Chromium vs chrome- which one you should prefer? Now that you understand the kind of monopoly Chrome experiences in the browser market, it is time to dive deeper into the Chromium vs Chrome topic. We will also discuss how the difference between Chrome and Chromium is relevant to cross-browser testing in the later sections.
What Is Chromium?
Chromium is an open-source and free web browser that the Chromium Project manages. Open-source and free means that software developers are allotted to change the source code. But, only the Chromium Project development community’s committed members are permitted to do this. On the flip side, Chrome is based on Chromium – developers more included their proprietary code to the source code of Chromium. In other words, Google Chrome has numerous features that are absent in Chromium; for instance, it installs updates automatically and supports additional video formats.
Downloading Chromium- Easiest Way
The simplest and safest way to download Chromium is to do so from the download page of Chromium. As soon as you open the page, it will automatically recognize your device’s OS and give the latest compatible edition of Chromium. If that’s not the problem, you can also choose it from the list of Operating Systems.
Think you are a Linux or Windows user and would like to download an older version of Chromium. In that case, you can go to Last Known Good Revision towards the bottom to improve older Chromium editions. For Linux, you can install it right from the Linux distro’s software repositories.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- It doesn’t track browsing data
- Open-source
- More frequent updates
Cons:
- Updates need to be downloaded & installed manually
- No built-in support for Media codecs or Flash
As a free platform, Chromium is more suitable for web developers as well as highly advanced users. There are also no restrictions on what sorts of browser extensions can be added additionally. As Chromium is collected from the Chromium Projects source code, it modifies continuously. On the opposite hand, Chrome has quite a lot of release channels. However, the bleeding edge Canary channel updates not as much frequently as Chromium. Routine upgrades are posted on the Chromium Projects website.
While the Chromium browser is more often updated than Chrome, such updates must be manually downloaded and installed. This is the important difference between Chrome and Chromium, as there is no system of automatic updates. Chromium does not provide a built-in hold-up for Flash. While Adobe Flash is not as prevalent as it once was, some websites do not function correctly without it. As Flash is not open-source, the Chromium browser doesn’t hold built-in support for this. If you want to use Flash in Chromium, you will have to add or write the necessary code to support it.
Chromium does not support licensed media codecs like MP3, AAC, and H.264. Without codecs, you can’t play media in Chromium. If you want to stream video from websites like YouTube and Netflix, either install these codecs manually or use Chrome. At last, Chromium does not, by default, have the authorized security sandbox. Chromium and Chrome have a security sandbox mode, but Chromium has it turned off by default in some cases.
This sums Chromium’s side of the Chromium vs Chrome story. Now, let’s see into Chrome and the difference between Chrome and Chromium from Chrome’s perspective.
What Is Chrome?
Developed and maintained by Google, Chrome is a proprietary browser. It was released in 2008. Chromium and Chrome browser are tied to any other because Google Chrome borrows Chromium’s source code. However, the one significant difference between Chrome and Chromium is that the code in Chrome can’t be reversed, decompiled, or anchored to create other similar projects.
Downloading Chrome- Easiest Way
This is a straightforward method of simply visiting the Chrome website and downloading the browser. The website will prefer a compatible downloadable version (for MacBook or Windows), and it will be installed within minutes.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Easier to use and more stable
- Automatically Updates
- Built-in support for media codes and Adobe Flash
Cons:
- Tracks browsing data and history
- Zero support for extensions not found at its Web Store
For regular users, Google Chrome is possibly a great choice. Chrome is durable and offers a safe browsing experience owing to the automatic error reports and updates. Unlike its open-source counterpart, it also provides built-in support for media codecs like MP3, H.264, and AAC, as well as Adobe Flash. Besides, Google Chrome’s conditions likely are not visible if you are not a great user. For example, unlike Chromium, this web browser traces cookies, history, browsing habits, and other data. However, you can ever use the Incognito Mode to remove that data at the end of an online session.
By default, this browser on Mac and Windows only enables you to install extensions that are already downloaded from its Web Store. This distinguishes it from different browsers that enable outside extensions. An open-source platform demands more important inspection and scrutiny from the user; external extensions are often malicious or untested. If you wish to have the option to install extensions from outside the Chrome store, you can use the developer mode. That is all regarding the difference between Chrome and Chromium.
Chromium Vs Chrome – Chrome Attributes In Chromium
Apart from the significant difference between Chrome and Chromium we listed above, many more Chrome attributes are missing out on Chromium. The following traits of Google Chrome are not starred in Chromium:
- PDF viewer (Built-in)
- Print preview
- Google Auto-update system for the browser
- Integrated Flash player
- Media codecs MP3, H.264, and AAC formats to support
Other dissimilarities comprise a selection for crash reports, usage stats to be automatically sent to Google servers, and rare advertising from Google, like for the Chromebook. This web browser still follows the minimalist browser style that promotes an easy-to-view, lighter interface even with such traits.
Chromium Vs Chrome- Which One Is Better?
It is tricky hard to choose between the feature-rich Chrome and open-source Chromium. For Windows, it is good to use Chrome as Chromium doesn’t come with a constant release, which applies to macOS. Chromium may be the best choice in Linux’s case – known for its love for open source and free software. However, you will require to live with the fact that it does not automatically update, lacks media codecs and the Adobe Flash plugin. But, several Linux configurations may provide a modified Chromium, which comes bundled with numerous missing attributes.
Chromium is now being held as the default browser in several Linux distros instead of the browsers like Firefox. Chrome is also accessible for Linux. If you wish to utilize free software and try to escape any closed-source alternative, then Chromium is an excellent choice for you.
