# qutebrowser privacy rating

Keyboard-driven browser with a minimal interface and Vim-style key bindings, built on Python and QtWebEngine.

## Summary

qutebrowser scores 65 out of 100 (grade C) on the browsers criteria. It meets 5 of 8 criteria: open source, no trackers or telemetry, no ads or data sales, blocks trackers by default and no calls to big-tech services. It does not meet independent audit, fingerprinting protection and timely security updates.

- Website: https://qutebrowser.org
- Source code: https://github.com/qutebrowser/qutebrowser
- License: GPL-3.0
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
- Home page trackers: none found
- Category: [Browsers](https://privacyratings.com/browsers/)
- Grade: C (65/100)

## Criteria

| Criterion | Answer | Note | Evidence |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Open source | Yes | GPL-3.0. | https://github.com/qutebrowser/qutebrowser/blob/main/LICENSE |
| No trackers or telemetry | Yes | No telemetry or analytics in the source code. | https://github.com/qutebrowser/qutebrowser |
| No ads or data sales | Yes | Funded by donations. No ads. | https://qutebrowser.org/ |
| Independent audit | No | No independent audit is published. |  |
| Blocks trackers by default | Yes | The ad and host blocker is on by default, using EasyList and EasyPrivacy or a hosts list. | https://qutebrowser.org/doc/help/settings.html#content.blocking.enabled |
| Fingerprinting protection | No | No fingerprinting protection is documented. |  |
| No calls to big-tech services | Yes | QtWebEngine has no Google Safe Browsing or other Google services, and no such connections are in the source code. | https://github.com/qutebrowser/qutebrowser |
| Timely security updates | No | QtWebEngine is based on an older Chromium branch, and backported security fixes arrive with Qt releases, often weeks after Chrome. | https://wiki.qt.io/QtWebEngine/ChromiumVersions |

Source: https://privacyratings.com/browsers/qutebrowser/
Edit: https://github.com/privacyratings/privacyratings.com/edit/main/ratings/browsers/qutebrowser.md