy client, with Tor routing available.
  • Tree-style tab management for handling large numbers of open tabs.
  • On-device local search across tabs, history, and feeds.
  • Firefox-compatible extensions, with Quick Start installing uBlock Origin automatically.
  • First-launch choices covering Quick Start, Custom Setup (search, DNS over HTTPS, layout, hardening, on-device AI, and extensions), and Restore from Backup.
  • Encrypted profile backup, with Change Backup Directory to write the backup outside WebLibre's app storage.
  • APK verification with apksigner verify --print-certs against published SHA-256 certificate fingerprints.

Who uses it and how

  • Android users on version 8.0 or newer; Android 13 or newer is recommended, and Android 12 and older may show visual problems.
  • People coming from Firefox for Android, Fennec, or IronFox who want the same engine behaviour with containers, isolated tabs, and proxy routing added.
  • Users installing from GitHub Releases who manage updates through Obtainium.
  • Users choosing the APK for their hardware: arm64-v8a for most current devices, armeabi-v7a for older 32-bit devices, and x86_64 for emulators, ChromeOS, and x86 tablets.
  • F-Droid users who accept that new versions may arrive considerably later than on GitHub or Google Play because of the build process and manual review.

Getting started

Install from GitHub Releases as a direct APK download, from Google Play for automatic updates, or from F-Droid. Android 8.0 or newer is required, with Android 13 or newer recommended.

How it compares

WebLibre shares its Gecko engine with Firefox for Android, Fennec, and IronFox, so sites and extensions behave the same, but it is not a fork and does not inherit their feature set. Where those browsers stop, WebLibre adds isolated tabs, containers with per-container cookie isolation and Tor or proxy routing, a built-in proxy client, tree-style tabs, and on-device local search. It is licensed AGPL-3.0.

When to use it — and when not to

WebLibre is in Early Access and under active development, so features and settings can change and some updates may cause problems or alter how features work. Switching between an F-Droid build and a GitHub or Google Play build is not possible without uninstalling first, because the signing keys differ, and uninstalling deletes your data, so an encrypted profile backup should be created and verified beforehand. It is a poor fit for anyone who needs a browser that never changes under them, or who will not manage backups and APK verification.

project readme (upstream, from github) — read inline

WebLibre

A privacy-focused Android browser with powerful browsing separation, local-first tools, and deep customization.

Latest GitHub release F-Droid version License: AGPL-3.0 Liberapay patrons

WebLibre is an independent browser for Android devices, built on Mozilla's Gecko engine and Mozilla Android Components. It combines strong privacy defaults with containers, isolated tabs, built-in Tor and proxy routing, Firefox-compatible extensions, on-device search, and flexible tab management.

WebLibre is not a Firefox fork. It is its own browser experience, designed for people who want familiar everyday browsing without giving up control over how sites, identities, and network connections are separated.

Coming from Firefox for Android, Fennec, or IronFox? Websites and extensions behave the same because WebLibre uses the same Gecko engine. On top of that, WebLibre adds features that Firefox and its hardened forks do not offer: isolated tabs, containers with per-container cookie isolation and Tor/proxy routing, a built-in multi-protocol proxy client, tree-style tab management, and on-device local search across tabs, history, and feeds.

[!IMPORTANT] Early Access - WebLibre is under active development. Many people already use it every day, but features and settings can change. Some updates may cause problems or change how features work.

Install WebLibre

WebLibre requires Android 8.0 or newer. Android 13 or newer is recommended. On Android 12 and older, you may see visual problems.

Get WebLibre from GitHub Get WebLibre on F-Droid Get WebLibre on Google Play

  • GitHub Releases - Direct downloads; Obtainium can manage updates. Most current devices use the arm64-v8a APK; armeabi-v7a is for older 32-bit devices, and x86_64 is for emulators, ChromeOS and x86 tablets.
  • Google Play - Automatic updates through Google Play.
  • F-Droid - F-Droid creates and signs its own builds. New versions may arrive considerably later than on GitHub or Google Play because of the complex build process and manual review by the F-Droid team.

[!WARNING] You cannot switch directly between an F-Droid build and a GitHub or Google Play build because they use different signing keys - you must uninstall the current build first, which deletes your data.

Before you uninstall, create an encrypted profile backup. Use Change Backup Directory to save the backup outside WebLibre's app storage, then verify the backup.

Verify your download

You can verify that an APK is an official build with apksigner verify --print-certs. The SHA-256 certificate fingerprints are:

  • GitHub Releases / Google Play:

    8F:52:6E:1E:53:D6:BD:4D:FB:F4:F4:B9:3C:2A:91:EC:B5:CB:8D:A5:E1:4A:D9:4C:25:70:E1:E3:C7:13:52:7F
    
  • F-Droid (signed by F-Droid with their own key):

    BB:2A:97:F5:61:53:35:C9:E5:7C:86:6F:1C:30:ED:4F:D7:D7:BD:DC:BC:BC:06:68:FE:93:A5:79:17:3D:3D:2D
    

Start Here

On first launch, choose the setup that fits you:

  • Quick Start applies the recommended defaults and installs uBlock Origin automatically.
  • Custom Setup lets you choose search, DNS over HTTPS, layout, hardening, on-device AI, and extension options.
  • Restore from Backup imports an existing encrypted WebLibre profile before setup.

After installation, these guides provide the fastest introduction:

What Makes WebLibre Different

Privacy controls that you can tune

New installations start with strict tracking protection. WebLibre also includes DNS over HTTPS, HTTPS-only protection, removal of tracking information from URLs, Global Privacy Control, fingerprinting defenses, site isolation, an Intent Gatekeeper for links opened by other apps, and optional screenshot protection.

You can change each privacy setting. Stronger protection can break some websites, so you can add an exception for a site or use a less strict mode.

Learn more: Privacy overview | Threat model

Tabs, containers, and profiles

  • Open Regular, Private, or Isolated tabs. Each isolated tab has a separate session from every other tab. Unlike private tabs, isolated tabs remain open after you quit and reopen WebLibre.
  • Organize tabs in list, grid, or tree views, with parent-child relationships, stacking, filtering, pinning, bulk actions, and a quick switcher.
  • Use Containers for different activities and assign sites to them automatically.
  • Enable Cookie Isolation on a container to give it separate cookies, logins, and site data, then optionally add clear-on-exit rules or per-container Tor/proxy routing.
  • Create separate Profiles for independent tabs, bookmarks, history, logins, extensions, feeds, and settings. Profiles can be backed up and protected using compatible Android device authentication.

Learn more: Tab management | Containers | Profiles

Built-in Tor and proxy routing

WebLibre includes Tor without requiring a separate Tor app. Route regular browsing, private tabs, or selected cookie-isolated containers through Tor, with bridge options such as obfs4 and Snowflake when needed.

The built-in proxy client supports SOCKS, HTTP, WireGuard, Shadowsocks, and a dozen more protocols. Connections can be created manually or imported from subscriptions, QR codes, WireGuard files, and sing-box JSON.

Learn more: Tor integration | Proxy connections

Firefox-compatible extensions

Install uBlock Origin during onboarding, discover add-ons in WebLibre's in-app store, use a custom collection, or install a local .xpi file. Installed extensions can be updated, configured, and pinned to the toolbar from inside the browser.

Not every desktop Firefox extension works well on Android. Add-ons that depend on desktop-only interfaces may be limited, and unsigned extensions should only be installed from sources you trust.

Learn more: Extensions

Search locally before searching the web

The address bar can search open tabs, bookmarks, saved feed articles, history, and popular sites before sending a query to a web provider. The local search index can also index the text of pages you visit on your device, with controls for private tabs, individual containers, and index deletion.

Bang providers and custom search engines let you send a query directly to a specific website. Local results stay on your device. If web autocomplete is enabled, partial text is sent to y

readme truncated — read the full docs on github

Frequently asked questions

Is WebLibre free to use?

WebLibre is open source under the AGPL-3.0 licence. There is no licence fee and no seat count — you can self-host it or, where the project offers one, pay a vendor for a managed version instead.

What does WebLibre do?

A libre Android browser built from scratch on Gecko. Privacy by default, powerful tab containers, and a local-first search engine.

What is WebLibre written in?

WebLibre is primarily written in Dart. Its source is publicly available at https://github.com/FaFre/WebLibre, and it has 985 GitHub stars.