This Browser Can Use Chrome and Firefox Extensions at the Same Time
If you have a Mac, iPhone, or iPad and are looking for something new in your web browser, you should give Orion a try. The new browser allows you to run both Google Chrome extensions and Firefox add-ons without sacrificing privacy. Orion is based on WebKit, the browser engine used by Safari on Mac and all browsers on your iPhone.
Since Orion only recently went into public beta, it still has a few kinks, but overall it seems like a promising alternative that you can try out right now. Not all extensions work on Orion, but the most popular ones like uBlock Origin, Dark Reader and SponsorBlock work flawlessly.
To install the browser, you can go to the Orion website . (Note that the iOS and iPadOS version of Orion needs to be installed via the Apple TestFlight app as it is still in beta.) The Mac version of Orion seems to be much more stable than the iOS version based on our testing.
How to install extensions on Orion
Orion does not require you to create an account to install extensions. You can visit the official pages of Chrome extensions or Firefox add -ons, search for any extension and click ” Add to Orion ” to install it. These steps are the same for the mobile version.
Some extensions, such as the 1Password browser extension, don’t work with Orion because 1Password hasn’t authorized it yet. However, you can use the 1Password 8 Universal Autofill feature to get it to work. You can also use uBlock Origin with Orion, but the developers recommend disabling Orion’s own content blocker first, as running them at the same time can cause conflicts and website breaks.
How fast is Orion?
Using too many extensions at the same time slows down Orion. If you’re using an older MacBook like I am, you’ll start to see the browser (and your entire computer) start to crawl if you install too many extensions and have around 10-20 tabs open. Of course, this problem affects all browsers, you need to keep this in mind.
Other Useful Orion Features
Installing extensions is great, but Orion also has a couple of other cool features. One of them is the ability to move the list of open tabs to the left sidebar as a vertical view, making it easier to find the tab you want. This feature works on iPhone and Mac. If you are reading an article and open a link in a new tab, the tab sidebar adds a subtab. This is a good way to group tabs if you’re hoarding tabs.
Orion asks you to select a default search engine when you launch your browser and supports almost every search engine you might want to use. Its developers also create their own search engine called Kagi, but the browser doesn’t force you to use any specific default search engine.
If you are using Orion on your MacBook, you can use its low power mode to reduce battery consumption and Orion will pause inactive browser tabs. The Mac version also allows you to override the copy and paste blocking implemented by some websites, especially banking sites.
What is Orion’s business model?
Whenever I see a new app, the first question that comes to mind is whether it’s good for privacy. Orion, like all applications, claims security and privacy. To back up its claim, Orion says it doesn’t include telemetry and comes with a content blocker that blocks browser fingerprinting other than ads and tracking.
For now, the company says its revenue is driven by the community. Those who want to support the browser can get an Orion+ subscription for $5 a month, which will get them a new icon, early access to future builds of the browser, and developer interaction.
You should also know that Orion keeps your tabs, history, and settings in sync across all devices using iCloud sync. You can disable this if you wish, but it is enabled by default.