Lightning Browser

2013 – present Active

44

Free, lightweight Android browser (MPL-2.0) with side or bottom tab drawers, the base for several forks (SmartCookieWeb, Solipsism…).

Facts

Developer

Anthony Restaino

Website

acrdevelopment.org

Engine

Blink (WebView)

Derived from

Android WebView

Platforms

Android

Details

F-Droid; GitHub repository still active in 2026

Popularity

44/100 — 2,455 GitHub stars (× 5–10 ≈ 12–25K) + former Play distribution (free and Plus versions removed, last Play update Oct. 2019, install count unknown)

Lineage

Derived browsers (6)

Browser Mini (Desina), Javelin Browser, SmartCookieWeb, Fulguris, JumpGo, Solipsism Browser

Key versions

1. July 19, 2014
   v3.2.0a-betaFirst release published on GitHub.[1]
2. Oct. 1, 2015
   v4.2.3New major version.[2]
3. Sept. 1, 2019
   v5.0.0New major version.[3]
4. Oct. 1, 2019
   v5.1.0Latest release published on GitHub.[4]

Version sources: [1] anthonycr/Lightning-Browser (GitHub), [2] anthonycr/Lightning-Browser (GitHub), [3] anthonycr/Lightning-Browser (GitHub), [4] anthonycr/Lightning-Browser (GitHub) · 15 releases published · Full history → · Milestones taken automatically from the releases published on GitHub.

Sources

1. https://github.com/anthonycr/Lightning-Browser
2. https://f-droid.org/en/packages/acr.browser.lightning/
3. https://appgoblin.info/apps/acr.browser.lightning
4. https://appgoblin.info/apps/acr.browser.barebones
5. https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.cookiegames.smartcookie/