Chromium as a Linux alternative to Google Chrome

Updated October 23, 2026

Our verdict

Chromium is a good replacement for Google Chrome on Linux, especially for users who prioritize open-source software and want to avoid Google's telemetry and forced account integrations. It delivers the same core browsing experience: fast page loads, strong JavaScript performance, and full compatibility with Chrome extensions. Most users won’t notice a difference in daily use, though some media codecs and auto-updates are missing by default. It’s ideal for those who don’t rely on sync via Google accounts and are comfortable installing additional packages if needed.

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

Uses the same Blink rendering engine and V8 JavaScript engine as Google Chrome
Supports all extensions from the Chrome Web Store
Offers nearly identical UI, tab management, and developer tools
Provides strong HTML5 and CSS3 compliance for modern websites
Receives regular updates with security patches and new web standards

What is different

Does not include proprietary codecs like AAC, H.264, and MP3 by default
Lacks built-in Adobe Flash (not relevant anymore) and Widevine DRM for some streaming services
No automatic update mechanism in most distro packages—user must update via package manager
No Google branding, telemetry, or forced sign-in prompts
Some distro builds may disable features like PDF viewer or speech API

Opening your Google Chrome files

Chromium can import bookmarks, history, and passwords directly from Google Chrome if both are installed on the same system. Profile data is stored in compatible formats, so copying ~/.config/google-chrome to ~/.config/chromium usually works. However, encrypted items like saved passwords may not transfer cleanly due to different encryption backends. Exporting bookmarks as HTML from Chrome and importing them into Chromium is reliable. Session sync across devices requires third-party tools since Chromium lacks Google Account integration.

Switching from Google Chrome to Chromium, step by step

Install Chromium via your distro’s package manager or Flathub
Copy bookmarks from Chrome by exporting as HTML and importing into Chromium
Manually install common extensions from the Chrome Web Store
Install extra packages like ffmpeg or chromium-codecs-ffmpeg-extra for full media support
Set Chromium as default browser in system settings

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 directly by enabling developer mode and adding them manually or through third-party installers.

Why doesn’t some video play in Chromium?

Many builds lack proprietary media codecs. Install 'chromium-codecs-ffmpeg-extra' on Debian/Ubuntu or 'chromium-ffmpeg' on Arch to enable H.264, AAC, and MP3 support.

Does Chromium sync bookmarks and tabs like Chrome?

No, Chromium does not include Google Account sync. You’ll need third-party tools like Firefox Sync-compatible browsers or manual backups for cross-device syncing.