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Candy Browser

Free plan Open source AndroidExtensionSelf-hosted

Visit Candy Browser Alternatives Pricing

Candy Browser's own site

What Candy Browser is

Candy Browser is a free, open-source Android browser organized around gesture controls, on-device reading tools and privacy features. On Android, users can choose GeckoView or Android System WebView. Tabs can be changed with gestures and arranged in Coverflow, compact grid or list views, and address-bar actions are configurable. In GeckoView mode, Candy supports Mozilla-signed Firefox WebExtensions, with extension actions, popups, settings, permissions and updates managed in the browser. Some extensions that rely on Firefox Desktop features or desktop-only APIs may not work.

Reader Studio extracts articles locally and offers typography and theme controls, offline saves and text-to-speech. Local protections include tracker and ad filtering, third-party-cookie blocking, cookie-banner hiding, Privacy X-Ray and per-site permission activity. Private tabs hold session and journey data in memory and are excluded from sync and local full-text indexing. Candy Sync synchronizes writable tab profiles across Android, Chromium and Firefox clients through a server users host themselves. Tab data is encrypted on the device with AES-256-GCM; the server stores ciphertext, while routing metadata is still needed. Candy requires Android 13 (API 33) or newer. The project describes an iOS WKWebView target, while its download instructions specify Android. Signed Android APK builds are distributed through GitHub releases.

Who it suits

Candy Browser suits Android users who want gesture-based tab controls, locally processed reading tools and built-in privacy protections. It may also suit users who want Firefox WebExtensions in GeckoView mode or who are willing to host a server for tab-profile sync.

What it does well

  • Choose GeckoView or Android System WebView on Android.
  • Gesture-based tab switching and several tab layouts.
  • Reader Studio supports offline saves and text-to-speech.
  • Private tabs stay out of sync and local full-text indexing.
  • Sync tab data is encrypted locally with AES-256-GCM.
  • Free and open source under the Mozilla Public License 2.0.

What to know first

  • Requires Android 13 (API 33) or newer.
  • Candy Sync requires a server users host themselves.
  • Some Firefox extensions relying on desktop APIs may not work.

Plans

PlanBilled and limitsPrice
Candy BrowserAndroid browser; requires Android 13 (API 33) or newerFree

As github.com lists them, read 11 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

  1. Open the Candy Browser project on GitHub.
  2. Check that your device runs Android 13 (API 33) or newer.
  3. Download a signed Android APK build from GitHub releases.
  4. Choose the build variant that matches your needs, such as FOSS or System WebView-only.
  5. Select GeckoView or Android System WebView in the browser.
  6. For cross-client tab-profile sync, host a Candy Sync server.

Verdict

Choose Candy Browser if you want an open-source Android browser with gesture controls, local privacy tools and reading features. Its extension support is limited by GeckoView’s APIs, and cross-client sync requires a self-hosted server.

Questions

How much does Candy Browser cost?

Candy Browser is free: its listed plan is free.

Is Candy Browser open source?

Yes. Its source code is available under the Mozilla Public License 2.0.

Which platforms does it support?

The listed platforms are Android, extension and self-hosted, with mobile support. The project describes an iOS WKWebView target, but its download instructions specify Android.

Which browser engines can I use?

On Android, Candy can use GeckoView or Android System WebView.

Does it support Firefox extensions?

In GeckoView mode, it supports Mozilla-signed Firefox WebExtensions. Some extensions that depend on Firefox Desktop features or desktop-only APIs may not work.

How does Candy Sync work?

It synchronizes writable tab profiles across Android, Chromium and Firefox clients through a server users host themselves. Tab data is encrypted locally with AES-256-GCM; routing metadata remains necessary.

Facts from Candy Browser's own pages

Browser engine
gecko · github.com, 20 Sept 2026
Browser engines
Android can use GeckoView or Android System WebView; the project describes an iOS WKWebView target, but its download instructions specify Android. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Built-in ad blocking
Yes · github.com, 20 Sept 2026
Cross-device sync
Yes · github.com, 20 Sept 2026
Downloads
Candy is distributed as signed Android APK builds through GitHub releases, with separate FOSS, System WebView-only and User CA variants also described. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Extension limits
Extension support follows GeckoView’s public APIs, so some Firefox Desktop extensions and desktop-only APIs may not work. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Firefox extensions
In GeckoView mode, it supports Mozilla-signed Firefox WebExtensions, with extension actions, popups, options, permissions and updates managed inside Candy. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Free plan
Yes · github.com, 20 Sept 2026
Gestures and tabs
It supports gesture-based tab switching, Coverflow, compact grid and list tab views, and configurable address-bar actions. · sk2andy.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
Local protection
Local protection features include tracker and ad filtering, third-party-cookie blocking, cookie-banner hiding, Privacy X-Ray and per-site permission activity. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Maker
The repository is maintained under the GitHub account sk2andy; the pages opened do not state a maker name, headquarters or founding date. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Open source
Yes · github.com, 20 Sept 2026
Supported platforms
mobile · github.com, 20 Sept 2026
Private tabs
Private tabs keep session and journey data in memory only, and Candy says they do not enter sync or local full-text page indexing. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Product
Candy Browser is a gesture-first Android browser with local privacy tools and selectable GeckoView or Android System WebView engines. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Reading tools
Reader Studio extracts articles locally and supports typography and theme adjustments, offline saves and text-to-speech. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Requirement
Candy Browser requires Android 13 (API 33) or newer. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Search
Supported search providers listed by the project include Google, DuckDuckGo, Bing, Brave, Ecosia, Startpage, Qwant, Kagi, Perplexity, ChatGPT and configurable SearXNG. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Source and license
The project’s source code is available under the Mozilla Public License 2.0. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Sync
Candy Sync synchronizes writable tab profiles across Android, Chromium and Firefox clients using a server that users host themselves. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Sync encryption
Candy Sync encrypts tab data locally with AES-256-GCM, and the repository says the server stores ciphertext while routing metadata remains necessary for sync. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026

Where Candy Browser stands on Freedom251

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