Chromium vs Chrome: is it a good Linux alternative?

Chromium as a Linux alternative to Chrome

Updated November 1, 2026

Our verdict

Chromium is a solid replacement for Chrome on Linux, especially for users who prioritize open-source software and want to avoid Google's telemetry and forced account integration. It offers the same core browsing experience, including fast rendering, strong JavaScript performance, and full support for Chrome Web Store extensions. If you rely on Google services less heavily and value privacy or software freedom, Chromium is a capable, drop-in alternative. However, power users needing media codecs or automatic updates may need to adjust.

Feature parity95%

License: BSD-3-Clause and LGPL-2.1+ and…
Price: Free
Latest version: 156.0.8078.79 (October 29, 2026)
Rating: —

Install Chromium Website ↗

What works the same

Same rendering engine and JavaScript performance as Chrome
Supports Chrome Web Store extensions and themes
Nearly identical user interface and tab management
Regular security updates and stable release cycles
Available on major Linux distributions via native packages

What is different

No built-in support for proprietary codecs (e.g., H.264, AAC) without manual setup
Lacks automatic updates in some distro packages
No integration with Google services like Safe Browsing or sync by default
No media playback out of the box in some configurations
No branding or telemetry, which some users may find less polished

Opening your Chrome files

Chromium can open Chrome bookmarks, history, and cookies directly since both share the same profile structure. You can import Chrome data by pointing Chromium to your existing Chrome profile directory (~/.config/google-chrome). However, encrypted passwords may not transfer if Chrome uses system keyring integration. Exporting bookmarks to HTML works flawlessly in both directions. Session and extension data are compatible, making migration straightforward for most users.

Switching from Chrome to Chromium, step by step

Install Chromium via your distro's package manager or Flathub
Close Chrome and back up ~/.config/google-chrome if needed
Copy profile data to ~/.config/chromium or let Chromium import on first run
Reinstall extensions from Chrome Web Store
Enable desired flags and disable unwanted features in chrome://flags

Key features of Chromium

Open-source core of Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge
Fast rendering engine with strong JavaScript performance
Full support for Chrome Web Store extensions
Regular security updates and stable release cycles
Available via Flathub, Snap, and native distro packages
No proprietary telemetry or forced Google account sign-in

How to install Chromium on Linux

Flatpak (Flathub)flatpak install flathub org.chromium.Chromium

Ubuntu / Mintsudo apt install chromium-browser

Debiansudo apt install chromium

Fedorasudo dnf install chromium

Arch / Manjarosudo pacman -S chromium

openSUSEsudo zypper install chromium

Frequently asked questions

Can I use Chrome extensions in Chromium?

Yes, Chromium supports all extensions from the Chrome Web Store. You can install them manually by enabling developer mode and dragging the .crx file or using third-party installers.

Why doesn’t some media play in Chromium?

Chromium lacks proprietary codecs like H.264 and AAC by default. Install additional packages like ffmpeg or enable restricted extras depending on your distro.

Is Chromium less secure than Chrome?

No, Chromium receives the same security updates as Chrome but may lag slightly in distro repositories. Using Flathub or Snap versions ensures faster patch delivery.